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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Althea8869 on February 7, 2004, at 17:06:33
I know this post will probably not be well received by most, but I think that it should be pointed out that Effexor is still, statistically, among the best AD's in the game. I took effexor for three years and I went through the utter hell that is effexor withdrawl, but in point of fact, of all the AD that I have tried, none compared, for me, to Effexor. It stopped working for me ultimately so I had to stop. But - if I could go back on effexor successfully again (i tried and it didnt work), I would in a heartbeat, despite what I know of the withdrawl, which for me lasted nearly three months. Further, of the ten or so psych doctors and psychopharmacologists that I have dealt with over the years, they have always said that effexor is their first choice because it simply seems to work better and more often than any of the other meds they prescribe. My guess is that this is still true now.
I have, in the past, advised people against it because of its withdrawl issues, but now, looking back - and with all my expereinces behind me with these med's, I have reached the conclusion that: If someone is suffering badly from depression, I would make it my first choice remedy.
I guess the point is that, for those new to this site, who are thinking they might need an antidepressant, dont look past effexor too quickly. This stuff works and it works very, very well and it works often. In fact, given all the reading I have done on the net on various sites, and in various books and many articles, including personal testimony, I think there are very few that could post similar success rates, on a percentage basis, overall.Anyway, those are my thoughts on this.
Posted by linkadge on February 7, 2004, at 18:22:11
In reply to Point -Counter Point: Effexor, posted by Althea8869 on February 7, 2004, at 17:06:33
It is a good medication. I think that the SSRI's are more tolerable and therefore seem to be the better meds. But in terms of remission of symptoms, effexor seems to be on top.
I tried Effexor and would be continuing to take it, but I had some significant cardiac events.
Linkadge
Posted by zeugma on February 7, 2004, at 18:33:27
In reply to Re: Point -Counter Point: Effexor, posted by linkadge on February 7, 2004, at 18:22:11
Effexor is the only one of the newer meds that can rival the TCA's for efficacy. In a study of severely depressed geriatric patients using fixed-dose Effexor and nortriptyline dosages determined by plasma level, they came out exactly even. The advantages of Effexor are less anti-muscarinic side effects and no suicide risk. The advantages of TCA's include sleep improvement for depressives unable to sleep, which is probably most if not all melancholic depressives, and fewer serotonergetic side effects, which are often hard to tolerate in the long run, including serious sexual dysfunction. I have yet to come across an experience on the internet that implicates nortriptyline in sexual dysfunction (other TCA's, yes).
Posted by Althea8869 on February 7, 2004, at 19:11:45
In reply to Re: Point -Counter Point: Effexor, posted by linkadge on February 7, 2004, at 18:22:11
The one exception to what I wrote above, as has been expressed to me before, is that if you exclude side effects and dietary restrictions, then pound for pound MAOI's, eg Parnate, as a class are still, at least according to most published accounts, trials, and patient remission rates, the real heavyweights. Of course the Muhammed Ali of depression treatments continues to be ECT, but it is still greatly underutilized due to the obvious stigma and other issues, but frankly, if there were a signup list, Id get on it. Zap...Zap....your cured - (Yes, I realize its not quite like that, but that was for demonstration purposes for the general audience)...and for my next trick...
Posted by Ilene on February 7, 2004, at 22:09:10
In reply to Re: Point -Counter Point: Effexor, posted by Althea8869 on February 7, 2004, at 19:11:45
> The one exception to what I wrote above, as has been expressed to me before, is that if you exclude side effects and dietary restrictions, then pound for pound MAOI's, eg Parnate, as a class are still, at least according to most published accounts, trials, and patient remission rates, the real heavyweights. Of course the Muhammed Ali of depression treatments continues to be ECT, but it is still greatly underutilized due to the obvious stigma and other issues, but frankly, if there were a signup list, Id get on it. Zap...Zap....your cured - (Yes, I realize its not quite like that, but that was for demonstration purposes for the general audience)...and for my next trick...
I think ECT is overrated. What I've read is that it works right away, if it's going to work, but it has a poop-out phenomenon just like AD drugs, which means that treatments have to be repeated. Secondly, there's been very little long-term patient follow-up. Thirdly, it doesn't work as well on patients who've demonstrated resistance to drug treatment. (The terminology makes it seem like we're being treatment-resistant on purpose, doesn't it?)
My pdoc and I have talked about it occasionally. I pointed out to her I'd have a difficult time getting back from a hospital all by myself (playing single mom right now), plus I have bad veins and don't tolerate general anesthesia very well. I don't understand why ECT has a reputation as a safe treatment if it requires general anesthesia. Then there are the cognitive problems it causes. Hard to imagine how well I would function if I couldn't even remember the way to the grocery store.
I.
PS: Is there a reason why you can't get it, if you want it?
Posted by justjustine on February 7, 2004, at 22:37:36
In reply to Point -Counter Point: Effexor, posted by Althea8869 on February 7, 2004, at 17:06:33
my thought is this: why not heroin?
the withdrawals i am only now getting over make me extremely wary of this drug.
i just can't recommend it other than as a last resort. i don't think there is any way you can adequately prepare someone for how hard it is to come off this stuff.
i'm glad it helps people, but i think it's awful that some people may be stuck on effexor for life. the horror stories of those who fell into hardship and couldn't afford it, or who wanted to have a baby and were forced through withdrawals, and the one woman who posted here stating that her baby was born dependent to effexor because her doctors told her it was okay to take throughout her pregnancy? a newborn baby with ssri (ssnri if you insist) withdrawals? who has any idea what that does to a child?
i have a 12 year old niece on effexor. i think it's wrong. sorry to those i might offend, it's just my opinion...
> I know this post will probably not be well received by most, but I think that it should be pointed out that Effexor is still, statistically, among the best AD's in the game. I took effexor for three years and I went through the utter hell that is effexor withdrawl, but in point of fact, of all the AD that I have tried, none compared, for me, to Effexor. It stopped working for me ultimately so I had to stop. But - if I could go back on effexor successfully again (i tried and it didnt work), I would in a heartbeat, despite what I know of the withdrawl, which for me lasted nearly three months. Further, of the ten or so psych doctors and psychopharmacologists that I have dealt with over the years, they have always said that effexor is their first choice because it simply seems to work better and more often than any of the other meds they prescribe. My guess is that this is still true now.
> I have, in the past, advised people against it because of its withdrawl issues, but now, looking back - and with all my expereinces behind me with these med's, I have reached the conclusion that: If someone is suffering badly from depression, I would make it my first choice remedy.
> I guess the point is that, for those new to this site, who are thinking they might need an antidepressant, dont look past effexor too quickly. This stuff works and it works very, very well and it works often. In fact, given all the reading I have done on the net on various sites, and in various books and many articles, including personal testimony, I think there are very few that could post similar success rates, on a percentage basis, overall.
>
> Anyway, those are my thoughts on this.
>
>
Posted by Sad Panda on February 9, 2004, at 4:28:25
In reply to Point -Counter Point: Effexor, posted by Althea8869 on February 7, 2004, at 17:06:33
I'm on Efexor XR 225mg + Remeron 30mg per day taken at midnight. Efexor is working for me very nicely, but only because Remeron is countering Efexor's side effects....Now I just need a pill to counter Remeron's side effects. :)
I am relatively happy ATM except I need some more drive & motivation + I have zero cognitive loss. On the downside I have some bad tinnitus, I tiny bit of dry mouth & a miniscule amount of orthostatic hypotension.
I believe this med should be a third choice, I think Zoloft & Prozac should be tried first.
Cheers,
Panda.
This is the end of the thread.
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