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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Napaba on June 3, 2003, at 10:44:51
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by ROVER on June 3, 2003, at 10:13:36
I can't believe a doctor started you out with Effexor. (I'm not a fan) I'd give it four weeks at a 150 if that's the dose your doctor has planned for you. Before you let him up it from 150 I'd look into the long term side effects of a higher dose and have him/her perscribe something else. There are so many anti-deps out there that don't have the side effects of Effexor.
> Hi Folks
> I am new to the board and to ADS.I have suffered from depression and GAD for many many yrs. but only got the courage to seek help six weeks ago.My doc. has started me on Effexor XR.
> Week one 37.5
> Week two and three on 75
> Weeks four,five and six one 150.That is where I am at the moment.
> On the plus side I have had no side effects but on the negative it has had no effect on my GAD or depression.
> Should I have had positive effects by now?
> I am going back to doc.next week should I ask for an increase? Should I stay at 150 for longer? or should I try another med.?
> This is a new venture for me I have read about all the possible withdrawl problems but at this moment I really dont care I will try anything.
> Thanks for reading this
Posted by KimberlyDi on June 3, 2003, at 11:33:42
In reply to Re: Effexor and Anxiety » cruzandfamily, posted by Paco on May 2, 2003, at 20:37:20
Paco, I'm going to be optimistic and hope that there aren't any posts about "life after Effexor withdrawal" because the withdrawal finally does go away with no problems, so therefore nobody comes to this web site to complain. (Either that or they all died?) As for your repeat posts, I'm new to this group so your posts are a first to me. Thanks for the positive input.
Kim
Posted by Tristan on June 3, 2003, at 14:55:02
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Effexor has greatly improved my life. After years of panic attacks, anger attacks, general depressed feelings and a bad experience with counceling and prozac I am so happy to have found Effexor. I did not realize how depressed I was. After refusing to see a councelor who was not helping me, my regular family doctor prescribed Effexor. The first week I had a strange out of body feeling. Now, after six weeks I'm not depressed and I have a different perception of the world. It's hard to describe. It's like my focus expanded from myself and three feet around myself to seeing things as others do. My field of vision seems to have widened and I am more aware of my surroundings. I see more clearly even. Effexor has not seemed to help my panic attacks but I get angry less often and for once I feel normal. I feel like I never knew what normal was before now. WOW. I was verrrrry sceptical. The only problem I've had is sleeping. I was told this medication causes drowsiness. Not with me. It has a slight affect like too much caffeine. I'm not nervous just UP.
Posted by waterlily on June 3, 2003, at 16:31:02
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Tristan on June 3, 2003, at 14:55:02
WOW. I was verrrrry sceptical. The only problem I've had is sleeping. I was told this medication causes drowsiness. Not with me. It has a slight affect like too much caffeine. I'm not nervous just UP.
Same here. My husband kept saying that I wasn't the same person he married 14 years ago and I didn't know what he was talking about until the Effexor kicked in about a month ago. Now I actually have a sense of humor, am reasonably relaxed, and am more social. My husband said that it's nice to have me back. It's nice to be back after almost nine years of being on the wrong antidepressants and two years of therapy. I have insomnia as well, but I can deal with that - it's a small price to pay to have my life back.
Posted by bgbham on June 3, 2003, at 16:53:33
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Tristan on June 3, 2003, at 14:55:02
tristan, i have had a lot of luck with it also. i am back on it after self doctoring myself for a while ( big mistake). I am at a much higher dose than before (now at 300) and i can see a diff, but not quite ready for all the world has to offer, but can see i can do it. i am so glad to hear about your success, i have probs sleeping too which will be an issue when i go back to work, but that is manageable too. great luck to you, i am so sympathetic with your issues. feel free to write anytime.
Brian
Posted by bgbham on June 3, 2003, at 16:58:18
In reply to Re: New to Effexor » ROVER, posted by Napaba on June 3, 2003, at 10:44:51
I would stay on it, up the dose if the doc says so, my doc who I trust without fail, said most side effects and improvement comes after the dose is appropriate. great luck, stick in there.
