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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by theo on July 10, 2003, at 9:06:57
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » theo, posted by KimmieM. on July 9, 2003, at 16:30:20
I am only taking 37.5mg for one month then maybe up the dose to 75mg.
Posted by JayJr on July 10, 2003, at 15:39:52
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » KimmieM., posted by theo on July 10, 2003, at 9:06:57
I started Effexor XR at 37.5 for a 4 days, then up to 75mg for a while but I got totally scared because I was completely exhausted all the time, didn't want to eat, was nauseous in the morning, and felt more depressed... I think that some of the side effects were just making me more depressed which was making me not want to eat and nauseous.. its hard to discern between symptoms of depression and side-effects. There IS some trauma involved when starting on this kind of medication, and when you're depressed the trauma is amplified...
After a few weeks I started feeling a little better, started eating food with the meds, and a week later had myself at about 150mgs. So its been a total of 5 weeks for me and I THINK its starting to help somewhat.
I still have lack of appetite and less sex drive. The sex drive part is ok because my live-in girlfriend is totally unintimate never wants to have sex anyway (which is a major problem and probably helped push me to depression!).
Anyway:
You gotta stick with the Effexor for 6 weeks or so, if the side-effects are just too much, or you feel no benefit, then you need a new drug.My doctor calls my dose (150mgs) a therapeutic dose, I guess because I'll be doing therapy with her as well. But, I still feel pretty crummy most of the time and will be upping my dose anyway.
Thanks for listening : )
Jay
Posted by KimmieM. on July 10, 2003, at 15:50:47
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by JayJr on July 10, 2003, at 15:39:52
Hi Jay, my appetite was diminished also, for
about 3 weeks, I lost 10 lbs, but it is back to almost normal now. I eat regularly, but in smaller portions( which is healthier). The lack of sex drive is still affecting me. When that opportunity arises, sometimes it is just not possible to have an "O". That to me is the worst side effect. Apparently from what I have experienced and read, this doesn't change for a lot of people. Keep trying, jay 5 weeks is good but give it some more time before switching. you just need to get through the SE and find YOUR therapeutic level. Good Luck, Keep posting. Kimmie
Posted by KimmieM. on July 10, 2003, at 15:52:20
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » KimmieM., posted by theo on July 10, 2003, at 9:06:57
How are you finding it effect you? Have you been on anything previous and if so how long have you been diagnosed with "dep"?
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 10, 2003, at 17:06:39
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by JayJr on July 10, 2003, at 15:39:52
If lack of sex caused your depression then why would Effexor work for you?
KimberlyDi
> I started Effexor XR at 37.5 for a 4 days, then up to 75mg for a while but I got totally scared because I was completely exhausted all the time, didn't want to eat, was nauseous in the morning, and felt more depressed... I think that some of the side effects were just making me more depressed which was making me not want to eat and nauseous.. its hard to discern between symptoms of depression and side-effects. There IS some trauma involved when starting on this kind of medication, and when you're depressed the trauma is amplified...
>
> After a few weeks I started feeling a little better, started eating food with the meds, and a week later had myself at about 150mgs. So its been a total of 5 weeks for me and I THINK its starting to help somewhat.
>
> I still have lack of appetite and less sex drive. The sex drive part is ok because my live-in girlfriend is totally unintimate never wants to have sex anyway (which is a major problem and probably helped push me to depression!).
>
> Anyway:
> You gotta stick with the Effexor for 6 weeks or so, if the side-effects are just too much, or you feel no benefit, then you need a new drug.
>
> My doctor calls my dose (150mgs) a therapeutic dose, I guess because I'll be doing therapy with her as well. But, I still feel pretty crummy most of the time and will be upping my dose anyway.
>
> Thanks for listening : )
>
> Jay
Posted by CherC68 on July 10, 2003, at 18:28:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » JayJr, posted by KimberlyDi on July 10, 2003, at 17:06:39
I think that Jay means his girlfriend not wanting intimacy/sex has hurt him and has contributed to his depression. On top of the fact that his libido is now gone and that he is having problems in that area it is intensifying his depression.
(I'm having the same problem at this exact time so I see Jay's point)
Take Care,
Cher
Posted by noa on July 10, 2003, at 18:48:31
In reply to I'm back, drove by myself, 1st time in 6 yrs!, posted by mercedes on July 5, 2003, at 4:14:51
Congratulations! Both for the new grandchild AND getting back behind the wheel. That is a success story, and you should be proud.
Posted by KimmieM. on July 10, 2003, at 21:51:55
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » KimberlyDi, posted by CherC68 on July 10, 2003, at 18:28:58
cher, how long has the problem been for you ( the libido) did you notice it immediately or after awhile?
