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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by lethe on August 1, 2003, at 4:53:05
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Am coming off effexor xr after a year and a half, and it is so much more a comfort to read here that others are experience similar withdrawls to me. I was terrified at my first symptoms, those brain shock sensations are the absolute worst, and I think because I was mainly usning effexor xr to control my panic disorder the symptoms brought back in force the constant thought, especially at night, that I wasn't going to make it through this. One thing that helped for a little while was my own kind of tapering, instead of taking decreased dosages, I lengthened the duration of my dosage, I started to take my pills every 36 hours instead of 24. This seems to help a lot. Before I tried to get off effexor xr by just doing the cold turkey thing (mainly because I didn't have the funds to keep going!) but after the longer time between my dosage, (I stretched my last weeks dose over 2 weeks) I didn't actually start to feel withdrawl for a few days after I had my last pill.
However, I wish I had stretched them even further, as now I am facing the full brunt of withdrawl, and it is still pretty damn scary.
Did anyone else use effexor xr for panic disorder and found the panic attacks worse after coming off it? When I do get sleep I have the most vivid violent nightmares, and I am so tense when I wake up all my back muscles are cramped up. (but this maybe because I am sleeping on the floor! Korean style:) )
The main reason I want to stay off effexor xr is I am scared of long term effects and I don't trust my doctor here much-I am currently wokring in Korea and he doesn't speak too much English-he actually gave me pancreatic cancer treatment pills to combat the nausea!
Anyway, I am still here, and I am still surviving the withdrawl. I hope I can hang in!
Posted by KimberlyDi on August 1, 2003, at 7:53:16
In reply to Re: Hi Kim » KimberlyDi, posted by zinya on July 31, 2003, at 21:13:34
I was wondering... how many of the Effexor Club are still on Effexor?
And hello to you! I miss everyone.
KDi in Texas> hi!
>
> how's it going? are the side effects subsiding at all?
>
> i hope so ... I'm having my own doubts about this but will not do anything to alter my dosage til i'm due to see md. on the 7th... I *really* needed to feel some boost in energy by now. Two months and up to 150 for 10 days and nada energy-wise. Meanwhile, i may become one of the 2% which the PDI says quit because of the sweating. It's getting *really* old already as a constant daily reality and feeling an internal heat and clamminess and flashes... That and the dizziness that comes and goes. They'd be tolerable and have been but that was a bargain :)) i was willing to make for the energy ... With no energy boost... hmmm
>
> hugs,
> zinya
Posted by Scooter1 on August 1, 2003, at 8:16:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?-WITHDRAWL, posted by lethe on August 1, 2003, at 4:53:05
I will hang in there for a little while longer. I don't feel bad all the time. Just sometimes.... I don't know. Thanks for the website. I will check on some things and get back with you. Let me know how luvox works for you. scooter1
Posted by migrainegirl on August 1, 2003, at 8:49:38
In reply to Effexor for Menopause? needs help » Helaine, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 7:48:59
I have been on 375mg. of Effexor XR and yes, I still have night sweats, irritability and occassional hot flashes. However, I am also on Hormone Replacement Therapy (Activella) and primarily started Effexor in October for severe clinical deparession. My circumstances haven't changed so I feel Effexor has been effective for the depression as I contiue to increase my dosage. When Menopause hit in March, I had already been on Effexor a while, so I may have had many more SE's! I feel the best course of treatment is to continue to up your dosage until you feel better or try one of the more natural hormones. Have you read "What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Menopause?" I take a regimen of vitamins from that book and try to exercise and drink water every day. Good luck!
Posted by catachrest on August 1, 2003, at 9:16:53
In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal IS FINE » catachrest, posted by zinya on July 30, 2003, at 15:40:50
Has anyone heard of any interactions between Effexor/venlafaxine and aspartame? I can't remember where, but I've got this vague feeling floating around in my head that I read somewhere that they interact badly. Am I just crazy? :D
Susan
Posted by harlie on August 1, 2003, at 12:01:33
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » ekvb, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 8:06:11
I am new.I have had depression my whole life.Pamalar(sp?)was my first drug in the mid 80's.It was a true miracle drug for me.3 weeks and I poped out of it.Being young when I was better I quit the meds.Looking back I should of stayed on them.I got better with Pamalor 5 times and then quit over a 10 year period.I was in my teens/twenties and there was a big stigma in our family.Welbuterin has worked fine for years and is now pooping out.I go on Effexor Monday.After Pamalor,Effexor should be a walk in the park as far as side effects.People should do research on there own and take this forum with a grain of salt.Thank God for these drugs!My brother killed himself 20 years ago over depression and I have had a decent 20 years with them.I'm in great shape and should live a long time,but I have a problem that can be traced back a ways in my family.Quite a coincidence if not inherited.I'll let you know how it goes.My feeling after research is that this will work great for me.
