I think I've posted here before, but it's been at least a year. I'm a spouse of Effexor. Hubby went on it in 2006 for anxiety. It numbed the anxiety, but it numbed everything else, too. It caused alcohol cravings. The unknown side-effects didn't happen instantly (or weren't observable by me close enough to the start of the med that I could say it was medication related). He became what I called an apathetic alcoholic zombie. He also developed extreme restless leg syndrome at night (it would shake the bed). He would "forget" to eat yet gained a lot of weight which caused severe sleep apnea. High blood pressure. Lack of judgement. Disinhibition (made worse by the alcohol and drinking was a daily pastime). He could "reason" away any issue that I called to attention.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that here we are, 2 yrs after an event that gave me a clue that Effexor was causing at least the alcohol component, and he's finally down to about 14 mg (from his usual dose of 150 mg). I pour out his capsules (generic, the kind with tiny round beads) and count them back in--currently 14 of the little evil things. We do one less every 3 or 4 weeks. We went faster early on (about 5-10% reduction per month, but the lower we go, the more difficulty he has).
His anxiety is back as bad as it was when he went on the med, but he refuses any more of these mind-altering, LIFE-altering drugs. His RLS vanished after just a short time of reducing (evidently it was dose-related). A "fog" lifted at about 50% off the drug. At 75% off he apologized for all the stuff he'd done that had been inappropriate, saying it "wasn't me--it's not who I am". He said that he couldn't have seen it when he was still controlled by the drug. His appetite is back, which unfortunately is meaning even more weight gain now that he's taking in more calories than he did when he didn't have an appetite. He is finally caring about himself again--he agreed to a sleep study which showed the SEVERE apnea (avg of 110 per HOUR). He still drinks, but it's more under control--for the most part. I pray it can go back to normal once all the med is out of his system.
We had to hang out several months at the lowest dose level--37.5 mg--to let his brain adjust and have a rest. There was an event of drinking a little too much in a short time span, on an empty stomach, that scared us: He sort of blanked out, like he was going to take a nap, then jerked upright saying "wow, all the sudden I'm just here." Then he suggested it'd be a good idea that I hide our handguns. That was so scary. He says his mind and emotions feel "exposed" and it's very unsettling. And here he was, withdrawing over a course of 1 year at that point (from 150 mg down to 37.5 mg). How pharmaceutical companies can live with themselves knowing some people might never get off these drugs--never mind that they might shouldn't have been put on them to start, or that they were only needed "short term"--simply because they can't go without them or their lives get so messed up from "just the withdrawal".
First do no harm. Yeah, right.
Good luck to everyone.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that here we are, 2 yrs after an event that gave me a clue that Effexor was causing at least the alcohol component, and he's finally down to about 14 mg (from his usual dose of 150 mg). I pour out his capsules (generic, the kind with tiny round beads) and count them back in--currently 14 of the little evil things. We do one less every 3 or 4 weeks. We went faster early on (about 5-10% reduction per month, but the lower we go, the more difficulty he has).
His anxiety is back as bad as it was when he went on the med, but he refuses any more of these mind-altering, LIFE-altering drugs. His RLS vanished after just a short time of reducing (evidently it was dose-related). A "fog" lifted at about 50% off the drug. At 75% off he apologized for all the stuff he'd done that had been inappropriate, saying it "wasn't me--it's not who I am". He said that he couldn't have seen it when he was still controlled by the drug. His appetite is back, which unfortunately is meaning even more weight gain now that he's taking in more calories than he did when he didn't have an appetite. He is finally caring about himself again--he agreed to a sleep study which showed the SEVERE apnea (avg of 110 per HOUR). He still drinks, but it's more under control--for the most part. I pray it can go back to normal once all the med is out of his system.
We had to hang out several months at the lowest dose level--37.5 mg--to let his brain adjust and have a rest. There was an event of drinking a little too much in a short time span, on an empty stomach, that scared us: He sort of blanked out, like he was going to take a nap, then jerked upright saying "wow, all the sudden I'm just here." Then he suggested it'd be a good idea that I hide our handguns. That was so scary. He says his mind and emotions feel "exposed" and it's very unsettling. And here he was, withdrawing over a course of 1 year at that point (from 150 mg down to 37.5 mg). How pharmaceutical companies can live with themselves knowing some people might never get off these drugs--never mind that they might shouldn't have been put on them to start, or that they were only needed "short term"--simply because they can't go without them or their lives get so messed up from "just the withdrawal".
