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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 20:57:52
My PDOC is considering switching me from Lexapro to Effexor after I am finished with a trial run of upping my dosage of Lexapro from 10 mg to 20 mg as I've been on the low side for quite some time. I'm suspecting blunting from Zyprexa which is another story altogether.
Any stories about Effexor, good, bad, indifferent, what dosage, for how long?
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 11, 2007, at 21:15:18
In reply to Effexor Experiences?, posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 20:57:52
I switched from Lex to Effexor for a few months. It did nothing for my depression and resulted in weight gain. :( I ended up switching back to lex.
I know some people like it though. Just not me.
Best,
EE
Posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 21:19:27
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences?, posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 11, 2007, at 21:15:18
Thanks EE. OH NO no more weight gain! I'm dealing with that with Zyprexa as it is. What dosages have you been on both with the Lexapro and the Effexor. What is your diagnosis?
Posted by elanor roosevelt on March 11, 2007, at 21:59:13
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences?, posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 21:19:27
first round of effexor i was full speed ahead and dangerously honest -- like truth serum (beware)
a bit anorgasmic but still high libido
Posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 22:03:59
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences?, posted by elanor roosevelt on March 11, 2007, at 21:59:13
Hi Elanor, OH NO not anorgasmic again! The only SSRI that hasn't caused that for me is what I'm on, Lexapro. And Wellbutrin which was an aphrodisiac, darn I wish my PDOC would let me try that one again! Thanks for you response. So it was a good experience then? Full speed ahead out of depression but with a truth serum aspect? Care to expand? TIA!
Posted by Quintal on March 11, 2007, at 22:44:54
In reply to Effexor Experiences?, posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 20:57:52
I took Effexor on two separate occasions and it did seem to work for depression and motivation. I certainly didn't have anorgasmia the last time I took it, don't remember the first time clearly.
I took 150mg on each occasion. Withdrawals were horrendous each time.
Q
Posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 23:00:52
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences? » Sandra62, posted by Quintal on March 11, 2007, at 22:44:54
Thanks Quintal. May I ask why you stopped taking it?
Posted by Quintal on March 11, 2007, at 23:10:10
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences?, posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 23:00:52
I can't remember why I stopped taking it. Maybe to try Parnate?
Q
Posted by Ken Blades on March 12, 2007, at 5:04:40
In reply to Effexor Experiences?, posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 20:57:52
I was on 75mg./3x day....for about one year.
It was tried for social phobia. Made me
emotionally detached...things that would
bother most people didn't make me blink
an eye; like things on TV that would usually
make me cringe/cry, etc.Got off it because of that...I wasn't 'me'.
Withdrawal even though gradual was creepy.
Posted by Sandra62 on March 12, 2007, at 14:01:15
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences? » Sandra62, posted by Ken Blades on March 12, 2007, at 5:04:40
Thank you Ken. I'll keep this in mind.
Posted by Gee on March 12, 2007, at 16:48:37
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences? » Ken Blades, posted by Sandra62 on March 12, 2007, at 14:01:15
I just stopped effexor (maybe a month and a bit a go) and I found that getting off it was horrible, and so was starting it. I remember feeling so sick because of it. I think it helped, but I stopped because I wasn't sure if it was helping me or not. One other thing is that it made my head so groggy. I can't believe the difference now!
Posted by Sandra62 on March 12, 2007, at 19:49:29
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences? » Sandra62, posted by Gee on March 12, 2007, at 16:48:37
Hi Gee, so when you say you can't believe the difference now is this for the better? What was your dosage and what is your diagnosis. TIA.
Anyone else with experience with this AD? Please state your diagnosis, dosage, and length of time taken. Good, bad experiences?
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 12, 2007, at 22:26:47
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences?, posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 21:19:27
I have treatment resistant depression. With the lex I was up to 40mg at one point, but now I'm back on 20mg. With the effexor, I'm not sure. I was up to a pretty average dose, though.
Good luck!
