So many people, year after year, living with both their antidepressants and their depression. And they don't even see the irony. The chemical unbalance view of unhappiness, mala medicina at his finest. Reducing human suffering to a neurotransmitter is a spectacular failure of scientific thinking.
I'm 82 years old. Started taking Effexor in 2000. Had a new physician boss who was a holy terror and needed something for my anxiety. Long story short, I'm still taking (now venlafaxine) 150 mg. My PCP never asked me about eliminating it over the years I went to her. Fast forward to 2024, new PCP and he tried to help me get off the drug. After a few weeks of the horrible side effects of not taking or taking every other day, etc, I decided at this point why stop? I should have been more involved and asked, guess I blame myself for not taking charge.
Effexor is *extremely* hard to get off of. IMH and non-medical O, you cannot stop that drug cold turkey or go to every other day over a few weeks. You have to titrate it down over what could end up being years, & you still might get "brain shivers" (don't know if that's one of your side effects) for some time after you're completely off it. For me it seemed to hook into a deep deep place somewhere that was extraordinarily hard to disengage from. It's hard to explain; I suppose technically it's a physical place but it felt like something else entirely. I keep wanting to use the word "psyche." There are chat rooms full of people talking about difficulties with that drug.
That's why it seems pointless to suffer the consequences of trying to get off of it. At 80 something we don't need anything else messing with our "psyche." lol Maybe I don't want to see who I really might be without it. just kidding
I wasn't suggesting you do. Just shocked that, given how bad this drug's reputation is for discontinuation, anyone would support "a couple of weeks of not taking or taking every other day, etc." I can't remember what my dose was, but I reduced it by the **tiniest** increments possible & stayed at that level for weeks to months before trying to reduce it again & had to go through "brain-shiver" withdrawal every single time. It took around 3 years. I wasn't in my 80s at the time.
I am much more disappointed in former PCP who should have recognized after prescribing that it shouldn't be lifelong thing. The sad part is she became a bought and paid for doc that was not paying attention. I don't change physicians lightly and agonized over leaving.
Please do an episode discussing similar topic. I have been on Crestor about 26 years, side effects I know about and am currently 74 years old. My PCP says some algorithm says I should stay on. A functional MD told me to throw them out now. What does the evidence? show?
What side effects are you concerned about? Rosuvastatin is (like statins generally) good for reducing LDL, which is a risk for cardiovascular disease. It is not a SSRI.
My error! I left out the NO. No side effects. I’m asking for Vinay to review the evidence what for many people is a lifetime drug. Thx for noticing my omission of a critical word.
As the people in the South say WhatChuNotGonnaDo is put a 7 year old on SSRIs and for 40 years at that. Too many doctors have lost the plot.
So many people, year after year, living with both their antidepressants and their depression. And they don't even see the irony. The chemical unbalance view of unhappiness, mala medicina at his finest. Reducing human suffering to a neurotransmitter is a spectacular failure of scientific thinking.
WORD!
Exactly, Rachel! And, if I might add, “ He’s BACK!” I am loving it.
Yep! He’s back!! 👍👍👍
I'm 82 years old. Started taking Effexor in 2000. Had a new physician boss who was a holy terror and needed something for my anxiety. Long story short, I'm still taking (now venlafaxine) 150 mg. My PCP never asked me about eliminating it over the years I went to her. Fast forward to 2024, new PCP and he tried to help me get off the drug. After a few weeks of the horrible side effects of not taking or taking every other day, etc, I decided at this point why stop? I should have been more involved and asked, guess I blame myself for not taking charge.
Effexor is *extremely* hard to get off of. IMH and non-medical O, you cannot stop that drug cold turkey or go to every other day over a few weeks. You have to titrate it down over what could end up being years, & you still might get "brain shivers" (don't know if that's one of your side effects) for some time after you're completely off it. For me it seemed to hook into a deep deep place somewhere that was extraordinarily hard to disengage from. It's hard to explain; I suppose technically it's a physical place but it felt like something else entirely. I keep wanting to use the word "psyche." There are chat rooms full of people talking about difficulties with that drug.
That's why it seems pointless to suffer the consequences of trying to get off of it. At 80 something we don't need anything else messing with our "psyche." lol Maybe I don't want to see who I really might be without it. just kidding
I wasn't suggesting you do. Just shocked that, given how bad this drug's reputation is for discontinuation, anyone would support "a couple of weeks of not taking or taking every other day, etc." I can't remember what my dose was, but I reduced it by the **tiniest** increments possible & stayed at that level for weeks to months before trying to reduce it again & had to go through "brain-shiver" withdrawal every single time. It took around 3 years. I wasn't in my 80s at the time.
I am much more disappointed in former PCP who should have recognized after prescribing that it shouldn't be lifelong thing. The sad part is she became a bought and paid for doc that was not paying attention. I don't change physicians lightly and agonized over leaving.
Please do an episode discussing similar topic. I have been on Crestor about 26 years, side effects I know about and am currently 74 years old. My PCP says some algorithm says I should stay on. A functional MD told me to throw them out now. What does the evidence? show?
What side effects are you concerned about? Rosuvastatin is (like statins generally) good for reducing LDL, which is a risk for cardiovascular disease. It is not a SSRI.
My error! I left out the NO. No side effects. I’m asking for Vinay to review the evidence what for many people is a lifetime drug. Thx for noticing my omission of a critical word.