Dependency symptoms and conditions

Hi, I'm a 51 y/o female nurse that started taking Toprol-XL for high blood pressure. I don't like taking meds because of side effects (other blood pressure meds have caused my hair to fall out, fatigue, depression, etc.) so I started out only taking half of the 50 mg tab. I recently upped it up to the whole tab to get my blood pressure a little lower and immediately started having severe headaches and joint pains. I'm going back down to a half tab and wean myself off this crap. I'm taking Magnesium, potassium, and L-Arginine, which all help relax the blood vessels. I was taking a higher dose of magnesium, which causes some diarrhea, when I decided to lower it and increase the dose of Toprol-XL to see how that worked. I'd rather have the diarrhea from the magnesium! At least then I wasn't crying from depression, having bad headaches and hurting all over! I'm losing weight on Weight Watchers, so hopefully I'll get this blood pressure under control. My blood pressure was pretty well under control with the lower dose of Toprol-XL, higher dose of magnesium, and the L-Arginine and potassium. I'm going back to what was working before. I'm also going to talk to my Health and Wellness doctor about a safer replacement for the Toprol-XL.

I've had prescription Allegra for over three years now for my seasonal allergies. (Michigan in the spring can be such a pain. XD)
It does not seem to have the side effects Zyrtec had on me, which were headaches and dizziness, nor does it make me as drowsy as when they tried me on claritin.

The oddest thing Allegra does is flatten my hair, completely. My usually wavy, thick bouncy hair goes very flat and droopy, and maybe even a bit thinner whenever I absolutely have to take it on the worst of the spring days.

I also notice that when I discontinue the pills, my allergies appear to become even more severe afterwards, and on some occasions my body has started itching, which seems to indicate they DO cause a dependency.

Otherwise, Allegra seems to be very useful for keeping the symptoms at bay for the entire day, unlike the non-prescription stuff that just completely knocks you out.

does demerol have long term use effects, i have been on it for nonths

I have had moderate to severe pain in my hip due to joint deformity and subsequent deterioration and arthritis. I am unable to take even one dose of any NSAIDs as they cause stomach bleeding. Ten months ago a doctor prescribed Ultracet for me and it has provided tremendous pain relief for me. However, one of the side effects that I first noticed was it aggravated neck pain that I had from a couple of degenerated disks. I couldn't figure that out until a few months later when I read the Ultracet could cause muscle tightness. That explained that, and that finally subsided in the last few months. I had some of the side effects others described the first couple of days but then they subsided. I find that if I stick with just one tablet nstead of the two prescribed, I don't have all of the central nervous system reaction that some describe...nerve twitching, itching, sleeplessness and agitation, but if I take 2 at a time, I have all of the above. I always take one in the morning and usually don't have to take another the rest of the day unless I overdo. Sometimes I will need to take more doses but I take it knowing that I will be itching and agitated. I have had a couple of doctors since that have had bad experiences with Ultracet personally, and they always try to switch me to a narcotic. I have not had any decrease in effectiveness or increased need or dependency, but I also figure that if I only take my one in the morning on a normal basis, and only supplement as needed, I won't have problems with addiction.

I have been taking Effexor for around 2 to 3 years for depression. I am currenty taking two 150 mg at night, though I was told to take one in the morning and one at night... I found it easier to take them both at night. The only side effect I am sure comes from the Effexor is the reduction in my libido (and I am female). Effexor is the only anti-depressant I have been on, and I think I got extremely lucky in that I found the one that works for me on the first try. I also see a psycho-therapist, and between the two, I feel I have managed to get a better hold on my life. I am a thirty-five year old mom (married, and with a seven-year-old daughter) and I have "almost" nothing but praise for Effexor.

HOWEVER, I do know that the withdrawal side effects are terrible... I have missed it for up to three days when I went out of town and forgot my medication. I can usually miss one day and the side effects will most likely just be a bad headache, and maybe a little nautious. But when I missed three doses:

Missing one dose at night: I had a headache the following day.
After missing two doses: The headache became worse, I would occasionally get dizzy spellls, and I started getting very emotional - swaying between sad and cranky.
After missing third dose: The headache became worse still, and was aggravated by light - I wanted to just keep my eyes closed. I felt dizzy and nautious - nautious to the point I couldn't tell if I was going to throw-up (never did).
Oh... and I should add that the dreams while I was off the medication were incredible... like watching movies... so detailed and complex. I usually don't remember my dreams... but these I could recall... not in perfect detail... but they were amazing.

After I got back home and took my dose that night: I missed three days of work while being back on the medication. I was nautious, had a terrible headache, wanted to just stay in bed, I was no longer ultra sensitive emotional-wise - but I was ultra-pissed-off. I became very angry that I was on a medication that was addictive after having been told it was "not addictive". I was angry that I have never had an addiction before, but now suddenly I was addicted to a prescribed drug. I don't smoke, I only drink a couple of alcholic drinks in a month (socially), no canabis (pot... is that an out-dated term? ... everyone here says canabis), or any other illegal or legal addictive drugs... the only other drugs I take are allergy (Clarinex) and birth control (Nuva Ring), neither of which are addictive.

That whole experience was months ago, and now that I have had time to calm down and get a clear perspective on the situation... I wouldn't stop taking Effexor for just being addictive... and YES... it is addictive... I don't give a rat's ass what any "expert" says about it. If you can't stop taking something without your body freaking out... then IT IS ADDICTIVE.

I don't know that I will ever be able to stop the medication. I go back and forth as to how I feel about this. At times it bothers me being so dependant on a medication... but on the other-hand, I'm dependant on the allergy medication, and that doesn't bother me, so why should I let being dependant on an anti-depressant bother me? Who cares what everybody else thinks, right? - - Boy, that's loaded...

Effexor has helped me tremendously. My thoughts about death are very infrequent. I don't feel like crawling into a hole and disappearing all the time. I have found "my voice" with the help of this drug and my therapist to voice my opinions more often to help me from not feeling so trapped and helpless in situations. It does cut down on emotional sensations... I don't feel overwhelming sad at all the terrible things I hear on the news. And I don't cry at sappy commercials and movies any more (Thank you!). For the first time, I feel much more in control of my feelings and my life.

So, I can understand the anger in a lot of these postings, but I would like to add, that I don't think the people who have benefited from Effexor are posting here. They have no reason to be looking for this site. I found this site when I had been angry over finding out it was habit-forming. I believe Effexor has probably helped a lot of people - and it isn't an "evil" drug... it's just a drug. For some, it just isn't the right drug.

I should add, that I'm on here today because I've recently started experiencing night sweats, but I wasn't sure if it was a side effect of Effexor or not. I hope that it is a side effect of Effexor and not a symptom of menopause... cripes... I'm only 35! The first site that popped up after searching under "Nightsweats" was about nightweats being a symptom of perimenopause or menopause... ugh!

But if I have to weigh the benefits I have experienced using Effexor, with the downfalls: addictive, sexual side-effects, and maybe night sweats... I still am of the mind that it is a good drug for me.

I wish all of you luck in finding what helps you most to be happy with your life.

Ultracet, if taken for short periods of time and if regulated by a Dr. is alright. I warn readers of potential dependency on this drug. For those of you who enjoy the energy or euphoric effects of this drug, the long term effects are negative. Personal experiences include: irratibility, sleeplessness, loss of sex drive, constant urge to take another pill, disregard of family concerns, etc.. Once you become accustomed to the way this drug makes you feel, normal doesn't feel so great anymore and the quick fix is another pill and another pill. If you have reached this level of dependency, please, for the sake of your loved once, stop.