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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Pamela Kopeschka on October 24, 2000, at 10:39:21
I would like to know if anyone has ever had to switch from
EffexorXR (time released pills) to plain Effexor. My doctor
gets free medicine from me through a patient prescription
drug company because I cannot afford it. It is really expensive.The doctor who originally prescribed EffexorXR quit at this
hospital and I got a new doctor. They ordered the wrong medicine
and I ended up with 300 Effexor pills. I was on EffexorXR.I have been on EffexorXR since 6-99 and had a lot of success with it.
I have been treated for depression, panic attacks, and suicidal feelings for about
14 or 15 years. I have tried many, many different drugs and this
one is definitely the only one that has really helped. I was practically
unable to function in my daily life and now I can do all the things I need
to do to live normally. At one time I had several panic attacks a day and did
not like to leave the house. My ex-husband had to help me with everything.
Now I do it all myself.I also had terrible tension headaches that started in my neck for 3 or 4 years.
The EffexorXR for some reason relieved my headaches too.
I started on the regular Effexor about 2 days ago and started having the
headaches again. Haven't noticed the depression yet.I hope these headaches don't start up on a regular basis again. I do not know
why the different type of pills make a difference.Pam
Posted by Noa on October 25, 2000, at 14:00:54
In reply to Switching from EffexorXR to just Effexor , posted by Pamela Kopeschka on October 24, 2000, at 10:39:21
I only went in the other direction, but I prefer the XR to the regular. With the regular, you have to be very REGULAR about dosing times, or withdrawal symptoms can start in the gaps between doses.
I found the regular xr caused me headaches, profuse sweating, etc.
Posted by CHARLES on October 28, 2000, at 19:08:36
In reply to Re: Switching from EffexorXR to just Effexor , posted by Noa on October 25, 2000, at 14:00:54
> I only went in the other direction, but I prefer the XR to the regular. With the regular, you have to be very REGULAR about dosing times, or withdrawal symptoms can start in the gaps between doses.
>
> I found the regular xr caused me headaches, profuse sweating, etc.i'VE BEEN ON EFFEXOR xr 150mg.for almost a month
no headaches, just constipation
Posted by tenuous on October 29, 2000, at 7:52:34
In reply to Switching from EffexorXR to just Effexor , posted by Pamela Kopeschka on October 24, 2000, at 10:39:21
Well what do you know, my doc just accidently did this to me yesterday, and since you can't return drugs I'm gonna be on the regular stuff for the next month.
How is this working out for you? Have you noticed any differences yet?
Posted by noa on October 29, 2000, at 10:06:55
In reply to Re: Switching from EffexorXR to just Effexor » Pamela Kopeschka, posted by tenuous on October 29, 2000, at 7:52:34
I once had that happen--the pdoc left off the "xr" from the "rx". I discovered it as soon as I got home, and immediately called the pharmacy, and they told me to bring it back and they would call the pdoc and redo the scrip. I think they had to destroy the unused pills. But they fixed it w/o a problem, and believe it or not, no problems from the insurance company (although I am sure the pdoc's error counts against him somehow with the managed care co.).
Posted by Pamela Kopeschka on October 29, 2000, at 10:16:52
In reply to Re: Switching from EffexorXR to just Effexor » Pamela Kopeschka, posted by tenuous on October 29, 2000, at 7:52:34
> Well what do you know, my doc just accidently did this to me yesterday, and since you can't return drugs I'm gonna be on the regular stuff for the next month.
>
> How is this working out for you? Have you noticed any differences yet?Hi Tenuous,
Things are settling down a little. I had the worst time the first couple days.
I was getting bad tension headaches that I used to get before
I went on EffexorXR, which I really hate and hadn't had
trouble with since I started on it July 99. I think I have been on the regular
about a week. I haven't had headaches every day, but I woke up
with it today. After I take the first pill, I feel better, but the
headaches feel almost there all day. The tension is also in my spine and
shoulders.I am also having trouble figuring when to take the pills.
I don't like to take any at bedtime, because I have trouble getting to sleep.
I was taking the EffexorXR all in the morning and had felt better than
I had in a long time. I have tried many, many antidepressants in the last
15 years, and my counselor thought medicine didn't help me.
Or else it would work for awhile and then quit and I'd have to change.
I was on Elavil before EffexorXR, which made me sleep a lot.
Effexor keeps me awake enough to live a fairly normal life. It's hard
to make it in life when you are sleeping too much.I have started taking the Effexor regular about 4 hours apart.
I forgot to mention I tried 1 1/2 a couple days ago in morning, and
started itching all over.I also worry about the effect of taking antidepressants for so long
on the rest of my body and on my brain. I have tried to quit them
many times in the past, and I become very suicidal to the point where
I am desperate. I have been suicidal for at least 15 years and it is
hard to keep up the fight day after day and live a normal life.
On the Effexor these suicidal ideations don't bother me so much.
Sometimes I even forget about it.I have noticed, however, that I seem to be kind of emotionless, which is
an odd feeling since I used to be extremely emotional.
I also used to have panic attacks and Effexor helps that too.Have you noticed any of these things with your medications?
Pam
Posted by Cindy W on October 29, 2000, at 21:56:29
In reply to Re: Switching from EffexorXR to just Effexor , posted by Pamela Kopeschka on October 29, 2000, at 10:16:52
> > Well what do you know, my doc just accidently did this to me yesterday, and since you can't return drugs I'm gonna be on the regular stuff for the next month.
