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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by becka on January 15, 2004, at 16:19:08
In reply to Re: This is scarier than I thought, posted by Tammi on January 15, 2004, at 12:09:50
I must agree with Tammi. After reading a lot of these posts, I am scared to death. I have been on different AD for 8 years (zoloft, elavil, celexa and lexapro). I only got off to get pregnant twice. I suffered horrible withdrawls both times. I weaned as the dr. said but I have always gone back to it. (not when I was prego) My main reason for taking effexor xr is to control anxiety. My dr gave me xanax for when I have an attack. All that does is make me want to sleep. I don't see how people get addicted to that--anyway. I just started effexor 75mg once a day about a week ago. So far, so good. I am just scared after reading all of the posts. Am I too probably going to have to up to 150mg a day, and if so, that will be even more difficult to get off if and when the time is right. I don't have any problem taking a pill if it makes me feel better. I just know from experience that after a certain number of months, your body needs more and more and more and ........ Any advice???
Thanks for "listening"
Posted by omegon on January 15, 2004, at 16:53:46
In reply to Re: Am I the only one here that likes Effexor? Nope, posted by KimRN73 on January 14, 2004, at 15:39:33
> Can someone PLEASE describe these Brain "zaps" people keep referring to? I think that is what i get but id like to know what they entail if anyone can describe them???? THanks!!!!!
I only had them in a mild way for 5 days (thanks to switching to Prozac rather than coming off efexor completely), but I'll try to describe what I had. It's probably the weirdest sensation I've ever experienced.
Ever stayed up all night, to the point when you get "microsleeps"? - you momentarily fall asleep (for literally a second) then jerk awake again? For me, the "brain zaps" were like a combination of a _mental_ wrenching sensation, like the jolting disorientation of those microsleeps (without the "sleep" feeling, just that of involuntarily having your state of consciousness sharply altered); with a _physical_ (proprioceptive) wrenching sensation, like the world has suddenly, sharply changed orientation around you (earthquake-like) - not really dizziness, just subjective alteration of position; with an _emotional_ wrenching sensation, similar to what people call your "heart skipping a beat", an instantaneous sick feeling, or one of those "oh-sh*t" moments where you suddenly realise you've really screwed something up irrevocably.
It's very brief and feels kind of "electrical"; a muscle spasm of the brain. You can also kind of sense when it's about to happen, though I couldn't really describe how; rather like feeling a hiccup coming.
On most occasions I didn't have the electric-shock-through-every-nerve feeling that I've seen others describe here, though interestingly I did get that a couple of times soon after I started on efexor, while increasing the dose.
Posted by omegon on January 15, 2004, at 16:58:10
In reply to Re: Am I the only one here that likes Effexor? Nope, posted by tetheredcat on January 14, 2004, at 21:28:17
Yes, that's a clever analogy - and the description of the sound as well! It IS rather like that.
> ok.. let me see.. this is how i described it to my computer geek bf: have you ever turned a monitor on? you know that zzzzzzungzzzzz sound it makes.. imagine that, inside your head.. and you feel the electric waves or vibrations inside your hard or on various surfaces of your head and face. he got what i meant.. lol i hope that helped at least a little.
>
> > Can someone PLEASE describe these Brain "zaps" people keep referring to?
Posted by sb2 on January 15, 2004, at 18:53:49
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » readingboy, posted by Salty_Dog on January 15, 2004, at 14:18:41
> been on 75 mgs for 10 days now. is this drug for real. I have been on celexa, paxil,wellbutrin,prozac and neurontin. Celexa was thebest but seemed to quit. with effexor I cannot take in the morning because Iam to drowsy to drive to work. At night I have all kinds of dreams and jerk alot when Iam about to fall asleep. Does the drowsiness go away. Does sleep ever return to normal. I need to be alert. I need motivation!!! will this one do it?
Posted by Mercedes on January 15, 2004, at 18:57:33
In reply to Re: This is scarier than I thought, posted by Tammi on January 15, 2004, at 12:09:50
My Pdoc quit on me Jan 7, 2004! I called that day to tell him about yet another one of these 'mysterious attacks' I was having and I get a "Dear Mary" letter dated that same day. Just to clarify, these 'mysterious attacks' are not the same as Effexor withdrawal brain zaps.
Yea, after seeing this Pdoc for over a year, I get a 'Letter of Discharge'. He could no longer meet my pharmacological needs, is what it said. I wanted to kill myself, goodby cruel world, saayonata (sp?), adios....bye bye.
