justAna

Once a fisherman was sitting near the seashore under the shadow of a tree, smoking his cigarette. Suddenly a rich businessman passing by approached him and inquired as to why he was sitting under a tree smoking and not working. To this the poor fisherman replied that he had caught enough fishes for the day.

Hearing this, the rich man got angry and said: "why don't you catch more fishes instead of sitting in shadow wasting your time?"

Fisherman asked: "what would I do by catching more fishes?"
Businessman: "you could catch more fishes, sell them and earn more money, and buy a bigger boat."
Fisherman: "what would I do then?"
Businessman: "you could go fishing in deep waters and catch even more fishes and earn even more money
Fisherman: "what would I do then
Businessman: "you could buy many boats and employ many people to work for you and earn even more money."
Fisherman: "what would I do then?"
Businessman: "you could become a rich businessman like me."
Fisherman: "what would I do then?"
Businessman: "you could then enjoy your life peacefully."
Fisherman: "what do you think I'm doing right now?"

The French author Daniel Pennac has this wonderful book. I would like to share it with you. The poster is illustrated by Quentin Blake. The last phrase is "Don’t make fun of people who don’t read—or they never will." I'm reading and liking it a lot.
The book is thin and some chapters has only one or two paragraphs. It's quick to read but I'm not telling you to read it. Or you can read skip pages, dip in... I don't know. Do as you like.

Jennifer of Philadelphia PA (08/23/08)
" have been taking Effexor 37.5 mg for many years. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to taper off. When I do, even slowly, I get crying jags, I feel out of control, incredibly anxious, dizzy and nauseous. In the past year I have been getting sick from actually TAKING the drug, so much that I was prescribed the anti-nausea medicine Compazine. I now have to break the pill in tiny pieces and take it over the course of the day. If I even take half, I vomit. I feel that I am trapped in this vicious cycle, can't take the medicine, can't get off of the medicine.
I am spending approx. $600 or more per year (I do not have prescription coverage) to take a medication that does nothing for me, and makes me sick. I was diagnosed a couple of months ago with an ulcer, and I cannot imagin that this medication is helping. I am wastig money and I am literally sick from this."

I feel almost the same. I feel dizzy, my head aches... plenty physical symptoms. Its impossible to withdraw because there are no tablets available and I cannot cut XR capsules. I don't feel like doing anything. I wonder if the tablets were available how would I stand withdrawal if I'm already feeling all these symptoms.
I don't know what to do.
I'm scary and in despair.

I'm feeling very sad. It's been very difficult to deal with the harms psych-drugs has caused. I'm still trying to understand it.
I believe that's not the right way. I only have to accept it and live in peace. First I have to grieve. Now it's time to take the three pills and sleep the chemical Seroquel way.

These are some facts that puzzle me:

Here: "Neurotransmitter is a specialized messenger cell that transfers or sends information from one type of cell to another. Scientists have managed to identify over 100 neurotransmitters in the human brain alone, but evidence suggests we have significantly more than this number. An unfortunate aspect of not being able to identify all neurotransmitter cells is that researchers, especially those developing medications to act on specific messenger cells, can’t always determine why or how medications work or fail to work.

You’re probably familiar with some of the identified neurotransmitter names. These include dopamine, GABA, serotonin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine. Each of these performs some specific functions in the body. For instance serotonin is indicated in mood stability, emotional response, and temperature control. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that allows for the person to willfully or voluntarily use his or her muscles. While researchers can suggest the possible effects of certain neurotransmitters, they not only haven’t identified them all, but also are nowhere near determining all effects of the messenger cells that have been identified."

Here: "The neurotransmitters work by interacting with receptors. These are minute areas on the nerve or other cells that make the cell respond in the appropriate way. Some psychiatric drugs block these receptors, reducing the effect of a neurotransmitter. Others increase the level of a neurotransmitter, so its effects last longer. Because they all interact, changing the level of one neurotransmitter will change others; so however well a drug is targeted towards a particular receptor, it will have a knock-on effect on the whole system. One knock-on effect of many psychiatric drugs is to suppress acetylcholine, and this causes some of the side effects people experience."(emphasis mine)

Here: "The SSRIs are not selective for anything except that they act on all serotonin in the body.
Only 5% of this is in the brain. Five per cent. The other 95% is found throughout the body with large amounts being found in: the digestive system (stomach movement); the cardiovascular system (blood flow); blood cells (clotting); reproductive system (genitals); hormonal system (widespread effects on lots of physiological processes). All of which is acted upon by the drug. All of it."

Here: "Since we don’t understand the precise mechanism of each neurotransmitter or the true number of all that exist, we also can’t understand how medications, foods, or environmental exposure may affect these chemical messengers. Scientists and researchers must make educated guesses based on what is known, but the plethora of unknown information on these cells equates these theories to trying to playing darts in total darkness. Sometimes the guesses are pretty good; SSRIs for instance are reasonably effective for a lot of people. Other times these theories fail to work, since we’re guessing about what is essentially undiscovered territory, and we have no idea what other effects might be caused by raising or decreasing levels of certain chemicals made by the body."

