![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 103 to 127 of 10407. Go back in thread:
Posted by John on April 29, 2000, at 20:57:09
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by maggie on April 29, 2000, at 1:20:48
I really appreciate this message board, and want to add my experience to the mix.
A few weeks ago I went to my doctor because I had a persistent tic in my eyelid that wouldn't go away. Through testing he ruled out any obvious physical problem, and concluded--no doubt correctly--that I had persistent anxiety and mild depression. He put me on effexor.
From the first dose (37.5 mg) I began having tremendous side effects, which included weakness and sleepiness, stiff and uncoordinated motor skills, muscle twitches, and a maddening inability to sleep due to "jerks" everytime I managed to drift off (which wasn't very often). The weakness and stiff movement passed in a couple days, but the twitches and jerks remained. At first it didn't dawn on me that I might be having side effects of the effexor, since the literature I was given mentioned only things like nausea and insomnia. I thought my symptoms were due to anxiety. But after searching the web I finally realized it was effexor, and I decided to get o
Posted by Flip on May 3, 2000, at 18:49:17
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by maggie on April 29, 2000, at 1:20:48
Hi, just found this BBS as I browsed for info on Effexor XR. I've been on Paxil 20mg/d for two months. Alcohol abuse led to a breakdown during Easter (now 10 days sober), and subsequent sobriety led me to my first real indication of what Paxil was doing to me: making me worse.
My GP diagnosed me with depression... the deeper i went on Paxil, the more i was convinced i suffer from bipolar disorder. TOday, he finally listened to me, and prescribed XR. I have yet to take any. It should be quite a ride toward the lighter side, i hope.
Great discussion here... I'll be back to read more and share if necessary.
Flip
Posted by Marge on May 4, 2000, at 12:19:36
In reply to Re: Effexor XR vs. Paxil and weight gain , posted by Juli on April 26, 2000, at 18:20:04
I am thrilled to see the posts regarding weight gain. I have gained almost 40lbs over the past 1 1/2 years that I've been taking Effexor. I had no idea why I was gaining and have become more depressed by the weight gain than I was initially. I changed doctors recently and was told it could cause weight gain. My question now, has anyone ever gone just COLD TURKEY? How long did it last and was it unbearable?
> >I am on 75 mg. Effexor XR a day. I have gained
> 20 lbs. I exercise like a demon and nothing comes
> off. I hate it. Can't wear any of my clothes,
> but I refuse to go out and buy more. Help. I'm
> thinking seriously about going on St. John's Wort.
> Anyone ever do this? Everything I read says they
> don't know how to dose this kind of switch. Any info
> would be greatly helpful.
>
>
>
>
>
> Just got sample of Effexor XR. I've been on Paxil 20mg. for 1 yr. I feel great and my panic attacks are gone. BUT --- I keep gaining weight. I told my dr. to give me something else. Did anyone gain weight on this stuff? Does anyone use this for panic attacks. My dr. told me I could go right from Paxil to Effexor XR, stopping one and starting the other with no withdrawl symptoms. ANyone try it. Thanks for any input.
> > >
Posted by seve on May 4, 2000, at 13:15:38
In reply to Re: effexor et. al., posted by MIke on May 3, 2000, at 20:10:14
> > Hi my name is Mike, been on effexor for over a year, 150mg. problem is my insurance does not cover, and in Canada stuff is
> 175.00 per month (can't afford) i take it for severe panic attacks, i wonder
> if anyone has idea's about similiar medication i might talk
> with my doc about. Tried prozac, paxil etc. did not work well.