Best,
EE
Posted by Sandra62 on March 12, 2007, at 22:32:08
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences?, posted by Emily Elizabeth on March 12, 2007, at 22:26:47
Thanks EE!
Posted by Ken Blades on March 12, 2007, at 23:13:47
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences? » Ken Blades, posted by Sandra62 on March 12, 2007, at 14:01:15
I should say though, that not everyone has
that 'emotional detachment' problem...but I
just read an old post here whose author had
the same problem. You might start a thread
with the title "Effexor-anyone experience
emotional detachment" and see what you get
if you're curious.Ken
Posted by rina on March 12, 2007, at 23:16:52
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences? » Sandra62, posted by Quintal on March 11, 2007, at 22:44:54
> I took Effexor on two separate occasions and it did seem to work for depression and motivation. I certainly didn't have anorgasmia the last time I took it, don't remember the first time clearly.
>
> I took 150mg on each occasion. Withdrawals were horrendous each time.
>
> QI was on Effexor XR 225mg for 1yr and in the beginning it did wonders for my depression and ADD but then as time went on it became less and less effective and caused severe weight gain.
Posted by Sandra62 on March 12, 2007, at 23:17:37
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences?, posted by rina on March 12, 2007, at 23:16:52
Oh no not with the weight gain again. I will be forewarned! Thanks!
Posted by SandyWeb on March 13, 2007, at 12:21:24
In reply to Effexor Experiences?, posted by Sandra62 on March 11, 2007, at 20:57:52
Hi Sandra (gotta love the name!! (*smile*)
I've been on Effexor XR 225 mg for a short while. I had a miserable time adjusting to the 75 mg and finally had to stop. But my problem (or maybe I should say my "non-problem") has always been serotonin. Just leave my serotnin alone because it is fine just at the level that it is, and causes all sorts of weird thoughts and actions when too much starts bouncing around in my head!
It takes 3 days for Effexor XR to reach steady state, so I went back to 75 mg for ONE day, then did 150 mg for 4-5 days, and now I'm holding steady at 225 mg. Most of the impact is upon the norepinephrine rather than the serototin, and I do SOOO much better with that neurotransmittor. That is why all the SSRIs didn't work, and Remeron was my all-time favorite AD (except for the tremendous weight gain, which made me have to stop it and now switch to Effexor XR).
On 225 mg I do not feel doped, sluggish, unmotivated, sick, suicidal, or even depressed anymore. And I know that if the depression returns at some point, I still can increase my dosage. I can't say that is has helped my anxiety any, BUT....at 75 mg it actually made it worse. My startle reflex came back big time, and my body was tense whenever I heard someone near my apartment, and my tummy was tight. But at 225 mg, I don't have those symtoms anymore. And I was even on clonazepam (and still am), and it didn't help at all when I was on 75 mg of Effexor XR.
The only "bad" point I can make about the Effexor XR is that it does cause more problems with my sleep (and I take it first thing in the morning). I have insomnia, among other things, and even with the clonazepam I still don't sleep very well at all. But what else is new, right? I'm willing to put up with it just to be out of the pit and not be suicidal anymore.
Take care!
God bless,
Sandy
Posted by Gee on March 13, 2007, at 13:23:01
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences? » Gee, posted by Sandra62 on March 12, 2007, at 19:49:29
Hey Sandy,
My diagnosis at the time was anxiety depression (well if I even had one... I had a very horrible GP). My pdoc now says that he would NEVER have started me on Effexor if I had of been with him. I tried Celxa first, and it worked really well for me, except for some weird allergic reaction which caused flu like symtoms and shortness of breath. A couple of different doctors thought it was Mono. My diagnosis now is inattentive ADD. Off the effexor, my head is a lot clearer, and I can think, which is important as I'm a student. I took effexor for 3 years, and I think it helped me when I really needed it. I also gained weight, but slowly I'm loosing it again! I hope this answers your questions!! If not let me know
Posted by Sandra62 on March 13, 2007, at 15:26:20
In reply to Re: Effexor Experiences? » Sandra62, posted by Gee on March 13, 2007, at 13:23:01
This is the end of the thread.
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