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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Taylor123 on June 8, 2003, at 17:13:00
Hey all,
Been reading about everyone's experience with Effexor, some on 75mg, some on 37.5mg...and am worried that I am taking too much, for too long?
I am on the extended release caplsules at 225mg and have been for nearly a year.
I'm panicking a bit here...
Anyone else taken that much?
I am on Lithium aswell, and when I stop that, I become hypomanic.
Should I lower the dose?Thanx guys, I appreciate the feedback, and think that you are all wonderful for your support.
Stay well
TayKathii- I have restarted the Lithium, and am feeling better thank you.
Posted by NorthEven on June 8, 2003, at 17:56:12
In reply to Too much EFFEXOR for too long?, posted by Taylor123 on June 8, 2003, at 17:13:00
Hi,
I never could tolerate more than 75mg of effexorXR!
Too many side effects, was stuck with heavy itching problem, lowered down to 75mg and everything came back ok.225mg is not a "small" dose.
Have a good day
Posted by Taylor123 on June 8, 2003, at 18:05:53
In reply to Re: Too much EFFEXOR for too long?, posted by NorthEven on June 8, 2003, at 17:56:12
NOW I'M REALLY PANICKING.
What can I do to come off it quickly?Am I really the only one who has taken this much, for this length of time?
(previous post: 225mg extended release for a year.)
My side effects have been minimal. But I have to change my pyjamas 3 times a night because they are saturated with sweat. I have had hair loss too. Am female with long hair, so it was distressing, but that's not too bad now.Please help, as I feel like a lone guinea pig taking this much Effexor.
Thanx guys.
Worried and alone
Tay
Posted by Caleb462 on June 8, 2003, at 18:14:14
In reply to Too much EFFEXOR for too long?, posted by Taylor123 on June 8, 2003, at 17:13:00
Take it easy! There's lots of folks who take higher doses of Effexor. Me, for example. I've been taking 225 mg for more than a month now. 225 mg may not be a small dose, but it isn't huge either - its in the middle range, actually, as the max. dose is TWICE that much!
Posted by mattdds on June 8, 2003, at 18:41:11
In reply to Too much EFFEXOR for too long?, posted by Taylor123 on June 8, 2003, at 17:13:00
Taylor,
Don't worry!
There are no toxic or harmful effects of taking Effexor at high doses, even long-term. As a matter of fact, Effexor is prescribed at high doses very frequently!
You see at low doses Effexor has only serotonergic effects (only works on serotonin).
But at higher doses, Effexor works on both norepinephrine and serotonin. So this is actually a strategy used by doctors. My understanding is that this is the *main* advantage of Effexor in the first place.
So remember, Effexor was manufactured with that in mind. Don't worry, your dose if FINE!
Best,
Matt
Posted by NorthEven on June 8, 2003, at 18:42:48
In reply to Re: Too much EFFEXOR for too long?, posted by Caleb462 on June 8, 2003, at 18:14:14
You don't have to panic, there is no big problems lowering your doses.
You got to go down by 75mg increment, say from 225mg to 150mg first, then say on 150mg for a minimum of 4 days, real important! After 4 days you could decide to go lower, again by increment of 75mg, so you will go to 75mg, wait another 4 days ect... finish it with 37.5mg for a good week.
Always wait 4 days before changing you doses!
Doing it this way if easier on your system, and on your mental health.
Have a good day!
Posted by cybercafe on June 8, 2003, at 19:06:33
In reply to Re: Too much EFFEXOR - PANICKING, posted by Taylor123 on June 8, 2003, at 18:05:53
i took effexor xr 300 mg for over a year and the only side effect was that ... well.... i... grew a third eye balljust joking :)
actually 225 mg isn't that high a dose don't worry it's very safe
>
> NOW I'M REALLY PANICKING.
> What can I do to come off it quickly?
>
> Am I really the only one who has taken this much, for this length of time?
> (previous post: 225mg extended release for a year.)
> My side effects have been minimal. But I have to change my pyjamas 3 times a night because they are saturated with sweat. I have had hair loss too. Am female with long hair, so it was distressing, but that's not too bad now.
>
> Please help, as I feel like a lone guinea pig taking this much Effexor.
>
> Thanx guys.
> Worried and alone
> Tay
>
>
Posted by ladylight57 on June 8, 2003, at 20:46:16
In reply to Re: Too much EFFEXOR - PANICKING, posted by cybercafe on June 8, 2003, at 19:06:33
Taylor,
I took 225mg of Effexor for about 3 years. I did have some focusing and attention problems but, I'm ADD to begin with and the effexor seemed to exagerate that.