> would appreciate some insight. Otherwise effexor
> is a great medication, just to darn expensive
iam on 75 milgrams of effexor monday i go to 150 it is helping me no panic attacks depresson is gone paxil didnt work for me got real depressed and drank like a fish
Posted by Amy on May 4, 2000, at 19:52:15
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Rhonda on April 28, 2000, at 7:17:12
My experience with Effexor has not been pleasant. My gynecologist referred me to a psychiatrist after his “drug du jour" regimen for my menopause symptoms didn’t help my depression. I first saw the shrink in January and he immediately put me on Effexor, 37.5 for one week and then 75 mg. after that. I was on 75 mg. for one and a half months and got no relief from my depression. He gradually increased the dose to 300 mg., but I couldn’t handle the sleepiness side effects. (I wanted to sleep for 10 – 12 hours per day.) Even at the higher doses, my depression was not helped at all. I decided I wanted to go off of it. I was on 150 mg. for three weeks, 75 mg. for 5 days and 37.5 mg. for 7 days. I had my last dose on Monday, May 1. And by Tuesday afternoon I felt dizzy. (See Maggie’s posting of April 13, regarding missed doses. This describes my experience perfectly.) The dizziness has remained which led me to this web site today. Is there any way to get off this drug with out taking more of it? I can’t handle too much more of these symptoms.
Posted by Kimberly on May 6, 2000, at 10:20:14
In reply to Re: Effexor XR vs. Paxil and weight gain , posted by Marge on May 4, 2000, at 12:19:36
I too gained some weight on effexor and also had ALOT of side effects trying to go off of it too quickly. A very interesting thing that I just discovered in talking with my psychiatrist yesterday. Apparently the reason I have had so much trouble with several meds (all SSRIs, effexor, wellbutrin) is that they target not only serotonin, neurepenephrine (sp?), but also dopamine. Apparently my body is hypersensitive to dopamine, so these meds will rev me up very much, cause insomnia, constant hungry (almost hypoglycemic feelings), and weight gain. The same effects tend to occur in me with too much caffeine, decongestant, or stimulant diet pills. this is a huge breakthrough for me in that it will be a big help in picking future meds. now i am on serzone and will be starting buspar in 4-5 days along with it. neither of them touches dopamine so i have good feelings about them. i simply wanted to pass this on because i feel it is a huge piece of information that may help those of you having trouble on certain medicines (again ALL SSRIs (zoloft,paxil,prozac,celexa), effexor, and wellbutrin. feel free to email me to discuss (JoyOfNascar88@cs.com). Kimberly
> I am thrilled to see the posts regarding weight gain. I have gained almost 40lbs over the past 1 1/2 years that I've been taking Effexor. I had no idea why I was gaining and have become more depressed by the weight gain than I was initially. I changed doctors recently and was told it could cause weight gain. My question now, has anyone ever gone just COLD TURKEY? How long did it last and was it unbearable?
>
>
> > >I am on 75 mg. Effexor XR a day. I have gained
> > 20 lbs. I exercise like a demon and nothing comes
> > off. I hate it. Can't wear any of my clothes,
> > but I refuse to go out and buy more. Help. I'm
> > thinking seriously about going on St. John's Wort.
> > Anyone ever do this? Everything I read says they
> > don't know how to dose this kind of switch. Any info
> > would be greatly helpful.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Just got sample of Effexor XR. I've been on Paxil 20mg. for 1 yr. I feel great and my panic attacks are gone. BUT --- I keep gaining weight. I told my dr. to give me something else. Did anyone gain weight on this stuff? Does anyone use this for panic attacks. My dr. told me I could go right from Paxil to Effexor XR, stopping one and starting the other with no withdrawl symptoms. ANyone try it. Thanks for any input.
> > > >
Posted by Theresa Pye on May 7, 2000, at 7:38:21
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
IMHO, Effexor/Effexor XR should be pulled from the market. I took it for three years.
Hi there,
>
> Anyone care to comment on the use of Effexor? Anyone
> "happy" with it? I have tried Prozac (too much anxiety),
> Serzone (too sedating). I am currently on Buspar for anxiety.
>
> Been reading many different reports... Effexor seems
> to have a lot of success...
>
> please share your thoughts on this.
