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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Helaine on July 30, 2003, at 13:43:43
In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal IS FINE, posted by catachrest on July 30, 2003, at 12:44:24
My dr. put me on 37.5 xr mg of effexor once a day for menopause. But, after reading so many of the side effects it looks like menopause on a "platter".I seem to had most of the SE without the medication. This is my 8th day of taking it. I have a loss of appeitie and I feel jittery. The hot flashes seem worse then ever! I was thrusted into menopause over night due to my surgery (hysterectomy)This is a very scary and confusing time in my life right now.Has any one taken this for menopause or does anyone have any comments? I would greatly appreciate it! Has any one got good results using it for menopause??? waaaaaaaaa..I am soooooo confused!
Thank you,
Helaine
Posted by theo on July 30, 2003, at 15:34:03
In reply to Re: Scooter1 updatetheo, posted by Scooter1 on July 30, 2003, at 10:23:18
It was the docs and my decision. One month is plenty of time to feel some relief if it's going to happen with Effexor XR, it just wasn't for me I guess. No SE's, just jittery and half paranoid feeling around people. Not nervous but extremely restless and I was trying it for anxiety! I was also having problems with communication, like I was tounge tied all the time, that was driving me nuts because I work at a TV station in sales and marketing. For me less activating ones like Paxil work better than anything I've ever tried but it kinda pooped out after about a year. So I'm trying Luvox that you actually take at night because of tiredness but after extensive research, Luvox and Paxil are the only ones in the SSRI class that have pretty good results from anxiety and social phobia. Any SSRI that is activating can amplify your anxiety dramatically but I thought I would just try Effexor XR so I wouldn't be thinking it could be that "magic happy pill" for me. Effexor markets that it's for GAD but if you talk to most doctors they will stay away from activating SSRI's for most anxiety problems. Effexor XR would be a good AD for people that are always tired with depression. Just an opinion.
Posted by zinya on July 30, 2003, at 15:40:50
In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal IS FINE, posted by catachrest on July 30, 2003, at 12:44:24
Hi Susan,
If you have the energy for it, I'd love to hear a synopsis of their opinion about it (or are you saying all they have to say is that withdrawal is FINE??) -- It would seem to me from the difficulty of withdrawal alone that hits so many that at the very least effexor becomes addictive (by at least some definition) for at least some people who take it. (The fact that some here have reported no withdrawal symptoms at all would seem to suggest that for them it wasn't addictive.)
but i'd love to hear their synopsis, if you don't mind.
thanks!
zinya
Posted by ekvb on July 30, 2003, at 19:28:51
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Gill Angel on July 29, 2003, at 13:26:40
i am supposed to start taking it tomorrow but i am very nervous about possible side effects, can anyone help me?
Posted by Cybercrone on July 30, 2003, at 23:32:48
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Gill Angel on July 29, 2003, at 13:26:40
> i am supposed to start taking it tomorrow but i am very nervous about possible side effects, can anyone help me?
I researched the Effexor XR very thoroughly before I went on it. I had some side effects when starting and each time I increased my dosage. Mostly gas, diarrhea, loss of taste - stuff like that.
BUT - what really worries me about what I read here, is the people trying to get off it. From what I read, you have to be on it for 18 months to 2 years (timed from when you start your highest dosage)before you try to get off it, or you may have a serious relapse and then may never be able to be medication-free.
*Apparently* - and I don't know because I haven't gotten there yet, if you time it like that, there should be many fewer problems weaning yourself too.
Doctors don't seem to have enough time to read everything they should before they start prescribing, so they rely on what the pharm. sales people tell them. Consequently, I research everything assiduously myself, and then take the results of my research to my doctor and discuss them, before I will take any medication.
Canadians should always look at the US information too, since the law in the US is much stricter about them having to report adverse side effects.
Best of luck to you all - I know that since I got to the highest dosage, I'm feeling a lot better. I wasn't too impressed before that, but the jump from 150 to 225 made a huge difference within about 2-3 weeks.
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 7:48:59
In reply to Effexor for menopause, posted by Helaine on July 30, 2003, at 13:43:43
Poor thang!
I can't offer any tips because I've yet to go thru menopause. It's there hovering on my horizon though (I turn 35 in December). I'm on Effexor and can say that I've heard of it being used for Menopause, small dosages, more & more often. Hang in there, someone in Psycho-Bab will have more information than me.
