Are you serious? Curezones motto "educate instead of medicate" mean anything to you! Those drugs you're talking about are about the same as heroin or cocaine! Ya they make you feel better but they do have their side effects ! Like addiction bad health and even suicide! If you want to get off them you are at the right place if you want support for drug therepy go to Lilly or Pfiezer or someone else who wants to profit from other peoples misery! Grog

HI there,

My husband and friend were both on Effexor. My friend went off it and I almost had to take her oto the hospital, she was violently ill, vomiting all night. It is very much like heroin withdrawal it is that bad - like the worst flu you ever had.

My husband, while on Effexor, had horrible side effects ranging from muscle spasms to a complete psychotic break. After a year and a half, he is still having the spasms.

Effexor I have seen has caused nothing but pain for the people I know and love who have taken it. My warning is beware - do NOT go off it right away...taper off gradually.

There are so many alternatives, good luck exploring...be very very careful with Effexor.

Blessings,

Ali

Hi,
I can't answer your question because I've only taken Effexor XR in the morning. However, I did alot of reading first and was very hesitant in trying it. However, I've taken antidepressants over 20 years with various degrees of success. My psychiatrist told me that it's the best there is and it can give me energy. I have Depression AND a new diagnoses of ADD inattentive type which causes severe inability to function. So I'm desperate! (I had experimented with Cortef (cortisol) after doing alot of reading and finding a doctor who would let me try it and found that with it and testosterone shots (I was low in testosterone) I did great, the inability to function was no longer a problem whatsoever! However, the doctor made me stop the Cortef and I haven't found anyone yet who will prescribe it. So being in such a dilemma and desperately needing to be able to function, I succombed to trying the Effexor. So far I haven't achieved the ability to function again but I've just increased it and waiting for the effects. It's supposed to increase the norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain, as I understand it. It DOES have the worst reputation I've seen for side effects and you absolutely must GRADUALLY taper off when time to come off. I'm not looking forward to that. And I've also heard you can have side effects if you even miss a dose or are late taking it. So I'm very careful with that. I have tried so many antidepressants over the years that never fully got rid of the inability to function factor, so I had to take a chance. I made my doctor agree to make sure he takes me off very slowly when the time comes.

I have tried to go as natural as possible, dropping lots of meds. I don't regret it. Currently I'm also on Adderall, an amphetamine, which I'm not totally comfortable with, however, since I can't get what worked, I don't have alot of choice. I'd prefer to take something that naturally occurs in the body that I may be low in! But doctors are so scared of cortisol even in low doses, that it's hard to get. (There's an excellent book by Dr. Jefferies called "Safe Uses of Cortisol" that explains why it's safe in low doses.) The thing is that so far I have to find a way to function.

Sorry, I'm no help with your question, but I hope your husband can get it figured out. (I did notice that at first I was extremely sleepy with Effexor but it sort of wore off after awhile. So your problem may solve itself in time. I don't know.)
Linda in Va.