Fortunatly, my brother took me to see another Pdoc Jan 10th, and this new pdoc took me off Lexapro and put me on Lamictal and another sample of something, I don't remember. Anyway I've had 4 of these mysterious attacks in 8 days. My vision goes, get severe double vision that sticks for a few minutes, I see everything dble, one up one down, and a weird brain tightness behind my left eye. My neuro won't see me till the 27th, cld my primary and I can see her this Monday, told them I need an MRI NOW. I'm afraid I won't make it. Funny how sometimes you want to die, then sometimes you're afraid of dying, well, not really funny.
I'm off Effexor since Nov; had the horrific withdrawals, put on Paxil to help with the withdrawals, was on Topamax, and ended up at dr's office with chest pains. So add nitro to my rx list. BP meds, etc.
I was on Depakote a few years back, put me to sleep, at my desk, in the patio during lunch, had no energy, and don't remember what else.
After all these med's, or maybe these undiagnosed brain attacks, my memory is ? I don't know where I left it, my concentration/comprehension is gone and I just don't know what else to do, who to trust. While on effexor, I also got blurred vision expecially after using the computer (doing research on my illness for goodness sakes!) and had to have my glasses changed six times in 14 months. And I still get the blurred vision. Well, I best get off the computer.
Just venting......sigh
Mercedes
Posted by LenoreW on January 15, 2004, at 19:28:20
In reply to Re: Am I the only one here that likes Effexor? Nope, posted by KimRN73 on January 14, 2004, at 15:39:33
> Can someone PLEASE describe these Brain "zaps" people keep referring to? I think that is what i get but id like to know what they entail if anyone can describe them???? THanks!!!!!
For me, it's a combination of strange sounds inside my head combined with waves of nausea and dizziness; I get these when I shift my gaze, or even move my eyes rapidly when they're closed. The sounds are very faint, but it's like someone is shaking a box of rice with only a few grains left in it. (Usually they only shake it twice, but sometimes it's three or four times.) The rest of the time I just feel like I have a waterfall inside my skull instead of a brain. This is my 15th day off Effexor and most of the other bad stuff is gone, but this part seems to be worse if anything - I was only on 37.5 for 6 months.
Posted by omegon on January 15, 2004, at 20:00:11
In reply to Re: WHEN WILL IT WORK, posted by sb2 on January 15, 2004, at 18:53:49
> > been on 75 mgs for 10 days now...with effexor I cannot take in the morning because Iam to drowsy to drive to work. At night I have all kinds of dreams and jerk alot when Iam about to fall asleep. Does the drowsiness go away. Does sleep ever return to normal. I need to be alert. I need motivation!!! will this one do it?
Your experience is like mine when I started (see earlier post http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040109/msgs/299903.html). Until I got to 225mg, each dosage level made me very sleepy once the initial dose increase side-effects wore off after a week or so. The sleepiness didn't go away with time; it got steadily worse over 5 weeks at 225mg (3 doses 8 hours apart). I then tried 150mg morning and 75mg evening for 2 weeks, which was worse - MORE drowsy, dangerous to drive to work, less motivation, etc. On return to 3 spaced-out doses, the dose-increase side effects returned much worse (adrenaline rush) and it destabilised my mood enough that I had to quit after two more weeks. (crying for no reason, rage at nothing, etc. I may need a mood stabiliser.)
For me the insane dreams did disappear completely once I'd been at the same dose for about three weeks, unless I lay in / slept during the day - you might like to avoid this; for me it gave hellish dreams and worse mood when I eventually got up. Of course, when you're feeling that sleepy it's nearly impossible to get out of bed even with dreams chasing you ;)
The muscle twitching decreased as well, but was never a major problem for me, just irritating.If you're on a low enough dose not to need to space it out, you could try switching between taking it at night <-> morning. Taking it at night still made me drowsy initially, but I couldn't get a full night's sleep that way - kept waking up - and was still hard to get out of bed in the morning. So I stuck with morning when I was on 75mg.
From the limited experience I've had with this drug, the best advice I can give you is to be absolutely rigid about taking it at the same time every day (set an alarm - seriously) and to be very cautious about changes in dosage or time of dosage. The short half-life seemed to cause major problems for me if I wasn't careful about this. Indeed it seemed to cause problems anyway. Change it slowly if possible and expect it to take at least a week to settle down.
Efexor did help my alertness and motivation a lot - but only some of the time.
Posted by omegon on January 15, 2004, at 20:12:53
In reply to Re: My Pdoc quit on me! scarier than I thought » Tammi, posted by Mercedes on January 15, 2004, at 18:57:33
> While on effexor, I also got blurred vision expecially after using the computer (doing research on my illness for goodness sakes!) and had to have my glasses changed six times in 14 months. And I still get the blurred vision.