Posted by zinya on July 11, 2003, at 1:13:30
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » zinya, posted by KimmieM. on July 9, 2003, at 17:24:53
hi Kimmie,
thanks much for your response... i've been sooooo low energy the past few days that i'd give my eye teeth for some of that hyper stage or mania you described for your (though I don' t mean to dismiss what mania is like for people who have to deal with that either). But gosh i'm getting so so so sick of having no energy, haven't for eons... So it was VERY encouraging to hear your report that gives me hope. Of course, i realize it might not work for me the same, but it's good to hear stories that inspire.thanks! z
Posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 2:32:32
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » KimmieM., posted by zinya on July 11, 2003, at 1:13:30
Hi Kimmie and Zinya. Effexor has so far been the best thing for me. I was on 37.5 for about a year, Dr. never changed my dose, although I was taking other meds too. I moved, and found a new pdoc. He stated that 37.5 was near nothing. He increased me weekly (although sometimes I stayed on the same dose a few days longer,out of fear). When I finally reached 300mgs, I finally felt more happy and more like my old self however I did have down days too.
As far as energy, I too felt useless, no energy, worthless, just thought alot about the things I needed to do but didn't do them. Then I decided that if I didn't clean house, dusted, mopped the floor....WHO CARES. I was depressing myself more because I've always placed great emphasis on how people judge me. It was then, and on 300 mgs., that I was going to do things ONLY if I felt like it. Not for anybody else. I have burst of energy somedays, and go work in the yard for three days straight. Then I'll have no energy and sit around for a two or three days watching TV or just sitting. On those days, sometimes I make a list of things to do when I finally have the energy. I'm sick and until I'm 100%, I can't be blaming myself for not being as productive as I'd like. That's my reasoning....today anyway.
Mercedes> hi Kimmie,
> thanks much for your response... i've been sooooo low energy the past few days that i'd give my eye teeth for some of that hyper stage or mania you described for your (though I don' t mean to dismiss what mania is like for people who have to deal with that either). But gosh i'm getting so so so sick of having no energy, haven't for eons... So it was VERY encouraging to hear your report that gives me hope. Of course, i realize it might not work for me the same, but it's good to hear stories that inspire.
>
> thanks! z
Posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 2:53:26
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by JayJr on July 10, 2003, at 15:39:52
Not to rush you or anything, but before effexor XR, and reaching my 300mgs, my sex drive went for a drive and never returned. At that time I was also taking Depakote, cuz my neorologist tried to treat my panic dosorder as seizures. Was tested for seizures and came out clean. My pdoc took me off the depakote and increased my Effexor. I've had a good reaction to Effexor. Although I don't have a permanent sex partner at this time, I have my libido back. My last visit with my pdoc, he wanted to take me off effexor, cause I keep having these panic attacks. (I'll describe in my next note cause I had a bad one yesterday). Anyhow, I asked him not to cause it's doing me good, feeling's, anyway. I do remember when I could not feel...anything. That was a terrible time for me. Later
Mercedes
Posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 3:26:16
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » JayJr, posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 2:53:26
I had a terrible panic, anxioty, siezure, mild stroke, whatever?.. yesterday. My attacks have mostly been diagnosed by my pdoc as PTSD and I suffer from depression also. These attacks started almost 7 years ago. Has anyone ever had this? I've read some people here refer to "brain freeze". Anyway, this is what happens to me.
Yesterday, was fine in the a.m., had my coffee & cig. and decided to work in my garden early, before it got hot. This was around 8:30 a.m. It was going to be 105!
Anyway, I grabbed my coffee cup and ZAP! My vision get's stuck. I feel it mostly in my left eye and I see two of everything. I can't get myself out of it. I sat down, looked around for about 5 minutes with that dble vision, sorta one up higher than the other. Anyway, after about 20 min. or so, I cld. my brother and left a message. I can't see the keypad on the phone but I've learned the keys by touch. He didn't call me back so I fell asleep or passed out, don't know. My sis-n-law cld me around noon, asked if I was ok, and I just remember telling her "I fell asleep" about 3 times. my speach was slurred or slow, and I didn't make sense she told me later. My bro. cld me around 3 p.m. I still was talking nonsense, told him I didn't need anything, just needed to sleep. I was talking to him but do not remember anything else I said. He would ask me something and I babbled off and didn't remember what he'd ask me. During this time, I was unsteady while walking and my head hurt real bad, left side.
