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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by sly on January 9, 2003, at 12:35:20
In reply to i'm not sure how i feel, posted by TLove on January 9, 2003, at 11:54:34
I've been on Effexor for 11 months now, still 75mg. In my experience the first few months I didn't really notice any difference, I still got depressed, but it wasn't as severe. It's the small things that made me feel I was getting better. And actually, it was the people around me who started noticing the most difference in my mood. Things really turned around for me at 5-6 months.
Since you're not having any problems stick with it for a while longer, it couldn't hurt.
Posted by M. Lee on January 9, 2003, at 13:54:46
In reply to i'm not sure how i feel, posted by TLove on January 9, 2003, at 11:54:34
> I'be been on effexor 75mg for about 3 months, it never made me sick or anything else for that matter. I'm not sure if it has done me any good or not. I guess I feel ok, but I still get depressed. I'm not sure what to think about it.
Is this the first time that you have ever taken antidepresants? It took quite a while when I first started meds before I noticed anything. My friends and family noticed a major difference after about three months, but it took longer for me to notice those same things, and to really feel that it was making a difference.
After taking medication for a few years now, it takes less time for me notice the positive effect that a change in dosage can cause, and I find it easier to decide if the change in meds is working or not.
I would ask close friends if they have noticed a change, and then discuss it with your doctor.
It's hard to say. It might just take a little more time for the benefits to be as obvious to you, or it might take a increase to get there.
Posted by h20surfer1 on January 9, 2003, at 20:17:50
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Again, a monthly update to help those who are starting AD's.
This is the seventh month I have been on Effexor and three months on Remeron combined. 225mg/day Effexor, 15mg/day Remeron.
My depression is gone and has been gone for some time. My GAD is also completely under control. Side effects are gone including lack of libido.
The drugs have worked well for me.
I hope this helps those of you starting out and going through the nightmare of the initial side effects, they go away with time, I had them all.
Posted by disney4 on January 11, 2003, at 11:30:03
In reply to Monthly Positive Update, posted by h20surfer1 on January 9, 2003, at 20:17:50
I am new to the effexor XR and it is soothing to see your positive update. I also take Neurontin. I was wondering how long it takes for libido to return with effexor. Also the stories about people trying to discontinue it are scaring me. What is your take on it?
Thanks,
Elsie
Posted by CJo on January 11, 2003, at 12:36:00
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I have been on Effexor XR 150mg for about 3 months. I have such a hard time waking up in the morning that I've even missed several days of work and now my job may be in jeopardy. I have to at least lower my dosage, or try to get off of it. Since I have the capsules, can i just take one pellet out each day... and do it like that... like 1 today... 2 tomorrow... 3 next, etc. I am really scared to go off... I felt what the brain shivers were like when I had missed a few doses before.... I don't want to go thru that, I could BARELY function... walking into walls... Please, I really need someone to see me thru this, and I really need some advice on going off... talking to my doc (fam doc btw) isnt an option... I dont think he knows anything about this DRUG. Thank all of u again who had to go thru this already and have posted... you are all my heros :-)
P.S. Gosh I'm gunna miss the dreams!!
Posted by Sioux on January 11, 2003, at 15:56:56
In reply to Re: Monthly Positive Update, posted by disney4 on January 11, 2003, at 11:30:03
> I am new to the effexor XR and it is soothing to see your positive update. I also take Neurontin. I was wondering how long it takes for libido to return with effexor. Also the stories about people trying to discontinue it are scaring me. What is your take on it?
>I'm on Neurontin, too. The Effexor was added as an adjunct for pain control. (There is a research group in Israel that published Effexor for pain control.) I'm on 35.5 mg Effexor - just increased to 75 mg - and 800 mg of Neurontain. Higher doses of Neurontin don't increase pain control, rather it makes me sleep walk and eat houseplants. (No joke)
Posted by jlove on January 11, 2003, at 20:31:31
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I've been on 75mg for 2 months and I am doing great. I don't yell at my 3 yr. old anymore; we play all the time, I am now happy again,I'm not tired anymore, I feel like a totally different person and I have lost some weight. I love this stuff. Nothing was working for my mother, now she is taking it also.
