What is the Difference Between Effexor Dependency Versus Effexor Addiction?

ByPrimary Researcher

Executive Summary

  • Effexor is an addictive drug.
  • Effexor addiction is greatly minimized by pharmaceutical companies and the overall medical establishment.

Introduction

A primary method used by pharmaceutical companies, MDs, and the overall medical establishment is to minimize addiction. This article covers the gaslighting of patients and the public on the topic of Effexor addiction.

What the Medical Establishment Says About Effexor Addiction

Let us review the following quotation from the Recovery Village recovery center on Effexor addiction.

Though Effexor is classified as a physically non-addictive drug, it still produces undesirable effects when a person who has been misusing the medication abruptly stops taking the drug. They will likely experience what is called SSRI discontinuation syndrome, which mimics withdrawal symptoms. These can occur when a person abruptly stops taking the drug, decreases the dose too rapidly or even after skipping an individual dose (if their dosage is high enough).

This is inaccurate. Patients experience withdrawal symptoms from just tapering off on Effexor. As I cover in the article How SSRIs Create Dependency Called SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome, the pharmaceutical companies created the term “Discontinuation Syndrome” to hide the addictive nature of not only SSRIs but SNRIs like Effexor.

Due to the drug not being considered addictive or habit-forming, there is not much information available for those who are struggling with an Effexor addiction. For those who have developed a dependency, it is important to note that you must wean off the drug under medical direction by a doctor or licensed therapist.

Yes and this is a problem because Effexor is addictive, like all antidepressants.

This quote is from the article on Effexor withdrawal from Recovery Village.

Over time, your brain begins to rely on the presence of the drug to function normally.

This is incorrect. Effexor causes the brain to function abnormally. This is covered in detail in the article How Antidepressants Produce Addiction Through Altering the Neurotransmition Process. (Subscription required)

If you suddenly stop Effexor cold turkey without being weaned off the drug,  your brain is forced to accommodate the sudden absence of Effexor.

This is true of all antidepressants, and is a way around explaining to patients that they are addictive.

As the brain is adapting to a lack of Effexor, withdrawal symptoms can occur. These withdrawal symptoms are primarily due to the drug’s impact on the brain’s serotonin (5-HT) receptors.

Withdrawal is something that occurs when a person is addicted to something.

  • Mental status problems like agitation, anxiety, confusion, low mood and nervousness
  • Gastrointestinal problems like appetite loss, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
  • Physical problems like balance and coordination problems, dizziness, dry mouth, twitching and tremor
  • Sleep problems like trouble sleeping, nightmares and drowsiness
  • Other issues like fatigue, flu-like symptoms, headaches, sensory disturbances, sweating and vertigo

Sounds like quite aggressive withdrawal symptoms — for a drug the patient is not addicted to. That means the patient is addicted to the item.

Furthermore, Recovery Village is tap dancing around how Effexor works. Effexor is an SNRI, and it manipulates serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Anytime you manipulate a neurotransmitter, you are creating an addictive scenario. Increasing serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine creates major changes. The danger in most addictive drugs is “in the way it makes the patient feel.”

Recovery Village’s claim about Effexor not being addictive is false. Effexor, like other depressants, is addictive, even when used as prescribed. This is explained in detail in the article How Antidepressants Produce Addiction Through Altering the Neurotransmition Process. (Subscription required)

Antidepressants and Addiction

It is amusing to see false information about antidepressant addiction published online.

The following from Genesight is a good example of this.

This is listed under myths of antidepressants.

Myth: Antidepressant medication is addictive.

Bradley Gaynes, a psychiatrist at the University of North Carolina, says that he’s often asked by patients whether they can become dependent on an antidepressant drug. He says the concern is understandable: many anxiety, sleep, and pain medications can be habit forming.

But he says patients shouldn’t worry. Antidepressants are not addictive.

“It’s not the case. Antidepressants just aren’t a medication you can physiologically become dependent on,” Gaynes says. “It’s not how they work.”

That is quite interesting. And quite false — but it is also the standard type of thing said by MDs that prescribe antidepressants to patients.

The Mayo Clinic on Antidepressant Dependency

Here is more pharma controlled information on “dependency” from The Mayo Clinic.

Quitting an antidepressant suddenly may cause symptoms within a day or two, such as:

Anxiety
Insomnia or vivid dreams
Headaches
Dizziness
Tiredness
Irritability
Flu-like symptoms, including achy muscles and chills
Nausea
Electric shock sensations
Return of depression symptoms
Having antidepressant withdrawal symptoms doesn’t mean you’re addicted to an antidepressant. Addiction represents harmful, long-term chemical changes in the brain. It’s characterized by intense cravings, the inability to control your use of a substance and negative consequences from that substance use. Antidepressants don’t cause these issues.

No no…of course not.