Are you confused?

My work is being used to promote sales online.
When I search Google for justana i've found not only the one I've already reported but others:

http://shaperinfo.blogsome.com/2008/10/30/justana-strip-robinson-paxil-activist-praise-books/
http://farsclint.blogs.chatting.com/2008/11/10/justana-just-not-the-same-zoloft-withdrawal-history/
http://martincraft.blogvis.com/2008/11/24/justana-matisse-joy-of-the-breath-of-ones-nostrils/
http://topmeddrugs.machismo-health-men.com/?p=628

there are more!
They put a link on Zoloft or any other drug or medical condition to sites that sale drugs online.
This is unacceptable to say the least.

These are two of online drugstores that are using my posts:
http://professional-rx-drugs.com/
http://drugstorepharmacom.com/search/life+after+effexor.html

PS: Gianna just told me it happens to her daily. I was thinking to delete this post but I'll leave the two drugstores that are doing it as an example of how low these people go.

Why has she turned blond? :(

It's beyond comprehension people's behavior. This post I wrote was copied without any reference to my blog and is full of links promoting Effexor and other drugs online sales.
This is the page.
I want this person to take away my post immediately.
I don't understand how Livejournal can support such abuses.

I just came across with the book preview of "Essentials of Clinical Psychopharmacology" By Alan F. Schatzberg, Charles B. Nemeroff. Published by American Psychiatric Pub, 2006.
Every drug on the market has a chapter describing all the benefits every drug promotes. Paroxetine's chapter, pages 59-88, is authored by Keith D. Herr M.D. and Charles Nemeroff M.D., PH.D.
It seems that Paxil/Seroxat/Aropax is the miraculous pill.

"A study of 26 patients with bipolar I and II disorders receiving a mood stabilizer (lithium or devalproex) at the time of the study evaluated the addition of a second mood stabilizer or paroxetine for the treatment of depression (Young et al, 2000). Both treatment conditions were found to be effective, although patients in the mood stabilizer plus paroxetine group experienced fewer side effects and were more likely to complete the study. Paroxetine was not associated with a switch into mania or hypomania in any of these studies."

"In a double-blind, randomized study of children and adolescents (age 8-17 years) with SAD, paroxetine (10-50 mg/day) was found to be superior to placebo, on the basis of the number of treatment responders who had a CGI-1 score of 1 (very much improved or 2 (much improved) at the end of 16 weeks (GlaxoSmithKline, data on file, 2002). In the intent-to-treat population (n= 319), treatment responders were seven times more likely to have received paroxetine than placebo. These preliminary findings point to paroxetine as an effective treatment for SAD in children and adolescents." p. 72

SAD= Social Anxiety Disorder.

I used to see them all.
"Good night John boy!"
"Good night Mary Helen."

This is from the Wyeth site:


Effexor® (venlafaxine HCl) Tablets	Neuroscience	Prescribing Information Medication Guide
Effexor XR® (venlafaxine HCl) Extended-Release Capsules	Neuroscience	Prescribing Information Medication Guide

The following information is intended for use only by residents of the United States. Countries outside of the United States may have regulatory requirements or medical practices that are different than those in the United States and may require reference to different or additional information. Therefore, this information may not be appropriate outside of the United States.
If you are a resident of a country other than the United States, please visit Wyeth Worldwide to find information about our offices around the globe.

The Effexor tablets are for sale in US. Wyeth is proud of their global presence which means 145 countries.
On the US site they only accept American citizens questions.
I should write once again to the Brazilian Wyeth report that there are no tablets on the Brazilian market and have the same explanations I had last month that there are tablets for sale. They just forgot to say where.
I will not do it because it's useless. Is it too much asking to be able to go to withdrawal hell?

I'm feeling a huge headache and it's great! The dizziness went away and it's far more easy to cope with headache than dizziness.

I've already said that Wyeth no longer sells Effexor tablets in Brazil. They only sell the XR (extended release).
All data available on SSRIs and SSNIs withdrawal methods uses the tablets. Here is one site on withdrawing Effexor. Joseph Glenmullen and David Healy don't talk about extended release.
When I've spent 19 months withdrawing 225 mg of Effexor the tablets were on the market. Because of withdrawal problems I went back to 150 mg.
I would like to know how am I going to withdraw. I've talked to my psychiatrist today and we are in a dead end here. I have to withdraw to lessen side effects.
Hello Wyeth! Thank you!

