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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by bada on November 9, 2006, at 19:46:40
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by corafree on November 6, 2006, at 16:12:27
I've been taking Effexor for about two years. I have gained weight which has stablized after a 20 lb. gain. I can't seem to make myself stop eating. I also has no interest in sex. My husband is wonderful about this, but I feel so bad for him. Does anyone have any advice?
Posted by chante on November 10, 2006, at 19:19:34
In reply to Re: Effexor XR reminds me of Ecstasy, posted by KristiVegas on November 4, 2006, at 19:29:11
Hey Kristy , Hi just wanted to ask you a question concerning your post. You said you used to take zoloft before. I just started on it a week and a half. starting at half of 25mg for the first week and now today tried half of 50mg and feel in a zone but anxious at the same time but interested of going out and go to the gym, less depresse so that's good but... today I was driving and ran into somebody my baby was with me in the car , luckely everybody was fine and no body hurt... Now I'm scared to take this, it's not even a big dose?? what's going on . Kristy how do you felt you with the zoloft? should I change it's not good for me or what? anybody else too have any ideas? thank...
Posted by Phillipa on November 10, 2006, at 20:01:53
In reply to Re: Effexor XR reminds me of Ecstasy » KristiVegas, posted by chante on November 10, 2006, at 19:19:34
More details on what happened as accidents do happen. And to me anyway zoloft was fine. Love Phillipa
Posted by KristiVegas on November 10, 2006, at 22:47:58
In reply to Re: Effexor XR reminds me of Ecstasy » KristiVegas, posted by chante on November 10, 2006, at 19:19:34
> Hey Kristy , Hi just wanted to ask you a question concerning your post. You said you used to take zoloft before. I just started on it a week and a half. starting at half of 25mg for the first week and now today tried half of 50mg and feel in a zone but anxious at the same time but interested of going out and go to the gym, less depresse so that's good but... today I was driving and ran into somebody my baby was with me in the car , luckely everybody was fine and no body hurt... Now I'm scared to take this, it's not even a big dose?? what's going on . Kristy how do you felt you with the zoloft? should I change it's not good for me or what? anybody else too have any ideas? thank...
Hi chante,
Within 2 days of taking my first dose, I was in the ER with severe diarrhea. I remember being dizzy and nauseous and afraid to drive because I was so sick to my stomach. I didn't go on another med for a long time. A friend at work took it for a week and and became so agitated she asked her MD to give her something else. He changed her to Lexipro. I've had so many bad experiences with anti-depressants I'm really leary of trying anything new. Supposedly Wellbutrin has the LEAST side effects so you might ask your Doc about that one. I know they tell you to be patient about the side effects but I just don't anymore. I don't want to feel bad to feel good. I'm glad no one was hurt in the accident. Be safe............Kristi
Posted by chante on November 12, 2006, at 12:15:31
In reply to Re: Effexor XR reminds me of Ecstasy, posted by KristiVegas on November 10, 2006, at 22:47:58
Hi Kristy, thank you for your answer , I feel much better. I will change it because I try at night and can't sleep and too early in the morning then can't fonction . I started that because of anxiety problems and depression and now feel good inside but too agitated like your saying it's like I lost my coordination weird... I will try to change for something better for me.. hope my doc will change it right away.
Posted by yosemite on November 13, 2006, at 4:58:18
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I have just been prescibed Effexor for a depression I have been battling for 5 years. I have had no luck with Zoloft or Prozac, so my doc wants me to give Effexor a go.
I am very worried though as my doc has given me a prescription starting at 75mgs for 1 week, then onto 150mgs the 2nd week & finally up to 225mgs by week 3/4. I realise this dosage is need to release the norepinephrine component, but is just too fast, too soon? Shouldn't dosage be bumped up gradually over months not weeks as to lesten side-effects & potential bad reaction?
Has anyone else graduated to such a big dose as fast as this & did it work out OK?
