Posted by KimberlyDi on November 10, 2003, at 17:12:21
In reply to Re: Effexor - just started it - bad move?, posted by Harlock on November 10, 2003, at 16:50:09
I would not have quit Effexor if it didn't raise my blood pressure. That's the only reason I stopped it. Because I was happy with my medicine combo. I was happy with my mental well being. If it works for you, it's pure gold. I started laughing again. When your own laughter startles you because you haven't laughed in so long, you know it's working.
That said, I wouldn't recommend Effexor to be anyone's first try at an anti-depressant. I would say it rates high on anxiety relief, not so high on depression (except for depression caused by overwhelming anxiety).
It's a powerful medication that needs to be tapered off carefully when discontinuing. I'm 3/4's of the way there, and I have still functioned at work.
If you felt good about your experience with it before reading the horror stories, why stop because of what some other's experienced? The ones who are happy with it are out there living their lives, not posting here.
Just don't skip any dosages. :)
KDi in TX
> The negative stories about effexor withdrawal are incredible. I'm on my 6th day of taking the 37.5 dose (for aggrivated depression). Actually, I already feel better. Anyway, it IS giving me a decent amount of fatigue, especially the first few days of taking it. Seems better today, I think...
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> I'm also hungry ALL DAY. My stomach feels as if it is empty, most of the time. I'm trying to avoid over-eating, but it's pretty tough. I've already been to Micky-Dees more times in the last few days then I have in the last 8 months.
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> The horror stories of the withdrawal symptoms are really worrying me. Maybe I should quit now (taper off) before I move up to a higher dosage. I'll talk to my doctor and let him know how I feel about this. Eventually I'll have to come off this drug (it's just a reality) and I don't want ANY of the problems I've been reading about here (like anyone really WANTS them ;) ).
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> Even *if* I may not get all these symptoms, I really don't want to take any chances. Coming off Lexapro was horrible for me...although I made the mistake of stopping cold turkey (and I only took it for 2-3 weeks).
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> Thanks for the posts.
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> > I started taking Effexor a little over a year ago after I had to lay off about 1,100 people. Since that time, I've gained 60 lbs. My doctor said I was one in about 8 percent to do so. Trying to stop taking it has been miserable. It was nice to come to this site and at least know that I'm not losing my mind. The feeling I have is very hard to describe, as others have mentioned. I went from 150 mg to 75 to nothing. My doctor now wants to half the 75 since after 3 days without it, it feels like I can hear and see the neurons firing in my brain (that's the best way I can think of to descibe what is happening). I am in such a foul mood, I don't even want to be around myself. After decreasing my dose, I did notice an increase in libido. While taking the drug may have had its advantages, I was practically unable to achieve orgasm.
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poster:KimberlyDi
thread:1016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031105/msgs/278307.html