Brian
Posted by melley on June 3, 2003, at 17:25:14
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by waterlily on June 3, 2003, at 16:31:02
> WOW. I was verrrrry sceptical. The only problem I've had is sleeping. I was told this medication causes drowsiness. Not with me. It has a slight affect like too much caffeine. I'm not nervous just UP.
>
>
> Same here. My husband kept saying that I wasn't the same person he married 14 years ago and I didn't know what he was talking about until the Effexor kicked in about a month ago. Now I actually have a sense of humor, am reasonably relaxed, and am more social. My husband said that it's nice to have me back. It's nice to be back after almost nine years of being on the wrong antidepressants and two years of therapy. I have insomnia as well, but I can deal with that - it's a small price to pay to have my life back.
>I am almost off effexor and am delighted at feeling again. I think effexor just turns the world into stepford people. No extremes in feeling. It is better than being depressed and anxious but I missed my feelings:) Plus the side effects got to be too much at 225mg. I think effexor is the drug of choice for drs(because of hitting two things at once) but it also has many dangerous side effects and the hideous withdrawal. It hasn't been around long enough to know what the long-term consequences of its use will be. I think drs should try other stuff first.
Posted by CherC68 on June 3, 2003, at 17:50:13
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by ROVER on June 3, 2003, at 10:13:36
It's funny, I never heard of Effexor before starting it. Now, every magazine I seem to pick up has an ad for it as does certain radio stations and now TV ads. I had never been on anything until a month ago the doctor put me on Zoloft and I stayed on it for 4 days only because I was so ill from it. The doctor wanted me on Effexor right away, but I hesitated until Sunday night. Good Luck all, time for another pill and wait & see.
Posted by Rickey on June 3, 2003, at 19:52:38
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
First day. Got free samples from my Doctor(months supply). Am concerned about cost. Is it expensive? I'm sure it is not on my HMO formulary list.
Posted by bgbham on June 3, 2003, at 20:13:49
In reply to Cost??, posted by Rickey on June 3, 2003, at 19:52:38
i think i pay about $20 with United Health Care. Whatever, it is worth it in the longrun, easy for me to say, not knowing your situation. but please find a way.
Brian
Posted by bgbham on June 3, 2003, at 21:08:55
In reply to Cost??, posted by Rickey on June 3, 2003, at 19:52:38
Ricky, felt anything strange yet? The first day for me, a couple of yrs ago, although pleasant, it felt like a train was running through my head. Went away the next day. Nothing unusual since.
Brian
Posted by zinya on June 3, 2003, at 21:19:21
In reply to Re: New to Effexor » ROVER, posted by Napaba on June 3, 2003, at 10:44:51
Gosh, Rover. You've been on for over a month and no effects at all?
I'm much much newer than you are to actually taking XR -- tonight will be night #10 only and because i'm sooo sensitive, i've started on only 18 mg per night so far... and i've still had both side effects and some positive effects as well... Beginning the very first day actually...
I've tried numerous other a-ds in the past and i also discovered this website and started reading on here last Dec. at which time i decided to postpone starting it... The point being that over the months i've read a lot of posters here, many of whom had such bad effects that it was why i delayed, but so far i'm dealing with manageable side effects and plan to up to 37.5 in the next couple of days.
What my reading on here tells me though as THE single biggest lesson of all is that we are ALL different. The biochemistry of each of us is SOOO unique that I would give quite different advice from your previous respondent here (napaba?)...
I think you shouldn't try to figure out on your own in advance what you're going to ask your doctor to do. Is he an internist? or a p-doc? Hopefully he has enough familiarity that he will know what to make of your lack of any symptoms either way, and I wouldn't try to pre-guess what that might be. I don't believe in letting a doctor talk you into staying on something forever (i've had that experience) but a total of 2 months would seem adviseable. Maybe it means there's some completely other source of your depression than a serotonin type cause.
One thing you might do in the interim though is to monitor yourself even more closely, if you haven't already. Ask yourself periodically if you are, for example, less anxious than usual in a given situation... Or other very concrete things rather than the more global question of "Am i still depressed?" It will help the doc at the very least by best of all hopefully help you verify to yourself in micro levels if indeed there's been no change (not that i'm doubting your word, but sometimes if we just think globally, we can forget to notice 'locally' ... so to speak :))
wishing you luck. What you didn't express but what must be motivating your finding us is considerable understandable frustation at starting such a course and finding as yet no relief. Do you also have some form of counseling?
again, wishing you very well!
z.
