Posted by April8 on October 4, 2006, at 12:13:02
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by bon on September 29, 2006, at 22:40:54
I have been on it for two years, I take it with wellbutrin. It works great for my depression and anxiety but zaps my sex drive. I have to take a "drug holiday" go off of it for 1-2 days to have any sex drive at all. That part sucks. Plus I think it made me gain belly weight over time, but I work out alot to help with that. And that could just be me getting older!
The good thing about it is that it does goes out of your system quickly so you could go off for a day and have sex! Some of the other ones stay in your system too long and you cannot do that. The bad thing is that it has terrible terrible withdrawal. You adjust and can off it for one day without those, but I dread the day I go off this med. You get brain zaps (i have experienced them and they are horrifying)
I don't know if you have tried wellbutrin but if that is an option try that first would be my advice. I can't take wellbutrin alone or I would (I get a rare side effect from wellbutrin that effexor takes away) but I have two good friends who are on wellbutrin alone and have lost weight, and it increases your sex drive. If I could take it alone I would be so happy! But I settle for my effexor and Wellbutrin combo because it does work and my depression is so bad I am joyous to be happy at this time. There is a cost (sex drive) but sometimes you have to remind yourself your mental health comes first and depression is such a painful terrible illness that helping yourself heal from it and feel better comes first. The side effects can be usually managed.
Best wishes to you and boy did this turn out long!
If you want to write me individually and talk let me know!
poster:April8
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061003/msgs/691781.html