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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Mim on December 6, 2005, at 11:32:50
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » spierson1253, posted by BonnieK on December 2, 2005, at 4:19:49
It is great to hear that you are doing well! I am doing better than two weeks ago, but less well than two years ago....However, it is going in the right direction. Apparently doctors prefer Effexor to amytriptiline, because it has fewer side effects. It doesn't influence your reaction speed. To tell the truth,they are right. I have been driving since I was 19 (and I just turned 42 today :-( )and the year I went on amytriptiline I got into my first two car accidents (neither of which were at all serious, no injuries to anyone) so I DO understand why they think it is better...it is just not yet better for me. Patience is... something I haven't always got enough of.
Thanks for the up beat note!!
Posted by spierson1253 on December 6, 2005, at 12:33:29
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Mim on December 6, 2005, at 11:32:50
My doctor actually finally accepted that Effexor really and truly has side-effects. One of the things I told him to counsel his patients on, is that Effexor requires patience. Every change in dosage requires at least two weeks to fully be felt -- good or bad. And for some people shorter or longer. It is a good med, and if you will give it the time it needs, it generally works for most people. You may want to ask the doctor to give yourself something to take as needed, when your skin suddenly feels it may shatter into a gazillion tinkling shards, or you know you're going to start screaming and never stop. Chewing gum and/or drinking a glass of water can sometimes stop the reaction, but you'll find out for yourself what the triggers are and what steps are required to neautralize the episode. (My doctor gives me 0.5mg of Xanax. I break them in half and with the help of a very sharp knife, break the halves in half. I use 1/4 to drive, 1/2 for bad afternoons or mornings, and 1/2 to help fall to sleep. On rare occassions when I just need to sleep it all off, I take a whole Xanax. It is highly addictive, so you must use with attention and caution.) But you will need to work with your doctor to find what works for you.
You'll make it . . .
Posted by Bets43 on December 6, 2005, at 15:17:15
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and orgasm - I Had Success!, posted by Mim on December 1, 2005, at 11:27:11
I started 25 of DHEA and think it will be good for me...I feel better already :]
I am also taking the ginko. For me paxil was the worst as far as sexual side affects. Zoloft wasn't so bad. With the effexor I am at a higher dose then I took of the others so will have to see still since I started the 150 not too long ago.
One thing I noticed about effexor which I am pleased with is it does not dampen my emotions (yay!) the good are still there and I am able to better handle the more difficult. Paxil made me a zombie and zoloft did dampen the pleasure I took in doing some things. This is better...
Posted by Graceneeded on December 7, 2005, at 6:35:55
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and orgasm - I Had Success!, posted by Bets43 on December 6, 2005, at 15:17:15
I said I would never go back but after the hell I just went through with my old friend Prozac I came back. I got off the Effexor feeling good but then crashed. Tried Prozac and it was like my chest was on a caffine high. Came back to Effexor. Will the headaches leave after a while? Danny
Posted by tlryan21 on December 7, 2005, at 6:42:51
In reply to Back on Effexor, posted by Graceneeded on December 7, 2005, at 6:35:55
Yes, the headaches go away. I would take excedrin migraine, it was the only thing that helped.
tlryan21
> I said I would never go back but after the hell I just went through with my old friend Prozac I came back. I got off the Effexor feeling good but then crashed. Tried Prozac and it was like my chest was on a caffine high. Came back to Effexor. Will the headaches leave after a while?
Danny
Posted by TinMan on December 7, 2005, at 7:49:14
In reply to Back on Effexor, posted by Graceneeded on December 7, 2005, at 6:35:55
Hey Danny~
Yes, Excedrin Migraine really helps me, too. It doesn't happen very often for me but once in a while I will have a headache come on so strong and "concentrated" that it will wake me up from a deep sleep.
I stopped taking Wellbutrin in addition to the Effexor because I became much, much too irritable and easly upset.
I am in a much happier state of mind. My marriage is much stronger, deeper and better than it has been for a while. I don't fly off the handle. I don't tell people what "I really think" and destroy relationships. I don't "rage". And yet, I am still "me". I just deal with the side effects as best I can.
Wishing you the best~
TinMan
Posted by BonnieK on December 7, 2005, at 9:05:29
In reply to Back on Effexor, posted by Graceneeded on December 7, 2005, at 6:35:55
Hi....Yes, the headaches will get better in time. As the others already said, I too take Exedrine Migraine. I still get what seems like a Migraine every once in a while...but this seems to get rid of them quickly.