> >
> > How is this working out for you? Have you noticed any differences yet?
>
> Hi Tenuous,
>
> Things are settling down a little. I had the worst time the first couple days.
> I was getting bad tension headaches that I used to get before
> I went on EffexorXR, which I really hate and hadn't had
> trouble with since I started on it July 99. I think I have been on the regular
> about a week. I haven't had headaches every day, but I woke up
> with it today. After I take the first pill, I feel better, but the
> headaches feel almost there all day. The tension is also in my spine and
> shoulders.
>
> I am also having trouble figuring when to take the pills.
> I don't like to take any at bedtime, because I have trouble getting to sleep.
> I was taking the EffexorXR all in the morning and had felt better than
> I had in a long time. I have tried many, many antidepressants in the last
> 15 years, and my counselor thought medicine didn't help me.
> Or else it would work for awhile and then quit and I'd have to change.
> I was on Elavil before EffexorXR, which made me sleep a lot.
> Effexor keeps me awake enough to live a fairly normal life. It's hard
> to make it in life when you are sleeping too much.
>
> I have started taking the Effexor regular about 4 hours apart.
> I forgot to mention I tried 1 1/2 a couple days ago in morning, and
> started itching all over.
>
> I also worry about the effect of taking antidepressants for so long
> on the rest of my body and on my brain. I have tried to quit them
> many times in the past, and I become very suicidal to the point where
> I am desperate. I have been suicidal for at least 15 years and it is
> hard to keep up the fight day after day and live a normal life.
> On the Effexor these suicidal ideations don't bother me so much.
> Sometimes I even forget about it.
>
> I have noticed, however, that I seem to be kind of emotionless, which is
> an odd feeling since I used to be extremely emotional.
> I also used to have panic attacks and Effexor helps that too.
>
> Have you noticed any of these things with your medications?
> PamPam, I feel kind of emotionless ("numb") on Effexor-XR, but have found that it really has helped with depression and OCD. It does keep me awake, but the Serzone I take in the morning takes the "edge" off the hyper feeling, and at night, the Seroquel I take has REALLY improved my sleep (which always has been a problem for me), so that now I always awake feeling rested, and it doesn't interfere with dreaming. My pdoc has forgotten the past two times to write "XR" but the pharmacist is used to this, and just gives me enough XR meds until he can contact the pdoc and change the RX to "XR." --Cindy W
Posted by tenuous on October 30, 2000, at 6:06:56
In reply to Re: Switching from EffexorXR to just Effexor , posted by Pamela Kopeschka on October 29, 2000, at 10:16:52
> I am also having trouble figuring when to take the pills.
> I don't like to take any at bedtime, because I have trouble getting to sleep.I have been on the Effexor XR for a month and I have only been sleeping 3-4 hours a night. Yesterday I started the Effexor regular. I took the first 2 doses (75mg/each) at 6am, and the last dose at 4pm. I took a 50mg Trazodone at 7pm and slept until 2:30am. 7 HOURS ALL IN A ROW!!!!!!! If this keeps up, I'm going to stay with the regular version.
I had almost no side effects starting up. As a matter of fact I felt so good after the first day on 37.5mg that I went ahead and moved up to 75mg the second day and 150mg on the third day. The only side effects I had were a bit of nausea, and an itchy rash. These subsided after 4-5 days. I have continuing decreased appetite, which I consider a feature, and of course the insomnia.
I felt the best the first two weeks, but I was not currently in a depressive phase when I started. As a matter of fact, I felt so contented that I was actually shocked to realize just how bad I had been feeling for the last 20 years (I cried for most of a day in mourning over all of the years that I've lost to this, and in gratitude that it may finally be over.). Since then I have cycled down twice. The first time we upped the dose of Effexor from 150 to 225. This last weekend I had another one, but since it only lasted 3 days this time and was quite mild, I'm gonna wait to let the Effexor have a chance to reach full effect. I'm VERY happy with this drug.
In the past I have tried Lithium (made me shaky, nauseous, and "weird" feeling), Tegretol (threw me into a suicidal depression), and Trazodone which worked, but I was not thrilled with the side effects at the effective dose.
I hope you are doing well today. Hang in there.
Posted by Pamela Kopeschka on October 30, 2000, at 9:09:02
In reply to Re: Switching from EffexorXR to just Effexor » Pamela Kopeschka, posted by tenuous on October 30, 2000, at 6:06:56
Hi Tenuous,
I am doing a little better. I haven't been having
the headaches every day. Yesterday I had one when I got
up, but it goes away pretty quick. I didn't have it today, Thank God. I used to have bad
vasular tension headaches that lasted for hours. I am still taking the
Effexor about 4 hours apart - 75 mg. pill each time. When I get up,
about 9:00 a.m., then about 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. I still like
the Effexor XR because I can take them all in the morning and not try to remember all day.,
I also felt better on it. Taking it in the morning helped me go to sleep better at night. I don't like to
take any sleeping medication. My doctor said I could take the regular Effexor all in the
morning, but it makes me itch too much.I also take one Elavil and one Vistaril at night, which I have done
since I have been on Effexor. This also helps me wind down enough to sleep.I think Effexor does make me hyper, but not so bad as to quit.
I noticed myself grinding my teeth yesterday and today.I also don't like the dry mouth I have or the bad taste in my
mouth. I have to crunch on ice almost all the time which I have done
for a long time even on Elavil, etc.I appreciate your comments, Pam
This is the end of the thread.
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