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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 13:50:55
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » Bridget, posted by zinya on July 11, 2003, at 12:04:14
My doctor is a MD/I also see a OB/GYN. I am already on artificial hormones due to a hysterectomy . I am only 31.I had uterine cancer.
I think I am doing okay. Like I said befor the mg go up on the sample pack tomorrow to 75mg.I am mainly being treated for anxiety. I definitely drink alot more water and no more nayusea. I just hope when it increases I do get all the side effects. I love the input.
Is it really going to help with the weight. I know my appetite in the last few days had decreased alot.
Posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 14:03:33
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 13:50:55
I made a mistake in my last posting, I meant to say I hope I DON'T get anymore, not do get more . I will take the 75mg starting tomorrow because it is next on the sample pack. I am sorry for the mistake. Has it really been procev to cause weight loss, this may be a plus for me...
Posted by zinya on July 11, 2003, at 14:39:07
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 13:50:55
hi again Bridget,
gosh, you're so young to have uterine cancer. My heart goes out to you. Do you mind my asking how long ago that was? And I gather, if you're on HRT, then they took ovaries as well as uterus? I ask partly because i wonder if your body is still adjusting to hormone replacement? That in itself is a big set of changes for the body - how long have you been on them? and has that been getting altered (in terms of dose as well?) It's important to keep in mind that some things you might be experiencing in side effects could be related to that especially if you recently started. I ask also cuz i know more about the topic of HRT than i wish i did :)) and i think it's important for women to know about all the alternative types of estrogen -- Too many doctors (imo) prescribe Premarin as if it were the only option. Especially for long-term use, which presumably will be your case too, I think a much healthier route is Estraderm patches - It's a more natural form of estrogen - estradiol -- and there are other newer even more natural forms now getting developed which i'm just learning about which use more of estriol .. Using a patch is more efficient (transdermal) and it also protects the liver from having another daily drug to break down which, over time, can lead to liver function problems. I switched to using Estraderm in 1988 and have been very pleased overall, but again, as with ADs, each body is different and responds differently to doses and products.
But your latest post seems to raise this as a second thing that makes me curious (although you don't have to answer these Qs if you would rather not and i'll understand) ... There's a book I've recommended to women here before which I'll re-recommend to you re women's hormones if you haven't heard of it. I discovered her (a gynecologist somewhere in New England as i recall) on PBS when she did special programs. Her name is Christiane Northrup and the book is "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom".
As to Effexor, you sound like you're saying you feel you're doing okay enough to move up to 75 mg. IF you have a bad reaction after moving up, I'd definitely call your MD and/or if it seems intoleralbe (and/or if it's over the weekend and you can't get a hold of anyone), one alternative would be to go back to 37.5 by opening up a capsule and splitting the granules in half... At least until you could talk to the MD for advice. But DO NOT EVER for ANY REASON SUDDENLY STOP taking them altogether. Everyone's experience seems to be that this is a drug you MUST taper off of very gradually to avoid bad side effects.
more 2 cents from me,
zinyap.s. As to the weight, again, you never know how it's going to affect you - seems to affect each of us differently.
> My doctor is a MD/I also see a OB/GYN. I am already on artificial hormones due to a hysterectomy . I am only 31.I had uterine cancer.
> I think I am doing okay. Like I said befor the mg go up on the sample pack tomorrow to 75mg.I am mainly being treated for anxiety. I definitely drink alot more water and no more nayusea. I just hope when it increases I do get all the side effects. I love the input.
> Is it really going to help with the weight. I know my appetite in the last few days had decreased alot.
>
Posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 14:40:55
In reply to Has anyone experienced nightmares on Effexor XR, posted by Kathy Powers on July 11, 2003, at 8:09:50
I've had unusual dreams/nightmares. This is one "side effect" from effexor xr. What I did was ease myself from taking the effexor at night, to mid-morning (I moved it up one hour a day till I got to mid-morning). Just cause, I'll try anything to ease the side effects. Told my pdoc about it and he had no problem with it. Sweating is also a side effect. I drink water now, which is good for me. I used to only drink coffee and diet coke, no water. All in all, Effexor is right for me. Hope this helps.....mercedes
> My daughter is on 150mg of Effexor XR every night, and she has been having horrible nightmares. Has anyone else noticed this? Could it be liked to the Effexor?
Posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 15:15:52
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 9:42:57
Glad you seem to be doing okay with the 37.5. The sweating, lack of appetite and tiredness seems to be common side effects. I've always sweat but it wasn't till I read so many people on this thread say they sweat more, did I realize I was also sweating more. I seem to be drinking water vs. none. My appetite decreased but I could stand to lose alot of weight. Make sure you take the med with something. I used to get terrible heartburn, until I read that it should be taken with a meal or even some crackers or toast. I'm on 300mgs now (sound like alot huh?) Feel better as far as depression goes. I also have anxiety disorder for which I take xanex and agraphobia which is also treated with the effexor and getting better. My memory is sometimes shot but I write alot of things down. Let us know how you do on the 75, okay?
Mercedes
**************************************
> I just started EFFEXR XR and it starts out with 37.5 mg the goes up. I seem to be doing okay with the only real problem of sweating, a little tired and not eating. Will these symtoms get worse with the mg going up to 75 mg tomorrow?
> .Anyone have any further infor for me,,,
Posted by KimmieM. on July 11, 2003, at 15:17:21
In reply to Re: Has anyone experienced nightmares on Effexor XR » Kathy Powers, posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 14:40:55
Hi guys. I have to say that I have never experienced nightmares, nor have I experienced more or less "normal" dreams than usual. Again, this med seems to affect everybody different.
Does anyone know what the Drug Monograph that the manufacturing company includes, states as the most prevalent side effect? that would be intersting to know.
P.S. to mercedes, "keep on trucking" congratulations on your drive, you must have been extremely pleased with your progress so far. It is great to see, that there is hope, and support from all.
Posted by CherC68 on July 11, 2003, at 16:39:27
In reply to Re: Has anyone experienced nightmares on Effexor XR?, posted by Susy on July 11, 2003, at 9:24:13
Susy, exactly what you describe is what I have at least 3/4 times a day on top of the depression. The running feeling, chest feelings, pounding, etc. Effexor didn't seem to help (even though I wasn't on it long enough) neither did the Zoloft.
To me the side effects intensified the panic attacks.
I was given xanax when I was younger - just one prescription of 10 after I was raped and every now and then my mom gets a prescription and will give me two of hers to hold for when I get my "I think I'm dying panic attacks" NO doctor I have been to recently will prescribe xanax - As a matter of fact, I've taken maybe 20 in my entire life and I'm almost 40. Why are Dr's so afraid of giving out this drug (addictive or not)when it is the one pill that seems to help when I have a bad anxiety attack. Zoloft and Effexor is addictive too in its own way, all the AD's are if you ask my opinion.
My best friend actually gave me her two prescriptions of .25's, which I am using only as needed, and after that I'm SOL. But my depression is bad and now my panic attacks are so bad. My twitching right eye is back - in full force (I had an eye tick EVERYDAY 24/7 for over a year). It actually went away when I was on the zoloft for 4 days, but it just came back recently.
I've been off Effexor for weeks now. I had started taking Wellbutrin (same friends prescription - she's now only on Paxil), Wellbutrin was something I took years ago when I had female problems and they thought it would help with my nerves and at that time it did), it does not help at all now either.
I have been having a lot of floaters (little floating dots swimming past my eyes lately). To me, it sounds like what you are having are actually a form of Migraines. Sometimes with Migraines there are sharp zaps and a lot of double vision.
I wish you luck Suzy, please keep me posted. I wish there was a miracle drug, but unfortunately, I don't believe that there are. For me the AD's take care of a little of the depression, but the SE's far outweight it. I don't know anything anymore it seems.
Take Care,
Hugs, Cher<<my panic attacks don't give me double vision but I do see everything too shiny and sometimes I see this zigzag glow thing that don't allow me to see well, I see this zigzag thing even with my eyes close, while my heart is racing like crazy and I feel short of breath, and pain in the middle of my chest, like if it is too hard. I also feel this desperation like If I want to go out running, and sometimes I also feel electricity all over my body, of course, my head also pounds bad, and this comes anytime, anywhere>>
Posted by CherC68 on July 11, 2003, at 16:52:07
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 14:03:33
Hi - your situation sounds just like me but it was 4 years ago when I was 36. Do you take HRT? I do not, so hot flashes suck and I'm glad I'm off the Effexor now because I couldn't handle the sweating along with the Hot Flashes. Please let me know how you are doing!