Good luck and hugs to you....
Posted by BonnieK on December 7, 2005, at 9:16:49
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and orgasm - I Had Success!, posted by Bets43 on December 6, 2005, at 15:17:15
I had tried Paxil first...and I wasn't able to tolerate it. It made me feel worse for some reason. Wellbutrin made me feel like I was coming unglued, but I know alot of others really like it. That was about 2 yers ago.
For me, the Effexor just make me feel...dare I say, normal? It keeps my depression under control, with very minimal side effects, and like you still lets me "feel".
As I said previously, my sister has very advanced cancers, and I am her support person. Without this med.,there is no way that I would be functional for her,and be a mommy to my 4 year old..and yes, still be a wife who actually enjoys intimacy with her husband.
I know alot of people have problems with this med., but thankfully it has been nothing but wonderful for me. I don't plan on coming off of it,as long as it continues working for me. So, I don't worry about all the withdrawal problems. As the saying goes.."If it ain't broke...Don't fix it".
Posted by Graceneeded on December 7, 2005, at 15:25:48
In reply to Re: Back on Effexor, posted by TinMan on December 7, 2005, at 7:49:14
How long do you think before it kicks in? Been on 75mg since Monday. Took the edge off the depression and anxiety but I stll ain't there yet. Its been a while since I started up on effexor from scratch so I don't remember how long it takes. Danny
Posted by spierson1253 on December 7, 2005, at 15:52:59
In reply to Re: Back on Effexor, posted by Graceneeded on December 7, 2005, at 15:25:48
Effexor requires patience -- it'll take anywhere from 15-30 days for you to fully feel the effects of that dosage -- Effexor is titrated, in that it has to be stepped up gradually, you can't just suddenly be given 150 or 300 mg at the get go -- unless you like being gut-shot, that is.
Tell the doctor of all the side effects. Keep track of when things happen like after meals, while driving, during sleep, etc. Sometimes there are parallel meds they can give you to help you through some of the worst of it.
Any time your dosage of Effexor is changed, again, give 15-30 days for the full effects to kick in. If you start waking up at 2am, don't get mad, like there quietly, relax and think of something pleasant and I'll give you 7-10 odds you'll fall right back to sleep. Changing the time of day you take your doses also helps. Some take it all in morning or evening, some split it up into both times -- I take 3 times the dosage I take at night, with Xanax for extreme anxiety (as needed, in other words.) But work with your doctor to find what's best for you. And don't let him brush off your side effects. You don't need to suffer through them.
Posted by SandiDee on December 8, 2005, at 6:51:05
In reply to Re: Back on Effexor » Graceneeded, posted by spierson1253 on December 7, 2005, at 15:52:59
THANK YOU!! I was actually starting to think I had a brain tumor or something, my headaches are SO unbelievably bad! I wake up in the night with horrible headaches that seem to last forever. I am running out today to get excedrin migraine! Again, I don't know what I would do without these posts, and all of you who let me know I am not alone, that I am not "crazy", and that there is help, and hope out there.
Posted by sanny on December 8, 2005, at 8:01:54
In reply to Re: Back on Effexor » spierson1253, posted by SandiDee on December 8, 2005, at 6:51:05
Wow, I've following the posting on headaches with use of Effexor...I have horrible headaches but blamed it on clenching teeth although I wear a bite splint/retainer most of the time. I am going today for the Excedrin Migraine...if this will help me sleep without waking with a headache, I will be forever grateful to whomever brought up the subject on this forum.....
Posted by Graceneeded on December 9, 2005, at 7:06:05
In reply to Re: Back on Effexor » Graceneeded, posted by spierson1253 on December 7, 2005, at 15:52:59
Thank you. It is so hard to be patient when you suffer from OCD and anxiety. Danny
Posted by TinMan on December 9, 2005, at 7:47:43
In reply to Re: Back on Effexor, posted by Graceneeded on December 9, 2005, at 7:06:05
> Thank you. It is so hard to be patient when you suffer from OCD and anxiety. Danny
Clonazepam helps so much with the bruxism and jaw clenching. It also helps to calm the panic attacks and anxiety. Do you think your Dr. will prescribe this to you to help you get over the initial "bump" of getting Effexor completely in your system? It can be addictive, however. (Same family as valium, xanax.)