Posted by Tino02 on June 3, 2003, at 21:43:59
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
i recently starting seeing a pyschiatrist who proscribed effexor to me after i had been taking paxil for 2 years with no success. i am now up to 150 mg of effexor and one paxil cr (37.5mg) a day. i feel exhausted, lethargic, and unmotivated all day long. at night, my head races and i have trouble getting to sleep. when i started getting night sweats, my doctor said they would go away, but they haven't. i feel like i have mono, which i had years ago, only now i feel worse. i get tired very easily, and the slightes activity makes me exhausted. i had also been sick 3 weeks ago with a very bad cold, and i feel like i am still having trouble fighting it. my doctor says that i am so physically and mentally stressed that my body is having trouble fighting back.
i have noticed slight improvements in my depression and anxiety, but ideally, i wanted a more noticeable change.
will i continue to improve or should i try something else?
Posted by ROVER on June 3, 2003, at 22:48:46
In reply to Re: New to Effexor » ROVER, posted by Napaba on June 3, 2003, at 10:44:51
Thanks Napaba
You have given me some things to think about.My Doc. is a internist and no I am not in any form of counseling it was such a big step for me to go and see my regular doc.
I should say that one positive effect I have had is I am sleeping better.Prior to starting Effexor I was only sleeping 2-3 hrs per night but over the past ten days I am sleeping about six hrs.per night
I should also say that after being on 75 for a week I felt better than I ever have but it only lasted two days then I crashed big time.I didnt put this in my first message as it seems so irrelevant now.
I have heard that above 150 other chemicals kick in.
Thanks for caring
Posted by Napaba on June 4, 2003, at 7:44:14
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Tristan on June 3, 2003, at 14:55:02
I found Benadryl (sp) helps me to sleep. I buy the cheapest brand (that's Sam’s club or Wal-Mart). It helps me to sleep and I don't wake up drowsy. I still have the vivid dreams, but I've adjusted to those.
Effexor has greatly improved my life. After years of panic attacks, anger attacks, general depressed feelings and a bad experience with counceling and prozac I am so happy to have found Effexor. I did not realize how depressed I was. After refusing to see a councelor who was not helping me, my regular family doctor prescribed Effexor. The first week I had a strange out of body feeling. Now, after six weeks I'm not depressed and I have a different perception of the world. It's hard to describe. It's like my focus expanded from myself and three feet around myself to seeing things as others do. My field of vision seems to have widened and I am more aware of my surroundings. I see more clearly even. Effexor has not seemed to help my panic attacks but I get angry less often and for once I feel normal. I feel like I never knew what normal was before now. WOW. I was verrrrry sceptical. The only problem I've had is sleeping. I was told this medication causes drowsiness. Not with me. It has a slight affect like too much caffeine. I'm not nervous just UP.
Posted by Napaba on June 4, 2003, at 7:53:15
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » waterlily, posted by melley on June 3, 2003, at 17:25:14
AMEN Waterlily, drs should try something besides EXR first. EXR is bad stuff. I took my last dose 5 days a go. I've switched to Lexapro. So far the only side effect is I'm a little drowsy.
I've been reading posting made by those on Lexapro and they're not scary like those you read on EXR.
> > WOW. I was verrrrry sceptical. The only problem I've had is sleeping. I was told this medication causes drowsiness. Not with me. It has a slight affect like too much caffeine. I'm not nervous just UP.
> >
> >
> > Same here. My husband kept saying that I wasn't the same person he married 14 years ago and I didn't know what he was talking about until the Effexor kicked in about a month ago. Now I actually have a sense of humor, am reasonably relaxed, and am more social. My husband said that it's nice to have me back. It's nice to be back after almost nine years of being on the wrong antidepressants and two years of therapy. I have insomnia as well, but I can deal with that - it's a small price to pay to have my life back.