Posted by Noa on May 7, 2000, at 12:11:34
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Theresa Pye on May 7, 2000, at 7:38:21
I am sorry you had a bad experience with effexor, but if it were pulled from the market, a lot of people who are helped by it or might be helped by it in the future will be deprived of something that could help them to have a livable quality of life.
Posted by Cindy W on May 7, 2000, at 20:18:55
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Noa on May 7, 2000, at 12:11:34
> I am sorry you had a bad experience with effexor, but if it were pulled from the market, a lot of people who are helped by it or might be helped by it in the future will be deprived of something that could help them to have a livable quality of life.
Noa, I agree completely (as one of those who have been helped by Effexor-XR)!
Posted by Theresa Pye on May 8, 2000, at 6:46:38
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Theresa Pye on May 7, 2000, at 7:38:21
Perhaps I should also add, that there are those including myself who feel they now have permenant problems from taking the medication. I stopped taking the medication a year ago and I am still having problems. For those who have the muscle tightness during the withdrawal, I still have mine even though it was a year ago. Certain medications may be helpful but can also be dangerous. My case in point is Rezulin and others. Of course there were people who were helped by this drug, but researchers later found that it can cause liver damage/failure, and people died from the medication. This is why it was pulled from the market.
> IMHO, Effexor/Effexor XR should be pulled from the market. I took it for three years.
>
> Hi there,
> >
> > Anyone care to comment on the use of Effexor? Anyone
> > "happy" with it? I have tried Prozac (too much anxiety),
> > Serzone (too sedating). I am currently on Buspar for anxiety.
> >
> > Been reading many different reports... Effexor seems
> > to have a lot of success...
> >
> > please share your thoughts on this.
Posted by tina on May 8, 2000, at 8:03:14
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Theresa Pye on May 8, 2000, at 6:46:38
I'd love to know how you're fairing with the BuSpar. I've been considering it but am unsure it'll be strong enough. Input greatly appreciated, thanks--Tina
> Perhaps I should also add, that there are those including myself who feel they now have permenant problems from taking the medication. I stopped taking the medication a year ago and I am still having problems. For those who have the muscle tightness during the withdrawal, I still have mine even though it was a year ago. Certain medications may be helpful but can also be dangerous. My case in point is Rezulin and others. Of course there were people who were helped by this drug, but researchers later found that it can cause liver damage/failure, and people died from the medication. This is why it was pulled from the market.
> > IMHO, Effexor/Effexor XR should be pulled from the market. I took it for three years.
> >
> > Hi there,
> > >
> > > Anyone care to comment on the use of Effexor? Anyone
> > > "happy" with it? I have tried Prozac (too much anxiety),
> > > Serzone (too sedating). I am currently on Buspar for anxiety.
> > >
> > > Been reading many different reports... Effexor seems
> > > to have a lot of success...
> > >
> > > please share your thoughts on this.
Posted by Carlene/Texas on May 14, 2000, at 19:34:48
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Just started 75mg twice a day. Was on the starter kit the first two weeks. Doctor thought Effexor would help with my pain from lupus and fibromylgia. Has anyone taken it for that?
Posted by Donna Odom on May 23, 2000, at 11:41:56
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Carlene/Texas on May 14, 2000, at 19:35:15
> Just started 75mg twice a day. Was on the starter kit the first two weeks. Doctor thought Effexor would help with my pain from lupus and fibromylgia. Has anyone taken it for that?
I'm not taking it for that, but for a rough period I was going through. After being on 37.5 mg for 1 week and 75 for 5 weeks, I started experiencing severe hand shaking. Has anyone else had that problem? I'm in the process of weaning myself off now.