I have found that if I take 75 mg. of Effexor before going to bed that I don't have that lapse in the morning when I do the OCD thing. I take 150 mg. first thing in the morning for a total of 225 mg. Breaking it up this way really helps me with the lethargy and feeling a bit oversedated as well.
Good luck!
~TinMan
Posted by Wesley Kenyon on December 10, 2005, at 16:46:51
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Yes, took 1 1/2 yrs, severe depression, just stopped using it, highly sucessful, feel like a new man, very few highly un-noticable side effects. The first six months were hard to adjust, anxiety, naseua, etc. The benefits were well worth it. The withdrawel symptons were a bit harsh, feel even better now than before I started. My depression days are gone I can live my life again.
Posted by journey on December 11, 2005, at 19:10:20
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » jp, posted by Wesley Kenyon on December 10, 2005, at 16:46:51
Hi everyone
I have been taking effexor XR for 3 months now and I have had great success with it. This is my second time taking meds for GAD. The first time I took Lexapro, which now that I am on effexor XR I would say that Lexapro was definately not as effective. I never new that I could live without any of that horrible anxiety I was going through, because with Lexapro it was always still there even if just a little.
Okay my question may be a little bit different. I have had great success in the way that I feel but for some reason 3 wks after taking effexor XR I started having terrible acne problems and now 3 months later I am still having major problems. Nothing is clearing it up. I never even had acne like this when I was a teen. Any one ever had this happen before? I did read on one site that it isn't a main side effect but it can be one of the less common side effects.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
journey
Posted by BonnieK on December 12, 2005, at 2:45:12
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by journey on December 11, 2005, at 19:10:20
Hi Journey~
The only thing that I can think of regarding the skin problems on Effexor, is possibly diet? I haven't noticed the med. itself causing acne, in the 2 years that I've been on it...BUT, I will say that I do crave junk food..and if I eat too many fritos, my skin looks pretty bad. I also gained 10 lbs., before I realized that I had to conrol my desire to eat an entire package of oreos in one sitting. Thankfully, my weight an skin issues leveled off, when I stopped being a junk-a-holic. :~)
I would say that if it's not your diet, then it couldn't hurt to see a Dermatologist...if you haven't already done so.
Best of luck to you!
Posted by Journey on December 12, 2005, at 13:10:40
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » journey, posted by BonnieK on December 12, 2005, at 2:45:12
Thank you BonnieK for your response.
I don't really think it is my diet because that has never really changed much....now could I stand to eat a little healthier...yeah I think we all could but it probably would be a good thing to go to the dermatologist....ahhhhh another doctors visit. I just always wonder how medications are going to do together...I never want one to hurt the effectiveness of the other.Thank you so much.
Journey
Posted by TinMan on December 13, 2005, at 8:21:19
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by journey on December 11, 2005, at 19:10:20
Now that I think about it, I did get some blemishes when I first started the Effexor. That and really heavy, screwed up periods. Thankfully, those side effects have gone away. (8 months...)
~TinMan
Posted by Graceneeded on December 14, 2005, at 8:18:52
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Journey on December 12, 2005, at 13:10:40
I have been back on Effexor for 10 days and am at 150mg. Still suffering depression and anxiety in my chest. Am using Lorazepam for when the nervousness gets too much. I need something to perk up my mind with out stimulating my chest. Any ideas? I am using sleep as my escape but the Effexor wakes me up at 4am every morning. Any advice will be accepted. Danny
ps: When is this Effexor going to start doing things other than constipation,no ability to cry etc...
Posted by BonnieK on December 15, 2005, at 3:40:51
In reply to Questions about Effexor xr, posted by Graceneeded on December 14, 2005, at 8:18:52
Hi Danny~
The lowest I ever made it down to was 37.5...I was planning on tapering off totally, but when my sister was diagnosed with 2 cancers...I totally bottomed out. As I said before..I knew that I had to be functional for her, my husband and my little boy...So, back up the Effexor ladder I went. Thank God that I did, because the past 9 months have been horrendous...and without a little help I would be crying from morning till night.Like you...I basically had to work my way back up to feeling better, and it took longer the 2nd time. My psych. said that this is common when you fall back into a clinical depression, and your therapy was interupted. He explained it as, your body had become used to the drug...The same drug that kicked in so quickly the first time, doesn't always do the same thing the 2nd/ time....For me, it took 4 weeks to feel better.