Take Care,
Cher
Posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 17:32:27
In reply to Re: Had terrible attack. Any 1 have these symtoms » mercedes, posted by zinya on July 11, 2003, at 12:37:27
Thanks Z, for your concern. My symtoms started nearly 7 years ago, as I stated in my prev. post. This is nothing new to me. I've had every test imaginable, ct scans, crt's, coroted artery tests, seizure tests, etc., by different dr's in the past 7 years. I always get referred to the pdoc. or therapy. My current pdoc is a psychiatrist and is better than any I've ever had. Some of my attacks are less severe, some more.
I used to get these while at work. The dble vision, and unable to speak clearly. We had a trained team at work that would come take my blood pressure and take me in a wheelchair to our infirmary. I'd lay down, sleep, then go back to work after a few hours. I was so useless, and cldn't remember who I'd spoken to on the phone or anything for at least 24 hours.
On one of my first episodes way back then, I did go to the hospital, my son's were young and I passed out on the kitchen floor. They cld 911. It was Christmas Eve. Anyway, the hosp didn't find anything just referred me to my doctor. Then the dr. referred me to a psyc.
These attacks have nothing to do with Effexor. Like I've said before, Effexor XR has been my saving grace. I take Xanex for these so called anxiety attacks. Like right now I'm fine but I could "zap" anytime. I'm not working now which is good. I fear having an attack while on an interview. Wouln't make a good first impression, huh? We need to laugh more to get that seratonin flowing.
Mercedes
Posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 17:52:41
In reply to Re: Has anyone experienced nightmares on Effexor XR?, posted by Susy on July 11, 2003, at 9:24:13
Suzy, thanks for discribing your panic attacks to me. Keep taking your xanex. I too have been councelled on the addiction to it but if it is helping me, then I need to take it. Do you take it everyday, like three times a day? And what dose are you taking?
Mercedes************************************
From Suzy:
Mercedes, my panic attacks don't give me double vision but I do see everything too shiny and sometimes I see this zigzag glow thing that don't allow me to see well, I see this zigzag thing even with my eyes close, while my heart is racing like crazy and I feel short of breath, and pain in the middle of my chest, like if it is too hard. I also feel this desperation like If I want to go out running, and sometimes I also feel electricity all over my body, of course, my head also pounds bad, and this comes anytime, anywhere,
that is why I have to take Xanax everyday, it really helps me.But I am also affraid about the dependency they say it comes by taking Xanax continuosly. Obviously I would like not to take it anymore, not to have any more panic attacks and go back to work.......but who knows? maybe I have to take another medicine, I don't know, it is very hard for me....tell you all this so you can see that I understand what you are thru.
Posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 18:17:22
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » mercedes, posted by zinya on July 11, 2003, at 12:25:04
Z, I wrote a long story about how I related to your move, your mom, my mom, and unpacking but it got lost somewhere. I'll re-write later.
But to answer your question re the below, I went from 75 to 112.5, then 150 to 300. I've read that Effexor XR is supposed to be taken once a day. It is an extended release tablet and needs to be taken at one dose per day. just a FYI all
Mercedes**********************************
Did you go from 150 to 225 and then to 300? Do you take the whole 300 at one time each day? Did you find that your adjustment to each new level got easier (fewer side effects) or did each level bring some days of side effects at first?thanks, and hugs,
zinya
Posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 18:18:38
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » Bridget, posted by CherC68 on July 11, 2003, at 16:52:07
I am on HRT. I am very nervous about the dosage going up, but I will deal with it,. I take Prometrium for the hot flashes i got after the Hysterectomy . I take this with my Effexor xr it seemede to help today. I just hope I lose some weight...
Posted by sierra1 on July 11, 2003, at 18:43:41
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Bridget on July 11, 2003, at 18:18:38
To all you gals out there .. not really an effexor question, but are any of you concerned with the negative public drug studies recently released on HRT?
Posted by CherC68 on July 11, 2003, at 21:29:08
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by sierra1 on July 11, 2003, at 18:43:41
I am extremely worried about taking any HRT's. I said earlier I had a complete hysterectomy and part of my intestines taken out and radiation for uteran "C" about four years ago. I was put on a patch and medicine. Since I also have endometriosis (yes, I still HAVE Endometriosis) taking HRT's can produce more endometriosis, or basically cause the endometrial tissue (which can be outside the uterous and on the outside walls and endometrial tissue has even been found in peoples brains, near the heart and other organs).