> >
>
> I am almost off effexor and am delighted at feeling again. I think effexor just turns the world into stepford people. No extremes in feeling. It is better than being depressed and anxious but I missed my feelings:) Plus the side effects got to be too much at 225mg. I think effexor is the drug of choice for drs(because of hitting two things at once) but it also has many dangerous side effects and the hideous withdrawal. It hasn't been around long enough to know what the long-term consequences of its use will be. I think drs should try other stuff first.
>
>
Posted by waterlily on June 4, 2003, at 8:03:30
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » waterlily, posted by melley on June 3, 2003, at 17:25:14
> I am almost off effexor and am delighted at feeling again. I think effexor just turns the world into stepford people. No extremes in feeling. It is better than being depressed and anxious but I missed my feelings:) Plus the side effects got to be too much at 225mg. I think effexor is the drug of choice for drs(because of hitting two things at once) but it also has many dangerous side effects and the hideous withdrawal. It hasn't been around long enough to know what the long-term consequences of its use will be. I think drs should try other stuff first.
>
Effexor is the last in a list of medications I've tried, including Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Luvox,imipramine, Serzone, and Wellbutrin. I still take a therapeutic dose of Wellbutrin in addition to the Effexor, but have been on Wellbutrin alone for a long time.Effexor does not seem to be the first drug of choice from my experience. My daughter, my sister, and myself, each with a different psychiatrist, were all started out on Zoloft. My daughter is on Lexapro now. Zoloft deadened my feelings. Each of the others either did nothing, not enough, or had intolerable side effects.
My feeling is that aside from the MAOIs and tricyclics, none of the newer medications have been around long enough for us to know what the long-term consequences of use are. If my life is shortened from the use of antidepressants, so be it. I'd rather have a short happy life than a long depressing one.
>
Posted by Napaba on June 4, 2003, at 8:15:12
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by ROVER on June 3, 2003, at 22:48:46
For me the higher the dose the more severe the side effects. I couldn't take 150 mg's because of the side effects. I'm so glad to be off EXR.
Thanks Napaba
> You have given me some things to think about.My Doc. is a internist and no I am not in any form of counseling it was such a big step for me to go and see my regular doc.
> I should say that one positive effect I have had is I am sleeping better.Prior to starting Effexor I was only sleeping 2-3 hrs per night but over the past ten days I am sleeping about six hrs.per night
> I should also say that after being on 75 for a week I felt better than I ever have but it only lasted two days then I crashed big time.I didnt put this in my first message as it seems so irrelevant now.
> I have heard that above 150 other chemicals kick in.
> Thanks for caring
Posted by KimberlyDi on June 4, 2003, at 8:20:59
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » waterlily, posted by melley on June 3, 2003, at 17:25:14
Melley, i agree with your comment about how doctors should try other stuff first. Effexor seems pretty heavy-duty to me, in comparison to other AD's I tried. Paxil & Welbutrin both worked well for me UNTIL I stopped taking them. That was my fault, and they never seemed to work as well when I started up on them again. Folks, please be careful when you decide you are ok enough to just stop taking the AD's. You might regret it later.
Posted by Shari H. on June 4, 2003, at 14:22:34
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I have been taking Effexor (75mg per day) for
about 15 months. About 6 months after I started
taking it I started gaining weight. I excercise on
average 4 days per week and I am exremely
careful with what I eat. I not only cannot
lose weight but I keep gaining weight.
I am only 27 years old and female. I was put on
Effexor as a result of depression that
I suffered brought on by an eating disorder (Anorexia).
When I started the Effexor I weighed 110lbs.
I know weigh approx 138lbs!! That is 28lbs in 15
months. I was underweight before starting the
medication but I can now lose a very healthy 15
pounds. I have been doing research about Effexor
and I keep reading that there are incidences of
"substantial" weight gain with Effexor.
Can someone out there please confirm to me that
my weight gain was brought on my effexor or I
simply did this to myself. Also does anyone know
if once I stop using the effexor will I lose the
weight and return back to my "normal" weight
(i.e.about 120-125lbs).Help me please I feel terrible about myself!!
Shari
Posted by melley on June 4, 2003, at 18:57:37
In reply to Help: Weight gain with Effexor?, posted by Shari H. on June 4, 2003, at 14:22:34
> I have been taking Effexor (75mg per day) for
> about 15 months. About 6 months after I started
> taking it I started gaining weight. I excercise on
> average 4 days per week and I am exremely
> careful with what I eat. I not only cannot
> lose weight but I keep gaining weight.
