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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TKE on February 3, 2001, at 21:06:18
I've been taking effexor xr for 4 days now, and recently read about how difficult it is to get off it. And I didn't read much about it helping. I realize that it is different for everyone, but does anyone have any say as to how it helped relieve depression? I've kind of been pushed into this decision to take it rather rapidly, and am now thinking differently. So far I have had side effects of drowsiness, major headache, dizziness, and currently a whole lot of nausea. I realize that this could last for more than a week, and that doesn't sound too appealing. Can anyone tell me how effexor XR has worked? and/or a relatively ok time w/ withdrawls? thank you.
TKE
Posted by NikkiT2 on February 3, 2001, at 22:52:36
In reply to began taking effexor XR, was this smart? , posted by TKE on February 3, 2001, at 21:06:18
I took Efefxor XR (seems to have fewer side affects for most) about 6 months ago.. within a week i started to feel ebtter, and then it was great - hekoed a ton. My darling pdoc decided to lower to dose, and I went down hill, so 2 1/2 weeks ago he took me off it cold turkey, and yeah, it was rough - but it assed. The new meds he gave me were awful, so I'm back on the Effexor as of this morning!! feel fine so far... (started at 75mg am and 75mg pm, will then double this in a few days).
For me it worked wonders (while it was at the right dosage!) Regular Effexor gave me too mnay side affects though - yet XL was OK while I was on it.
Nikkix
Posted by SalArmy4me on February 4, 2001, at 2:19:22
In reply to began taking effexor XR, was this smart? , posted by TKE on February 3, 2001, at 21:06:18
In the venlafaxine clinical trials, patients on 375 mg/day demonstrated a response
rate five times that of placebo after ONE week of treatment (63). These data are
consistent with the observation from basic studies that venlafaxine, at doses that
inhibit both serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, produces a more rapid
development of beta-adrenergic receptor down regulation than agents that only
potentiate one of the biogenic amines (3). Taken together, this onset-of-action data
is provocative and may be applicable in cases of a severely ill patients for whom
shortening the time of antidepressant action is particularly important. Under routine
conditions, it is more likely that patients will be on lower doses of venlafaxine that
have been titrated to optimize tolerability. In such cases, response rate is likely to
be similar to that of other antidepressant agents.
From The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology: Psychopharmacology,
The Fourth Generation of Progress On-Line Edition
Posted by willow on February 4, 2001, at 12:27:25
In reply to began taking effexor XR, was this smart? , posted by TKE on February 3, 2001, at 21:06:18
TKE
The effexor has helped me more than anything else. I do suspect that it is physically addictive. I was having a hard time with concentration, I wasn't even able to wash the dishes which I find relaxing and any movement (like walking) sent my head spinning. This medication helped these symptoms, so for me any of the side-effects weren't as bad as the symptoms. It also raised my body-temp or gave me the feeling that it did, I would sweat easily. This was okay for me because since I became ill I felt cold all the time, even my nose.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that taking anti-depressants isn't like taking an aspirin. You should be given options by your doctor, including not taking them if you choose not to. The choice is yours!
Posted by PatJ. on February 4, 2001, at 17:30:08
In reply to began taking effexor XR, was this smart? , posted by TKE on February 3, 2001, at 21:06:18
> I've been taking effexor xr for 4 days now, and recently read about how difficult it is to get off it. And I didn't read much about it helping. I realize that it is different for everyone, but does anyone have any say as to how it helped relieve depression? I've kind of been pushed into this decision to take it rather rapidly, and am now thinking differently. So far I have had side effects of drowsiness, major headache, dizziness, and currently a whole lot of nausea. I realize that this could last for more than a week, and that doesn't sound too appealing. Can anyone tell me how effexor XR has worked? and/or a relatively ok time w/ withdrawls? thank you.
> TKEHi,
I had nausea for a few weeks at first and Pepto Bismol helped. Maybe some tylenol will help with the headache. The side effects usually go away. They went away in a few weeks for me. I did not have the headaches or drowsiness but your dosage my differ than mine, too. I feel okay on it now. My depression is not nearly as bad but not totally better either. There are many who do well on effexor xr and many who don't do well on it. You could fit in either category. I tried it once before and I sat and stared at the walls for hours! This time it works much better for me. There are some wierd side effects, though, to be sure. I've had nightmares with it and so I take kavakava now and it helps me sleep pretty sound and I don't recall the dreams. Pat
Posted by Racer on February 5, 2001, at 23:04:14
In reply to began taking effexor XR, was this smart? , posted by TKE on February 3, 2001, at 21:06:18
That's hard to say. It was smart, if the drug works for you...
Effexor is manna from heaven for me, and ambrosia, and whipped cream with a cherry on top -- The Anti-Depressant of the Gods!
That's because it helps me and because it helps me with fewer side effects than any other drug I've ever tried.
On the other hand, if it wasn't helping me, I wouldn't tolerate the few mild side effects I do have.
Mind you, I started Effexor after having a really, really bad reaction to Serzone, so the initial side effects (much worse at first: nothing at all like so bad after the first week!) were still an improvement over that!
Good luck
Posted by TKE on February 8, 2001, at 20:17:17
In reply to Re: began taking effexor XR, was this smart? » TKE, posted by Racer on February 5, 2001, at 23:04:14
thanks for all the comments. yesterday i doubled my dose up to 75mg am and pm, and these days i am feeling tons better. i'm hoping that even though i increased the dose there won't be more side effects, so far they seem to have subsided. i'm not quite feeling good, but i don't feel so incredibly depressed. i'm very opptomistic now. thanks again.
TKE
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