Just because the tumor was taken out, over 100 cysts which were attached to everything even my bowels, my tubes, my ovaries and my uterous, everytime I tried taking HRT I hurt so bad, like my ovaries were killing me but I didn't have ovaries.
Also, taking HRT made me a cold hearted b**ch. I could give two craps if someone got hurt, if someone fell down in front of me and hurt themselves, the only emotion I would have is disgust that I had to actually walk around them.
I tried HRT's for 6 months (switching to different types of HRT's because each had horrible effects on me just like the zoloft/effexor xr I finally stopped taking it because of the pain I felt in my non-existent ovaries and the fact that any endo tissue was regrowing and drying up and bleeding inside me.
But, like any other medicines, each person responds different to medications.
I myself feel like I'm just going to have to live the rest of my life with my tortured thoughts, my anxiety attacks, my self-loathing, obsessive compulsive, bi-polar, borderline personality, menopausal self. I've been miserable since 4 years old, and I do have a lot of joy in my life, but I'm too miserable sometimes, okay, a lot of the time to see it!
If anyone knows of any good HRT's or a way to find vitamins that have helped them, please let me know.
Next week I will be trying to find a PDoc that is also closely associated with a therapist, because if I can't take AD's, maybe I can get some help somehow because at 40 I can't take another 40 years of this crap!
Hugs,
Cher
Posted by Susy on July 11, 2003, at 23:47:46
In reply to Re: Has anyone experienced nightmares on Effexor XR? » Susy, posted by CherC68 on July 11, 2003, at 16:39:27
Cher, thanks for your understanding, digging in the internet I found 2 very interesting articles about the medicines we have to take to deal with our anxiety and panic attack problems.
I wish I could send them so you can read them
but I don't think I can't attach anything in this thread.Can you e-mail me to Susyqst@aol.com?
You will find very interesting information about AD and Xanax written by two professionals in this matters.
It is horrible to live this way, I ask God why shouldn't I have another illness instead of this one. It is too much to stand it. =(
But I don't want to loose my hopes, at least not at this moment, some other times, I do.
Thaks for your reply, Susy
Posted by Susy on July 12, 2003, at 0:03:01
In reply to Re: your response to my attacks, posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 17:52:41
Hi Mercedes, I was so happy that you could make it driving to meet your grandaughter that then I felt so bad when you describe your attack.I have been taking Xanax for more than 2 years now, since my panic attacks instead of improving are getting worse. =(
Right now I am taking this alprazolam made in Pakistan, 0.25 I am taking a half of tablet per day, one quarter in the morning, around 10 the other quarter in the afternoon around 4, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night let's say at 3 or 4 a.m. and I take another quarter. I do have a lot of paxil's the last Dr. gave me, but I am affraid to take them again, even when the Dr. told me that I can take Xanax and Paxil along, I still don't dare to do it.
I had a terrible experience with Paxil, although I did notice 2 good things, in the middle of 1,000 bad things when I took Paxil (just 3 times)
and it was that I didn't smoke that much those days as I usually do, and I didn't go to the bathroom to pee that much either.
Those were the only two good symptons I noticed with Paxil. But then, I wasn't able to sleep, neither to eat, I felt not able to control my own thoughts and I was more nervous than usual, and like If I was stoned, very bad.
Please keep on telling us how you are feeling I will pray for you Mercedes.
Posted by Bridget on July 12, 2003, at 14:19:18
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I started on 75mg today going from 37.5 and went to the gym with my husband. I felt so good. I SO FAR have not had anything major not even sweating too much. I just am not hungry. I have to force myself to eat. I hope this is all the effects or it may start in a few days...
I guess so far I am a lucky one...:0)
Posted by zinya on July 12, 2003, at 15:32:51
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » zinya, posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 18:17:22
Well, i identify with the frustration of writing a full response and then discovering it fell into the cybermuda triangle...
If/When you have the energy to try again, i look forward to it but i know from experience it can take a while to psych up to restate what one has already said.
Tonight's my last night at 75. Given that I now only have 150 mg tablets, I am planning to move up from 75 next to 100 then 125, then 150, as those are relatively easy divisions of capsules (although i've been spoiled by a whole week of being able to just pop one capsule. Now back to my little dishes and dividing 300 into 3 nights' worth, etc).