I know the doctor knows best, but I just think it seems excessive & can't get my head around it.
Really appreciate any help/advice !
"scared" yosemite
Posted by corafree on November 13, 2006, at 12:23:34
In reply to 225mgs in 4 weeks...Is this too soon?, posted by yosemite on November 13, 2006, at 4:58:18
I've never been prescribed or heard of anyone being prescribed to titrate up that quickly.
RU at week 3?
cf
Posted by Phillipa on November 13, 2006, at 18:59:15
In reply to Re: 225mgs in 4 weeks...Is this too soon? » yosemite, posted by corafree on November 13, 2006, at 12:23:34
Doctors are not always right it's an individual thing. Do what feels right to you and get another doc if this one is too fast for you. Love Phillipa
Posted by yosemite on November 13, 2006, at 20:57:29
In reply to Re: 225mgs in 4 weeks...Is this too soon?, posted by Phillipa on November 13, 2006, at 18:59:15
Thanks for the advice guys......perhaps my doctor's reasoning to push higher dosage is that the norepherine will kick in over the serotonin and that because I have been unresponsive to 2 SSRi's thus far, he is kind of bypassing the serotonin ?
Or maybe, he see's my disease state as being quite severe and wants me to tiltrate to the higher dosage faster for a more rapid response?
Still, I feel like a guinea pig in the whole process and am super anxious that this is just too extreme a move.....
But, I do trust this doctor and I'm sure he has his reasons....
Posted by KristiVegas on November 13, 2006, at 22:32:57
In reply to 225mgs in 4 weeks...Is this too soon?, posted by yosemite on November 13, 2006, at 4:58:18
> I have just been prescibed Effexor for a depression I have been battling for 5 years. I have had no luck with Zoloft or Prozac, so my doc wants me to give Effexor a go.
>
> I am very worried though as my doc has given me a prescription starting at 75mgs for 1 week, then onto 150mgs the 2nd week & finally up to 225mgs by week 3/4. I realise this dosage is need to release the norepinephrine component, but is just too fast, too soon? Shouldn't dosage be bumped up gradually over months not weeks as to lesten side-effects & potential bad reaction?
>
> Has anyone else graduated to such a big dose as fast as this & did it work out OK?
>
> I know the doctor knows best, but I just think it seems excessive & can't get my head around it.
>
> Really appreciate any help/advice !
>
> "scared" yosemiteI started at 37.5mg and worked up to 225mg in a 3 mon period of time. Are you sensitive to meds? Do you have lots of side effects early on? It may be too soon if you have side effects that show up quickly. Give it a try and if you notice odd things going on, tell your Doc. He may keep you on that dose for another 2-3 weeks like my Doc did.
Good luck,
Kristi
Posted by christofer on November 14, 2006, at 5:30:06
In reply to 225mgs in 4 weeks...Is this too soon?, posted by yosemite on November 13, 2006, at 4:58:18
i think your dr has decided that the optimal dosage is 225 and above, therefore titrating up 75mg/week.
when the drugcompany's get there drugs approved they usually use a faster titration to get results against placebo, so i don't think its dangerous or anything.
Posted by emiliej87 on November 16, 2006, at 12:12:06
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Hey there. I am a 19 year old female. I started taking effexor in June. I started on 37.5 miligrams, but that wasn't doing anything, so I went up to 75, then 150, and now 225. Over time, I've become addicted to it and I can't skip a pill or I feel extremely sick. Also, it tends to keep me up at night. Sometimes I'll stay awake for 3 days straight. It is for this reason that my psychiatrist also prescribed clonazapam for me in August. I'm not sure if that's how you spell it but its an anti psychotic. I take 5mg an hour before bedtime and it knocks me out for 8-9 hours. When I wake up in the morning I feel disoriented, and this only gets worse when I take the Effexor. I started taking Effexor because I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I still get panic and anxiety attacks quite often. Some are worse than others, but needless to say, the effexor doesn't seem to be very effective for me. I'm just tired of all the dosage changes and taking the clonazapams, although my body is also addicted to them. Anyways, that's my personal experience with Effexor.
