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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by trolqueen58 on September 28, 2003, at 11:58:52
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
> Hi there, I have been on Effex for 3 and 1/2 years. I recently increased it--- 37.5 at 10 a.m. and the full 75 at supper---6 pm-- and I feel like a new person. I sweat some, I have some weird dreams, but I still love sex and feel soooooooooo much better. The weeping is gone. The crying has stopped. I worked on this dosage a long time, changing the times around. Don't give up. Mine works for me.
>
>
Posted by Prinnie on September 28, 2003, at 12:43:07
In reply to Re: Effexor Lawsuit » Prinnie, posted by salty_dog on September 27, 2003, at 20:30:50
> I too, have been free of alcohol and drugs for 15 years (this time), so I relate. I strongly suggest that you NOT do this cold turkey. Cold Turkey could cost you your sanity (As in locked up) and hurt others.
>
> P.S. I have been around for 25 years so of course I am a re-tread.
>
> Hi,
Thanks for your input, but a day at a time, I have been sober, and thank the lord above, not a retread.. This is 1:30 on the third day, and I feel good for the first time. When I get nauseous, I plan on taking an antacid, and tonight, 1/2 a dramimine...to sleep, and Gatorade to replace the electrolites in my body. I don't plan on doing this again, and although uncomfortable, compared to the flu last week, which I had, and missed work for the first time in 4 years,this is a walk in the park for me.Thanks for your concern though, and everyone should not do it this way, but for me dragging it out over a four week period, getting the same end results is not for me.
Thanks,
Prinne
> > Hi,
> > I have been up to 225 of effexor for the last 7 months..being a drug free/alcohol free addict for the last 15 years, I have decided enough is enough this is hurting me more than helping me..today I started cold turkey..I will let you know my progress..I guess I will find out if "that which does not kill you makes you stronger" is all about.
> > Prinnie
>
>
Posted by lioness on September 29, 2003, at 16:12:37
In reply to Re: (also re quitting) » lioness, posted by zinya on September 28, 2003, at 1:40:18
Hi Zinya,
I have been on 187.5 mg of effexor for about two years.I did not find it helpful for my cfids or fms, but it did help my depression. I started taking gabitril ( anti convulsant) which helped my pain and migraine a lot. In addition to that, I now take provigil (anti narcoleptic) and straterra ( non amphetamine adhd drug with AD effects) which has helped my fatigue a great deal. However, straterra has been hard for me to get used to as with each dosage increase, I felt a heavy fatigue.All in all, effexor was not the right choice for me. I wish you luck in with your effexor, as it has the potential to do some very good things for you. I hope this helps.
Lioness
Posted by Nocandi on September 29, 2003, at 20:07:07
In reply to Re: (also re quitting), posted by lioness on September 29, 2003, at 16:12:37
I'm wondering the repercussions of using both of these at the same time. Yes, I know coke is bad...blah blah....seek help...blah blah. That isn't my question, and I'm not here to seek lectures. I want to know if the usage of coke will help or hurt Effexor XR. That simple. I know coke plays with our "happy" chemicals (dopamine, serotonin, and whatever else) and Effexor regulates them (I hope). I use coke here and there because I don't want to do anything...so rail one up and out I go. An illegal anti-depressant if you will. Planning to ween myself off while loading Effexor XR...comments? Actually just sound medical advice will do.
Posted by hlynne33 on September 29, 2003, at 20:47:43
In reply to EFFEXOR - The good, the bad and the ugly, posted by bballcoach43837 on January 26, 2003, at 21:55:18
I'm in the process of going off effexor as well. i was on it for almost a year now and feeling worse then ever. i was up to 225mg a day and realized it wasn't helping me at all. i have never felt less motivated in my life. i have not felt like doing anything these days ecspecially working out...which before this drug i worked out almost every day. i haven't even felt like cleaning or doing much of anything like i use to. i'm feeling a few side effects these days from lowering my dosage. i feel like i have the flu. but all in all it help me see things clearer in the beginning. now i think it's time to start feeling again too.>
Posted by BJL on September 29, 2003, at 20:48:55
In reply to Cocaine + Effexor XR = ??? This is no joke..., posted by Nocandi on September 29, 2003, at 20:07:07
This web site seems to indicate that you could have success using Effexor for weaning off cocaine. Good luck with it! http://www.cocaine.org/venlafaxine.html
Posted by BJL on September 29, 2003, at 20:53:01
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR - The good, the bad and the ugly, posted by hlynne33 on September 29, 2003, at 20:47:43
When I started with Paxil a few years ago, I was way too intense as far as keeping the house clean, having everything perfect. After the Paxil, I not only quit worrying about things being perfect, but I lost all ambition to do anything at all. I'd hoped things would get better when I was switched to Effexor, but it didn't. Today is my 6th day off of Effexor and even with the withdrawals, I still have more ambition than I have in I don't know how long. I want to stress though that Paxil did work wonders for me and my anxiety problems, and the Effexor continued to do the same. But, I also gained 60+ pounds and wanted my life back. Who knows, maybe I'll be back on it some day. I hope to work through this with therapy.