Posted by Donna Odom on May 23, 2000, at 12:08:42
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Amy on May 4, 2000, at 19:52:15
> My experience with Effexor has not been pleasant. My gynecologist referred me to a psychiatrist after his “drug du jour" regimen for my menopause symptoms didn’t help my depression. I first saw the shrink in January and he immediately put me on Effexor, 37.5 for one week and then 75 mg. after that. I was on 75 mg. for one and a half months and got no relief from my depression. He gradually increased the dose to 300 mg., but I couldn’t handle the sleepiness side effects. (I wanted to sleep for 10 – 12 hours per day.) Even at the higher doses, my depression was not helped at all. I decided I wanted to go off of it. I was on 150 mg. for three weeks, 75 mg. for 5 days and 37.5 mg. for 7 days. I had my last dose on Monday, May 1. And by Tuesday afternoon I felt dizzy. (See Maggie’s posting of April 13, regarding missed doses. This describes my experience perfectly.) The dizziness has remained which led me to this web site today. Is there any way to get off this drug with out taking more of it? I can’t handle too much more of these symptoms.
Does anyone know how long it takes to get completely out of your system?
Posted by Star on May 23, 2000, at 18:31:45
In reply to Alternative Ways of dealing with Depression, posted by BJ on April 26, 2000, at 23:02:33
Question-- would you post the same message on a cancer, lupus, or alzheimer's message board? Depression and anxiety are BIOMEDICAL problems that leave patients at a disadvantage to varying degrees to deal with life circumstances. In most cases, medication can help. YES, patients should make well-educated, cautious choices about treatment options. Patients should also consider alternative treatments and therapies to supplement medication. But this social taboo and intolerance for antidepressants and antianxiety medications is unwarranted and counterproductive. Why should people with biologically-based medical problems deny themselves relief and recovery through medication? Why should these patients, already suffering, have to endure such intolerance for their condition or be made to feel that less effective alternatives are somehow morally superior to effective medication?
Posted by Star on May 23, 2000, at 18:31:58
In reply to Alternative Ways of dealing with Depression, posted by BJ on April 26, 2000, at 23:02:33
Question-- would you post the same message on a cancer, lupus, or alzheimer's message board? Depression and anxiety are BIOMEDICAL problems that leave patients at a disadvantage to varying degrees to deal with life circumstances. In most cases, medication can help. YES, patients should make well-educated, cautious choices about treatment options. Patients should also consider alternative treatments and therapies to supplement medication. But this social taboo and intolerance for antidepressants and antianxiety medications is unwarranted and counterproductive. Why should people with biologically-based medical problems deny themselves relief and recovery through medication? Why should these patients, already suffering, have to endure such intolerance for their condition or be made to feel that less effective alternatives are somehow morally superior to effective medication?
Posted by SEVE on May 24, 2000, at 6:46:08
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Donna Odom on May 23, 2000, at 11:41:56
> > Just started 75mg twice a day. Was on the starter kit the first two weeks. Doctor thought Effexor would help with my pain from lupus and fibromylgia. Has anyone taken it for that?
>
> I'm not taking it for that, but for a rough period I was going through. After being on 37.5 mg for 1 week and 75 for 5 weeks, I started experiencing severe hand shaking. Has anyone else had that problem? I'm in the process of weaning myself off now.
Posted by Sky on May 26, 2000, at 11:30:21
In reply to Re: Effexor XR vs. Paxil and weight gain , posted by Kimberly on May 6, 2000, at 10:20:14
> I too gained some weight on effexor and also had ALOT of side effects trying to go off of it too quickly. A very interesting thing that I just discovered in talking with my psychiatrist yesterday. Apparently the reason I have had so much trouble with several meds (all SSRIs, effexor, wellbutrin) is that they target not only serotonin, neurepenephrine (sp?), but also dopamine. Apparently my body is hypersensitive to dopamine, so these meds will rev me up very much, cause insomnia, constant hungry (almost hypoglycemic feelings), and weight gain. The same effects tend to occur in me with too much caffeine, decongestant, or stimulant diet pills. this is a huge breakthrough for me in that it will be a big help in picking future meds. now i am on serzone and will be starting buspar in 4-5 days along with it. neither of them touches dopamine so i have good feelings about them. i simply wanted to pass this on because i feel it is a huge piece of information that may help those of you having trouble on certain medicines (again ALL SSRIs (zoloft,paxil,prozac,celexa), effexor, and wellbutrin. feel free to email me to discuss (JoyOfNascar88@cs.com). Kimberly
>
> > I am thrilled to see the posts regarding weight gain. I have gained almost 40lbs over the past 1 1/2 years that I've been taking Effexor. I had no idea why I was gaining and have become more depressed by the weight gain than I was initially. I changed doctors recently and was told it could cause weight gain. My question now, has anyone ever gone just COLD TURKEY? How long did it last and was it unbearable?
