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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SLS on June 4, 2005, at 8:49:41
How would people feel about Effexor if there were no withdrawal syndrome?
I asked this question over on the Withdrawal board, but I wanted to see what sorts of responses I would get here.
- Scott
Posted by Racer on June 4, 2005, at 12:52:13
In reply to How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by SLS on June 4, 2005, at 8:49:41
Personally, I only stayed on it as long as I did because of the withdrawal. I'd have gone off it much sooner otherwise, because the little problems I was having with "breakthrough depression" had become full blown, full time depression about six months before I began my taper.
I know I'm not typical -- well, I might be more typical of Babblers, but not of the larger population who respond more easily to antidepressants. Anyway, Effexor XR was never terribly effective for me. Even at the higher dosages, I was still wrapped in anxiety, and quite depressed on the drug. It was only with the addition of a low dose of Prozac that any real benefit was apparent, and even then the breakthrough depression was a fairly regular event. The breakthrough depression just got progressively more frequent, until I was depressed more days than not.
So, if Effexor had had no withdrawal symptoms, and it had been effective, I'd have liked it a lot. How's that for -- um -- a conditional endorsement?
Posted by ed_uk on June 4, 2005, at 15:27:38
In reply to How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by SLS on June 4, 2005, at 8:49:41
>How would people feel about Effexor if there were no withdrawal syndrome?
LOL..... I would have liked it better if I had responded to it!!
Ed.
Posted by TamaraJ on June 4, 2005, at 15:56:02
In reply to How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by SLS on June 4, 2005, at 8:49:41
Well, if there were no withdrawal syndrome, I still would not take Effexor again. I was on Effexor for about 6 months, and went up to a dose of 225 mg. The whole time I was on it, I had myclonus that jerked me awake at least three times a night (I felt like Linda Blair in the Exorcist, the jerking was so severe), I had severe night sweats, irregular periods (every two weeks, which was not good because I was being treated for significant iron deficiency at the time), and constant, underlying anxiety/apprehension (and, when I started taking Effexor, I was probably only mildly-moderately depressed, but experiencing intense anxiety). As a result of the night sweats and irregular periods, I was put on Depo Provera which threw me into a deep, deep depression and made me physically ill (throwing up daily, two or three times, for over 2 months). I am a bit pissed off because if the pdoc had listened to me when I said Effexor was not agreeing with me (after an adequate trial of over 2 months, at an adequate dose), I would not have been given Depo, and I would not have gotten sicker than I already was. Frankly, I do not like Effexor at all. A friend of mine was also on Effexor, and she too had hot flashes and night sweats. She has since gone off of it as well, and will never go back on it again.
Sorry for the rant.
Tamara
> How would people feel about Effexor if there were no withdrawal syndrome?
>
> I asked this question over on the Withdrawal board, but I wanted to see what sorts of responses I would get here.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by jay on June 4, 2005, at 17:26:50
In reply to How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by SLS on June 4, 2005, at 8:49:41
> How would people feel about Effexor if there were no withdrawal syndrome?
>
> I asked this question over on the Withdrawal board, but I wanted to see what sorts of responses I would get here.
>
>
> - ScottScott, it was the most "numbing" drug out of all psychotropic drugs I ever took. I asked a clinician at McMaster/St. Joseph's Health Centre here in Hamilton, Ontario, (I went there for a full battery of tests.) both about the numbing, and why it aggravated my anxiety, even after being on it for 4 years. She suggested that it may have to do with it's norepinephrine actions, most of it in very technical detail I barely remember, but mentioned there seemed to be common symptoms as to those taking Paxil. Now, Paxil has pretty high norepinephrine action, doesn't it? She also emphasized mostly though that it was the very short half-life, and doctors should be prescribing b.i.d. at least, which I find odd for one reason: Other psych drugs like Luvox have very short half-lives, but you don't here of too many problems from withdrawing from it. Same with Serzone. Even more questions than answers....