:)
KDi in Texas> My dr. put me on 37.5 xr mg of effexor once a day for menopause. But, after reading so many of the side effects it looks like menopause on a "platter".I seem to had most of the SE without the medication. This is my 8th day of taking it. I have a loss of appeitie and I feel jittery. The hot flashes seem worse then ever! I was thrusted into menopause over night due to my surgery (hysterectomy)This is a very scary and confusing time in my life right now.Has any one taken this for menopause or does anyone have any comments? I would greatly appreciate it! Has any one got good results using it for menopause??? waaaaaaaaa..I am soooooo confused!
> Thank you,
> Helaine
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 8:06:11
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by ekvb on July 30, 2003, at 19:28:51
> i am supposed to start taking it tomorrow but i am very nervous about possible side effects, can anyone help me?
OK, hey there. It would help if you would post the beginning dosage and why you were prescribed it. You might reply "depression, duh!, it's an anti-DEPRESSANT". LOL For some it's depression, for others it's social phobia, agoraphobia, OCD, anxiety problems, the list goes on and on.
Basic side effects: slight spacey feeling, drowsiness during the day, appetite decrease, insomnia or early morning wakeups, and decreased libido. Most of these fade away as your body adjusts to the med. There's more. You would be best off following the Effexor thread back a few months. Lots of Effexor beginners then.
Good Luck,
KDi in Texas
(I'm 100mg 3xDaily Effexor Non-XR version)
Posted by Scooter1 on July 31, 2003, at 10:56:57
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » ekvb, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 8:06:11
I have to tell you, your discontinueing of effexor kind of made me nervous yesterday. I am taking it for anxiety too. I have felt jittery myself. Like I can't sit still. I was hopeing this was part of my anxiety and that uping the dose may help. Now I am scared. I almost had a panic attack yesterday from just your posting. I need this to work. Going back and forth between medications is just not something I want to do..... I am still wandering why I am going through this.....Scooter1
Posted by theo on July 31, 2003, at 14:35:24
In reply to Theo, posted by Scooter1 on July 31, 2003, at 10:56:57
I was just being upfront, didn't mean to worry you. People respond differntly to a lot of these SSRI's. Effexor XR and Prozac are activating. For some people that offsets their anxiety, others it doesn't help or makes worse. Trying different meds is a bummer but there is no quick way to tell what works. I was in the same boat you are, at 37.5mg not really working and wondering if increasing would help. I was really wanting it to work because I don't want to have to bounce to another med but that's the way these work. I'm to the point to where I wonder if any SSRI's are good for anxiety, seems they are better for mainly depression. If you do a search on "anxiety and social phobia," the ones mainly mentioned are Paxil and Luvox in the SSRI group. The best meds for anxiety that aren't benzo's are Nardil and Parnate but with the strick use of those MAOI's, I'm afraid of them, I don't think its worth trying those because of the dangers. So since I've never tried Luvox, I'm trying it to see what happens. Let me know if you find out any info, keep me posted and I'll let you know how Luvox works for me.
Posted by theo on July 31, 2003, at 15:38:07
In reply to Theo, posted by Scooter1 on July 31, 2003, at 10:56:57
Check out this link for anxiety, meds are listed at bottom of page and Effexor is not listed. This is one of MANY pages I've found where Effexor and Prozac, those activating ones, are not listed for help with any type of anxiety.
http://www.psyweb.com/Mdisord/AnxietyDis/gad.html
Posted by zinya on July 31, 2003, at 21:13:34
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » ekvb, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 8:06:11
hi!
how's it going? are the side effects subsiding at all?
i hope so ... I'm having my own doubts about this but will not do anything to alter my dosage til i'm due to see md. on the 7th... I *really* needed to feel some boost in energy by now. Two months and up to 150 for 10 days and nada energy-wise. Meanwhile, i may become one of the 2% which the PDI says quit because of the sweating. It's getting *really* old already as a constant daily reality and feeling an internal heat and clamminess and flashes... That and the dizziness that comes and goes. They'd be tolerable and have been but that was a bargain :)) i was willing to make for the energy ... With no energy boost... hmmm
hugs,
zinya
Posted by lethe on August 1, 2003, at 4:53:05
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Am coming off effexor xr after a year and a half, and it is so much more a comfort to read here that others are experience similar withdrawls to me. I was terrified at my first symptoms, those brain shock sensations are the absolute worst, and I think because I was mainly usning effexor xr to control my panic disorder the symptoms brought back in force the constant thought, especially at night, that I wasn't going to make it through this. One thing that helped for a little while was my own kind of tapering, instead of taking decreased dosages, I lengthened the duration of my dosage, I started to take my pills every 36 hours instead of 24. This seems to help a lot. Before I tried to get off effexor xr by just doing the cold turkey thing (mainly because I didn't have the funds to keep going!) but after the longer time between my dosage, (I stretched my last weeks dose over 2 weeks) I didn't actually start to feel withdrawl for a few days after I had my last pill.
