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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mattie on June 12, 2001, at 22:02:08
I am a 54 (menopuasal) woman who for 6 months has been on .5 of xanax 3/day for anxiety and fear of anxiety attacks. Have tried Paxil (outerspace feeling), zoloft (the runs), pamelor (racing heart). Yesterday my pdoc gave me samples of effexor rx 37.5 to try for 2 weeks and then bump up to 75. After reading withdrawal posts I am soooo scared to try this med. Isn't this another SSRI? She only mentioned dry mouth as a side effect and did not seem concerned about withdrawal. So my questions to you all are: Has anyone taken this along with xanax (the idea is to get off the xanax), is this an anti-anxiety agent? I do not feel depressed (no crying, sleeping). Any feedback would be appreciated. I am most concerned that even after 1 week this can be hard to get off of.
Posted by Bill L on June 13, 2001, at 8:23:13
In reply to Effexor rx revisited, posted by Mattie on June 12, 2001, at 22:02:08
If I were you, I would first try Celexa at 10 mg. That is the dosage used if a patient has anxiety but little or no depression. It's an SSRI that is more calming than Zoloft. The first week or so it may make you feel jittery and could interfere with sleep just like any other SSRI. But taking Kava helped me with that. I take 20 mg Celexa but I have both anxiety and depression.
But before trying another AD, why don't you try Kava? It works in about 30 minutes and did as well as presciption anti-anxiety drugs in medical trials. Ask your doctor.
> I am a 54 (menopuasal) woman who for 6 months has been on .5 of xanax 3/day for anxiety and fear of anxiety attacks. Have tried Paxil (outerspace feeling), zoloft (the runs), pamelor (racing heart). Yesterday my pdoc gave me samples of effexor rx 37.5 to try for 2 weeks and then bump up to 75. After reading withdrawal posts I am soooo scared to try this med. Isn't this another SSRI? She only mentioned dry mouth as a side effect and did not seem concerned about withdrawal. So my questions to you all are: Has anyone taken this along with xanax (the idea is to get off the xanax), is this an anti-anxiety agent? I do not feel depressed (no crying, sleeping). Any feedback would be appreciated. I am most concerned that even after 1 week this can be hard to get off of.
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 13, 2001, at 8:45:35
In reply to Effexor rx revisited, posted by Mattie on June 12, 2001, at 22:02:08
Here's why Effexor XR is right for you:
*It can be taken all at bedtime, conveniently.
*It has the possibility of affecting serotonin, norepinephrine, _and_ dopamine--more chemicals--thus maximizing your chances for relief.
*It has no anticholinergic side-effects.
*Sexual disturbances are reported less than with SSRIs.
*It has gained the acceptance of psychiatrists worldwide in less than 8 years of U.S. FDA approval.
*It has few significant interactions with other medications.
*The idea of it being addicting due to withdrawal effects is unfounded; if it had any chance of being addicting, it would have been labeled at least a Schedule IV substance by the U.S. DEA.I myself took Effexor XR up to 375 mg. The only side-effects I had were remedied by mirtazapine.
Posted by JAMMER on June 13, 2001, at 9:10:31
In reply to Effexor rx revisited, posted by Mattie on June 12, 2001, at 22:02:08
(Effexor)-is this an anti-anxiety agent? - mattie
Mattie, Effexor worked very well for anxiety for me, also worked better than I thought for my depression, PTSD. I felt I was doing pretty well, so I got off Effexor. Very hard to do, I had to wean down to very low doses over time. Now that I'm off, I kinda wish I'd stayed on it. Watch your blood pressure, as it is a known side effect, and it affected me that way requiring BP meds... Now that I'm off it, my BP dropped, and I stopped the BP meds, still down. But depression has returned fairly strongly, but thankfully, anxiety has stayed tolerable.
Best wishes,
James
Posted by rosalinda on June 14, 2001, at 2:31:52
In reply to Re: Effexor rx revisited » Mattie, posted by SalArmy4me on June 13, 2001, at 8:45:35
> *The idea of it being addicting due to withdrawal effects is unfounded; if it had any chance of being addicting, it would have been labeled at least a Schedule IV substance by the U.S. DEA.Mattie--Effexor may indeed be a good medication for you, but as somebody who's currently going through agonizing withdrawal from this supposedly non-addictive drug, I beg you to discuss this possible side effect with your doctor. Please don't dismiss what so many people have posted on this board about the very real suffering they have experienced.
Best of luck!
Rosalind
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