A month ago I had up to six of these one week and the next week 7. Then, I won't have one for a month or so. Remember, I'm the one that finally drove by myself in 6 years. I don't drive when I have these "attacks". I take Xanex for these symtoms and Effexor for my depression. Oh, I cld my primary care phys. so she could see what happens to me and she wouldn't see me, sd I had to see my pdoc. I cried, felt like I'll never ever be rid of these attacks and felt rejected by my primary doc. which made me depressed.
Anyone ever have something like this? HELP !
Mercedes
Posted by JayJr on July 11, 2003, at 7:46:53
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » JayJr, posted by KimberlyDi on July 10, 2003, at 17:06:39
> If lack of sex caused your depression then why would Effexor work for you?
>
> KimberlyDiWell I've been sort of 'down' for years, but not depressed... I really can't say that lack of sex Caused my depression but the lack of sex and intimacy (not that there is none) among a few other issues might have pushed me to depression. I mean, the Effexor is good because it has slightly lowered my sex drive which helps me cope with not getting it all time. Its more of an issue of insecureness than 'sex' I think. Anyway, I used to want sex like twice a day or more, but now I can deal a little better with a much lower frequency. So in that respect its helping. But mainly, I'm hoping it will help me just feel generally ok most of the time as apposed to generally crummy, and help with some social-anxiety that I have.
Jay
yahoo IM: jayjr_26
Posted by JayJr on July 11, 2003, at 7:50:49
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » KimberlyDi, posted by CherC68 on July 10, 2003, at 18:28:58
Cher, yeah thats more accurate.. Right ON even! Well not completely right on because I still want sex and can orgasm with some difficulty, though maybe only once a day now (hehe, I have twice the sex drive normally!).
Jay
yahoo IM: Jayjr_26
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 11, 2003, at 8:05:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by JayJr on July 10, 2003, at 15:39:52
My apologies to Jay Jr. My husband hates me taking Effexor because of the lack of sex drive and blames his abusive behavior on the fact that he doesn't get enough sex. I responded defensively. Bad Kim Bad Kim.
> I started Effexor XR at 37.5 for a 4 days, then up to 75mg for a while but I got totally scared because I was completely exhausted all the time, didn't want to eat, was nauseous in the morning, and felt more depressed... I think that some of the side effects were just making me more depressed which was making me not want to eat and nauseous.. its hard to discern between symptoms of depression and side-effects. There IS some trauma involved when starting on this kind of medication, and when you're depressed the trauma is amplified...
>
> After a few weeks I started feeling a little better, started eating food with the meds, and a week later had myself at about 150mgs. So its been a total of 5 weeks for me and I THINK its starting to help somewhat.
>
> I still have lack of appetite and less sex drive. The sex drive part is ok because my live-in girlfriend is totally unintimate never wants to have sex anyway (which is a major problem and probably helped push me to depression!).
>
> Anyway:
> You gotta stick with the Effexor for 6 weeks or so, if the side-effects are just too much, or you feel no benefit, then you need a new drug.
>
> My doctor calls my dose (150mgs) a therapeutic dose, I guess because I'll be doing therapy with her as well. But, I still feel pretty crummy most of the time and will be upping my dose anyway.
>
> Thanks for listening : )
>
> Jay
Posted by Kathy Powers on July 11, 2003, at 8:10:39
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
My daughter is on 150mg of Effexor XR every night, and she has been having horrible nightmares. Has anyone else noticed this? Could it be linked to the Effexor?
Posted by SLS on July 11, 2003, at 8:51:38
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
> Hi there,
>
> Anyone care to comment on the use of Effexor?
This thread contains 4490 posts. Someone should call Ripley's.
Posted by Susy on July 11, 2003, at 9:24:13
In reply to Has anyone experienced nightmares on Effexor XR?, posted by Kathy Powers on July 11, 2003, at 8:10:39
Well, unfortunately I can not take any antidepressants because they cause me more anxiety and panic attacks and I am very sensitive to drugs =(. I just keep on taking Xanax for my anxiety and panic attacks. But yes as you Zyna
somedays I just want to lay down because of the lack of energy I have. Someother days I am very "confussed" or thinking about the same.I am not even working at this time. I am waiting for this "anxiety" to be mild or moderate so I can go work again.But at this point I cannot control it myself without Xanax.
I haven't been able to find a pdoc for me either.
That is so sad, I have to buy Xanax thru internet.
And sometimes I receive medicines made in Pakistan!!! or places like those.
