Effexor / Efexor – Venlafaxine – Panic Attacks, Anxiety And Depression – What are your thoughts on this drug?

 My name is John. I was first diagnosed with depression when I was around 16 years old. I’m 29 now and over the years I have battled with depression and anxiety in many different ways. After I was coaxed into taking a bad dose of LSD when I was 16 I have never been the same since. I have hallucinations which have thankfully reduced over the years but have become a little more frequent again over the last 6 months. I cant sleep sometimes for a few days at a time and I constantly have terrifying panic attacks which often feel like a heart attack or give me a feeling that something vital within my brain is going to pop and kill me. I’m terrifyed of leaving the house and my social skills are next to none existant or they are exercised only via means of the internet.

 I have been in a rehabilitation centre in Belfast 3 times over the last lot of years and I was also in a mental hospital detox ward once for 3 weeks. I’m a recovering alcoholic, diazepam addict and cannabis addict (even though some people would argue cannabis is only psychologically addictive).

 I have not had any use of alcohol in over 16 months thankfully and I also have not smoked any cannabis in quite a while.

  Over the last lot of years I have tried many different medications. In regards to anti- depressants and anti-anxiety medications the tablets I was on over the last lot of years are mirtazapine 45mg, prozac 60mg, citalopram, duloxetine, diazepam, temazepam, propanolol, zopliclone, seroxat, and a few others.

 Due to the recent increase in panic attacks which I’ve been having over the last 6 months I went and seen a psychiatrist and consultant to get the appropriate diagnosis and medication. In the past while dealing with these type of professionals I was diagnosed with post traumatic stress, depression and addiction. I still dont feel as though I have been properly diagnosed or had my problems anywhere near addressed ( with the exception of addiction). I still feel some form of undiagnosed and unaddressed mental illness is there. The last appointment I had with the consultant left me being told my symptoms are related to fear( which left me none the wiser) and also resulted me being perscribed the medication, ‘ Efexor / Effexor / Venlafaxine’.

  As soon as I was told I was being perscribed these tablets I checked them up on the internet and some of the stories I had read and videos I watched on youtube where pretty terrifying. Have a look at this youtube video for example

 

  I also had a look at some of the side effects on wikipedia. Here are some examples :

 Common side effects

NOTE: The percentage of occurrences for each side effect listed comes from clinical trial data provided by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc. The percentages indicate the percentage of people that experienced the side effect in clinical trials.^[2]

• Headache (34%)
• Nausea (21-35%)
• Insomnia (15-23%)
• Sexual dysfunction (14-34%)
• Dry mouth (12-16%)
• Dizziness (11-20%)
• Sweating (10-14%)
• Decreased Appetite (8-20%)
• Abnormal ejaculation (8-16%)
• Hypertension (4-5%)
• Vivid/Abnormal dreams (3-7%)
• Akathisia (Agitation) (3-4%)
• Decreased libido (3-9%)
• Increased yawning (3-5%)
• Apathy
• Constipation
• Ongoing Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Fatigue
• Vertigo
• Orthostatic hypotension (postural drop in blood pressure)
• Impulsive Actions
• Electric shock-like sensations also called “Brain zaps“
• Increased anxiety at the start of treatment
• Memory Loss
• Restless Legs Syndrome

 

Less common to rare side-effects

Note ‘Rare’ adverse effects occur in fewer than 1 in 1000 patients. ‘Infrequent’ adverse effects occur in 1 in 100 to 1 in 1000 patients.^[2]

• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Increased serum cholesterol
• Gas or stomach pain
• Abnormal vision
• Nervousness, agitation or increased anxiety
• Panic Attacks
• Depressed feelings
• Suicidal thoughts
• Confusion
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Loss of appetite
• Tremor
• Drowsiness
• Allergic skin reactions
• External bleeding
• Serious bone marrow damage (thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis)
• Hepatitis
• Pancreatitis
• Seizure
• Tardive dyskinesia
• Difficulty swallowing
• Psychosis
• Hair Loss
• Hostility
• Activation of mania/hypomania.
• Weight Loss (of concern when treating patients suffering from anorexia nervosa)
• Weight gain (effect not clear, but of concern when treating people who may have Body Dysmorphic Disorder).
• Homicidal Thoughts
• Aggression
• Depersonalization
• Visual Hallucinations
• Swollen and/or bleeding gums
• Frequent urination

Since reading all this information and watching various videos on youtube regarding this drug I have been really scared to take my tablets. I took one when I was first given them and I havn’t taken another one since then. My panic attacks are up to a dozen random times per day at the moment. My anxiety and depression is really scary.

What I would like to know is, ‘What are your experiences with this drug?’  . Has it helped you? Did you experience any of the nasty side effects. What was withdrawl like?

There are even some random pictures that I have seen on the internet that are a litle scary regarding the withdrawl symptoms of this drug.

can bring you to your knees!

 

 Please comment on this blog and share your thoughts and views.

 I really appreciate you taking the time to read this post and I hope that if you are ill you find recovery, help and remission in the very near future.

 REMEMBER THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE !!!!  Always be open and honest with your family and when you see your doctor make sure that you tell them EVERYTHING !!!

                                 Take care ,        John