Posted by Helaine on August 1, 2003, at 12:49:26
In reply to Re: Effexor for Menopause? needs help, posted by migrainegirl on August 1, 2003, at 8:49:38
Talk about being confused? Day 12 of Effexor 37.5 XR mg..primarily given to me for menopause and all the SE from this change of my life thrusted on me due to a hysterectomy!So, yesterday I learn my cholesterol is high and now I need to go on Lipitor 10 mg! So my dr says effexor is good for migraines which I have..yet lipitor can give you mingranes.He told me effexor will help my HOT flashes..effexor and lipitor both are known to give you HOT flushes..He told me effexor will not effect my sex drive..I now say.."what sex drive???"
Constipation from effexor..diarrhea from lipitor??? Lack of sleep from effexor..dizziness and weakness from lipitor..
I think I need an antidepressant just to take the effexor.I don't expect a miracle..Though it would
be NICE!!!! Howevever, all the confusion combined with my mental staus is to say the least very unnerving at this time. Although, I may seem to sound negetive..I really am going to give it a try. I see my dr. in a month. Hopefully, by then I wouldn't be walking backwards.
Thank you,
Helaine
Posted by John G. on August 1, 2003, at 13:07:07
In reply to Re: Is there anyone else who is only taking 37.5?, posted by redman on July 27, 2003, at 10:20:31
Has anyone experienced pee trouble? I looked at all the possible side effects and this one isn't listed. I have a history of Prostate problems and am taking medication for it. Effexor seems to make matters much worse.
jg
Posted by Gill Angel on August 1, 2003, at 15:40:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by harlie on August 1, 2003, at 12:01:33
> I am new.I have had depression my whole life.Pamalar(sp?)was my first drug in the mid 80's.It was a true miracle drug for me.3 weeks and I poped out of it.Being young when I was better I quit the meds.Looking back I should of stayed on them.I got better with Pamalor 5 times and then quit over a 10 year period.I was in my teens/twenties and there was a big stigma in our family.Welbuterin has worked fine for years and is now pooping out.I go on Effexor Monday.After Pamalor,Effexor should be a walk in the park as far as side effects.People should do research on there own and take this forum with a grain of salt.Thank God for these drugs!My brother killed himself 20 years ago over depression and I have had a decent 20 years with them.I'm in great shape and should live a long time,but I have a problem that can be traced back a ways in my family.Quite a coincidence if not inherited.I'll let you know how it goes.My feeling after research is that this will work great for me.
I appreciate that you have had a hard time of it but this drug is very wierd, I have started sleepwaliking after never having done that in my life. When u miss a dose or try to withdraw it gives u the most wierd feelings. It is very scary. Everyone I know accepts that I am normal now but everytime I try and cut down the drugs I go very bizarre. It's scary
Posted by zinya on August 1, 2003, at 17:19:40
In reply to Re: Hi Kim, posted by KimberlyDi on August 1, 2003, at 7:53:16
that's a good question - I know Nyia is but is also beginning to wonder and seeing her md again next week - she thinks she's having more migraines and problems now than before although she does recognize the bleekness is less. Daph still takes only the sporadic 1/6 :)! ... and Mercedes is still on... YankeeGirl just went up to 150 i think (it's hard to keep people straight) ... Cher and Susy are still only taking xanax as needed, but Cher's scheduled carpal tunnel surgery at last for the end of the month so that's going to be a biggie for her. .. As had started happening here, we almost never talk about drugs themselves anymore so that's why i come here still to post re Effexor and have only really kept talking about it offline in the "club" with Nyia...
But, KIM! you said nothing about yourself in response to my Q -- was that intentional evasion?? :)? How are you doing?
hugs,
zinya
Posted by zinya on August 1, 2003, at 17:22:56
In reply to Effexor and aspartame, posted by catachrest on August 1, 2003, at 9:16:53
Nothing about interaction. All i know is that two independent sources have suggested that aspertame turns into formaldehyde in the body. That was enough to make me stop drinking diet Coke.
:)
how's it going, Susan?
zinya
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 1, 2003, at 17:24:45
In reply to Re: Effexor for Menopause? needs help, posted by migrainegirl on August 1, 2003, at 8:49:38
> Have you read "What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Menopause?"
