Posted by jml on August 22, 2001, at 15:06:54
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I've had pretty good luck on Effexor. I started taking it a year ago for
moderate depression with symptoms including crying spells, no
appetite, and feelings of hopelessness. I had some somewhat distressing
side effects during the first two to three weeks on the medication (37.5
mg per day for one week and then to 75 mg per day). The side effects
included insomnia, drowsiness during the day, and hearing a buzzing noise
in my head. These side effects went away, except for the drowsiness,
which I continued to experience to some extent. I went up to 150 mg/day
(taken in the morning) after about 5 months of being on Effexor due to
some of my symptoms coming back (although they were less severe than
before I began Effexor). I decided in May of this year that I wanted to
see if I still needed to be on an antidepressant. My doctor advised me
about how best to discontinue my use of Effexor. I decreased my dosage very gradually and
also took 10 mg of Prozac while I was decreasing my Effexor dose. I didn't experience very
many side effects while I was decreasing my dosage (some slight nausea),
but I did find that I didn't feel very well for about a week after I took
my last dose. I felt kind of nauseous and tired and a
little bit dizzy at times. I was able to go to work and get done what I
needed to despite these withdrawal symptoms. I was off of the medication
for about 2 months when I started to get the symptoms back in full force.
I really believe this is due to my chemical make-up (and family history of
depression) rather than to getting off of Effexor. I decided to go back
on Effexor. I began taking 37.5 mg again and worked up to 150 mg. I
think at this time I just need an antidepressant, although I do hope that
at some point I will be able to go off of the medication again. Overall,
I would recommend Effexor since I have found it extremely helpful for
depression symptoms, and I have not been bothered by the side effects or
the withdrawal symptoms.
> Hi there,
>
> Anyone care to comment on the use of Effexor? Anyone
> "happy" with it? I have tried Prozac (too much anxiety),
> Serzone (too sedating). I am currently on Buspar for anxiety.
>
> Been reading many different reports... Effexor seems
> to have a lot of success...
>
> please share your thoughts on this.
poster:jml
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010822/msgs/75991.html