It was in April, 2008 that I came across with Philip Dawdy's Furious Seasons. I've been searching the Web for some answers since 2003. But it was in 2005 that I've found sites and informations that deal with the patients problems with psych-drugs.
During the last 9 months I dedicated all my time on these issues. I've spend three months commenting on Furious Seasons and I decided to open this blog where I try to raise some of the concerns we all share.
What amazes me the most is how difficult it is to make people understand how side effects are debilitating. The list is long and the side effects are serious and I believe those who are trying to make others see it have came across with the phrase "these drugs destroy lives" at least a couple of times.
Unfortunately it's not too far from reality, at least the reality of those who are claiming that they were affected. Perhaps we are a minority, perhaps we were not lucky. I don't know.
Another problem is withdrawal. There are numerous testimonials on the withdrawal hell. However physicians are very confused in helping those who are withdrawing.
To make the whole picture: long-term harms experienced by some who have quit the drug but still experience side effects.
I believe that these are the three problems that we are trying hard to make people understand. I'm not only talking about those who were diagnosed with any illness that psych-drugs are supposed to help. Unfortunately psych-drugs are being over prescribed.
I'm sure that some physicians who are really concerned with their patients are aware of all of these. However it seems that patient's needs are far from being recognized or even validated.
It seems to me that those who are blogging, participating in groups to help each other, commenting on the good blogs would love to listen that side effects are not that easy to cope, withdrawal is hell and, Jesus, long-term harm is... I don't even know the right word to use since unacceptable is not a reality: some people will have to cope with them, accept them.
I hope that the next year we can have some good news. I hope so.

I've been for 20 years on therapy and it has finished this year. The issues that led me to this long process are quiet and don't affect me any longer. I was lucky finding the right person.
However the effects of being on so many psych-drugs are still troubling me and there's no therapy for that.
It has affected me in a degree that I believe that only those who suffered the same are able to understand.
I would like to know if you feel the same as me.
Thank you.

Charles Medawar, has this great paper on antidepressants that can be downloaded here.

"There are no conclusions in this paper, but something of a hypothesis emerges from it: "depression" is fast developing as an iatrogenic disease and that, however much they are part of the solution, antidepressant drugs seem much more implicated in the problem of depression than is supposed. Moreover, the public's opinion that antidepressants are drugs of dependence seems much closer to the reality than the exactly opposite orthodox view." (emphasis mine)

"The long-term efficacy of benzodiazepines proved largely an illusion, but only after more than 20 years of extensive use. The reason most people stayed on these drugs turned out to be they couldn't readily stop taking them. They had become dependent on them, in rather the same way that people get dependent on alcohol: usually very subtly and sometimes to disastrous effect. It is a long, sad story, perhaps not over yet."

"If history were to be repeating itself, it would be both because and in spite of authoritative denials that any risk is involved. If antidepressants were in some sense drugs of dependence, but not recognised as such, it would increase the element of risk and lead naturally to an over-estimation of their effectiveness as well"

"The greatest mistakes are probably made not because doctors don't know enough, but because too often they behave as if they do." Lewis Thomas (1979) [Medawar, 1996].

Source:
Medawar C: The Antidepressant Web - Marketing depression and making medicines work, International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, 1997, 10, 2, 75-126

From a very long list of withdrawal symptoms these are some that make me believe that in some way SSRIs or SNRIs cause a profound impact not only in the body but also in the mind:

- Suicidal thoughts*
- Suicidal attempts
- Impulsivity
- Aggressiveness
- Homicidal thoughts or urges
- Self-harm or urges
- Feeling detached or unreal
- Excessive or intense dreaming
- Nightmares

These drugs are supposed to make people feel happy but side effects and withdrawal symptoms have more to due with sadness and despair. It's amazing that those who are promoting these drugs keep on covering it all up and no research is being done to explain all these horrors.

*The UK parliament review on "The Influence of Pharmaceutical Industry" has stressed that drug-induced suicidal ideation has no connection with depressive thoughts:
"Almost from the outset,there was concern about two main problems with SSRIs. First, there was suspicion (initially centred on Prozac) that these drugs could induce suicidal and violent behaviour – infrequently, but independently of the suicidal thoughts that are linked to depression itself. There was also concern (centred on Seroxat) about a risk of dependence; some users found it impossible to stop taking SSRIs because of severe withdrawal symptoms." (emphasis mine)

Susan has posted on the Black Friday and Buy Nothing Day. I had never heard about it and to me it makes not too much difference because I don't use to buy everyday specially in December when people are crazy in Malls with Christian decorations - yes, we have the fake snow, Santa, trees, everything is the same here. Now on Fox TV I became aware that next Monday is Cyber Monday.
I did a quick research and found many sites with the ads.
A Louis Vuitton can be bought 20% off + free shipping next Monday on this site above. I'm sorry but I hate all this luxury. I don't need D&G or any other letter attached to my body to say who I am or empower me and a huge purse that costs $4,210.00 is beyond my comprehension. This is the cheap one for those who buy online. Men have to buy the most expensive car blah blah blah...
I don't know what to think or to do about it all.

It takes me 3 hours to do what would take 1 and a half hour. The thing freezes when I'm commenting and I have to do it all over again. I've bought a new computer but it was useless because it's a junk and many people are reporting problems but who cares?

...and to try to stop it from happening again.
Sometimes I ask myself why I've chosen her photo and why I don't change it.
She took her life because of drug-induce suicidal ideation and I have experienced the feeling and will never forget it.
I'm brunette and there's something in her eyes, eyebrows and nose that have a resemblance with me.

I want you to think of me smiling although dealing with all of this bring tears to my eyes most of the time.