> >
> >
> > > >I am on 75 mg. Effexor XR a day. I have gained
> > > 20 lbs. I exercise like a demon and nothing comes
> > > off. I hate it. Can't wear any of my clothes,
> > > but I refuse to go out and buy more. Help. I'm
> > > thinking seriously about going on St. John's Wort.
> > > Anyone ever do this? Everything I read says they
> > > don't know how to dose this kind of switch. Any info
> > > would be greatly helpful.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Just got sample of Effexor XR. I've been on Paxil 20mg. for 1 yr. I feel great and my panic attacks are gone. BUT --- I keep gaining weight. I told my dr. to give me something else. Did anyone gain weight on this stuff? Does anyone use this for panic attacks. My dr. told me I could go right from Paxil to Effexor XR, stopping one and starting the other with no withdrawl symptoms. ANyone try it. Thanks for any input.
> > > > >
have been on Effexor XR and had the weight gain, also had tremmors. Tried St Johns Wart and with no results. Ready to give up.
Posted by Kellie on May 28, 2000, at 9:41:20
In reply to Alternative Ways of dealing with Depression, posted by BJ on April 26, 2000, at 23:02:33
Depression is a chemical imbalance of the brain. I haven't found any natural substances, such as St John's Wort that are strong enough or have the correct type of chemicals to replace seratonin, and non medical methods absolutely do not work. Telling a depressive to "learn how to calm down" or "snap out of it", or "you can change if you want to" is insensative at best and ignorant and callous at worst. My mother is a diabetic and I'd never dream of telling her she could meditate and get over it. So why would you want to tell me to try an alternative method to cure myself of depression. Believe me, before I finally admitted to myself that I had a serous illness, I tried!! Prayer,meditation,sense deprivation,staring at candles,humming,exercise,--nothing worked. This is not an emotional problem, it's a biological problem. Increase your knowledge and you might learn something.
Posted by Kellie on May 28, 2000, at 10:45:53
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by SEVE on May 24, 2000, at 6:46:08
I've been on three different meds for depression and Effexor is the latest. My doctor never said there would be problems coming off it. The only reasons I've changed meds is because I develope a tolerance to them. How long is the longest that someone being treated for depression with Effexor been on it? Are the withdrawals worse if you've been on it for a long time? Since my depression doesn't ever let up I don't anticipate ever going off medication entirely, but the withdrawal symptoms worry me. I had superduper energy for the first month after starting Effexor, but virtually no side effects since then. Thanks. Kellie
> > > Just started 75mg twice a day. Was on the starter kit the first two weeks. Doctor thought Effexor would help with my pain from lupus and fibromylgia. Has anyone taken it for that?
> >
> > I'm not taking it for that, but for a rough period I was going through. After being on 37.5 mg for 1 week and 75 for 5 weeks, I started experiencing severe hand shaking. Has anyone else had that problem? I'm in the process of weaning myself off now.
Posted by Janette on May 30, 2000, at 13:47:10
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Rhonda on April 28, 2000, at 7:17:12
RE: Effexor withdrawal:
I was relieved that other people have experienced the same symptoms as I have. My doctor was sure I had a virus. The second time I tried to get off the effexor I experienced the same vertigo and wiggly feeling in my head and eyes. The thing that bothered me the most was that it took 3 days for the symptoms to start after I stopped taking the effexor. I have been on 35.5 mg once a day for over 2 months and every time I try to dicontinue use I get that wiggly feeling after about 2 days. Has anyone had success getting off of this drug?