Hmmm
Jay
Posted by phillipa on June 4, 2005, at 19:42:01
In reply to Re: How would people feel about Effexor if... ??? » SLS, posted by jay on June 4, 2005, at 17:26:50
When I tried it at 37.5mg, it gave me so many side effects that I quit after a week. Then I felt much better. I was talking to a neighbor who has bipolar, the type with hypomania, but mostly depression. He takes 75mg along with 250mg of Depakote at night. He feels fine and although he is on disability from Viet Nam he is still working a parttime business. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Cecilia on June 5, 2005, at 3:22:01
In reply to Re: How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by Racer on June 4, 2005, at 12:52:13
Believe me, if I ever found a drug that worked and I could tolerate I would never go off it, so I never think of withdrawal as even an issue. Effexor made me sick as a dog at even the smallest possible doses, so there was no question of withdrawal, just getting the stuff out of my system. Cecilia
Posted by jdjour on June 5, 2005, at 5:36:40
In reply to Re: How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by Cecilia on June 5, 2005, at 3:22:01
If Effexor was without withdrawl effects, I might consider taking it if needed, given what I know of its benefits for me. My 75mg dose helped me get through a difficult time. Still, the "numbness" I felt at times, was disconcerting. I wanted to feel things more fully - some experiences in my life, both difficult and pleasant felt to be happening only peripherally to me. I didn't feel fully engaged. Of course, this is the drug doing its work. Luckily, I don't experience extreme ups or downs ordinarily when not on medication, so my need for it was limited. I also hated the negative effect it had on my sexual response. Then of course, there was the horrible withdrawl that prompted your question. I don't think I could have imagined that if anyone had told me about it. I felt kind of sick going on the drug, but coming off of it was so much worse. I'd recommend it with great caution and warnings only.
Posted by SLS on June 5, 2005, at 12:53:15
In reply to Re: How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by jdjour on June 5, 2005, at 5:36:40
Effexor had a number of effects on me that were both positive and negative. When I first started it, I felt an improvement in my mood and energy level. However, at some point, things swung around and it began to make me feel dysphoric. After a few weeks of dysphoria, it swung around once again and provided me with some relief. Yes, it was to some degree affectively numbing, but if it were to produce a significant remission, I know that the activation and clarity of thought that comes along with it would by far overshadow the negative effects the drug produced. I took 300mg for about a year, at times in combination with nortriptyline. It almost worked.
- Scott
Posted by 4WD on June 5, 2005, at 23:05:23
In reply to Re: How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by SLS on June 5, 2005, at 12:53:15
For the first 3-4 years I was on it, Effexor was a miracle drug for me. (I had been on Prozac for 8 years previously). Within two weeks of starting it, my insomnia went away, my neck quit hurting and my anxiety dissipated. The insomnia and neck/shoulder pain were from the Prozac. The inability to fall asleep at night because of racing thoughts disappeared. My eating disorder improved. My depression level stayed about the same as on Prozac - moderately improved from no meds at all. I could not cry at all while on Effexor. I felt very "even." Too even.
It pooped out after about 4 years. It was still effective for anxiety but the apathy and lethargy and anhedonia were back in full force.
Marsha
Posted by meliss337 on June 6, 2005, at 21:12:35
In reply to Re: How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by 4WD on June 5, 2005, at 23:05:23
MIRACLE DRUG for me at 150 mg. for about a year and a half!!!... except for the sleepiness which I attribute(d) to the drug. Now I'm withdrawing, trying to do it slowly, and THAT is hell.
Posted by SLS on June 7, 2005, at 6:14:33
In reply to Re: How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by meliss337 on June 6, 2005, at 21:12:35
> MIRACLE DRUG for me at 150 mg. for about a year and a half!!!... except for the sleepiness which I attribute(d) to the drug. Now I'm withdrawing, trying to do it slowly, and THAT is hell.
I don't think it has to be. Check out the Withdrawal board for some suggestions. I like using a flexible-dosing strategy. Temporary substitution with Prozac is also an alternative.
- Scott
Posted by Mr.Scott on June 8, 2005, at 1:08:06
In reply to How would people feel about Effexor if... ???, posted by SLS on June 4, 2005, at 8:49:41
At low doses... an ssri with a little kick to it. Possibly a bit destabilizing for someone like me who is likely on the bipolar spectrum but not ever manic enough to require a stabilizer...if that makes sense.
Scott
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