Posted by lucky on January 12, 2003, at 1:13:51
In reply to Re: Effexor and appeitite/weight loss, posted by soblue1 on January 8, 2003, at 18:32:53
I've been on effexor xr for about 3 months and have gained 10lbs, but i don't think it's related. I've been on 150mg, but i am in the process of working up to 225mg's. Perhaps, that will curb my appetite :)
Posted by lucky on January 12, 2003, at 1:18:12
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jlove on January 11, 2003, at 20:32:10
Good for you!!! It worked for me for awhile, but I started drinking a couple of beers a night and i think that may have dialuted its effectiveness.
Posted by CJo on January 12, 2003, at 12:17:03
In reply to Going off, have some questions........ Please Help, posted by CJo on January 11, 2003, at 12:36:00
My Response to another msg board that may be of some help to anyone (on it, or that would like to help me):::::
1st, thank you to everyone for responding, it's nice to know that you are not alone....
Well, a psychiatrist is almost completely out of the picture... the pdocs around here don't have ANY appointments till late March, early April... I can't wait that long. I would get the 75-37.5 but, I am so scared of the withdrawl... I cannot afford to miss 1 more day of work and I know I will if I have withdrawl.
I have been taking it in the morning, however, Fri night I took it at night to change it around to see if it would help... Sat, around 3pm, I took a 4 hour nap.. needless to say I took my pill this morning, haha.
I know that I am on a pretty low dose compared to what others say they are on which is great... it has worked wonders for me (I'm taking it for anxiety) and I love my dreams, so I am reluctant to go off. Maybe I'll talk to my fam doc and just lower myself back to the 75... it does seem like the sleepiness came only when I really raised the dosage up to 150.
Maybe we can figure something out.
Posted by sweetpeamom on January 12, 2003, at 20:13:37
In reply to Re: Going off, have some questions........ Please Help, posted by CJo on January 12, 2003, at 12:17:03
I'm currently going off of Effexor, and I feel like CRAP! A nurse at my doc's office had the nerve to tell me that I'm not having withdrawals from going off! I wish I had some words of hope for all of you enduring this experience, too. I guess its just a matter of time and patience. You are not alone. Hang in there. I'll be praying for all of you.
Posted by charlie mac on January 12, 2003, at 20:40:07
In reply to Re: Going off, have some questions........ Please Help, posted by sweetpeamom on January 12, 2003, at 20:13:37
> I'm currently going off of Effexor, and I feel like CRAP!
is this what i have to look forward to? are there any people out there that have not had a bad time getting off effexor? lovely. cause i need and want more problems...
Posted by LynnPerley on January 12, 2003, at 21:58:45
In reply to i'm not sure how i feel, posted by TLove on January 9, 2003, at 11:54:34
I agree with the others. It took me 6 mos to really feel good. I also needed a higher dose. They say the typical maintenance dose is 150 mg. I settled in at 225 mg. I still have down days, but the downs aren't as extreme, and my family has really noticed a difference. Ask your doc, and good luck.
Posted by M. Lee on January 13, 2003, at 10:18:36
In reply to Re: Going off, have some questions........ Please Help, posted by CJo on January 12, 2003, at 12:17:03
Hi,
I posted a message about a bad experience that I had going off my meds. I was taking a rather high dose (300mg) and stopped cold. If I had to do it again, I would go off much more slowly. Something like reducing 75mg per week.
> Well, a psychiatrist is almost completely out of the picture... the pdocs around here don't have ANY appointments till late March, early April... I can't wait that long. I would get the 75-37.5 but, I am so scared of the withdrawl... I cannot afford to miss 1 more day of work and I know I will if I have withdrawl.
>I suspect that I would not have had such a downturn, if I had done it slowly.
As far as appointments go. Tell them it is an emergency. That you really need to see someone right away. (and don't feel guilty about saying that, it really _is_ true)
After going off my meds the doctor told me that I should never hesitate to call in a situation like that. My reluctance to call caused me to go through a worse time. If I had only explained what was going on they could have helped me.
Posted by M. Lee on January 13, 2003, at 10:27:14
In reply to Going off, have some questions........ Please Help, posted by CJo on January 11, 2003, at 12:36:00
> I have been on Effexor XR 150mg for about 3 months. I have such a hard time waking up in the morning that I've even missed several days of work and now my job may be in jeopardy. I have to at least lower my dosage, or try to get off of it. Since I have the capsules, can i just take one pellet out each day... and do it like that... like 1 today... 2 tomorrow... 3 next, etc. I am really scared to go off... I felt what the brain shivers were like when I had missed a few doses before.... I don't want to go thru that, I could BARELY function... walking into walls... Please, I really need someone to see me thru this, and I really need some advice on going off... talking to my doc (fam doc btw) isnt an option... I dont think he knows anything about this DRUG. Thank all of u again who had to go thru this already and have posted... you are all my heros :-)
>I had been having some trouble with sleep. The doc added 15mg Remeron to the Effexor. I take the Effexor XR in the morning, and then the Remeron at bedtime. I sleep much better. About an hour after taking it I get very sleepy, and wake up feeling rested the next day.
