venlafaxine withdrawal- please help!!
Posted , 169 users are following.
Hi there, ive just joined on here to get some advice and support... i was prescribed venlafaxine xl (modified release) 10 yrs ago for severe depression after my daughter was born, over the years this has been increased to 225mg a day. My partner and i want to have another baby and was aware of the effects venlafaxine has or could have on a unborn child so i went to my psychiatrist to ask for there help to come off it, they drew up a plan where i would gradually reduce my amount by 37.5mg each week. This was 6 wks or so ago and am now on day two of no venlafaxine what so ever.... but im suffering really bad withdrawal symptoms.... excruciating headaches, shaking and shivering, nausa. This evening i had a major breakdown and couldnt stop crying. I had to be prescribed diazepam! I feel worse as each day goes by, dont think i can do this for much longer if this carries on.... i really want to get off this drug but i dont know how long the withdrawal will last and when ill start to feel better, does anyone have any ideas??
I feel like im in living hell at the moment...i have been feeling so bad that ive been house bound now since i started this regeime, i just need to know when its goin to end.
13 likes, 509 replies
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE should have to experience this and the way it makes you feel, and its a crime that it is prescribed FAR TOO QUICKLY to patients without proper investigation into thier INDIVIDUAl circumstances first.
I have diet plans and ideas that i used to get me through it, and if anyone wants any help or advice, please dont hesitate to ask.
Good luck.
laurie
laurie1
Posted
First of all, Venlafaxine IS MOST DEFINATELY a bad drug, and has NO real place in our lives, wether o not you are a clinical psychologist for 30 years or more, makes no difference to the fact that this drug is dangerous and woefully untested in general when it was released to the unsuspecting public arena.
Before venlafaxine is prescribed, there should be a whole load of other anti depressants tried first, as this drug is a LAST RESORT medication for people who all else has failed or not had any effect.
The stories i have heard from people locally, is enough to make you shake, having been prescribed this drug before ANY other.
Doctors are more interested in aving money than people these days( I refer mostly to GP's), from my own personal experience, which, i might add, is much more relevant than any medical professional, because i, like most people with depression or mental health issues, have had the life experience of its effects, not just from a text book and exam results.
Sorry if i sound very patronising, but ive had many years of experiences with the mental health system and GP's who are just interested in getting you out of their surgery with something to shut you up.
That said, there are SOME good ones out there, but they are very few and far between.
Venlafaxine was never properly tested over a period of time, and there has recently been a paper written on this drug, by emminent researchers in the USA for the dept of health, who state in their findings that Venlafaxine is NOT a safe drug, and has far too many issues regarding side effects, withdrawl symptoms, and dependency issues.
If doctors were to be liable for the results of dishing out this drug willy nilly without proper diagnosis of the patient, and then sued, there would be a sudden drop in the prescription of this mind altering, emotion killing drug.
Before i decided to just stop taking this drug, i went to my GP, totally about another issue, i had noticed that my little finger on my left hand, had seized in a bent position, and it was a bit painful. My GP's first words, after reading my notes, were, "i see you are on slow release venlafaxine capsules, i think ill put you on the tablets instead". When i explained the reason i was on slow release was because the tablets give you the venlafaxine in one hit, rather than over the course of 24 hours, and therefore my body has adjusted to that dose. She said, well the cost difference is quite a bit, nearly £3 per capsule as to 30p per tablet.
I was quite astounded that COST was the issue here and not my health, and she barely got around to the fact that my finger was why i was at the surgery!! Turned out i have Dupetrens.
Just wanted to get that point over!!
Diazepam.
Now theres another drug that some so called professionals in mental health defend, but its a WELL known fact, that it is a dependant drug, which is why doctors will not give you a long term prescription, because its dangerous and ADDICTIVE!!
My father in law was a ww2 veteran, but suffered badly with combat stress and shell shock after the war, he spent time in an asylum and was eventually put onto Diazepam when it first came out, the "WONDER" drug of its time, but also a mind altering killer.
My father in law died from the effects of this drug, because it turned him into a zombie with OCD, and deep depression through having to be prescribed more and more to gain the effects of the first doses.
Ive had this drug also, when i was medically retired from the military in 2005 with PTSD and combat stress, i was tried on several drugs, but the only one that calmed me straight away was diazepam. Great you might think, NO. it is a mind altering drug, turns you from mr Jeykl into Mr Hyde instantly after you stop it.
I was driven to suicide after being given this, and ive seen the effects of it on others too.
So, if ANY of you go to your GP or psychiatrists for help, then make sure you ask to be started off on the "ENTRY" anti depressants, like citalopram and fluoxitine. DO NOT let any medical professional fob you off with venlafaxine, it will get into your system and seriously mess you up.
My marraige and my life has been ruined because of this drug, hence the reason i decided one day, a few weeks back, to just go cold turkey and get it out of my system.
If you are a normally strong willed or determined human being, then before contemplating a cold turkey regime, make sure you prepare yourself for what to expect, so you avoid panicing when effects hit you that are scary!
Look up the effects that occur from cold turkey, the headaches, sickness and buzzing in the head usually last about a week, sometimes will go sooner, depending on how large the dose you have been taking of venlafaxine, and the length of time you have been on it.
I was on 150mgs daily and this was the slow release capsules, i was advised many times by my doc to "up" this dose, but refused because i could see how bad other people were on higher doses, and i DID NOT want to get that bad.
So, be prepared to understand what you will experience going cold turkey.
Remember this VITAL thought, by NOT taking venlafaxine, it will not kill you, so giving it up is going to be painful and uncomfortable to say the least, but it CANNOT kill you.
