[SSRI-Research] The Whole Story: How I became addicted to Effexor

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> " SSRI-Research " <ssri-research >

> UGH

> Mon, 12 Jul 2004 20:55:56 -0400

> [sSRI-Research] The Whole Story: How I

> became addicted to Effexor

>

> The Whole Story: How I became addicted to Effexor.

> http://home.pacbell.net/hookup1/effexor_story.html

>

> In 1997, I underwent an arthroscopic shoulder

> surgery on my right shoulder

> for problems brought on by over 20 years as a

> flooring installer.

>

> During the procedure, the anesthesiologist

> performed what is called an

> interscalene block, which is designed to block the

> pain in the region in

> which the surgery was performed. In my case, the

> anesthetic was injected

> into the neck area where the nerves to the shoulder

> on that side are

> located. Also in that area is the Phrenic Nerve,

> which controls the

> diaphragm. The anesthesia introduced in such a

> procedure commonly blocks not

> only the nerves to the shoulder, but the Phrenic

> Nerve as well.

>

> When I awoke from the anesthesia, I was unable to

> fully breathe, because

> of the anesthetized nerve to the diaphragm. As this

> was an outpatient

> surgery, I was sent home. For about 14 hours, I

> fought for each breath and

> became ever more afraid because I was unaware of

> what was happening to me. I

> thought at the time I was going to die, which

> brought on even more panic. I

> almost considered suicide.

>

> Think of expelling all the air from your lungs and

> holding it out until you

> can't stand it any longer. Then take a breath.

> Repeat that for 14 hours.

> Yes, it was hell. The anesthesiologist called during

> the day, and when I

> told him of the major problem, he said, " Oh, that's

> just the anesthesia on

> board, you'll be fine. " Well I was not fine.

>

> The surgery was a failure because the surgeon,

> for whatever reason,

> decided to not fully repair the damage to my

> shoulder. It certainly would

> have required a more aggressive procedure. (More on

> that in a minute.)

> I lived with the pain in my shoulder for another

> five years, fearing

> anesthesia problems, which actually became a phobia.

>

> Unable to endure the pain and unable to work, I

> finally consulted another

> surgeon. We decided to schedule another surgery,

> discussed my concerns, and

> everything seemed fine. Literally thirty seconds

> before I was to lie on the

> table, the anesthesiologist mentioned something

> about a " block " . I stood up

> and said, " This isn't a nerve block is it? " He

> replied, " They're not that

> big a deal. " I immediately removed my surgical gown,

> put my clothes on and

> walked out. Just like that.

>

> During the five years after the 1997 surgery, I

> had, or thought I had

> problems breathing. My family doctor suggested I

> might be depressed because

> of shortness of breath. The list of symptoms used by

> doctors to diagnose

> depression is misleading at best, and among those

> symptoms is shortness of

> breath. I was given Effexor, an anti-depressant also

> used for anxiety, which

> I had from time to time. I was fully unaware that

> this drug is addictive,

> nor was I ever informed.

>

> I seemed to be doing all right on the drug so I

> took it and trusted my

> doctor. A major mistake on my part.

>

> In 2002, I saw a surgeon recommended by a highly

> respected nurse, who is

> a friend of Melodie, my much better half. The

> surgeon and his

> anesthesiologist both told me " We don't do blocks,

> there are complications. "

> I approved and had the surgery. It took two

> surgeons, two and a half hours

> to repair the damage.

>

> I awoke feeling just fine. No problems whatsoever.

> Needless to say, I was

> elated.

>

> Shortly thereafter, I realized that the whole

> anti-depressant thing was no

> longer needed (and was probably never needed) and

> asked about stopping the

> medication. That's when all hell broke loose. The

> doctor who had me on the

> Effexor said, " There's no stigma attached to

> patients who take

> anti-depressants like there once was. Think of it

> like an insulin dependent

> diabetic, you may have to take it for the rest of

> your life. " I was not

> willing to accept that as an answer.

>

> I began weaning myself from Effexor as advised by

> another doctor (Who

> also did not mention that Effexor is addictive) and

> as suggested in the

> manufacturer's label. Withdrawal symptoms began

> within hours. After two

> failed attempts to quit, I tried again.

>

> I finally took the capsules apart and lowered the

> dosages as slowly as

> possible. Still, the withdrawal was hell.

>

> I called the prescribing family doctor. He told me

> to " Walk around the block

> for twenty minutes, it will help increase the

> serotonin levels in the body. "

> He then said " I really must go, I have patients

> waiting. " I absolutely could

> not believe what I had just heard. I turned

> elsewhere for immediate help.

>

> Thanks to a medical hotline to my insurance

> company, I was referred to a

> psychologist (does not prescribe drugs) and her

> colleague, a psychiatrist.

> (does prescribe drugs.)

>

> Well, they knew right away what was happening to

> me and saw me through

> the detoxification period. Thirteen weeks of hell

> plus another year. ( I'm

> still not totally myself yet.)

>

> To this day, I can't believe that I, and

> literally tens of thousands of

> others just like me, are being ignored when we

> demand to be heard by our

> doctors. Frankly, most just aren't much help when

> problems like these arise.

> It sickens me when I hear others portray those on

> SSRI class of

> anti-depressants in a negative light. When a patient

> encounters wave after

> wave of hellish withdrawals, and other side effects

> including suicide, and

> in some cases homicide, it is usually dismissed as a

> mental illness, and not

> the poison which is supposed to correct the original

> condition. In a vast

> majority of cases, the patient who is given one of

> the popular

> anti-depressants can be helped with much less

> medication, over a much

> shorter period. Unfortunately, the latter is not as

> profitable for doctors

> and pharmaceutical companies.

>

> doug

>

> See also Doug Tyler's Effexor page at:

> http://home.pacbell.net/hookup1/effexor.html

> and his letter to Wyeth CEO Robert Essner at:

>

http://home.pacbell.net/hookup1/wyeth_site_letter.html

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]