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by Tiger's Dad on August 1, 2003, at 17:37:05
In reply to Starting Effexor XR - Trouble Urinating!, posted by John G. on August 1, 2003, at 13:07:07
> Has anyone experienced pee trouble? I looked at all the possible side effects and this one isn't listed. I have a history of Prostate problems and am taking medication for it. Effexor seems to make matters much worse.
>
> jgI had that early on. It went away and never recurred though.
Posted by theo on August 2, 2003, at 16:09:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?-WITHDRAWL, posted by lethe on August 1, 2003, at 4:53:05
Okay, so I had to find out for myself. I only took Effexor XR 37.5mg for 3 weeks and 75mg for 4 days, then back down to 37.5mg. After four days I stopped and after 24 hours, have felt so uncomfortable as if the world is coming to an end, scared to be by myself, this is not fun at all!!! Paxil was nothing for me to stop and on such a low dose of Effexor XR, I didn't think I had much to worry about. Thank god a had some Prozac I never threw away and am trying 20mg of it with 10mg Atarax(hydroxyzine hcl) and I'm not so "scared" feeling right now. I haven't drank in several months and this is the closest I've come just to get some relief until this withdrawal goes away. I realize that will create more problems for me so I'm not but I have not experienced horrible feelings like this since coming off of a drinking binge. I never felt this bad not taking SSRI's, makes me wonder if I should see how life is without them. The withdrawal started about 7:00pm last night, 8-1-03 and it's about 4:00pm now. I thought about breaking open a 37.5mg and taking half but at this point since the intensity is decreasing I think I'll ride it out with the Prozac and Atarax. I've gone back and forth with several SSRI's but will never swallow Effexor XR again!!! This is just my experience, I know everyone's different.
Posted by Sleepy Susan on August 2, 2003, at 17:42:36
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?-WITHDRAWL, posted by theo on August 2, 2003, at 16:09:24
I mentioned it in another post, but with the capsules there is the option of opening and either pouring some out or getting empty capsuls and slowing tritrating your dose down to nothing. I found this helped me when I tried stopping, though it was still a rough couple of days after-but not nearly as much so as when I tried stopping at 37.5mg.
Hope this is of help to someone,
Susan
Posted by theo on August 2, 2003, at 18:12:54
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?-WITHDRAWL, posted by Sleepy Susan on August 2, 2003, at 17:42:36
About 6:10pm and feeling much better after taking another 10mg of Prozac (took first 10mg at noon) plus 10mg of Atarax. Tomorrow morning I will take 20mg of Prozac and if I need to take the edge off, 10mg Atarax. I was going to split granules but when I dropped from 75mg to 37.5mg I felt like crap so I figured after 4th day at 37.5mg, I would face the pain!!
Posted by postpartumgal on August 2, 2003, at 21:49:18
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?-WITHDRAWL, posted by theo on August 2, 2003, at 18:12:54
Just giving my 2 cents, but I was on 75 mg for 1 1/2 yrs for post partum anxiety disorder, and tried once unsuccessfully to go off of it. Instead of going 75 to 37.5mg like I did last time, I instead did the granule counting thing. I took out 20 granules for 2 wks, then took out 50 granules for 2 wks, then took out 100 granules for 2 wks (half dose officially), then took out 150 for 2 wks, then went to only 30 granules left in it for 10 days. I still had the shock sensation side effects for approximately 2 wks, but I can say now that they have completely stopped and I am back to normal, and feel so much better than when I did when I was on Effexor XR!! I advise everyone I know to never go on that drug. I've never been on anything else in my life, but i just know these past 2 wks have been horrible.
I recommend to anyone going off of it to #1 count granules to make the withdrawal less, and #2 to stick with it despite the symptoms, as it WILL go away and you will be normal again.
I also can thank Xanax for getting me through any anxiety situations. Other than making me horrible tired, Xanax is a lifesaver for me and has never been addicting. I can take one one night and not take anymore for a month!
stick it out
Posted by catachrest on August 2, 2003, at 23:13:33
In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal IS FINE, posted by catachrest on July 30, 2003, at 12:44:24
Hi there,
For anyone who's interested, here's a summary of the article in the July/August issue of Psychology Today titled "Are Antidepressants Addictive?" (sub: Claims that Drug Withdrawl leads to Illness) I'll be as thorough as possible while skirting copyright law. :)
The pain/nausea felt by some patients when they discontinue antidepressants is causing controversy regarding whether they should have explicit warning labels about withdrawl.
They cite the case of Jame Tierney, who at 14 started taking Effexor and experienced violent withdrawl symptoms (vomiting, suicidal impulses, electric shock-like symptoms, fatigue) when she tapered off.
