Posted by Kristie on September 5, 2001, at 9:00:14
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » Kristie, posted by tobycat on August 31, 2001, at 0:18:49
Thanks tobycat, I seem to be doing great now, thank goodness! It took a couple of weeks though. I did take the 37.5 mgs for 2 weeks before getting off of it completely. I still get headaches, but it may be due to my sinuses and not withdrawal from the effexor. Thanks for writing in response to my request.
> The discontinuation effects of anti-depressent medications are well known. For Effexor, they tend to be more pronounced for people who take it for a long time, at higher doses, and who stop abruptly. Tapering off slowly is the key to minimizing the effects. For some people that may mean going down to the 37.5 mg dose for a few weeks from the 75mg. Others go down even lower or take the dose every other day for awhile before totally stopping. Another tip I have read about is taking an SSRI with a longer half-life (like Prozac) at the very end to help ease the withdrawal symptoms. Good luck with the symptoms. If you are in serious discomfort be sure to tell your doctor about it. He/She should be helping you deal with the discontinuation effects. Hang in there.
>
> > I just got off of Effexor XR 75 mgs after about a year and it really helped me alot. Today is my first day off and I feel like crap! My head feels really heavy and I can't think straight. I will never again try an anti-depressent/anti-anxiety for my problems. I cannot stand the side effects from withdrawal. But then again some people need medicine to help them; my depression and anxiety wasn't as bad as some people have. If at all possible I would recommend other alternatives instead of medicine to help deal with depression just because they are very easy to become dependent upon. If someone knows of something to help me deal with these withdrawal symptoms please let me know. Thanks!
> >
> >
> >
> > > I've had pretty good luck on Effexor. I started taking it a year ago for
> > > moderate depression with symptoms including crying spells, no
> > > appetite, and feelings of hopelessness. I had some somewhat distressing
> > > side effects during the first two to three weeks on the medication (37.5
> > > mg per day for one week and then to 75 mg per day). The side effects
> > > included insomnia, drowsiness during the day, and hearing a buzzing noise
> > > in my head. These side effects went away, except for the drowsiness,
> > > which I continued to experience to some extent. I went up to 150 mg/day
> > > (taken in the morning) after about 5 months of being on Effexor due to
> > > some of my symptoms coming back (although they were less severe than
> > > before I began Effexor). I decided in May of this year that I wanted to
> > > see if I still needed to be on an antidepressant. My doctor advised me
> > > about how best to discontinue my use of Effexor. I decreased my dosage very gradually and
> > > also took 10 mg of Prozac while I was decreasing my Effexor dose. I didn't experience very
> > > many side effects while I was decreasing my dosage (some slight nausea),
> > > but I did find that I didn't feel very well for about a week after I took
> > > my last dose. I felt kind of nauseous and tired and a
> > > little bit dizzy at times. I was able to go to work and get done what I
> > > needed to despite these withdrawal symptoms. I was off of the medication
> > > for about 2 months when I started to get the symptoms back in full force.
> > > I really believe this is due to my chemical make-up (and family history of
> > > depression) rather than to getting off of Effexor. I decided to go back
> > > on Effexor. I began taking 37.5 mg again and worked up to 150 mg. I
> > > think at this time I just need an antidepressant, although I do hope that
> > > at some point I will be able to go off of the medication again. Overall,
> > > I would recommend Effexor since I have found it extremely helpful for
> > > depression symptoms, and I have not been bothered by the side effects or
> > > the withdrawal symptoms.
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi there,
> > > >
> > > > Anyone care to comment on the use of Effexor? Anyone
> > > > "happy" with it? I have tried Prozac (too much anxiety),
> > > > Serzone (too sedating). I am currently on Buspar for anxiety.
> > > >
> > > > Been reading many different reports... Effexor seems
> > > > to have a lot of success...
> > > >
> > > > please share your thoughts on this.
poster:Kristie
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010902/msgs/77809.html