> I am only 27 years old and female. I was put on
> Effexor as a result of depression that
> I suffered brought on by an eating disorder (Anorexia).
> When I started the Effexor I weighed 110lbs.
> I know weigh approx 138lbs!! That is 28lbs in 15
> months. I was underweight before starting the
> medication but I can now lose a very healthy 15
> pounds. I have been doing research about Effexor
> and I keep reading that there are incidences of
> "substantial" weight gain with Effexor.
> Can someone out there please confirm to me that
> my weight gain was brought on my effexor or I
> simply did this to myself. Also does anyone know
> if once I stop using the effexor will I lose the
> weight and return back to my "normal" weight
> (i.e.about 120-125lbs).
>
> Help me please I feel terrible about myself!!
>
> Shari
I know how you feel! I gained 30 lbs (I'm 47). That is one of the reasons I am now switching to wellbutrin. I know it is from the effexor because I took it for a year about 5 years ago and gained 20 lbs. Stopped taking it and lost it. Not right away but....I feel much better now that I am almost off the effexor (37.5 mg) and onto the wellbutrin. Good luck. You might consider switching.
Posted by Jedida on June 5, 2003, at 1:12:42
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - So Far - 12/12/02, posted by melsey on December 13, 2002, at 16:18:55
Posted by bgbham on June 5, 2003, at 2:01:22
In reply to any good xperiences withdrawing from effexor? (nm), posted by Jedida on June 5, 2003, at 1:12:42
Why withdrawing? I have had nothing but good experience with it for 2 yrs. Weight loss, great mood, etc. Why is everyone trying to withdraw, don't understand.
brian
Posted by Napaba on June 5, 2003, at 8:06:14
In reply to Re: Help: Weight gain with Effexor? » Shari H., posted by melley on June 4, 2003, at 18:57:37
I quit taking Effexor a week a go. But I had a weight lose with it. I lost 34 pounds from the third week in February to last week. I know this sounds stupid, but maybe your not eating enough. Your body may think it's in starvation mode, which causes you not to lose weight. Try a low carb diet. It really works for me.
> > I have been taking Effexor (75mg per day) for
> > about 15 months. About 6 months after I started
> > taking it I started gaining weight. I excercise on
> > average 4 days per week and I am exremely
> > careful with what I eat. I not only cannot
> > lose weight but I keep gaining weight.
> > I am only 27 years old and female. I was put on
> > Effexor as a result of depression that
> > I suffered brought on by an eating disorder (Anorexia).
> > When I started the Effexor I weighed 110lbs.
> > I know weigh approx 138lbs!! That is 28lbs in 15
> > months. I was underweight before starting the
> > medication but I can now lose a very healthy 15
> > pounds. I have been doing research about Effexor
> > and I keep reading that there are incidences of
> > "substantial" weight gain with Effexor.
> > Can someone out there please confirm to me that
> > my weight gain was brought on my effexor or I
> > simply did this to myself. Also does anyone know
> > if once I stop using the effexor will I lose the
> > weight and return back to my "normal" weight
> > (i.e.about 120-125lbs).
> >
> > Help me please I feel terrible about myself!!
> >
> > Shari
>
>
> I know how you feel! I gained 30 lbs (I'm 47). That is one of the reasons I am now switching to wellbutrin. I know it is from the effexor because I took it for a year about 5 years ago and gained 20 lbs. Stopped taking it and lost it. Not right away but....I feel much better now that I am almost off the effexor (37.5 mg) and onto the wellbutrin. Good luck. You might consider switching.
>
Posted by Napaba on June 5, 2003, at 8:50:09
In reply to Re: any good xperiences withdrawing from effexor?, posted by bgbham on June 5, 2003, at 2:01:22
Brian,
Your lucky, Effexor was the worse drug I've ever experienced. I am so greatful to be off it.
Why withdrawing? I have had nothing but good experience with it for 2 yrs. Weight loss, great mood, etc. Why is everyone trying to withdraw, don't understand.
> brian
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