Posted by corafree on November 16, 2006, at 18:17:21
In reply to Re: 225mgs in 4 weeks...Is this too soon?, posted by KristiVegas on November 13, 2006, at 22:32:57
How do U feel right now on the 225mg? Better?
tks, cf
Posted by KristiVegas on November 16, 2006, at 19:15:48
In reply to Re: 225mgs in 4 weeks...Is this too soon? » KristiVegas, posted by corafree on November 16, 2006, at 18:17:21
Not really-I was hoping for better results by now. My mood is still lousy and I'm waking up 2-3 times a night. I'm continuing to experience dizziness. I think I'm going to change Docs.
Kristi
Posted by emiliej87 on November 17, 2006, at 0:08:11
In reply to Re: 225mgs in 4 weeks...Is this too soon? » KristiVegas, posted by corafree on November 16, 2006, at 18:17:21
I feel just the same. A lot of anxiety, still having panic attacks and anxiety attacks. I worry about everything. I just feel like me... The Effexor doesn't seem to have helped much although my mom said that I'm not as irritable as I was before I went on it, but the month before I started taking it, I had a micarriage, so I was pretty up and down and would have been so whether or not I had GAD. Effexor just doesn't seem to be working out for me although who knows what it'll do to anyone else. We're all different.
Posted by corafree on November 17, 2006, at 15:39:01
In reply to Re: 225mgs in 4 weeks...Is this too soon?, posted by emiliej87 on November 17, 2006, at 0:08:11
I started mine shortly after a 'bad life event' (So sorry to hear of yours.) again (Have been on it in the past w/ and w/o success.) and it's not working for me either.
cf
Posted by KristiVegas on November 17, 2006, at 21:38:30
In reply to Re: 225mgs in 4 weeks...Is this too soon?, posted by emiliej87 on November 17, 2006, at 0:08:11
Emilie & Cora,
Thanks for sharing. I'm going to have a chat w/ my doc on Monday about Effexor. All the feedback I'm getting is negative. It's nice to know that there are people out there to talk to about this. It's hard talking to family-there's a part of them that just doesn't get it.
Thanks----KRISTI
Posted by cristyleigh on November 18, 2006, at 18:31:13
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on November 6, 2006, at 12:39:24
> I have been on the 150 mg for about 1 week and 10 days and I don't feel any different. I still worry and feel horrible. I am in a bad mood most of my days. I was on the 75mg for 3 weeks. So for about a month I have been on this medicine and I am not sure if it's going to work for me. I don't want to up my dose anymore. I was just wondering from everyone if they think I should give it more time or try something new. I don't want to try something new when maybe if I gave the effexor some more time it could kick in completely. I just don't know what to do. I'm confused and my mind is always racing. I just want to be back to thinking clearly and feeling good.
Gabbie,
You have really been on my mind lately. I have been gone for 2 weeks with no access to the internet so I hadn't been keeping up with this website. You have crossed my mind quite a few times in those two weeks though b/c I went from Lexapro (that was working but I was getting fat) to Effexor (that didn't do a thing for me even after three months). I have since stopped the Effexor...over two weeks ago...and started back on the Lexapro. I know how I felt when I started the Lexapro the first time and I just never felt good with the Effexor....just like you. I know that it is confusing to know what to do but there are other drugs out there to try and it is not worth wasting time and being miserable on something that isn't working. Hope to hear some good news from you soon!