Posted by Jackie Jones on May 31, 2000, at 13:45:25
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Ann on November 7, 1999, at 12:28:40
I have been on Prozac, which was awful...Zoloft, in which I was a Zombie..., and Paxil, which made me very disoriented. I could not remember how I drove to work! I have been put on effexor xr (37.5 mg per day) 3 weeks ago. So far, so good. The only side effect that I am experiencing is a little tiredness about 30 minutes after taking. I yawn alot but I never have gotten to the point that I just have to go to sleep. I rest much better at night. I take mine WITH FOOD around lunch time, and by bed time I am still relaxed enough to sleep good but not hard. I normally stay up until about 11:00-12:00 at night and I hit the floor at 5:30 am., however, I have always done this.
I am having GREAT results with effexor xr - in comparison with the others. With Paxil, I was falling asleep sitting up in my chair at work - even when I took it with food, & it was a lower dosage.
BUT, medicines affect me very harshly anyway. I can take a bayer aspirin and must lay down for 4 hours, and we won't even talk about a pain pill of any kind!!! I totally loose it!!! I can sleep for at least 24 hours if not more.
Dr's say this is dur to Low BP - always has been low and probably always will be.
Anyway, no weight gain - but I did with Paxil. Constipation with Paxil, but that seems to be getting better too!
I love IT
JJ
Posted by Cindy W on June 1, 2000, at 9:42:07
In reply to Re: Effexor XR vs. Paxil and weight gain , posted by Sky on May 26, 2000, at 11:30:21
> > I too gained some weight on effexor and also had ALOT of side effects trying to go off of it too quickly. A very interesting thing that I just discovered in talking with my psychiatrist yesterday. Apparently the reason I have had so much trouble with several meds (all SSRIs, effexor, wellbutrin) is that they target not only serotonin, neurepenephrine (sp?), but also dopamine. Apparently my body is hypersensitive to dopamine, so these meds will rev me up very much, cause insomnia, constant hungry (almost hypoglycemic feelings), and weight gain. The same effects tend to occur in me with too much caffeine, decongestant, or stimulant diet pills. this is a huge breakthrough for me in that it will be a big help in picking future meds. now i am on serzone and will be starting buspar in 4-5 days along with it. neither of them touches dopamine so i have good feelings about them. i simply wanted to pass this on because i feel it is a huge piece of information that may help those of you having trouble on certain medicines (again ALL SSRIs (zoloft,paxil,prozac,celexa), effexor, and wellbutrin. feel free to email me to discuss (JoyOfNascar88@cs.com). Kimberly
> >
> > > I am thrilled to see the posts regarding weight gain. I have gained almost 40lbs over the past 1 1/2 years that I've been taking Effexor. I had no idea why I was gaining and have become more depressed by the weight gain than I was initially. I changed doctors recently and was told it could cause weight gain. My question now, has anyone ever gone just COLD TURKEY? How long did it last and was it unbearable?
> > >
> > >
> > > > >I am on 75 mg. Effexor XR a day. I have gained
> > > > 20 lbs. I exercise like a demon and nothing comes
> > > > off. I hate it. Can't wear any of my clothes,
> > > > but I refuse to go out and buy more. Help. I'm
> > > > thinking seriously about going on St. John's Wort.
> > > > Anyone ever do this? Everything I read says they
> > > > don't know how to dose this kind of switch. Any info
> > > > would be greatly helpful.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Just got sample of Effexor XR. I've been on Paxil 20mg. for 1 yr. I feel great and my panic attacks are gone. BUT --- I keep gaining weight. I told my dr. to give me something else. Did anyone gain weight on this stuff? Does anyone use this for panic attacks. My dr. told me I could go right from Paxil to Effexor XR, stopping one and starting the other with no withdrawl symptoms. ANyone try it. Thanks for any input.
