Posted by Laura R on July 11, 2009, at 13:07:24
In reply to Re: anyone been on effexor xr for more than 1 year, posted by jvalori1 on March 16, 2001, at 22:22:19
I was on effexor for several years and would feel it immediately if I missed a dose by even a few hours. I'd get a really strange dizzy feeling that seemed to be related to movement of my eyes. I also felt that I was having unusual memory loss that I had at first chalked up to aging...(I'm 45). I had a very hard time getting off the drug with the dizzy feeling lasting for weeks rather than the few days my doctor suggested it took the drug to get out of my system. After about 2.5 months I felt like it was finally out of my system. I then went through a period where I had absolutely no appetite (a great "side effect"). I wasn't ill, just didn't really want anything to do with food even things I normally loved. In hind sight, I think the effects of effexor were dramatic but subtle enough that I really didn't see them until later. #1 my normally straight hair turned curly...now off effexor for 5 months my hair is returning to it's normal texture and losing it's curl. #2 weight gain while on the drug ...one of my withdrawal side effects was total loss of appetite (the only good one), and I lost 20 lbs #3 my memory which was normally excellent faded ...now it's returning but not to where I was pre-effexor #4 the loss of my memory was clearly understood but I sort of joked that the effexor made me not care...off the drug I care and am no longer "numb" to changes #5 I almost lost my capacity to prioritize and accomplish tasks...again something I was very good at before. That is coming back but not to pre-effexor levels.
Effexor did help my depression which I would classify as chronic but not major. However, I do not feel my doctor or the general community has a clear understanding of the lasting and substantial side effects of this drug. The information I received from my doctor was uninformed at best. Trust your own body and it's signals. Effexor might be suited for major depression but understand that in cases like mine and I'm sure others, this drug has some insidious side effects.
poster:Laura R
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090709/msgs/906242.html