First do no harm. Yeah, right.
Good luck to everyone.
I'm desperate to find out abut this law suit against Effexor I been taking it for about 12 yrs on and off and of course doctors will add Wellbutrin, depakote, cymbala, buspar, and mixing all this antidepressant they will add Xanax just to treat postpartum depression, I struggle for 12 years with addiction of all this drugs and now I'm 57yrs old and my daughter is 15yrs old and it is so hard to see my daughter grown up and not having memories of her growing up I feel I lost 12 yrs of my life and my family's life my life had change so much.
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This drug is almost impossible to come off awful side affects period
how can I contact you to get the name of your attorney , maybe they can help me.
My name is Susan and did take that stupid drug which changed me completely and of course the doctor did not make me aware of any possible changes I had to find out myself and boy did I what hell my family and I went through is unspeakable they should ban this drug and stop using on people please respond back I will get on your train
I will join you. I was on effexor xr for over three years. I have very bad memory loss.. every sympton it states I have had. I did get myself off but it was horrible...I can barely remember my wedding ..let me know what you need
I was taking 225 mg for over 4 years. I took myself off but ittook forever. I don't rememer things that happened while taking and lost a business because of it.
How do I get persons email address that is doing lawsuit on Effexor makers I want to join
Count me in. I want to sue. think we all have a good case..... been on 150 mg for 12 years and then it stoped working, wow now what do I do. decided to wean off to fast, (No way I think I almost died.} Tried the slow way, down to 75 mg for 4 months, if I remenber right, been feel foggy lately amost can't drive.. GP know nothing and tell me to go back to 150 for 6 months and then go to 300. there more nuts then I'm. going to keep tring to lower the dose slowly . hope someday I will be 1/2 way normal. good luck to all, we need all the help we can get.
Need information on this lawsuit. Severe memory issues since I've been on this med.
Something needs to be done to get this drug off the Shelf. I am going through terrible withdraws after taking 225mg for about 3 years. I have tried several times to wean off this drug but I have not been able to. I am with ya! It's terrible and something needs done.
I have missed some doseages and thought I was getting Altzeimers. I have horrible short term memory loss and can not recall whether it got worse on the drug or off. I gave a ride to someone and forgot that he came with me. I put a ring in this cleaning solution and looked for it iny purse. It is so upsetting, I do not want to leave my room. I don't want people to know there is something seriously happening to me. I do not want to live like this. I would rather be dead.
Same here. All of your symptoms are exact to mine. Been trying for over 2 months to wean off and getting discouraged. Can't work for a week after I go down one level
I have been on 300 mg of efexor for years and trying to get off of it now because i know have hyponatremia major cause effexor im on 75 mg now i pray it works. I cant handle much more of this
I really believed I would have to stay on Effexor for my whole life. I was actually ok with that until I realized how sick this drug was making me. Fifteen years later, I realize that the Effexor was keeping me depressed, hence the need to adjust my dosage. After this many years of raising dosages, I was taking more than the recommended dosage just to feel ok. This dosage was 425mg daily. Then I added some emotional stress and trauma to the mix along with my underlying disease of MS, and some dangerous cholesterol meds and here I am! Daily pain from the neck down, extreme skin sensitivity and pain while at the same time is numb. Hard to explain. I have accidentally burned myself badly because I can't feel whatever is burning me. But it hurts a lot to have even a tissue slightly brush up against my skin. My feet and hands burn but also feel like blocks of ice. My torso is extremely sensitive. I was told by a Neurologist specializing in MS , and he feels this isn't related to the MS. Effexor and the statin drug both have a possible side effect of Neuropathy. I think the combo of the drugs, plus the protective coating of my nerves being compromised from the MS, plus the emotional trauma and stress I endured and years of being on these dangerous drugs, are what did me in! This pain has been with me for 1 year and 7 months now. I AM completely off the Effexor and I am SO HAPPY about that. I actually feel emotions now which is a good thing. But I will tell you, I was a sobbing mess for months after being completely off of them as well as during the process of weaning-which by the way, was HELL!!! The thing that bothered me the most, other than the crying all night and day in pain, was the hallucinations. The physical withdrawals sucked. There are no two ways about it. Miserable and annoying. But the pain and the hallucinations were the worst. Spiders crawling on me in bed:(. I still search for answers to get to the bottom of this chronic pain, without just taking more dangerous drugs. But I HAVE crawled out from underneath Effexor and it's wicked empire!