Let me know how things go for you. Whatever you decide, I hope you feel better.
Feel free to ask me any other questions.
Posted by M. Lee on January 13, 2003, at 10:42:21
In reply to Re: Going off, have some questions........ Please , posted by charlie mac on January 12, 2003, at 20:40:07
> > I'm currently going off of Effexor, and I feel like CRAP!
>
> is this what i have to look forward to? are there any people out there that have not had a bad time getting off effexor? lovely. cause i need and want more problems...
>
>I'm curious about that also. I know that I felt awfull, but I also realize that I went off the Effexor the wrong way - I stopped taking it too fast. I really believe that if I had done it slowly it would not have been so bad. Has anyone gone off it slowly and not had difficulty?
And as a postscript to my earlier post (about going off the meds cold turkey and having such a hard time)
I am now back on Effxor, and after going to a higher dose I am feeling much better. It is a really dramatic improvement.
Posted by Joel Maxuel on January 13, 2003, at 12:13:08
In reply to Re: Going off, have some questions........ Please, posted by M. Lee on January 13, 2003, at 10:42:21
> > > I'm currently going off of Effexor, and I feel like CRAP!
> >
> > is this what i have to look forward to? are there any people out there that have not had a bad time getting off effexor? lovely. cause i need and want more problems...
> >
> >
>
> I'm curious about that also. I know that I felt awfull, but I also realize that I went off the Effexor the wrong way - I stopped taking it too fast. I really believe that if I had done it slowly it would not have been so bad. Has anyone gone off it slowly and not had difficulty?I went cold turkey yesterday, and this is day two, and i still don't feel any side-effects. If anything, I'm sleeping less now (waking up at 13:00 instead of 16:00), but thats just a day's difference. I have no idea what will happen next. I had a small headache about half an hour ago, but that was probably just mind over matter.
Something tells me that my body never ever absorbed this darn stuff anyways. If my body didn't absorb this, what is the possibility that my body didn't absorb any of my other meds? I'll keep you posted. Btw, i was on effexor XR 225mg before i went cold turkey.
--
Joel Maxuel
ShamelessPlug(http://www.maxuel.ca);
Posted by lam on January 13, 2003, at 13:19:48
In reply to Re: Effexor and appeitite/weight loss, posted by lucky on January 12, 2003, at 1:13:51
I have been on effexor xr 225 for about 2 months, my appetite seems to grow each day. Though one of my depression symtoms is to eat, and I am beginning to feel as if the effexor is no longer working. Has anyone been on a higher dosage than 225? I started out at 37.5 then went to 75 then 150 and now 225 in the period of 4 months. I am so tired and late any motivation. Help !!!!!!
Posted by lam on January 13, 2003, at 13:34:45
In reply to Re: Going off, have some questions........ Please, posted by M. Lee on January 13, 2003, at 10:42:21
How long were you on Effexor? And at what dosage?And what dosage are you currently taking? What made you deceide to go back on?
Sorry about all the questions, I am just looking for some answers myself. I am not sure if I should go off and try something else besides effexor. And after reading about what some people have gone through, it sounds a little scary.
Posted by lam on January 13, 2003, at 13:57:12
In reply to Re: nerve zapping or OTHER SYMPTOMS?, posted by Dysfunk on January 3, 2003, at 14:26:29
How about waking up several times during the night to find your hands asleep and not only tingling but also swollen and very painful (and you have not been laying on them). It usually takes a good ten minutes before they feel half way normal again and it's just close to normal. The first night it happened it scared me to death because I didn't know what was happening and I couldn't feel my hands. Now it happens every night( a few times a night) and my hands don't quite feel right during the day anymore. Have you ever experienced this or heard of anyone who has? My PD
doesn't think its anything to worry about but also told me that perspiring also had nothing to do with the effexor.
Posted by M. Lee on January 13, 2003, at 14:19:40
In reply to Re: Going off, have some questions........ Please, posted by lam on January 13, 2003, at 13:34:45
> How long were you on Effexor? And at what dosage?And what dosage are you currently taking? What made you deceide to go back on?