Mercedes, my panic attacks don't give me double vision but I do see everything too shiny and sometimes I see this zigzag glow thing that don't allow me to see well, I see this zigzag thing even with my eyes close, while my heart is racing like crazy and I feel short of breath, and pain in the middle of my chest, like if it is too hard. I also feel this desperation like If I want to go out running, and sometimes I also feel electricity all over my body, of course, my head also pounds bad, and this comes anytime, anywhere,
that is why I have to take Xanax everyday, it really helps me.But I am also affraid about the dependency they say it comes by taking Xanax continuosly. Obviously I would like not to take it anymore, not to have any more panic attacks and go back to work.......but who knows? maybe I have to take another medicine, I don't know, it is very hard for me....tell you all this so you can see that I understand what you are thru.Susy (from Spain) =)
Posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 9:42:57
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I just started EFFEXR XR and it starts out with 37.5 mg the goes up. I seem to be doing okay with the only real problem of sweating, a little tired and not eating. Will these symtoms get worse with the mg going up to 75 mg tomorrow?
.Anyone have any further infor for me,,,
Posted by zinya on July 11, 2003, at 12:04:14
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 9:42:57
hi Bridget,
welcome!Well, the most important thing to learn early on here is that this drug (and all anti-deps, it seems) affects each of us very uniquely. The same Effexor makes one person sleepy, the next person insomniac, makes one gain weight, the next one lose weight, etc etc...
My first reaction to what you're saying -- but just for me and someone else might say differently -- would be that it would be best to stay at one level until you sense that side effects have eased up before moving on to the next level. That's what I've done at least. But i had already had bad side effects over the years with several other anti-deps and i just didn't want this time to wind up having to quit cuz i again couldn't tolerate side effects. So i even started twice as slowly as my md. recommended (even though he knew of my sensitivities but since he hadn't even warned me of side effects with Effexor and it was only this website that made me realize what could develop that i decided to go twice as slow. I've been dividing capsules in half, etc. so I started at 19, then 37.5, then 56 mg and now I'm at 75. It's a bit frustrating to wait longer to see results but to me it's worth not having a side effect hit me with such a bang that i can't tolerate it -- But then my body has proven to be ULTRA sensitive to these things. If your symptoms are really mild and tolerable, then maybe this wouldn't be relevant for you.
But if you have a doctor who'll respond if you called up and just told him what symptoms you're still having and should you stay longer at the 37.5 first, i might do that. Is your doc an internist? or a shrink (p-doc is the term many use here).
For me, each time i go to a new level, i have some days of renewed side effects - sometimes mostly on days 2 and 3 at the new level is when it's most pronounced. Inordinate sweating or dizziness so far are the most recurrent ones. Sleepiness/unusual fatigue has also happened although my chronic problem along with what seems to be depression has been virtually zero energy -- an adrenal system problem that Effexor is supposed to start dealing with by the time we get to 150 mg levels. So i'm still feeling very low energy that only varies more or less, if that's what you mean by 'tiredness'.
I too have vastly reduced appetite, but curiously my weight is not dropping as it would normally when eating this amount. I drink lots more water than i was before starting Effexor.
The only time I had nausea, fortunately, was the very first dose, at 19 mg, for the first day or two and it was fairly mild. It was intense nausea and headaches that made me have to quit some of the previous anti-deps I had tried.
That's my two cents' worth.
zinya
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 11, 2003, at 12:14:12
In reply to Has anyone experienced nightmares on Effexor XR, posted by Kathy Powers on July 11, 2003, at 8:09:50
Effexor XR (and some other AD's) can cause vivid dreams. Whether they are pleasant dreams or nightmares probably depends on the person. If she has a vivid imagination fed by scary movies or books, it might be expressed as nightmares. Or if she has any unresolved fears or issues during her waking hours, they might be expressed as nightmares while she sleeps. Most my Effexor dreams are very interesting and I almost regret waking up. Last night I had my first nightmare on it (1.5 to 2 months now on it). It was about my fear of being defenseless against abuse by men. I woke up shaking and almost unable to function. One note: for me, the nightmare only happened when I started to decrease my dosage of Effexor and switch to Lexapro. I think I'll stick on Effexor.
KDi from Texas> My daughter is on 150mg of Effexor XR every night, and she has been having horrible nightmares. Has anyone else noticed this? Could it be liked to the Effexor?
Posted by Jack Smith on July 11, 2003, at 12:14:27
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? - Ripley's, posted by SLS on July 11, 2003, at 8:51:38
> > Hi there,
> >
> > Anyone care to comment on the use of Effexor?
>
>
> This thread contains 4490 posts. Someone should call Ripley's.Scott,
You would know better than I but this has to be the longest thread in Psychobabble history. Whoever "jp" was, I wonder what happenned to him? Moreover, his initial question "anyone care to comment on the use of effexor?" turned out to unleash a storm.
