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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by crazychickuk on November 19, 2004, at 3:07:03
I came home from droppin my daughter of to school and started taking effexor i split the house shaped effexor 37.5mg in half and just took 1 half i will take the other half l8r this evening.. Cant beleive i did it.. i so hope this works for my severe anxiety and depression..
Can i take valium with this also and how much max shall i take ?
thanks
Posted by crazychickuk on November 19, 2004, at 3:45:41
In reply to IVE started it :-S -----Can i take ??, posted by crazychickuk on November 19, 2004, at 3:07:03
Just had panick attacks after 5 mins of taking it :-( I am obviousley more nervous about meds than i thought, everything is happening, i am shaking i feel ever so nervous, i feel dizzy sick ANXIETY is bad ... I just rang a nurse and she said its cus i am nervous and to calm down i have calmed down some what ...has this happened to anyone else? AND shall i take the other half of 37.5 mg tonight or forget about taking effexor altogether?
thanks
Posted by partlycloudy on November 19, 2004, at 5:43:24
In reply to Re: IVE started it :-S -----Can i take ?? » crazychickuk, posted by crazychickuk on November 19, 2004, at 3:45:41
It takes at least a week or so for the effexor to be effective in your system. I think if you give it a chance, you'll know within a month if it's the right medication for you.
Good luck to you.
Posted by linkadge on November 19, 2004, at 8:50:12
In reply to IVE started it :-S -----Can i take ??, posted by crazychickuk on November 19, 2004, at 3:07:03
Crazy chick, you've *got* to go slow.
Increase as slow as possable because in your situation anxiety states could develop if it is introduced too quickly.
Only reduce the drug when you think you are very familliar with the current dose.
Linkadge
Posted by crazychickuk on November 19, 2004, at 8:56:06
In reply to Re: IVE started it :-S -----Can i take ??, posted by linkadge on November 19, 2004, at 8:50:12
im just taking the smallest possible dose i can manage to cut in half and thats half a 37.5 mg tablet i will contuinue with this for as long as i feel necersary then increase to 2 half 37.5 mg a day etc etc ...
Even thought this is my first i feel very nervous and anxious within 5 minutes of me taking it erlier i had a major panick attack and lots of *wat ifs* BUT i need this to work so i am thinking as positive as possible ....
I have valium here i am wondering weather to take some regulary 5mg twice a day to ease the anxiety as the doctor suggested ... I just dont wanna feel any mroe depressed than what i allready do... ANd ive started to get palpitations (anxiety related of course) and i am very nervous and my leg feels all twitchy ... see only one day and this is whats going on? i must be very sensitive or it must be physcological ... any advice ?
thanks
Posted by partlycloudy on November 19, 2004, at 9:09:52
In reply to Re: IVE started it :-S -----Can i take ??, posted by crazychickuk on November 19, 2004, at 8:56:06
Personally, I would follow the doctor's directions rather than try to experiment on my own.
Posted by anneL on November 19, 2004, at 23:28:25
In reply to IVE started it :-S -----Can i take ??, posted by crazychickuk on November 19, 2004, at 3:07:03
Hi CC,
Your post sounds exactly like me five years ago!!
I got severe anxiety just holding the sample pack of Effexor! For people like you and I, taking medications like Effexor can stimulate norepinephrine and make us anxious until our bodies get used to the new medication.
The only way I got through the first month on Effexor was to take Klonopin (1 mg.) at bedtime. This stopped me from waking up exactly at 1:30 AM in the midst of a panic attack. I am positive that part of my response to Effexor was physiological and partly psychological. I also know that Effexor has been an important part of my recovery from depression, anxiety, and social anxiety.
The only way I could get over the initial anxiety, nervousness, and panic attacks was to take Klonopin every evening. After the first night of taking Klonopin, I slept like a baby and have not had any additional panic attacks in five years!
For people who are extremely sensitive to these types of medications and get anxious or panic attacks from the medication, ask your doctor for a long-acting benzodiazepine such as clonazepam
(Klonopin). It worked for me and I must be one of the world's most nervous people when it comes to taking new meds.Take Care and keep us posted,
:) AnneL
Posted by crazychickuk on November 20, 2004, at 7:45:50
In reply to Re: IVE started it :-S -----Can i take ??, posted by anneL on November 19, 2004, at 23:28:25
Thankyou
Yesterday was terrible i took half a 37.5mg tab within minutes i was panicking..I was anxious all day i then tok 2 mg valium to go to bed with .. got up 13 hrs later and i am gonna take another 2mg valium and then i will take the other half of effexor..
How long till u seen affects from it?
Posted by anneL on November 20, 2004, at 11:55:22
In reply to Re: IVE started it :-S ---- -AnneL, posted by crazychickuk on November 20, 2004, at 7:45:50
CC-
You have two goals; one is short term, the other is long term.
Short-term: Relief from Anxiety. Talk to your doctor about getting on a regular dosing schedule of Valium or change to another longer-acting Benzo.
Long-Term: Reaching a therapeutic dosage of Effexor. I started feeling better once I was taking 75 mg. daily for two weeks. I felt better yet when I was at 111.5 mg. I felt better when I got to 150 mg. and best at 225 mg. a day. My threshold for Effexor is a maximum of 225 mg. a day. I have tried 287.5 mg. and 300 mg. and I feel like I have "medicine head" at those doses.
It took me about 2 months to get to 225 mg. a day.IMHO, without klonopin I would never have made it past the first two weeks due to the "activating" effects of Effexor.
You will do fine on Effexor once your anxiety and panic are resolved by a benzo that works for you.
Best of Luck,
AnneL
Posted by jclint on November 21, 2004, at 13:38:32
In reply to Re: IVE started it :-S ---- -AnneL » crazychickuk, posted by anneL on November 20, 2004, at 11:55:22
> CC-
>
> You have two goals; one is short term, the other is long term.
>
> Short-term: Relief from Anxiety. Talk to your doctor about getting on a regular dosing schedule of Valium or change to another longer-acting Benzo.
>
> Long-Term: Reaching a therapeutic dosage of Effexor. I started feeling better once I was taking 75 mg. daily for two weeks. I felt better yet when I was at 111.5 mg. I felt better when I got to 150 mg. and best at 225 mg. a day. My threshold for Effexor is a maximum of 225 mg. a day. I have tried 287.5 mg. and 300 mg. and I feel like I have "medicine head" at those doses.
> It took me about 2 months to get to 225 mg. a day.
>
> IMHO, without klonopin I would never have made it past the first two weeks due to the "activating" effects of Effexor.
>
> You will do fine on Effexor once your anxiety and panic are resolved by a benzo that works for you.
>
> Best of Luck,
> AnneL
>Unfortunately Anne, most of the doctors in the UK are not very benzo-friendly. I can't even get a short term supply from my pdoc, despite my anxiety clearly qualifying for it.
This is the end of the thread.
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