Posted by Janie on March 23, 2001, at 15:59:03
In reply to Re: Real or Mindset - Janie, posted by Seraphim on March 23, 2001, at 14:26:53
> These postings may have saved my life; literally. I had no idea that the symptoms - side effects and withdrawal - were shared by others. I am an intelligent person (albeit inexperienced with prescription medication): I read the information given to me on Effexor; by my doctor, by my pharmacist, and on-line from Wyeth. It took a few days of not having any Effexor (prescription ran out on a weekend, thought I had a refill; was wrong) to associate the horrid symptoms to lack of the drug. All this was experienced BEFORE I ever found this site. I am now weaning off of this drug and still experiencing withdrawal, but refuse to be chained to a medication that has so adversely effected me. I do think we should all try to go into life experiences with a positive mindset - but - EFFEXOR WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS ARE NOT PSYCHOSOMATIC!
____________Dear ALL,
I believe the definitions of "Mind-set" and "Psychosomatic" are VERY different. I CLEARLY stated that it was NOT my intention to imply that symptoms associated with taking Effexor or withdrawing from the drug were "figments of the imagination." My point, missed by most, was that by reading many of these posts, one MIGHT associate a number of physiological conditions with Effexor, when in fact, there is NO correlation. OR...to go one step further, the mere "anticipation" of an experience can lead the mind to play dirty tricks...oh, the power of suggestion.I was simply baffled by the number of posters who continued to take the drug following the onset of crippling, debilitating, life-threatening symptomatology...and then engage in Effexor bashing, as if being FORCED to swallow the "lethal" drug by some strange habit or compulsion.
While the drug, no doubt, has some nasty withdrawal side effects, these CAN be controlled and minimalized with a sensible approach to weaning over whatever amount of time is required. No need to be a hero...right, folks? This is not natural childbirth!!!
Having never taken any medication similar to Effexor, with the exception of Buspar, I am hesitant to say whether I would recommend it to a friend. Certainly, a forewarning seems appropriate in this case.
If Leo is representative of the majority of Effexor users, then we may all look forward to basking on the beaches of the French Riviera, enjoying our award from the class action suit.
A New Straw in the Drink
Janie
BSN, M.ED, M.A.
ER Nurse Specialist (and much, much more)P.S. I am quite accustomed to feisty debate on classical music discussion sites, so my flame-proof suit is always pressed and starched. :-)
poster:Janie
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010319/msgs/57295.html