Posted by kcg33 on September 30, 2003, at 5:49:39
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR - The good, the bad and the ugly, posted by BJL on September 29, 2003, at 20:53:01
Well, all, I hear your cries. I made it through an absolutely horrific 7 days, the last 3 of which I should have truly been in the hospital. Today, in desperation, I took the research I had done on Effexor along with my broken spirit and visited my doctor. I explained how absolutely horrible I have felt, and BEGGED for him to hear me and understand that I literally feel like I am dying here. My response? "After 7 days, Ms. Gray, you should no longer have any Effexor in your system. So it can not be the Effexor causing your symptoms. Effexor is a wonderful medication that has helped millions of people, and look here, according to my (handy dandy) little PDR, the studies they did with this medication before FDA approval indicated that NO BODY gained any weight on it, migraines were not an issue, visual disturbances were not a big issue, and in fact, 3% of the people in the study actually lost weight. So, Ms. Gray, if you have gained 30 pounds since you have been on this medicine, I assure you, it came through your teeth to get there. Are we clear? I will just put you on some Vistaril for nausea and meanwhile, hop on over to the hospital and have an MRI done on your head so we can be sure you don't have a tumor. Otherwise, everything looks fine, just try and get some rest".....
I have no idea what stupid little me was supposed to say to that. Like I had been lectured for being a tub-o-lard head case, I just took my little file to the front desk, paid them, and went on my way. I cried all the way home. And what did I do when I got here? I walked over to the desk and took the DEVIL (Effexor) out of the bottle and took one. I guess if the only way I can make the withdrawals stop is to swallow the crap because nobody believes me that this medication is killing me, then I guess Effexor wins. But I, too, do not have the money (and ZERO insurance) to continue paying the equivalent of an electric bill for medication I DO NOT WANT, yet I AM STUCK WITH IT BECAUSE I CAN'T GET RID OF IT. And my doctor really let me down today. I was so sick and so desperate, I really needed him to hear me, this week has been soooooo awful. So I put myself through a whole week of torment thinking I would come out the other side victorious over this creature, and it won anyway.
If there is anyone out there who has ever actually beaten this and was able to make it all the way- I could really use some encouragement. Without my doctor's assistance, I don't know what to do next, but I know that this past 7 days has been way more than I can ever do twice.
Posted by HS on September 30, 2003, at 7:45:43
In reply to Re: Effexor Lawsuit, posted by salty_dog on September 27, 2003, at 20:15:29
Having suffered all life from generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder and depression, I finally reached the point where I decided that I didn't want the rest of my life to be this way - it's just too painful for me personally and it's too destructive for all the other aspects of my life. Living in the UK, you don't get referred to a psychiatrist/psycologist very easily (the National Health Service is free for ALL UK citizens, so there is effectively rationining of services, although any government would deny it), so it wasn't until I moved to South Africa (which has predominantly private medical care) for work that I was finally diagnosed. It was a huge relief for me to discover that I wasn't going mad (which, in the low moments, I had frequently wondered).
The downside of private medical care is that doctors seem to over-prescribe, prescribe much stronger drugs (my MD in the UK was horrified when I told her I'd been given a benzodiazapene)and much more expensive drugs, such as Effexor XR (which a free medical system is less likely to be prescribed). The upside was that I got referred much more quickly to a psyciatrist.
At first I thought the psy was great - I was so relieved to find out what was wrong with me. I am a scientist by training and profession, so I accept fully that we don't understand everything about the causes of mental illness or the treatment of them and that everyone's chemistry is totally unique - at the moment, we can't possibly have a "one-size, fits all" for this type of medication. Thus I was not daunted by the element of experimentation to try to find the right drug for me. I also accept that there are going to be side-effects from drugs - you can't mess around with brain chemistry and not expect there to be.
I had been on Seroxat before for about 18 months, which worked for depression, but wasn't that great for the anxiety and panic attacks - the initial side effects though had worn off after the first few weeks and then I was fine. I had all the usual problems coming off SSRIs, but was fine. Nothing could have prepared me for the problems with Effexor! At 150 mg, the anxiety got totally out of control - I had never experienced anything like this before - I've had bouts of mania (both up and down), night sweats, restlessness, memory impairment, cognative impairment (MAJOR problem for my work), insomnia, lack of concentration, no energy, lack of interest in life, constipation, flatulence (my husband's REALLY been having fun!). The package insert does list all of these as possible side-effects.
