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lasting nervous system damage due to longterm use of venlafaxine

Posted , 10 users are following.

Riabird
Riabird

Hi, I have been taking venlafaxine 300mg for well over 10 years, am currently on a withdrawal programme.

I was told that it was possible that there may be permanent damage to my nervous system as a result of taking this drug for so long.

Does anybody know anything about this or has anyone suffered lasting effects?

1 like, 18 replies

18 Replies

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  • lauracatt
    lauracatt Riabird

    Posted

    I too had been taking venlafaxine for 8 years fluctuating from 75/150mg. 

    I came off them December last year and since 3 of my teeth have had to be extracted - I always had healthy teeth and I have been experiencing awful panic attacks since - I am now taking 20mg of citalopram to counteract that’s an fortunately it seems to be easing off. But what’s causing these panics is pain I am getting in my upper back/shoulder blade and chest all in one general area, at first I immediately thought it was my heart then lungs and now I believe I could also have nerve damage, I feel permanently ruined by taking this drug - something that helped me has left me with these what seem to be permanent side effects. I’m a bit angry about it all. 

    • michele_33333
      michele_33333 lauracatt

      Posted

       I am still angry  -  nearly 7 years after I withdrew from venlafaxine ... the first time.  I have yet to bring myself to write down or record anywhere online the extent of the severity and longevity of my hellish withdrawal experience.  I was on 150mg about 6-7 years.  At my request to come off,  I was brought down to zero mg in 5 days. I myself knew no better - then.  Longer story short I had to be reinstated on that drug.  The next time I attempted to withdraw - I now no longer remember what the timeframe of that taper was - but I remember plunging back into hell.  This included feeling as though my lungs were burning and also having a slamming heart.    I was then forced on to a stronger drug  -  with a much longer half life  - which the doctor eventually weaned me slowly down from.  I went on to this site to see if others are troubled by pheripheal neuropathy type problems.  Currently I’m dealing with paresthesia down my left leg -  and into my groin.  I had - among many other nasty symptoms -  a massive amount of  paresthesia in the full blown withdrawal stages. This is common I have learned.  CNS  damage is not uncommon with this drug I have read.   Millions of people have been left angry  from their experiences with the whole class of drugs effectively marketed as  “antidepressant  medications“.    I have done a vast amount of research since the beginning of being put through the medical system hell and my world has changed.   I have found a very deep level of cynicism  and I truly hate the drug industry.    It is very much their standard practice to release what they know to be dangerous drugs onto the market  -  and to push them “off label”  for every possible reason they can get away with.  Their corruption knows no bounds -  all easy to find out with thorough research.    I am avoiding western medical doctors as much as possible for the rest of the days I have left.   My best wishes to you in the hope that you fully heal  from the damage  caused by venlafaxine.   The world needs to be familiar with the word iatrogenesis -  because there are millions of people  suffering from that condition  without even realising it.  

  • unlucy
    unlucy Riabird

    Posted

    Hi Riabird how did you manage ? I have just came across this site did you get nervous system damage or where you ok , If not did you get anything to help with damage that you could please share with me thankyou

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