I'm impressed that you went in one leap from 150 to 300. Does your non-mention of side effects mean it was a relatively easy increase? Is it your experience that the higher you go, the more your body is already used to Effexor and makes the transition easier, even when it means doubling from 150 to 300??
Boy, i sure am feeling the heat/sweat potential. I did finally do some errands yesterday at banks, etc. that i'd felt zero energy to do for a while, so it's a good sign that i did those things but i found myself everywhere I went thinking and a couple of times asking "Is it just me or is your A/C not working very well?" :))) The clerks I asked were having no problem, so guess who was having the sweats and heat-rising feelings even in a/c-ed banks and stores... On Thursday I had a return of unusual dizziness but i realized it was cuz i did something that morning that probably provoked it. Basically, i'm down to the sweating as the one lingering side effect. And wishing I had started this process some other season than summer! :)
good wishes,
zinya
Posted by zinya on July 12, 2003, at 16:00:12
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » sierra1, posted by CherC68 on July 11, 2003, at 21:29:08
hi Cher,
gosh, when i read of what you've gone through and is still unresolved for you in this horrible saga of cysts and hormones, I can't imagine how I would be reacting. I assume you mean the patch you were put on was Estraderm, so you've already tried that? Gosh, is there any chance you could find a specialist to see? I would try to insist on seeing some more expert person who might have some better idea about all these lingering cysts, etc. It seems sooo possible that what you are dealing with that led you to Effexor is related to either this unresolved cyst situation or the lack of HRT or some such.Did you try the all natural estrogen that is sold wihtout prescription in little boxes - I think it's called Estroven or something like that?
and to both Cher and Sierra and anyone,
The major alarm so far with new HRT tests is all focused on the role of progesterone for those still with uteruses (and especially those starting HRT after age 60). While the jury's still out on estrogen alone as to other cancer risks, it seems like one is wise to proceed cautiously but to not yet assume that estrogen alone will be proven to have those same risks either.
Also, a friend just sent me this reference, which seems very interesting - I've read some of it but not the whole article yet - It's an article on "'Natural' Isomolecular Hormone Replacement: An Evidence-Based Medicine Approach." at this website:
http://www.islandpharmacy.com/natural%20hormones.html
She excerpted some paragraphs I've read and it discusses all the different forms of estrogen and one in particular (which isn't contained in premarin at all) which can impact frequency of urination, something both my friend and I have had troubles with for some time.
Which just adds to the sense of how incredibly interrelated everything is in our bodies. The first clue to me in recent years if a doctor is someone I will trust is whether he/she recognizes all these interactions. When I still hear a doctor say things like "Oh, no, estrogen only affects x in your body" I know he/she has WAY too limited an understanding of things. Our hormones affect virtually every system in us - and such things as hair growth, sweating, skin, carpal tunnel syndrome, now to learn urinary frequency, etc. The connections just keep getting more and more extensive.
(Sometimes i think we need to have been born about 20 or more years later - maybe they'll finally know this stuff. Although i dare say it's also required a 'baby boom generation' to get to this stage in life for enough more people to start seriously researching it.)
In case you or anyone missed it, this is a relevant portion of a post I sent to Bridget above about hormones:
Too many doctors (imo) prescribe Premarin as if it were the only option. Especially for long-term use, which presumably will be your case too, I think a much healthier route is Estraderm patches - It's a more natural form of estrogen - estradiol -- and there are other newer even more natural forms now getting developed which i'm just learning about which use more of estriol .. Using a patch is more efficient (transdermal) and it also protects the liver from having another daily drug to break down which, over time, can lead to liver function problems. I switched to using Estraderm in 1988 and have been very pleased overall, but again, as with ADs, each body is different and responds differently to doses and products.
But your latest post seems to raise this as a second thing that makes me curious (although you don't have to answer these Qs if you would rather not and i'll understand) ... There's a book I've recommended to women here before which I'll re-recommend to you re women's hormones if you haven't heard of it. I discovered her (a gynecologist somewhere in New England as i recall) on PBS when she did special programs. Her name is Christiane Northrup and the book is "Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom".
my 3 cents' worth,
zinya
Posted by worrier on July 12, 2003, at 22:14:16
In reply to Had terrible attack. Any 1 have these symtoms?, posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 3:26:16
> I had a terrible panic, anxioty, siezure, mild stroke, whatever?.. yesterday. My attacks have mostly been diagnosed by my pdoc as PTSD and I suffer from depression also. These attacks started almost 7 years ago. Has anyone ever had this? I've read some people here refer to "brain freeze". Anyway, this is what happens to me.
