Ven to Van
UPDATE- Sad to report it’s not a great one. If I’m honest, I’m not sad. I am angry. Angry at the system that has done this and left so many helpless and without a voice!
V has been writing the doctors and keeps hitting roadblocks. Today she found out his medication has been doubled, after she requested it not to be changed at all. This is her husband and no one will listen to her. Imagine trying to advocate for your loved one, knowing they are sick and not being able to help them. It happens every single day. #MedDamage is real, life changing and horrific. When he takes this DOUBLE dose, what will happen? Will he become enraged again? Will he become suicidal? Who is going to speak out for the damage? He’s a husband, a father and they miss him very much. His child is begging him to not increase the dosage. Will he?
The Drug: Venlafaxine
Why were they put on this medication: Mild Depression
Was informed consent given? No
Were you aware of the dangers? NO
Potential drug induced symptoms?No
Adverse reactions? No
Were there problems in the relationship before the drug was started? No
Did Your personal relationship change? Yes
Was your loved one withdrawn? He turned against me. Personality changed. No empathy
Making Accusations? No
Was Your loved One Irritated? Yes by me and my children, actually everyone irritated him
Did you know they were spellbound? No not until he moved out and I found the MDBA group
What did it feel like to see what the problem was? I feel angry at the drug companies and Dr’s, also upset that I didn’t figure it out before he moved out and sad that I failed to get him off them
What is something you would want other loved ones to know? What do you want other medicated to know? I would say that in my experience they do more harm than good and the best thing would be to hyperbolic taper off
Did you notice drug Induced symptoms? Yes, my husband has literally all of the drug side effects, from liver damage, increased urge to drink, became alcoholic, emotionally blunted, memory problems, anorgasmia, sexual dysfunction, numb, weight gain, sleep problems, aggressive, tired
Did you notice change in personality? Yes he became a different person, no fear of consequences, became an alcoholic. drunk driving, having affairs, no motivation, no love for family, wanted to be alone, didn’t care about anything.
Are they Tapering/Hyperbolic Tapering/Cold Turkey? Not tapering
Was your loved one depressed? Has it improved?
Yes but not improved, It’s gotten worse. He no longer laughs and jokes like he used to, he became suicidal after dropping by half, but he’s spellbound so he thinks he is better than he’s ever been. Enjoying his single life, trying it on with any woman he can, women he wouldn’t have found attractive before.
Did you experience a shift in thinking if/when you connected the dots? I now feel sorry for him, what they have done to him, the person I married is no longer there. I don’t know this person
How are you now? I’m frustrated and angry as I am trying to make his Dr’s listen to me but they do not understand.
