Posted by Sandman on January 4, 2004, at 10:48:54
In reply to Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by janey on November 1, 1998, at 16:30:34
I just thought I would add my two cents here. I've been on 375 mg of Effexor for several years and have no intentions of trying to go off of it. I have a long history of depression and Effexor (with Remeron) are the only anti-depressants that will work for me. (My doctors tried virtually every anti-depressant and every combination of them.) According to many doctors I've spoke with, going off of Effexor could be very risky. If I ever needed to go back to it, there exists a high probability of it not working the second time.
I learned something else that's quite interesting from the head of the psychiatry department at a major Chicago hospital. Years ago, it was believed by the psychiatric community, that after being on an anti-depressant for six months or so and feeling better, it was OK to come of the medication(s.) But in recent years they've learned differently. Supposedly, if a person has had more than one major depressive episode, the depression will very likely come back again. Therefore, someone with a history of depression such as myself, needs to stay on the medication indefinitely.
I have read some, but not all, of the above posts and am sure many of you have situations different than mine. But if your situation is like mine, you may want to talk to one or more psychiatrists about whether or not to stay on Effexor or whatever anti-depressant you may be taking.
poster:Sandman
thread:1016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031231/msgs/296318.html