I am also on a very high dose of Xanax, 6-8 mg. per day...because I began having panic attacks EVERY DAY, while just sitting and thinking.. which I never had before in my life...I am NOT proud of this dosage, but right now it keeps me as "normal" as possible...Yes, this high of a dosage would probably put the average person to sleep for a day, but for me...It keeps the panic away....The Effexor keeps the depression away. Thank God.
I am so closly tied into my sister's cancers...and having to go through a ton of testing myself, including genetic... I'm facing the possibility of preventative surgery at 37, if I test positive etc. My sister has advanced ovarian and breast cancer....Watching her go through treatment has been so devastating, and we're very close.
As much as I HATE being so dependant on these meds., especially the xanax....I do what I have to do. At some point down the road....I may try and taper down again, but right now, I'm thankful that they're working. My Dr. supports me 100%...and understands the situation.
Anyway...I didn't mean to dump all this on you...What I am really trying to say is, give the Effexor more time. Talk to your Dr. about the Lorazepam if that isn't helping, with the anxiety as your body adjusts...I know that I really felt like total crap, the 2nd time that I went back up in dosage...The only other thing that I can think of to help you, is maybe the 150 jump from 75 was too much, too fast? You could ask your Dr. to give you the 37.5 caps., and see if taking 1, plus the 75mg, is a better adjustment?
Best wishes to you! Bonnie~
Posted by fairyprincess on December 15, 2005, at 13:16:55
In reply to Questions about Effexor xr, posted by Graceneeded on December 14, 2005, at 8:18:52
Hiya,
im on 225mg of effexor&started on 75mg about 8-9 months, then upto 150mg a month later and then upto 225mg about 2 months later as i was still suffering from depression&felt they werent helping me at all. At 225mg it took about 3 weeks until the side effect went (dissiness, disturbed sleep, palpatations etc) and the meds were in my system.
Thou I didnt immediately feel like effexor was workin, i did slowly begin to feel better. I found friends/family noticed my moods were more stable&I was happier&more like my 'normal' self, more so than I did. im still on 225mg&the depression is loades better. Still suffer from a few side effects but worth putting up with fro how much better I feel. I also did cognitive behavioural therapy along with meds& think the combination helped me too.It was however a slow process, as with all anti-depressants they arent very quick at working! Id definately give it more time&thou i know its difficult, be patient.
hope this helps! xxx
Posted by ali30 on December 18, 2005, at 3:16:27
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and orgasm - I Had Success!, posted by Mim on December 1, 2005, at 11:27:11
Hi
I have been prescribed Effexor but am so worried about starting them for a few reasons but one is having read all the side effects. I have been told I have dysthymic disorder. I have taken Prozac & Citalopram (only for 3 mths each time, a year apart) and they helped a bit & only sexual side effects. My dr wants to combine Effexor with CBT. I guess I am am struggling with coming to terms with having been told I have depression & also it is very difficult for my husband to understand or even comprehend & I think he thinks I could get through things with positive thinking etc although in theory this does not work. He married a different person to the one I am now! Any help/advice would be appreciated.
Posted by Graceneeded on December 18, 2005, at 6:44:08
In reply to Questions about Effexor xr, posted by Graceneeded on December 14, 2005, at 8:18:52
Have been back on effexor two weeks. Headaches are pretty constant and the depression has only let up some. Anxiety or anxiousness hits daily. Should this level out? All I want to do is go to sleep cause I don't feel the pain then. Danny
Posted by TinMan on December 18, 2005, at 9:54:58
In reply to Effexor, posted by ali30 on December 18, 2005, at 3:16:27
The only constant is change. And if it were just a matter of "character", well then wouldn't we all be "happy, fun and giggles" all the time? Who would chose to be depressed? Who would chose a personality disorder? AND YES, I know, only too well that there are so many out there that naively think that it is just a matter of having a "weak character or will". If only it were that simple.
It took about two and 1/2 weeks for the GAD to gradually disappear. After about 4 weeks, the social anxiety was much, much better. My thinking is slower, clearer and my moods stable. The slower, clearer thinking happened pretty quickly. I remember the headaches went away after about 3 weeks. The wanting to sleep all the time eased after I switched the times that I took Effexor. It does get better, (except the sexual side effects). Hang in there.
~TinMan
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