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How do I go about switching from effexor to a natural anxiety medication, like anxietol?

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Female , Age: 37

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $15

Hi

Thankyou for your question.

Venlafxine is a powerful and effective medication for anxiety - it has a far greater degree of efficacy than anything that is available without prescription.

May I ask why your are considering this change?

AI

Reply to Alexander Irvine's Post: Thank you Alex for your reply,

I am considering a non perscription alternative because I believe that with any perscription drug there is always a consequence. I can't help but wonder that while effexor is working for me, what is it destroying at the same time? For example, my husband is taking a medication for his cholesteral however, the doctor has warned him of a dangerous effect on his liver...the doctor monitors this through regular blood samples. Can drug companies be trusted? Jen

Hi

Sorry about the dealy in getting back to you.

That is a very good question you ask and a simple answer is not straight forward.

Firstly it is not reasonable to compare one class of med to another some a very toxic - chemotherapy for example whereas most are not.
It is a questin of weighing up the pros and cons of any medication.
Statins - to reduce cholesterol - have potential side effects but can reduce your risk of heat attack by 30% - the patient has to decide if they want that risk reduction or not - I take a statin and I think you will find that almost every cardiologist on the planet will also be on one.

Efexor is a "nice" med its only effects are on serotonin and norepinephrine in the central nervous system - its mode of action is simple - moves these two chemicals from where they are to where they should be.

Are non-presription items safer - they are not subject to the anything like the safety scrutiny that medicines are - many do have unpleasant and potentially serious side effects.

Trust drug companies? - not implicity no - but it is up to the FDA to ensure that all the meds we have are safe.

Let me know what you think.

AI

Reply to Alexander Irvine's Post: Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your candor. I feel better about my husband taking a statin as you, a doctor, take one as well...as do many cardiologists. Whew! I understand you feel that I should be comfortable on Effexor as you don't see any potential danger. Good. Thanks for the eye opener. I didn't know non-prescrips were not subject to the same safety scrutiny as meds are. Is there a non biased resource for finding out more about these non presciption meds? What about vitamins? Harmful or not?

Hi

There is no independent resource regarding the safety of non presciption "meds."
Remember the people who produce these do so for profit - the same as pharmaceutical companies!

Vitamins are appropriate if you have a specific deficiency.

Too much of anything - including vitamins can be harmful.

Best wishes.

AI

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