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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rmshed on June 25, 2001, at 17:40:21
Has anyone had a good experience with effexor xr? I have only been on it 10 days and today I felt really tired. I am not ready to throw in the towel, but gosh it seems to be a demon drug, it scares me to continue.
Posted by Maisy on June 25, 2001, at 19:43:33
In reply to Positive feedback about effexor?, posted by rmshed on June 25, 2001, at 17:40:21
Effexor XR saved my life!! I had bad postpartum depression last year, I mean baaaad, not Houston bad, but pretty bad. I had tons of anxiety and panic as well, my fight/flight response going 24/7. I was on xanax for a little while waiting for the Effexor to kick in. I was on it for six months, weaned off and relapsed. (It is felt I have an underlying depressive disorder). I started again in April, and although I was slower to respond this time around with a new set of side effects, they are all minor compared to life without the AD. I would give the drug more time. I also had extreme fatigue but that may have been part of my depression since I lost 10 lbs in two weeks and wasn't sleeping. I had little withdrawl symtpoms, mostly just annoying stuff. Effexor is usually started at lower doses and gradually increased. You may need time to get to your therapeutic dose. Hang in there and good luck.
Posted by rmshed on June 25, 2001, at 19:58:01
In reply to Re: Positive feedback about effexor?, posted by Maisy on June 25, 2001, at 19:43:33
> Effexor XR saved my life!! I had bad postpartum depression last year, I mean baaaad, not Houston bad, but pretty bad. I had tons of anxiety and panic as well, my fight/flight response going 24/7. I was on xanax for a little while waiting for the Effexor to kick in. I was on it for six months, weaned off and relapsed. (It is felt I have an underlying depressive disorder). I started again in April, and although I was slower to respond this time around with a new set of side effects, they are all minor compared to life without the AD. I would give the drug more time. I also had extreme fatigue but that may have been part of my depression since I lost 10 lbs in two weeks and wasn't sleeping. I had little withdrawl symtpoms, mostly just annoying stuff. Effexor is usually started at lower doses and gradually increased. You may need time to get to your therapeutic dose. Hang in there and good luck.
Thanx for the encouragement.
Posted by AKC on June 25, 2001, at 20:09:59
In reply to Positive feedback about effexor?, posted by rmshed on June 25, 2001, at 17:40:21
I have had great luck with effexor xr. Nearly two years ago, I was horribly depressed, had tried a couple of other meds (prozac and serzone) and nothing was working. Did the suicide thing - was put on effexor, and effexor pulled me out of that deep, dark hole. Now that it seems pretty certain that I am bipolar II, I am on a fairly low dose of effexor (75 mg), so I still struggle from time to time with depression, but nothing like that one time - and I credit that to the effexor. I do struggle with the hypomania on a pretty constant basis, so we keep the dosage low. I hope it helps you as it has helped me.
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 26, 2001, at 7:28:44
In reply to Positive feedback about effexor?, posted by rmshed on June 25, 2001, at 17:40:21
Rmshed, Effexor is still a viable option for you because:
*It has the possibility of affecting serotonin, norepinephrine, _and_ dopamine--more chemicals--thus increasing 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 sexual in nature, and these were remedied by mirtazapine.
Posted by Noa on June 26, 2001, at 7:53:22
In reply to Re: Positive feedback about effexor? » rmshed, posted by SalArmy4me on June 26, 2001, at 7:28:44
Effexor is effective for me, much moreso than other antidepresants I tried. I do have some problems with side effects, esp. at higher doses. But I take it in combo with Serzone, which counteracts the remaining negative effects, and this is a good combo for me. I was severely depressed and am doing quite well now.
Posted by Jocor on June 27, 2001, at 12:06:49
In reply to Re: Positive feedback about effexor? » rmshed, posted by SalArmy4me on June 26, 2001, at 7:28:44
> Rmshed, Effexor is still a viable option for you because:
> *It has the possibility of affecting serotonin, norepinephrine, _and_ dopamine--more chemicals--thus increasing 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 sexual in nature, and these were remedied by mirtazapine.
Hello rmshed:I am now taking 300mg Effexor XR but find no relief from my obsessive thoughts. I'm sure my doc will ask me to up the dose again. I thought the studies re: effect of doses higher than 225 mg were NONE. Is there any danger at higher doses?
Thanks for your answer?
Jocor
Posted by b on June 28, 2001, at 2:23:58
In reply to Positive feedback about effexor?, posted by rmshed on June 25, 2001, at 17:40:21
I was on it for almost ten months and I could fall asleep at the drop of a hat at first. My doctor told me my body was trying to "catch up" on it's sleep. It DID get better but I was still tired. Hopefully you'll start feeling better soon--I know how hard it is to stay awake!
Posted by Lorraine on June 28, 2001, at 10:24:26
In reply to Re: Positive feedback about effexor?, posted by b on June 28, 2001, at 2:23:58
Made two years of my life very enjoyable. Got off because of weight gain and sexual dysfunction. A better pdoc might have augmented for those side effects. Good luck.
Posted by Noa on June 28, 2001, at 11:00:56
In reply to Re: Positive feedback about effexor?, posted by Lorraine on June 28, 2001, at 10:24:26
>A better pdoc might have augmented for those side effects.
Good point. I have had some unwanted effects from effexor, too, but have found a good balance by augmentation with serzone, and tweaking the doses of each until the right balance was achieved.
Posted by liz taylor on June 28, 2001, at 13:07:57
In reply to Re: Positive feedback about effexor?, posted by Noa on June 26, 2001, at 7:53:22
To SallArmy4me: What were the side effects that the Serzone helped. Thank you, Liz Taylor
Posted by Martha on June 29, 2001, at 6:56:25
In reply to Positive feedback about effexor?, posted by rmshed on June 25, 2001, at 17:40:21
I have been on Effexor XR for just over 3 weeks now. I started with 37.5mg and experienced alot of fatigue and dry mouth the first 10 days. In the last couple of days I am really starting to feel better all around. I also did not experience any PMS symptoms of anger and anxiety this month which is a miracle for me(and relief for my family!) I would say that my depression has improved too. I give it a two thumbs up at this point.
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