I'm wondering if it's not something to do with pupil dilation. I had both. The blurred vision _seemed_ to decrease with time on efexor, but judging by the difference I've noticed coming off it, this may have been purely subjective, "getting used to it" (by which I mean forgetting how it used to be, rather than learning to see as clearly with blurred input). I'm now on fluoxetine, and my pupils seem permanently fixed at HALF their efexor size, as if in rebellion. Shame. I kind of liked my big eyes, drinking in the world - such as I could see, anyway. Now I look disinterested. Feel it, too.
Strangely enough, even while on efexor, people at work often said I have the text size on my computer set very small and they couldn't read it! Crystal clear to me. Can the brain compensate for persistent blurred vision by getting better at decoding blurred symbols, "turning up the sharpness"? I doubt it. Maybe our vision is clearer than we think.
Posted by KimRN73 on January 15, 2004, at 21:10:03
In reply to Brain zaps » KimRN73, posted by omegon on January 15, 2004, at 16:53:46
THanks for the description, everyone is saying they have these "zaps" after being OFF the medication....im still ON it and having them, i spoke to one of the doctors i work with today and she thinks since they start about MIDDAY, it has something to do with how im absorbing the medication and to alter how i take it in the morning and see what that does. Anyone have them as a SIDE EFFECT while still ON the med???
And mine arent really a "shock" its more of a lightheaded/out of sorts feeling?!?!
Kim
Posted by Gummybear on January 15, 2004, at 21:19:50
In reply to Re: Brain zaps, posted by KimRN73 on January 15, 2004, at 21:10:03
Hey, I am ON Effexor XR 75 mg / day and somedays (probably about 50%)at like MIDDAY I get all out-of-it, like kinda a foggy feeling, and disoriented a bit.... and sometimes I get a REALLY BAD headache. But then by night time it's usually gone - it probably lasts for about 2-4 hours. I totally know what you mean!!!
I've been on Effexor for 6 weeks now ... how long have you been on it??? What time do you take the Effexor and when do these feeling usually start????
I take Effexor between 3-5pm and these feelings usually start between 3-6pm.... hmmm.
Anyone else??
Posted by KimRN73 on January 15, 2004, at 21:47:54
In reply to Re: Brain zaps, posted by Gummybear on January 15, 2004, at 21:19:50
Hi, thanks for that message!! I totally do not feel alone now. I have been on Effexor for maybe 4yrs or so...i now take 75mg twice a day. I take the morning dose around 6am when i get to work , then the evening dose around 9pm before bed.
I usually get the dizzy/out of sorts feeling around 12 noon...to estimate it. Its most days out of the month but not every single day. It seems to help also if i lay down for awhile , then they tend to go away when i get up?!?! strange i know. I know if i dont take my med on a regular schedule too, i get HOT and out of sorts. Does this sound the same also???? anyone else????? Kim :)
Posted by MrsT on January 15, 2004, at 22:17:43
In reply to Re: Brain zaps, posted by KimRN73 on January 15, 2004, at 21:10:03
I have been on Effexor for about six months. I'm not sure what people mean about brain zaps but if I miss one day I get a major headache the second day I feel very strange. I feel like when I move my head my brain moves a couple of seconds after in slow motion. Its hard to describe but if you've missed a dose or two you know exactly what I'm talking about.I try to go as long as I can before taking a pill.I have also gained about 20 pounds that I had just lost before starting this med. I was doing the Atkins diet and had great success. I thought I was just gaining it back I didn't know that it was an effect from Effexor. I know now why I haven't been able to lose that 20 pounds after trying so hard. I got this info from a drug rep today at work. I'm glad to know that I have been wheening myself off. In the last month I have went from 150mg to 37.5. It hasn't been easy.(lots of headaches, dizziness, etc)I try to go as long as I can before taking a pill. Usually when I fill a headache coming on. If you don't care about weight gain and are planning on staying on the meds for a while I would say go for it. (Try not to forget a dose!)
If your looking for a temporary fix during a stressful time in your life I would suggest trying something else. Anyone having the same problems I would love to hear from you.
ccctomlin3@aol.com
Posted by MrsT on January 15, 2004, at 22:32:59
In reply to Sudden descent into Efexor hell » kattay, posted by omegon on January 12, 2004, at 15:34:48
I am trying to come off of the Effexor. I tried cold turkey. BOY WAS THAT A MISTAKE!!!!! Over the last month I have went from 150mg to 37.5mg. Each day I try to wait a little later and a little later until I am taking 37.5 everyother day. I still experince headaches and the weird feeling in my head and sometimes down my arms but I will over come this. I decided that the the effects it was having on me wasn't worth it. I felt moody with or without it. Has anyone experienced in an uncontrolable mouth meaning feeling out of control with what comes out. I very seldom cuss but have found myself cussing for reasons that are not really that big of a deal. I have heard some people call this the devils drug. I do wonder.