JACK
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 11, 2003, at 12:19:11
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 9:42:57
Hi there. Every time you bump the dosage up, you will probably deal with those side effects until your body adjusts to the new dosage. I'm at 200mg a day, and most of my side effects have decreased except for the lack of sex drive.
Hang in there!
KDi from Texas> I just started EFFEXR XR and it starts out with 37.5 mg the goes up. I seem to be doing okay with the only real problem of sweating, a little tired and not eating. Will these symtoms get worse with the mg going up to 75 mg tomorrow?
> .Anyone have any further infor for me,,,
Posted by zinya on July 11, 2003, at 12:25:04
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 2:32:32
hi mercedes,
That sounds very wise and important about learning not to chastise yourself for not having energy. I TOTALLY identify with what you state as I too have a whole long story I'll spare you but which has meant that this last year and a half in particular have left me in a catch-22 of sorts of a new house (well, in short, i bought it only to have my mom living with me, a bunch of ignorant doctors having utterly failed to diagnose properly that what mom was dealing with was cancer, which only got diagnosed 4 months after i moved her and me into this house, thinking she had at least another 5 years, spending my time attending to her -- thank goodness -- little imagining that she had something which meant she would wind up only having 5 months. And ever since then i've had zero zero zero energy to make this house into what i'd envisioned. For the whole winter i thought maybe i was dealing with grieving which would eventually pass but finally realized by May that there was probably 'clinical depression' underlying this too. And so here i am.)
But i too can barely lift a finger yet - my one task now is to try to remedy a garden that i didn't realize all winter could get so out of hand - the previous winter had been dry and i didn't realize all this year's rain was producing so much havoc in the garden that i mostly ignored in my grief and depression. Now i manage to fill a big city trash bin full of garden refuse each week, with the hope of being sort of caught up by end of July. But meanwhile, inside my house, I have two rooms that still are full of boxes never even unboxed since moving here. And one of those is the first room you see entering the house. So i don't even like to invite anyone over. I was never like this before. But i too just have to do my darnedest not to chastise myself for it and figure the day will come when i can deal with it. Until then, i go to friends' houses cuz i know it just would feel too stressful to me to try to make my place look the way i want it to or to feel apologetic all the time. Only my absolute closest friends are ones i feel okay letting see the chaos. And i'm in an atypical phase of not feeling the energy to socialize even remotely as much as i usually (used to) do anyway. I'm happier staying home most nights. I love going to movies, for example, but in recent months, i don't even have that urge.
I appreciate hearing your accounts of your own path through this, mercedes! I'm curious: Did you notice that your energy levels (these bursts you describe) started getting more frequent or more energized at any one particular dosage level? Or for you was it gradual across all levels? I ask cuz they say that 150 mg is kind of a pivotal level when the adrenal system is supposedly also affected by the drug?? But i'm assumign that too must be somewhat individualized to each of us??
Did you go from 150 to 225 and then to 300? Do you take the whole 300 at one time each day? Did you find that your adjustment to each new level got easier (fewer side effects) or did each level bring some days of side effects at first?
thanks, and hugs,
zinya
Posted by zinya on July 11, 2003, at 12:37:27
In reply to Had terrible attack. Any 1 have these symtoms?, posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 3:26:16
Oh gosh, Mercedes, I just responded to your previous post little imagining that you had a second post with such a crisis situation brewing already...
Wow. First of all, I'm disgusted with your primary physician for refusing to see you. These might be medical symptoms that have nothing to do with what your pdoc deals with, but this is unfortunately no time for you to have to try to find a new primary physician, it seems (although I would consider doing this when you feel better)! I would urge you to see your pdoc then (he IS a psychiatrist, not just a psychologist, right? i.e., an MD too?) and make an appt asap. This sounds VERY serious.
How many months ago did this first start happening? The impression I have is that it is not a side effect of Effexor, especially if it only started after you'd been on Effexor at high doses for quite some time. This doesn't sound like what I understood people to mean by "brain freezes" or whatever term I've heard used. This sounds more serious. In a way, it reminds me of an experience i had decades ago in the early days of having migraines (during a horrible marriage that my body dealt with, it seems, by giving me migraines). The second one i had was so bad it had an effect that caused me to make no sense when I was talking and I was taken to an ER and couldn't answer some normal Q's from the md (like subtracting 7 from 100, I said something like 940).
The fact you have several in a week once - were they this intense? Did you see a doctor about them then? I think you must see a doctor asap, Mercedes.
Please keep us informed, when you can, of how you are doing. My thoughts and hugs and good wishes are with you.
zinya
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