>
> Yesterday, was fine in the a.m., had my coffee & cig. and decided to work in my garden early, before it got hot. This was around 8:30 a.m. It was going to be 105!
>
> Anyway, I grabbed my coffee cup and ZAP! My vision get's stuck. I feel it mostly in my left eye and I see two of everything. I can't get myself out of it. I sat down, looked around for about 5 minutes with that dble vision, sorta one up higher than the other. Anyway, after about 20 min. or so, I cld. my brother and left a message. I can't see the keypad on the phone but I've learned the keys by touch. He didn't call me back so I fell asleep or passed out, don't know. My sis-n-law cld me around noon, asked if I was ok, and I just remember telling her "I fell asleep" about 3 times. my speach was slurred or slow, and I didn't make sense she told me later. My bro. cld me around 3 p.m. I still was talking nonsense, told him I didn't need anything, just needed to sleep. I was talking to him but do not remember anything else I said. He would ask me something and I babbled off and didn't remember what he'd ask me. During this time, I was unsteady while walking and my head hurt real bad, left side.
>
> A month ago I had up to six of these one week and the next week 7. Then, I won't have one for a month or so. Remember, I'm the one that finally drove by myself in 6 years. I don't drive when I have these "attacks". I take Xanex for these symtoms and Effexor for my depression. Oh, I cld my primary care phys. so she could see what happens to me and she wouldn't see me, sd I had to see my pdoc. I cried, felt like I'll never ever be rid of these attacks and felt rejected by my primary doc. which made me depressed.
>
> Anyone ever have something like this? HELP !
>
> Mercedes>I have severe panic attacks too, but have never really had the symptoms you described. However, they sound alot like what happens to my brother-in-law when he has really bad migraines. He often loses the vision in one eye, has occasionally lost the use of his arm on the same side, his speech is effected..can't name familar objects, etc. Maybe you are having these types of migraines in addition to the anxiety/panic. I'd ask your doc to refer you to a neurologist. Just a thought. Worrier.
Posted by Greg Stone on July 12, 2003, at 23:51:27
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
> 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.I have been on Effexor XR for almost 5 years. It has been great for me. I am in the process of getting of it at the time and even though the withdrawl symptons are a bit hairy, I think I can handle it. Among other things being on this medication (150mg)fueled by desire to return for my MBA which I just received with high honors. To me it has been a wonder drug.
Posted by mercedes on July 13, 2003, at 2:04:01
In reply to Re: Had terrible attack. Any 1 have these symtoms?, posted by worrier on July 12, 2003, at 22:14:16
Dear Worrier,
You are the second person that has mentioned "migranes". This never occurred to me because I hardly ever have headaches. My head hurts alot after my attacks, but not before. If I have ever had a headache, the strongest thing I take is Tylenol because I fear mixing over the counter drugs with my prescibed drugs.I'll mention it to my pdoc and then pursue it with my neurologist. Does your brother-n-law take daily medication for these migranes? My son used to get migranes at the age of 6 & 7. He was very sensitive to bright light or sun. Now that I think about it, I had worked in my yard outside in the sun, the day before.
Thanks for your input,
Mercedes
Posted by mercedes on July 13, 2003, at 2:32:48
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » mercedes, posted by zinya on July 12, 2003, at 15:32:51
Hi Z,
I was mistaken. I went from 150 to 225 then 300. I really don't remember bad side effects other than the sweating, not sleeping at night. It was at 225 that I started taking Effexor XR before noon and had more energy. When I went to 300 mgs. I don't remember the side effects getting worse, I just remember that I was smiling more and was finally feeling happy (more so than not). Although I still have the anxioty but I take xanex for that. Mercedes
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I'm impressed that you went in one leap from 150 to 300. Does your non-mention of side effects mean it was a relatively easy increase? Is it your experience that the higher you go, the more your body is already used to Effexor and makes the transition easier, even when it means doubling from 150 to 300??
Posted by mercedes on July 13, 2003, at 3:04:08
In reply to Re: your response to my attacks, posted by Susy on July 12, 2003, at 0:03:01
Hi Susy, thanks for your note. I also take alprazolam but take much more than you. This past March/April, when I was having 6 attacks a week, my pdoc increased my alp. to 1 full mg. three times a day. Prevously, I was on .5, three times a day.