Posted by creeppedOutWendy on January 16, 2004, at 10:17:20
In reply to Re: Brain zaps, posted by KimRN73 on January 15, 2004, at 21:10:03
Yes, I had the symptoms that everyone described for "Brain zaps" while I was taking it too. When my doctor prescribed me Effexor, she specifically, told me to take it right before I go to sleep so I won't feel the effect of it. I followed the instruction, but sometime I took the pill and then stay on the phone and times went by. Next thing I know, it was an hour or two after I took it and I'm still up. I started to feel this brain zaps thing. Of course, I went to sleep right away and understood my doctor's concern. So, my suggestion would be to take it before you go to bed. I'm not sure if it's possible for you since you mentioned taking it more than once a day. I was only taking it once a day. Anyway, I hope this helps you somehow. Take care.
Posted by kattay on January 16, 2004, at 11:01:22
In reply to Re: My Pdoc quit on me! scarier than I thought » Mercedes, posted by omegon on January 15, 2004, at 20:12:53
> > While on effexor, I also got blurred vision expecially after using the computer (doing research on my illness for goodness sakes!) and had to have my glasses changed six times in 14 months. And I still get the blurred vision.
>
> I'm wondering if it's not something to do with pupil dilation. I had both. The blurred vision _seemed_ to decrease with time on efexor, but judging by the difference I've noticed coming off it, this may have been purely subjective, "getting used to it" (by which I mean forgetting how it used to be, rather than learning to see as clearly with blurred input). I'm now on fluoxetine, and my pupils seem permanently fixed at HALF their efexor size, as if in rebellion. Shame. I kind of liked my big eyes, drinking in the world - such as I could see, anyway. Now I look disinterested. Feel it, too.
>
> Strangely enough, even while on efexor, people at work often said I have the text size on my computer set very small and they couldn't read it! Crystal clear to me. Can the brain compensate for persistent blurred vision by getting better at decoding blurred symbols, "turning up the sharpness"? I doubt it. Maybe our vision is clearer than we think
The blurred vision made me think of something. I've been thinking of getting lasik done but i wonder if i can because of being on effexor xr?
I don't have blurred vision though. I'm one of the lucky and so far no bad side affects. I'm only on 75mg though.
Posted by PoohBear on January 16, 2004, at 11:56:25
In reply to Am I the only one here that likes Effexor?, posted by Paco on January 11, 2004, at 19:48:27
I also have had a mainly positive experience with Effexor, after some intital bumps getting my doseage worked out.
I'm now taking it in combination with Remeron, taking each med 12 hours apart: Effexor in the AM and Remeron in the PM when I hit the sack.
I would suggest for anyone that is havin adverse SE's to speak with their PDoc. The worst of mine, including the "Brain Zaps" went away when we lowered the doseage for 225mg, back down to 75mg. But then my system seems to respond well to smaller doses than larger.
YMMV,
TR
Posted by Bairbe on January 16, 2004, at 12:09:42
In reply to Effexor XR for menopause?, posted by rdeoldy2 on July 17, 2003, at 19:14:24
The claim is Effexor Found to Reduce Hot Flashes by Over 60%
To see what Breastcancer.org says about it go to:
Posted by Zellie on January 16, 2004, at 13:33:05
In reply to Re: Effexor XR for menopause?, posted by Bairbe on January 16, 2004, at 12:09:42
Bairbe:
Thanks for the link you included. Very informative.
Kindest regards,
Zellie
> The claim is Effexor Found to Reduce Hot Flashes by Over 60%
>
> To see what Breastcancer.org says about it go to:
>
> http://www.breastcancer.org/res_news_effexor.html
Posted by flyingdreams on January 16, 2004, at 16:34:26
In reply to How long would these withdrawal symtoms last?, posted by creeppedOutWendy on January 14, 2004, at 9:47:31
Hi Everyone!
I'm starting a writing campaign to Dateline NBC, please email:
and inform them of how bad your withdrawl symptoms are going off Effexor. That this is NOT the non addictive, "happy Pill" they are pushing heavy to the public to make big bucks!