Cristy
Posted by gabbie on November 20, 2006, at 17:42:56
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by cristyleigh on November 18, 2006, at 18:31:13
Aw, I appreciate you thinking about my situation. I feel like nobody answers my questions haha. I am still on the effexor it's been almost 2 months, but I am going to call the doctor to switch because I figure it's been a while and if it was going to work it would have kicked in by now. I hope you are doing better. Let me know. I think switching scares me so much because I've looked at other peoples posts who say it took them a couple months to feel better and I really don't have time to wait around for 5 months to feel happier. I mean I am not insane or anything, but I can't stand my horrible moodswings and the actions from me when I start to feel uncomfortable and nervous. I just want it to go away. We'll see... I am going to call there tomorrow. Good luck with you, though. Thank you for paying attention!
Posted by KristiVegas on November 20, 2006, at 19:46:27
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on November 20, 2006, at 17:42:56
Gabbie - I feel like cristyleigh - you don't want to have to go thru all the bad stuff to feel good. I don't put up with it either. If something doesn't feel right, I'll tell my doc. They're the ones with the medical degree but YOU are the one that knows your body best, right? The best way to deal with the docs is to read, read, read about all this stuff. Know what you're talking about when you go in there. My doc has become alot more attentive since I got a little more educated.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.....
Kristi
Posted by cristyleigh on November 21, 2006, at 7:14:43
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on November 20, 2006, at 17:42:56
Gabbie...I am very relieved to hear that you are going to try something else. There are too many choices out there to stick with one that isn't working after two months. I actually have a wonderful withdrawl story...(quite rare on this site)...I just stopped taking 150mg of Effexor XR cold turkey and started back on 10mg of Lexapro that same day and had absolutely NO side effects at all!!! I don't know if your Doctor thinks that Lexapro will be the right drug for you or not but if so, you can hopefully look forward to the the same EASY transition. Other drugs might work just as well so give them a shot if they are what your Doc proposes...I only have experience with these two and Paxil (which I couldn't take at all)! Good luck and keep me posted!
Cristy
Posted by gabbie on November 21, 2006, at 10:40:49
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by cristyleigh on November 21, 2006, at 7:14:43
It's amazing that you had no problems stopping the medicine. I was on effexor before for a month and 2 weeks and I stopped taking it cold turkey as well. My only problem was with my stomach. I started having horrible pains everytime I ate. It was as if I was stuffed even though I hardly ate. Now that I have been back on it I havn't felt the pains in my stomach, but now it's starting up again which lets me know this probably isn't the drug for me. I don't want to be one of those people that tries many different medicines and none work. i am scared of that happening to me because I just want to go back to normal with my life and my personality. Some days are alright, but every day is a hassel feeling like crap. Who knows what is going to happen, but I hope something works sooner than later. Best of luck. I will let you know what happens.
Posted by fredwb on November 21, 2006, at 16:35:48
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on November 21, 2006, at 10:40:49
So my wife finally took the 37.5 mg dose for a week and is now back on the 75 mg dose. Her complaint is that she's a zombie (with only occasional shakes now) until about 2-3 pm the next day. I talked her into taking it a bit earlier in the evening, 6PM. But this didn't help. Her doc had her cut the Wellbutrin to a quarter dose too (she was on a half dose, 75 mg). She almost fell down the stairs today and off a ladder yesterday. She can't leave the house because she's afraid to drive. She told me that she'd rather be depressed than go through this any longer. Her doc says it takes time but in the meantime this is MAKING her depressed! Any thoughts from anyone. Wellbutrin never affected her like this. Maybe a full dose of Wellbutrin would have been better as she never did try that.
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2006, at 18:02:30
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by fredwb on November 21, 2006, at 16:35:48
Sorry I just don't see this antidepressant theory of helping anxiety. As benzos have a clean track record for all the years they have been out and they act right at the first dose no waiting. And ad's been on them all make me worse. Love Phillipa
Posted by KristiVegas on November 21, 2006, at 22:06:09
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by fredwb on November 21, 2006, at 16:35:48
Fred-my doc keeps saying the same thing "it takes time" but you don't want to feel bad to feel good. Why did her doc switch from Wellb to Effex?
Kristi
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