> > > > > >
> have been on Effexor XR and had the weight gain, also had tremmors. Tried St Johns Wart and with no results. Ready to give up.
Effexor-XR hasn't made me gain weight. Have been taking 375 mg/day (gradually increased from 37.5, of course) for nearly six months. The weight I've been unable to lose, I'm afraid I have to blame on the six glasses of Pepsi or other soft drinks I drink each day (with sugar). I feel more active, less depressed, more alert, and more alive, on Effexor-XR. Hope things go well for you!--Cindy W
Posted by Gerri_mww on June 12, 2000, at 1:14:42
In reply to Adults with ADHD, posted by Renee N on April 16, 2000, at 12:34:19
> Sara,
> Glad to hear from a fellow ADHD adult. Please let us know what you try and the results. Also, please feel free to come here to let off some steam. I know how frutrating ADHD symptoms can be! Renee NI am so glad to have so much information at my fingertips. I started Effexor SR about three weeks ago for ADHD (inattentive type). I noticed a difference right off the bat. I seemed more calmer than before. I was able to relax enough I found that I was more aware of motion. (was extreme at first, now is a more normal awareness) I noticed I no longer had the "need for speed" as in "lead-footed driver".
I also found I would need to take naps in the afternoon (which with the inattentive-type ADD was better than wanting to sleep all day like I was used to). I have noticed that my body is getting used to the dose (75 mg. SR) and I feel it is diminishing in it's effects (or the placebo effect I was getting). I am going to ask my MD to increase the level to 150mg in hopes that the serene feelings will return.
I also noted that it at least helped me to find a motivation to start getting my housework going after a year hiatis (sp)--which my kids appreciated..LOL.
I haven't experienced the "energy" everyone says starts after the naps end but am hoping (also the weight loss would be welcomed).Has been great to know what effects to expect and what is "normal" side-effects being that with the ADD I also get extreme panic attacks (which the effexor has completely stopped --but notice some inklings of their return (which also makes me think I need to increase the dosage for me).
Thanks for all the info everyone has contributed so far!
Gerri
Posted by KarenB on June 12, 2000, at 15:10:12
In reply to Re: Adults with ADHD, posted by Gerri_mww on June 12, 2000, at 1:14:42
Gerri,
Hi! I also have ADD, innattentive type with HYPOactivity (yawn...)and dysthymia (chronic, low-level depression). I am so glad that I now know what's been wrong all my life, it's just too bad it took so long to discover the real problem.
I am taking Adderall (20 mg before getting out of bed in the morning, then 10 mg five hours later) for energy and FOCUS, plus 10mg of Buspar, 3x per day for anxiety and low level depression. This combo is working much better than anything else has (in the States but that's a different story...) but I still feel that it could be better, so I continue my search.
There is a med being used for Narcolepsy that they are testing for use in ADD/ADHD patients, called modafinil (brand name Provigil). If you go back to the most recently archived board and look for a post called "somebody please help...," you'll find two posts from me with websites to check into if you are interested. Supposedly, it can increase motivation and focus as well as energy, without that "wired" feeling.
I tried Effexor as well and it just made me tired, like all SSRIs have. The only meds that have ever been effective at all for me are psychostimulants. From what I've read and what I've learned from my own personal experience, low Dopamine is the culprit with ADD, not low Seratonin. This is why Ritalin has been effective for so many, as it mimics Dopamine. Increasing Seratonin (like Effexor, Zoloft, Paxil, Serzone, etc. do) makes me sleepy and apathetic at best, grasping on for sanity at worst.
"Rick" mentioned a combo last week including Provigil, Klonopin (anxiety drug) and something else. From what I've heard, a low dose of Klonopin is very effective for anxiety.
Good luck and best of health to you.
Karen
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