My complaints are with both my psychiatrist and with Wyeth: my psychiatrist did not explain the possible side-effects carefully enough and the package inserts did not give clear enough indications of the probabilities of the side-effects. Mostly I'm fed up with the psy - obviously Wyeth want to make money (over here, Effexor costs the about $125 US, which is HUGE money in South African terms or even British terms).
As a highly trained scientist, I understand and accept risks. My psyciatrist know's this. What I really resent is the arrogance of keeping telling me to perservere with a drug that was making my life a misery. I know that she must have seen hundreds if not thousands of patients with my type of personality disorders, but, as seems to happen too often with specialists, she forgot that I am an individual.
Reading through this website, it seems clear that this lack of respect for the individual is a problem that so many of us are experiencing. As a scientist, I understand the mentality of problem solving, but dealing with people is a bit different from fixing problems with drinking water.
Dr Bob - if you're listening - I don't want to stop using drugs to help me manage my mental health issues and I am also going to be starting cognative behavioural therapy next week - but I think that mental health professionals need to start looking more closely at how they interact with patients. I know there are MANY wonderful people out there helping people, but a lot of us are feeling extremely let down at a time when we are extremely vulnerable. I personally am left wondering who to trust.
Sorry for the long ramble folks, but, despite fantastic support from my husband, I am feeling EXTREMELY lost on where to go next.
Hetty
Posted by HS on September 30, 2003, at 9:39:47
In reply to Re: Stopped Effexor XR - extreme side effects...Help!, posted by Prinnie on September 27, 2003, at 18:23:31
I was having extreme side-effects at 150mg (see my previous EXTREMELY long message). After my experience with Seroxat, there was no way I was going to go cold-turkey. What I did was reduce back down to 75 mg and my side-effects have reduced dramatically. I am also taking Molipaxin at night to help me sleep and Xanax (may be called Xanor in the US, or the otherway round, I'm not sure) for the anxiety.
What my MD told me was that you can swop between different types of SSRIs relatively easily - I would suggest you try to find a doctor that you trust and can talk to, or even a good pharamacist to start off with.
I personally don't believe that drugs are really effective in the long-term without some type of therapy. I am not at all anti-drug, I just think that that they can't necessarily solve the underlying problem, they just treat the symptoms.
My dad suffered from high blood pressure - it took ages to find a drug that suited him and some of the side-effects that he went through were pretty awful, but he persevered and eventually found one that suited him.
Medication for mental illness is just the same.
Oh, and if anyone is reading this who posted about a metalic taste int the mouth - maybe the toxin thing is true, but it can also indicate diabetes, so get that checked out.
Anyway, to all of you already coming off - good luck guys and hope that things get better soon.
Hetty
Posted by BJL on September 30, 2003, at 9:50:34
In reply to Re: Effexor Lawsuit, posted by HS on September 30, 2003, at 7:45:43
Flatulence huh? I hadn't even considered it being the Effexor that might have caused that for me, but it really could have been because it's been better since I went off. My husband could definitely relate to yours. Poor guy!
Posted by HS on September 30, 2003, at 9:53:42
In reply to Re: Effexor Lawsuit, posted by BJL on September 30, 2003, at 9:50:34
Well, BJL, sometimes you just have to laugh - luckily he does!
It really is insult to injury though.
He calls me his little fartorama.
I think he's being affectionate!
Hetty
Posted by BJL on September 30, 2003, at 9:58:45
In reply to Re: Effexor Lawsuit » BJL, posted by HS on September 30, 2003, at 9:53:42
I'm Frankenboob secondary to a breast reduction surgery and scars, and I thought that was bad. I'm glad your husband finds humor, I think mine has wanted to throw me out of the house! :-) Have a great day! - Bobbi -
Posted by lioness on September 30, 2003, at 18:12:05
In reply to EFFEXOR , posted by kcg33 on September 30, 2003, at 5:49:39
Hi,
I read your post and felt my blood boil reading about your doctor's response to your complaints. I have spoken to both my doctor and my father (who is also a psychiatrist) about the withdrawal symptoms, and both said this was not unusual. They both told me I needed to take prozac, as it has a longer half life and that should take care of the withdrawal symptoms. I have been taking 10 mg. of prozac along with my 75 mg effexor for the last 5 days. The side effects are diminishing, but are not gone yet. I was told NOT to decrease my dose until I have had 7 symptom-free days. I think you need to find someone who knows a little more about effexor and who does not have to consult the pdr to refute what are common symptoms of effexor withdrawal.Any doctor who prescibes medications should know what the possible side effects are. Find out about getting a presciption for prozac and then once you have gone down to 37.5 mg. you can ask for a prescription at the 25 mg dose, which you can then break in half or in quarters as you make your way off the medication. I also hope you have someone supportive in your life as I have found that to be very important in my withdrawal process. Good luck!