> Sorry about all the questions, I am just looking for some answers myself. I am not sure if I should go off and try something else besides effexor. And after reading about what some people have gone through, it sounds a little scary.I had been taking Effexor for a number of years, and it was working very well for me. When I went off it I was taking 300mg Effexor XR.
The only reason that I went off it was that my insurance ran out. I didn't know at the time that there were alternatives to get medication for people who don't have insurance. I found a program where I could get treatment, and started back on the Effexor. I slowly worked back to 300mg, which is what I am taking now. It is working very well for me.
If I had to do it all over, I would have asked my doc about different options. I probably could have gotten into this program sooner, or at the very least he could have helped me get off the meds slowly.
Even though I had a bad experience going off the Effexor, I went back on it. I believe that the difficulty that I had was do to going off the meds too fast. I think that if I had done it slowly I would have been fine. Does that answer your questions? Feel free to ask, if there is anything else you think of.
Posted by lam on January 13, 2003, at 17:28:15
In reply to Re: Going off, have some questions........ Please » lam, posted by M. Lee on January 13, 2003, at 14:19:40
I was considering going off Effexor because I thought my PD told me I was taking the highest dose of Effexor.
But if I am able to try a higher dose I would rather do that first before moving on to find a new med.
How did you get to 300? And how long have you taken 300?
I hope you don't mind my asking.Thanks again
Posted by M. Lee on January 13, 2003, at 21:59:17
In reply to M.Lee thaks for info, I have a few more questions, posted by lam on January 13, 2003, at 17:28:15
> I was considering going off Effexor because I thought my PD told me I was taking the highest dose of Effexor.
> But if I am able to try a higher dose I would rather do that first before moving on to find a new med.
> How did you get to 300? And how long have you taken 300?
> I hope you don't mind my asking.
>I went in to see the nurse prescriber on Dec. 18. She was a bit reluctant to go over 225, until I told her that I had already been on 300 once before with no side effects. She did have to consult with one of the doctors and have them "sign-off on it" before writing the 'scrip.
I've had chronic depression for a number of years, but recently it got much worse. A few months ago I was badly injured in a fall. Several weeks after the accident I started to show signs of post traumatic stress.
The other time that I was at 300 was about two years ago. My doctor (at the time) had a bit of a reputation for prescribing "aggressively." Which was not a bad thing for me. I had not showed much improvement at the lower dosage. I was in bad situation with work, and as it got worse - so did the depression. Going to the higher dose of Effexor helped a lot, but in retrospect, I just really needed to get out of the workplace that was causing the stress.
I'm not sure how long you've been on anti-depressants... When I first started taking medication it took a while for me to notice the postive effect that it was having. For the first few months my friends noticed a difference, even though I didn't feel it yet. It's frustrating when you don't feel the progress.
Try explaining your concerns the next time you visit with the PD. Ask about the options. Maybe adding a small amount of another med would help. Maybe there is something else to try.
I don't mind the questions at all. I hope it helps. Let me know how you make out.
Posted by syringachalet on January 13, 2003, at 23:35:18
In reply to Re: Going off, have some questions........ Please Help » CJo, posted by M. Lee on January 13, 2003, at 10:18:36
I agree with all those that have posted before me on just calling in and telling them that you have a serious medical problem.
Tell them you would not only not be very productive if you came and tried to work but depending on your job, it could cause an unsafe work environment for your employer and other to be around until you are feeling better.As I do not know if you resident in the USA, I know that the ADA(Americans with Disabilities Act) covers any employer that hires more than 50 people. It states that not only can your employer not ask your disability upon hire but they can not require you to explain why you need some medically necessary time off...
I also dont know if you can get into see even a nurse practioner/MD at a free clinic to validate this if your employer pushes it...
This is a tough place to be..my thought are with you.. keep us posted in how this works out..
syringachalet
Posted by Dysfunk on January 14, 2003, at 9:42:40
In reply to Re: Going off, have some questions........ Please Help, posted by sweetpeamom on January 12, 2003, at 20:13:37
I am going off Effexor too and feel so sick! It diminishes in about a week, then I drop more mgs. and the symptoms come back. GO SLOWLY is my only advice. My symptoms going off:
nightmares
nightsweats
stomach queaziness
body aches
Severe back ache - which my dr tries to say is not related, but it is.Good luck. The symptoms do pass.
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