They then say that often such withdrawal is mistaken as just a relapse of depression, but more people like Jame are coming forward to say that they were prescribed SNRIs and SSRIs such as Prozac and Zoloft, and this could put the spotlight on this phenomenon, which, the article says, doctors have recognized since the late 90s.
Apparently the most problems are reported by patients on Effexor and Paxil because of the short half-lives of the drugs.
"Some experts estimate 50 to 80 per cent of patients experience withdrawal from Paxil when they go cold turkey, but this number is controversial." They quote a Jonathan Alpert (MD PhD) who is asst. professor of psychiatry at Harvard, who says that though there are no definitive estimates, he believes that the number could be less than 5 per cent for those who taper off gradually. He also says that withdrawal like jame describes are very rare even for those who stop suddenly. "'The great majority of patients who stop their antidepressants abruptly get away with it.'"
They then cite Dr. Davil L Dunner MD, the director of the Centre for Anxiety and Depression at U of Washington, who says that studies show less than 25 per cent of patients who stop Paxil have any symptoms.
Paxil and Effexor now both have labels which warn or "discontinuation" but there are those who say that that's not enough - notably Lawyer Karen Barth, who is bringing a lawsuit representing 35 patients in California, and whose firm has heard from about 10,000 Paxil patients.
They then mention Joseph Glenmullen, MD, who wrote "Prozac Backlash" and who sees a "potential crisis" if antidepressant withdrawal should become widely recognized. [though they don't follow that up adequately to my mind]
He says that "thousands and thousands" of people have had their SSRI withdrawal symptoms misinterpreted as a relapse into depression, and advocates that patients have therapy in addition to tapering off so that a relapse can be distinguished if that's the case.
Well, that's all she wrote. The article was by Tiffany Kary and appears on page 15.
Posted by theo on August 3, 2003, at 11:24:46
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?-WITHDRAWL » theo, posted by postpartumgal on August 2, 2003, at 21:49:18
11:22am Sunday and feeling much better. Woke up feeling okay and took my 20mg of Prozac. Prozac therapy so far has been a big relief for me to mask the effects of Effexor XR withdrawal. I will probably go ahead and try the Prozac for at least a month. It's been years since I've taken it and when I did I was still drinking so I honestly didn't give it a fair try.
Posted by bori on August 3, 2003, at 19:56:48
In reply to Re: welcome back, Kim!! Geee THANKS! :) » zinya, posted by KimberlyDi on July 29, 2003, at 8:24:06
Hi,
I am on day two of effexor xr 37.5. I am using it primarily for chronic (pelvic) pain and secondarily for the anxiety that has surfaced around dealing with this and another chronic pain problem while continuing with the rest of my life. I was not happy to take effexor xr from all I read here, but other than tricylics (that I feared would sedate me and make me gain weight even more) it seems to be the only one to act on norepinephrine and pain. Now I am wondering if it was worth it because I feel so nauseous and a little light-headed and my shoulders hurt and I need to get up over 150 for this to work on pain (my doc said 225 but I hope it is lower). Anyhow, I want to know if anyone had success with it for treating pain and how long it took before side effects wore off. Thanks for your help!
Posted by zinya on August 3, 2003, at 21:11:13
In reply to effexor xr for chronic pain (esp. zinya) , posted by bori on August 3, 2003, at 19:56:48
hi bori,
it's interesting to me and rather coincidental that my chief source of pain is also pelvic (i just wrote a lengthy post about it two days ago over on a thread on the main website page - if interested and you can't find it, let me know - it was to someone with initials JRB who had lots of research expertise in what seemed to be a related area and i presented my situation to him for any thoughts he might have as to pain-energy-brain-depression connections)
For me, since my pain flare-ups trigger a complete loss of energy and from there a floundering into depression, what my md. focused on was that the norepinehprine effects would address the energy (adrenal system) depletion rather than pain per se, but since they're so intertwined for me, maybe he viewed it all as one. I see him again this week and will probably add this to my list of Q's...