Don't panic. If not for the attention problem, I'd have stayed on it as it was the best anti-depressent I've ever been on.
As soon as I figure out how to deal with this ADD thing and the meds, I hope to be back on something. I've been off of meds for about 3 months and I need something.......
ladylight
Posted by stjames on June 8, 2003, at 23:12:20
In reply to Too much EFFEXOR for too long?, posted by Taylor123 on June 8, 2003, at 17:13:00
I have taken 350 mgs for years, going to 450 sometimes.
Posted by kalyb on June 9, 2003, at 9:03:16
In reply to Re: Too much EFFEXOR for too long? » Taylor123, posted by mattdds on June 8, 2003, at 18:41:11
> You see at low doses Effexor has only serotonergic effects (only works on serotonin).
>
> But at higher doses, Effexor works on both norepinephrine and serotonin. So this is actually a strategy used by doctors. My understanding is that this is the *main* advantage of Effexor in the first place.I'm wondering about this.....
I'm on 75mg/day of normal Effexor (not XR) which would probably be considered a low dose.
Within 2 days of starting it (I was started on 75mg) my anxiety disappeared completely like someone had pulled a switch, and has stayed "off" ever since. (It's been just over 4 weeks now).
Now logically, there must be something else at work there other than an effect on seratonin.
What it might be, I don't know, but surely extra seratonin on its own isn't enough to have that kind of effect on anxiety... especially not my kind! If that were the case then other SSRI's such as Prozac, Paroxetine and Celexa would have worked for me.... they didn't, and in fact made my anxiety worse when I was taking them.
Any thoughts?
Kalyb xx
Posted by Willow on June 9, 2003, at 10:10:26
In reply to Effexor and serotonin » mattdds, posted by kalyb on June 9, 2003, at 9:03:16
> What it might be, I don't know, but surely extra seratonin on its own isn't enough to have that kind of effect on anxiety... especially not my kind! If that were the case then other SSRI's such as Prozac, Paroxetine and Celexa would have worked for me.... they didn't, and in fact made my anxiety worse when I was taking them.
I have to agree with Kalyb. Other ADs had made my symptoms worse. Effexor was the first one that had any noticeable positive affect.
Taylor, regarding fear of being on the drug, I wonder how you are doing on it? Yes, I too had noticeable sweating when I started it and it has gone away, but for myself I took this as a good sign. I've been very prone to heat strokes and my understanding is sweating is a method that the body uses for cooling itself. Before effexor a good body sweat was a rare thing for me, unless I jumped into a sauna my grandmother had stoked. The quality of my life without this drug is so poor that I doubt I will be going off it. I've been on it for almost three years now.
The psychiatrist that I'm seeing says that before after a person's depression was stabilized they use to lower the AD, but now they find it is better to keep it at the same dosage. This maybe referring to people with chronic depression? I'm not sure, but mine has been popping up with regularity since my teens.
BEST WISHES
Willow
Posted by Taylor123 on June 9, 2003, at 13:36:10
In reply to Re: Effexor and serotonin, posted by Willow on June 9, 2003, at 10:10:26
Hey Willow, and all!
I would like to thank everyone for their feedback and support. I feel comforted knowing that there are others out there, who are being exposed to the same levels of drugs (in cases even higher doses. And they are doing well.)
I am in fact doing very well on the drug. It has given me no serious side effects, and the ones I mentioned in my previous posts are not bothersome.
However, I do go off my Lithium sometimes, because I feel pretty level, to the point where I just graduated from a long degree at university and I couldn't even feel happy.
But I guess I would rather that, than be in hospital, which is where I was, before I started the Effexor (and the Lithium)I can't see myself being told by my p.doc that Iwill be allowed to lower the dose anytime soon, so I will be seeking your reassurence in the future!
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I really was about to come of the meds cold turkey.Kind thoughts,
Tay
Posted by noa on June 9, 2003, at 15:35:27
In reply to Re: Effexor and serotonin, posted by Willow on June 9, 2003, at 10:10:26
Willow, when I first started Prozac for the first time, I was told that they found that people needed to be on it for about 6 months to a year and then could stop taking it. I guess that was assuming the depression was more acute than mine turned out to be. I had had previous depression, but had thought myself to have outgrown it for the most part with the coping improvements I had made in therapy. Sigh. I took Prozac for about 8 months twice, and each time I started was in the fall (yes, I have since figured out I have SAD on top of it all). A couple of years after the second round of Prozac, I was needing meds again, and the Prozac didn't work as well for me this time, not surprisingly. That was the start of the spiral downward and the search for a combo that would work. Effexor has been the most effective AD, but best for me in combo with Serzone.
This is the end of the thread.
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