If we send enough letters, it might get their attention enough to warrant a story and get the FACTS out there to the public. These drug companies should NOT get away with these outright lies! Let's stand up and be heard!
Thanks,
Wendy
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 18, 2004, at 14:27:14
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES! , posted by Shel on July 18, 2000, at 1:35:45
Posted by CityBoi1971 on January 17, 2004, at 7:34:14
I am on 300Mg of Effexor-XR and I was wondering if anyone else has had success with this drug, if so, it wold be great to hear from you.
Anyone else on more than 300MG of the extended release form of Effexor-XR?
Thanks for your feedback.
Nick
Posted by Salty_Dog on January 19, 2004, at 0:53:50
In reply to Re: success on Effexor XR « CityBoi1971, posted by Dr. Bob on January 18, 2004, at 14:27:14
> Posted by CityBoi1971 on January 17, 2004, at 7:34:14
>
> I am on 300Mg of Effexor-XR and I was wondering if anyone else has had success with this drug, if so, it wold be great to hear from you.
>
> Anyone else on more than 300MG of the extended release form of Effexor-XR?
>
> Thanks for your feedback.
> Nick
Hello All,
I am currently tapering from 600mg to 300mg. I've been at 600mg for half a year. All but one of the SE's went away - loss of energy. I am taking remeron 45mg now and have begun tapering down the dosage of Effexor XR. One of the best ways I have found so far for tapering is to get alot of sleep. I use the weekends as taper down periods. I sleep from Friday night to Monday morning while initially stepping down to dosage. I enjoy the dreams more than I do reality. On these weekends I slow down my eating and drink plenty of water. I get up just long enough to take my meds at the usual times.I am begining to wonder if the 'Zaps' have something to do with blood-sugar levels. I don't currently seem to have the 'Zaps' but with this drug - anything goes.
I take Effexor XR at noon and remeron and zyprexa at night. All I know is I can't very the timing of the Effexor XR without feeling it.
Good luck all,
Posted by kaylex on January 19, 2004, at 10:37:50
In reply to Re: Thank You All, posted by Sierra on June 8, 2001, at 10:54:04
I have been on Effexor for about a month now... and except for some small side affects,,,, it is working out great for me!!!!
Im happier with my kids,,, Im loving my husband again,,, and I am now motivated to do things... like clean my house and go to work again,,,
The only bad part about it,, is drinking,,, If I have one drink I'm fine,, but anymore then that and I get stupid,,, or I pass out,, its gotten so bad that my husband has banned me from drinking until I'm well enough to go off the drug!!!
Does anyone else have this same problem???
Posted by PoohBear on January 19, 2004, at 10:46:49
In reply to Drinking and Effexor dont mix!!, posted by kaylex on January 19, 2004, at 10:37:50
I HAVE had a little wine on perhaps two ocassions in the past 3 months on Effexor, but I've decided that if there's a big label on the bottle that says "DO NOT USE ALCOHOL WITH THIS MEDICATION", it's just not worth the risks.
TR
Posted by ZAPPA on January 19, 2004, at 12:24:02
In reply to Electrical shock-like sensations , posted by sick of being sick on January 4, 2004, at 21:22:30
I am also experiencing "brain zapps". I began drug and psychotherapy in August of 2003 for "major depressive disorder". Initially Zoloft,replaced by Effexor XR. Starting Effexor at 35mg per day increasing to 300mg per day over a 6 week period. I must admit that I no longer felt depressed. However, I did not "feel" anything until the sensory disturbances or "brain zaps" began. I reduced my dosage to "wean" myself but my doctor wanted me to stop cold turkey. It has been almost 1 week since I stopped taking this RX but the zapps continue in unison with eye movement. It is very hard to try and explain to my family what I am feeling. They just give me that condescending "look", as if saying "Mom is just tripping again" (actually the only time I tripp is when my brain gets zapped and I become dizzy. At this time I am more concerned with these sensory f*rts then I am with the depression. How long will they last? Anybody? Anybody?....please
Posted by omegon on January 19, 2004, at 14:29:11
In reply to Drinking and Effexor dont mix!!, posted by kaylex on January 19, 2004, at 10:37:50
> The only bad part about it is drinking. If I have one drink I'm fine, but anymore then that and I get stupid, or I pass out. It's gotten so bad that my husband has banned me from drinking until I'm well enough to go off the drug!
> Does anyone else have this same problem?Yes. Efexor got rid of the craving for alcohol which I had while on paroxetine, but if I had one drink, it was very hard to stop until I was wrecked. (I didn't react well to efexor in general, though: had to discontinue due to severe mood swings)
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