Posted by Salty_Dog on September 30, 2003, at 21:36:56
In reply to EFFEXOR , posted by kcg33 on September 30, 2003, at 5:49:39
I am soo sorry you are going through this and I am glad you could at least share your problems with us.
I found Zyprexa 15 mg for 2 weeks before starting a taper down of Effexor worked for me.
Also, change Dr.'s this one is not working for you.
P.S. You can obtain Zyprexa online. I am going to get in trouble for that but it is the truth.
Posted by Prinnie on October 1, 2003, at 5:26:40
In reply to EFFEXOR , posted by kcg33 on September 30, 2003, at 5:49:39
You poor thing,
My doctor who I loved, just handed out this demon seed without warning. This is my 6th day, I stopped cold turkey. Last Thursday was my last dose of 225. I am now starting to feel better, and can at least eat something besides carbs..this morning I had my first cup of real coffee and enjoyed it..as by my posts, I have been sober a day at a time since 9-5-88. And I will tell you the whooshing and the nausea almost killed me..I flushed the demon drug down the toilet last Saturday just to make sure I wouldn't take it. Today I finally feel 80%..the headache is here mostly because of the caffiene omission..and the help, omg, my husband who is also sober, took such good care of me! He thought i would be more bitchy, but so far, that hasn't returned..The reason the doc put me on the demon drug - I complained of mood swings last Feb..and it was mostly caused by menapause..the sweats that I am getting is because of that, not the drug, I also stopped my hormone drugs..so I was double dying of withdrawals..my husband and I made love, and I will tell you, I forgot what the big *O* felt like..
Take care,
and the symptoms do go away, my pharmacist said it is our way of wanting the drug that makes it last longer than the usual withdrawals...
Hope that I have helped!
Prinnie
Posted by Lyndie on October 1, 2003, at 7:54:07
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by trolqueen58 on September 28, 2003, at 11:58:52
> > Hi there, I have been on Effex for 3 and 1/2 years. I recently increased it--- 37.5 at 10 a.m. and the full 75 at supper---6 pm-- and I feel like a new person. I sweat some, I have some weird dreams, but I still love sex and feel soooooooooo much better. The weeping is gone. The crying has stopped. I worked on this dosage a long time, changing the times around. Don't give up. Mine works for me.
> >
> >
>I am taking the effexor xr and clonazepam for anxiety and panic disorder along with deprestion, so far it is great, I dont cry anymore, and my fits of rage are gone...But lately it seems like It isnt working the same as it was in the beginning. Ive only been on it for 2 weeks, it this the way it is supposed to be, or do I need to get the dosage up-ed? im on the clonazepam twice a day .5 mg and the effexor xr once a day 37.5 but starting the 75mg tonight for the first time. Any suggestions?
thanks
Lyndie
Posted by BJL on October 1, 2003, at 10:41:44
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR , posted by lioness on September 30, 2003, at 18:12:05
When I went off the 37.5 mg of Effexor, I was okay for first day and a half, then symptoms came on. By full 48 hours after last dose, I was sicker than heck. I dumped out part of a tablet and took that, went to bed and woke up a little better. I continued to dump out a little more until I had almost no Effexor at all (took six days), and finally my symptoms were very minimal, so I stopped altogether and have had no more symptoms. It seemed ridiculous how little could have such an effect, but it really did. -Bobbi-
Posted by BJL on October 1, 2003, at 10:48:46
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR , posted by Prinnie on October 1, 2003, at 5:26:40
Okay, so it's been a week since my last dose of Effexor. I'm not feeling sick anymore, but my mood is starting to be affected. I'm a little glum and defensive, but mostly it's like an anger and frustration towards things, particularly my husband (who I know can handle it and understands, poor guy). Will this get better with time? Am I going to get worse and want to beat the poor guy? Please tell me it will get normal. I'm still on wellbutrin 150 twice a day. I see the psych one week from today.
Posted by Prinnie on October 1, 2003, at 11:48:02
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR , posted by BJL on October 1, 2003, at 10:41:44
Hi,
I was wondering if there is anything you can take for the vertigo,(dizzy spells) this is the last symptom that I have left.
