Posted by sleepy lizard on August 30, 2002, at 18:38:28
In reply to Just started on Effexor, and all I've heard is bad, posted by TenelKa on August 29, 2002, at 18:00:23
Yes there are some good things to say about Effexor XR. I've had good results with it. It has been good at relieving my anxiety and depression and does not give me the spaced out feeling I got with Paxil. (The bad thing with all drugs that increase serotonin is sexual side effects and muscle spasms and sleep problems.) I was also able to drop the dosage down by 75 mg at a time without trouble. I have had nightmares and shocks when I stopped taking it for 3 days. I understand that is the temporary result of the brain not having enough serotonin because it has adjusted to the new levels with the medication. I lost 20 weight on Effexor, in combination with exercise. I don't know how much is due to the Effexor though (75 mg/day now). The only other medications that I would recommend are Wellbutrin SR (probably will not help anxiety, only depression) and Remeron (30 mg/day). My doctor told me that Remeron is not as effective as the SSRIs at relieving depression. If you get sexual side effects (like anorgasmia) you may be able counter it with Wellbutrin SR (100-300 mg/day, which I am doing) or with Buspar. You may not have all the problems that others have reported. The side effects are dose related.
poster:sleepy lizard
thread:118166
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020829/msgs/118264.html