The way you describe your panic attacks, sounds like you need to take more mgs. I don't know if the dr only prescibed that low dose or if it is because of the cost, or from having to get it from another country. It just sounds to me like you are taking next to nothing, but I'm not your pdoc. Sometimes I won't take the last tablet if I'm already sleepy or not feeling anxiety. However, the next morning I feel some tingling on my lips or like needles poking out of my skin. As soon as I take my dose, the symtoms go away. I also took paxil at one time along with the xanex. However I was drinking alot at that time, very depressed, that I didn't give the antidepressants a chance. Alcohol is a depresant in itself so I was making myself worse by drinking but at that time, it was all I could do to survive. I haven't been drinking hardly, since I've been on Effexor.
Keep writing,
Mercedes
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> Hi Mercedes, I was so happy that you could make it driving to meet your grandaughter that then I felt so bad when you describe your attack.I have been taking Xanax for more than 2 years now, since my panic attacks instead of improving are getting worse. =(
> Right now I am taking this alprazolam made in Pakistan, 0.25 I am taking a half of tablet per day, one quarter in the morning, around 10 the other quarter in the afternoon around 4, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night let's say at 3 or 4 a.m. and I take another quarter. I do have a lot of paxil's the last Dr. gave me, but I am affraid to take them again, even when the Dr. told me that I can take Xanax and Paxil along, I still don't dare to do it.
> I had a terrible experience with Paxil, although I did notice 2 good things, in the middle of 1,000 bad things when I took Paxil (just 3 times)
> and it was that I didn't smoke that much those days as I usually do, and I didn't go to the bathroom to pee that much either.
> Those were the only two good symptons I noticed with Paxil. But then, I wasn't able to sleep, neither to eat, I felt not able to control my own thoughts and I was more nervous than usual, and like If I was stoned, very bad.
> Please keep on telling us how you are feeling I will pray for you Mercedes.
>
Posted by mercedes on July 13, 2003, at 4:01:15
In reply to Re: Has anyone experienced nightmares on Effexor XR? » Susy, posted by CherC68 on July 11, 2003, at 16:39:27
Cher, I cannot beleive your doctors won't prescribe xanex or the generic known as alprazolam. Are these pdocs or GP's? Maybe it's the State you live in. I live in CA and have been on alp for nearly 7 years. I have been lectured about it being habit forming by some pdocs but they still prescribe it for me. I don't abuse it either.
Now for the hard part, I haven't had the courage to say that my PTSD, anxiety, depression and agraphobia are the results of being raped nearly 7 years ago. I admire your courage. I already was stressed at work, raising my out of control teenage son, and being a caregiver for my 82 yr old mom. And then that happened. I couldn't talk to my family about it. I just kept living like a robot. Got up, went to work, came home, faked a smile for my mom, cried myself to sleep, woke up crying, drank every night straight for a month, but managed to go to work everyday till I finally passed out at work. It was then that I sought psyc help, about two months after the attack. I wanted to kill myself, but I had my mom to care for. I told myself back then that I would kill myself after she passed on. I was given many types of AD's but I preferred to drink so I only took them for a little while and tell the dr. they were not working for me.
My mom passed on 3 yrs ago. I thank God for the 5 years I was able to take care of her. I kept my secret from her and my family and most importantly....I'M STILL HERE! ALIVE! I'm so glad I didn't kill myself. Effexor has worked for me but I also sacrificed the alcohol to make it work.
Anyway, back to you. I want to thank you for your many responses to my notes. It really feels like I have so many freinds yet have not met any of you. I just wonder how a doc can think you would get well with a 10 pill prescription after such a traumatic event. Can I ask how long ago it happened? I wish you luck in trying to get the anxiety med you really need. Keep in touch.
Mercedes, WHEW! SIGH!
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I was given xanax when I was younger - just one prescription of 10 after I was raped and every now and then my mom gets a prescription and will give me two of hers to hold for when I get my "I think I'm dying panic attacks" NO doctor I have been to recently will prescribe xanax - As a matter of fact, I've taken maybe 20 in my entire life and I'm almost 40. Why are Dr's so afraid of giving out this drug (addictive or not)when it is the one pill that seems to help when I have a bad anxiety attack. Zoloft and Effexor is addictive too in its own way, all the AD's are if you ask my opinion.
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