Thanks,
Prinnie
Posted by BJL on October 1, 2003, at 12:06:40
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR , posted by Prinnie on October 1, 2003, at 11:48:02
I took Dramamine (the less drowsy one doesn't work as well, but the regular one will make you very sleepy, just to forewarn you). Then again, sleep makes time move faster. I did alot of sleeping!
Posted by kcg33 on October 2, 2003, at 5:58:26
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR , posted by BJL on October 1, 2003, at 12:06:40
Okay, maybe I have this thing going in the right direction now. I have been taking the pills apart and pouring half out for the past 3 days. To my surprise, the nausea and dizziness is reduced to a tolerable level, the fatigue is still there, but when you have an extremely low metabolism to begin with and you enhance that with a "downer" like an AD, I guess that is to be expected. (What I wouldn't give for a day of energy and a desire to have sex with my husband without it feeling more like a chore than what it is supposed to be.)
So my next obstacle while I'm adjusting to the 1/2 dose until I can taper down to 1/4 dose is this: Anyone out there figured out a way to battle the weight gain? Can't take a stimulant with an AD, and most diet drugs contain stimulants - I intend to have this thing whipped (the tapering) hopefully within a couple of weeks, because of how horribly ill it made me before, I will not attempt to ever "cold turkey" again, but hopefully the way I am going will help. I sure appreciate all the advice and suggestions you guys have made.
By the way, I, too, experienced the coughing last week when I went cold turkey, not doing it so much now, the flatulence thing, well, yeah, I can identify with that symptom! Presently, I am suffering from daily "headaches" in my eyes, I'm sure it is a sinus thing, as I have read that is a side-effect, but it sure is irritating. The "brain zaps" stopped as soon as I started taking the half pill. It really is amazing how little of that stuff it takes to make the symptoms get better. Man, after last week, I'm so grateful for that. You know, I've heard that sSRI withdrawals can cause suicidal thoughts and for some people, the desire to go the whole way with it, after last week, I can certainly understand how that can happen. I wasn't far from it! I've never experienced that kind of illness before, and I have been through a lot in my life - not childbirth, not the automobile wreck, not the half dozen surgeries I have had in my life from gall bladder to hysterectomy - NOTHING could have ever come close to last week.
And finally, as promised, now that I am feeling a little better, (but still totally enraged that I am imprisoned by this medicine), I have begun the process of collecting info., and speaking with the attorneys I work with. (I have been a legal secretary for 10 years). We are looking into any possible C-A suits that have already been filed, and making sure there is not already one out there before we look into going it from scratch. If anyone is interested in a little justice (me, I'm not in it for money, I'm in it to make the RX companies recognize the need to be more thorough in their testing and acknowledge the shortcomings of the medication to the people they market it to), stay with me and I'll let you know what I come up with.
Posted by willie on October 2, 2003, at 7:03:47
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
How long were you on the 37.5 of Effexor? I've been on that dosage for almost a year now and I'm thinking of coming off of it. I have been curious to withdrawal symptoms for someone who was on the same dosage as me. Willie
Posted by BJL on October 2, 2003, at 10:53:49
In reply to Hey BJL, posted by willie on October 2, 2003, at 7:03:47
I was at 150 mg twice a day and weaned back down. I was only on the 37.5 mg for a week, which I think was too short of a time before going off.
Irregardless of how large or small of an amount of Effexor you are on, I think the weaning has to go beyond the 37.5 mg. There needs to be smaller doses, such as 30 mg, 20 mg, and 10 mg to wean down even further, maybe on a weekly basis or every other week.
BTW, my symptoms had subsided, but they came back yesteday, 8 days after last tablet, and the dizziness was so horrible that I was throwing up last night. I couldn't get Dramamine, Benadryl, anything to help it. I called my psych this morning, and he says it should be better within the next couple of days. He said symptoms last a week to 10 days, but he swore up and down when I went off the 37.5 mg that I would have "no withdrawal." He obviously knew that I would possibly have withdrawals, but he chose not to divulge this information, maybe thinking mind over matter, I don't know. I'm upset because he should have been honest with me. People have jobs and need to continue to function. They need to be prepared for this. I am so mad, I can't even begin to express how mad I am, but he'll find out at my appointment next week, because I am going to rip him a new one.
Posted by Salty_Dog on October 2, 2003, at 12:10:20
In reply to Re: Hey BJL, posted by BJL on October 2, 2003, at 10:53:49
I still beleive having another AD (prozac,..) onboard before withdrawing from Effexor will help alot. I think you need at least two weeks of the replacement AD before tappering off the Effexor.
I am at 600 mg still and when I am ready to stop Effexor I will withdrawl at 75 mg per week. It should be interesting to say the least.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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