Actually, by mentioning what your md said about 225 mgs, you've finally given the most sourced answer yet to a question i've been almost begging for an answer to for a couple of months here. One poster here had mentioned that the norep. effects don't kick in til 150 mgs, which i sought to get confirmed in vain, except another poster now at 300 did remember 2 weeks of almost hyper energy when she hit 150 and then it tapered into something more equilibrated.. But i got to 150 2 weeks ago and the only signs i've seen yet are just in the past 2 days that maybe i'm getting a noticeable increase - though too soon to tell for sure as it's very gradual, not like the woman's sudden uptick experience. If there's one rule you learn fast here, it's that the very same med and dose can have opposite effects on two different people. The uniqueness of our individual systems makes it impossible to predict what one's own body will do. My own 'progress' on it may or may not have been negatively impacted by the fact i've managed to rotate my lumbar twice in the past two months, which my chiropractor for 6 yrs who is a genius had, of all my 'tricks' never seen me do before, and the pain has been more pronounced in the course of dealing with that. Pain and energy and hormones and brain chemistry are all so interrelated along with surely a bunch of other things too that it's hard to isolate one factor and say "aha! there's the culprit!" ...
well, i welcome you and wish you well... I'll look for your postings to see how you're doing and if you learn more as you go, let me know and i'll do the same...
zinya
p.s. btw, do you take your effexor on a full stomach? i take mine at night after dinner on my fullest stomach of the day and for me it has worked fine also in terms of sleep etc... I had SOME nausea the very first morning after my first dose (which was only half - 19 mg - of a 37.5, cuz i'd had so much nausea and intolerable side effect on previous other a-d's that i took it twice as slowly as even the minimum -- took me 2 months to get up to 150 mg. instead of one, much as i was impatient to get there, i also didn't want to risk bad side effects.)
> Hi,
>
> I am on day two of effexor xr 37.5. I am using it primarily for chronic (pelvic) pain and secondarily for the anxiety that has surfaced around dealing with this and another chronic pain problem while continuing with the rest of my life. I was not happy to take effexor xr from all I read here, but other than tricylics (that I feared would sedate me and make me gain weight even more) it seems to be the only one to act on norepinephrine and pain. Now I am wondering if it was worth it because I feel so nauseous and a little light-headed and my shoulders hurt and I need to get up over 150 for this to work on pain (my doc said 225 but I hope it is lower). Anyhow, I want to know if anyone had success with it for treating pain and how long it took before side effects wore off. Thanks for your help!
Posted by Scooter1 on August 3, 2003, at 22:29:54
In reply to effexor xr for chronic pain (esp. zinya) , posted by bori on August 3, 2003, at 19:56:48
What kind of withdrawel symptoms did you have coming off the effexor Xr? Do you think Prozac helped with the symptoms. How is the Luvox? Are you taking it with the Prozac? let me know how you are doing? I still haven't increased my dose to 75 mg? Scared from what I read here I guess? Scooter1
Posted by theo on August 3, 2003, at 23:46:01
In reply to Theo, posted by Scooter1 on August 3, 2003, at 22:29:54
If you haven't felt anything great about Effexor XR 37.5mg, I wouldn't go up on dose, especially if you are having side effects still. I thought most of these posts about withdrawal wouldn't apply to me because most folks seem to be weaning down from 225mg, I was sadly mistaken. Most of my withdrawal was not really physical such as nausea etc. but feelings of extreme fear and panic. I quit drinking several months ago and don't take Xanax, Valuim etc. and really felt the withdrawal. I was still drinking when I took Paxil and the alchohol probably masked the discontinuing effects. I stopped the Luvox when the withdrawal kicked in and started the Prozac 20mg because of the long half life which I am probably going to stay on because of the long half life and see if it works. Since Prozac was older I just figured these dual type such as Effexor would be better so I've never given Prozac an honest try. I also took Atarax which is a strong antihistimine prescribed for anxiety. At least if I decide to quit Prozac I don't have to worry about the short half life problems with Effexor XR. My next step will be to go a complete different direction and try Anafranil for anxiety instead of SSRI's. I don't want to scare you but I would get off the Effexor XR unless your experiencing overwhelming great feelings from it.
Posted by lethe on August 4, 2003, at 3:42:07
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?-WITHDRAWL, posted by theo on August 2, 2003, at 16:09:24
Well, day 6 for me and I am feeling better, sometimes the shock sensations are not too bad, and I have found st john's wart to be not to bad for my stress,that and a lavender oil on my pillow combi seems to get me some sleep! Just wondering, did anyone else feel like they were getting the flu or a cold during withdrawls from effexor xr? I can't believe all the withdrawl syptoms this drug has. Had I known before I started to take them I would never have in the first place, just my opinion!
Posted by skipper on August 4, 2003, at 15:43:55
In reply to Effexer and Effexer xr, posted by jal on September 13, 2002, at 15:48:57
I have been taking effexer for 4 years and have tried several times to stop - my Dr. told me to cut down for a few days and stop - That wasn't good - does anyone know of any doctor or group etc. in Los Angeles that can assistme in getting free form Effexer - tahnk you for any assistance.
Skipper
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