Like all drug addicts, wether it be heroin, cannabis or whatever, its never easy to go cold turkey and get clean, but at the same time, this will NOT kill you, just be very uncomfortable and you WILL feel the need to just take the drug to end the agony of going cold turkey, but preparation is your weapon in winning.
Make sure you have a good supply of seratonin boosting food to eat when you start going cold turkey, you wont feel like eating much at first, but the sickness passes after a few days, so stick with it.
Drink PLENTY of fluids, Water, fruit juices, green tea etc etc, try to keep off milk and dairy items.
Chicken and fish is very good seratonin boosters, and natural foods, especially plenty of vegatables and fruits.
Check out the websites on the net for Seratonin booster foods, and get yourself a supply before you start your cold turkey.
TELL those around you what you are doing, and get their support! do not try it on your own unless you have no choice ok?
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from it, if you work, the it would be a goo idea to give yourself a 2 or 3 week break, to give yourself the chance to be better in yourself and fit enough.
When you have got through the worst part, see your GP and get them to prescribe you a MILD anti depressant like Citalopram, lowest dose, to give your mental system that little boost.
It has taken me 5 weeks to be back the way i was before i went cold turkey, and i feel much better for getting this crap out of my system.
Venlafaxine will alter you totally, you become an emotionless zombie, unable to produce tears or care about things and people around you, the higher the dose, the more it takes you over and the harder it is to get it out of your system.
NO ONE should have to experience this and the way it makes you feel, and its a crime that it is prescribed FAR TOO QUICKLY to patients without proper investigation into thier INDIVIDUAl circumstances first.
I have diet plans and ideas that i used to get me through it, and if anyone wants any help or advice, please dont hesitate to ask.
Good luck.
laurie
Rachthemidwife
Posted
You have had a really horrid time. However, coming both from the point of view of both someone in the medical world AND an ex-Venlafaxine user, you should know that doctors do not get paid differently according to what they prescribe and they are mostly devoted to their (often difficult ) task, of helping very different clients with a huge variety of issues. I know stacks of doctors and they are, without exception, truly caring - many of thm have actually suffered from depression too and taken anti-depressants so the assertion that somehow we patients know things that they do not is just not true.
All the doctors that I know prescribe Venlafaxine as a last resort or if they feel it is appropriate. SO, I was started on Citalopram and it made me really much worse - and BTW did you now that SSRIs are used as chemical castration drugs because they stop the libido! If I had been forced to stay on SSRIs just because they suit other people, I would never have recovered. SO you love Citalopram; it wasn't the drug for me but I am not going to yell about it and call it names when it is so good for other people!
I was then tried on Mirtazapine and Olanzapine because my symptoms were pointing in that direction. They calmed me down a bit but I couldn't wake up long enough to work. Venlafaxine was a life-saver for me and many other people I have spoken to. BUT it will not cure you of being you so, after you come off it, the problems will still be there if you have not sorted them out. Depression and anxiety do not exist in a vacuum - there are reasons why we become unwell and anti-depressants just stabilise us so that we can more easily sort out the initial problem. Too many oeople blame the drugs when they find that the problems still exist.
I had anxiety depression which manifested as a complete nervous breakdown - I was really pretty nuts! Venlafaxine was like having a holiday from myself so, when you say that it turns you into a zombie, I say that is not true for everyone. I really needed something to turn the volume on my nutty emotions down before I harmed myself. I can see that, if you are depressed, you might need serotonin, but if, like me, you are wild and manic and panic-stricken, you might be short of dopamine or noradrenaline or a mixture of all three. Your poor doctor has to try and work this out and there is no blood test that can accurately say what your personal chemical imbalance is. SUre, coming off Venlafaxine can be really tough, but when you need the big guns to treat your nuttiness, it may be the drug for you.
Eating and sleeping well as well as exercise are, of course, essential for our mental well-being but good research does not actually support the theory that the foods you mention help serotonin levels. Just because there are certain substances in a foodstuff does not automatically mean that the body can use it. Exercise and sunshine as well as cutting down on alcohol and smoking have all got good evidence to show they help keep depression at bay and, CBT also has very good evidence that it can help some people. For some, however, we need a damn good drug (with all its imperfections) to make it possible for us to even get through the psychotherapist's door!
Of course no drug is perfect and doctors are actually imperfect humans just like you and me but please understand that even the strongest drugs with the harshest side effects can save lives - talk to anyone who has ever had chemo and been cured of a deadly cancer and tell them that it was a crime that they were prescribed it!
I am now 4 months post-Venlafaxine - two years on a high dose. It was two years of an emotional holiday which I desperately needed followed by two tricky weeks coming off. I now have the immensely hard task, with the ongoing help of my pschotherapist of working through the stuff that sent me nuts in the first place. Venlafaxine was the right drug for me. It may not be the right drug for other people but that does not make it or the doctors bad.
If you are reading this and are worried about taking Venlafaxine, your doctor is a highly qualified and sensible professional. If you think it is the wrong drug for you, talk to him/her and also get on the waiting list for pschotherapy or CBT. There is a reason why you became unwell and the drugs will just stabilise you so that ou can face working through your problems. If Venlafaxine is the right drug for you, take it - it has been through as many trials as other drugs and has been around longer than many. If you find it helps, you won't mind the side effects. If you don't find that it helps, you willhate the side effects so try a different drug. You need support from good friends, a good GP (change GPs if you think you have a poor one) and good talking therapy of some kind or another. Ask to be referred to the local mental health team and, if you are really worried, ask to see a consultant psychiatrist. Basically, take responsibility for the fact that you need to get yourself well again and do the work. It pays off in the end.