However, I wish I had stretched them even further, as now I am facing the full brunt of withdrawl, and it is still pretty damn scary.
Did anyone else use effexor xr for panic disorder and found the panic attacks worse after coming off it? When I do get sleep I have the most vivid violent nightmares, and I am so tense when I wake up all my back muscles are cramped up. (but this maybe because I am sleeping on the floor! Korean style:) )
The main reason I want to stay off effexor xr is I am scared of long term effects and I don't trust my doctor here much-I am currently wokring in Korea and he doesn't speak too much English-he actually gave me pancreatic cancer treatment pills to combat the nausea!
Anyway, I am still here, and I am still surviving the withdrawl. I hope I can hang in!
Posted by KimberlyDi on August 1, 2003, at 7:53:16
In reply to Re: Hi Kim » KimberlyDi, posted by zinya on July 31, 2003, at 21:13:34
I was wondering... how many of the Effexor Club are still on Effexor?
And hello to you! I miss everyone.
KDi in Texas> hi!
>
> how's it going? are the side effects subsiding at all?
>
> i hope so ... I'm having my own doubts about this but will not do anything to alter my dosage til i'm due to see md. on the 7th... I *really* needed to feel some boost in energy by now. Two months and up to 150 for 10 days and nada energy-wise. Meanwhile, i may become one of the 2% which the PDI says quit because of the sweating. It's getting *really* old already as a constant daily reality and feeling an internal heat and clamminess and flashes... That and the dizziness that comes and goes. They'd be tolerable and have been but that was a bargain :)) i was willing to make for the energy ... With no energy boost... hmmm
>
> hugs,
> zinya
Posted by Scooter1 on August 1, 2003, at 8:16:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?-WITHDRAWL, posted by lethe on August 1, 2003, at 4:53:05
I will hang in there for a little while longer. I don't feel bad all the time. Just sometimes.... I don't know. Thanks for the website. I will check on some things and get back with you. Let me know how luvox works for you. scooter1
Posted by migrainegirl on August 1, 2003, at 8:49:38
In reply to Effexor for Menopause? needs help » Helaine, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 7:48:59
I have been on 375mg. of Effexor XR and yes, I still have night sweats, irritability and occassional hot flashes. However, I am also on Hormone Replacement Therapy (Activella) and primarily started Effexor in October for severe clinical deparession. My circumstances haven't changed so I feel Effexor has been effective for the depression as I contiue to increase my dosage. When Menopause hit in March, I had already been on Effexor a while, so I may have had many more SE's! I feel the best course of treatment is to continue to up your dosage until you feel better or try one of the more natural hormones. Have you read "What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Menopause?" I take a regimen of vitamins from that book and try to exercise and drink water every day. Good luck!
Posted by catachrest on August 1, 2003, at 9:16:53
In reply to Re: effexor withdrawal IS FINE » catachrest, posted by zinya on July 30, 2003, at 15:40:50
Has anyone heard of any interactions between Effexor/venlafaxine and aspartame? I can't remember where, but I've got this vague feeling floating around in my head that I read somewhere that they interact badly. Am I just crazy? :D
Susan
Posted by harlie on August 1, 2003, at 12:01:33
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » ekvb, posted by KimberlyDi on July 31, 2003, at 8:06:11
I am new.I have had depression my whole life.Pamalar(sp?)was my first drug in the mid 80's.It was a true miracle drug for me.3 weeks and I poped out of it.Being young when I was better I quit the meds.Looking back I should of stayed on them.I got better with Pamalor 5 times and then quit over a 10 year period.I was in my teens/twenties and there was a big stigma in our family.Welbuterin has worked fine for years and is now pooping out.I go on Effexor Monday.After Pamalor,Effexor should be a walk in the park as far as side effects.People should do research on there own and take this forum with a grain of salt.Thank God for these drugs!My brother killed himself 20 years ago over depression and I have had a decent 20 years with them.I'm in great shape and should live a long time,but I have a problem that can be traced back a ways in my family.Quite a coincidence if not inherited.I'll let you know how it goes.My feeling after research is that this will work great for me.
Posted by Helaine on August 1, 2003, at 12:49:26
In reply to Re: Effexor for Menopause? needs help, posted by migrainegirl on August 1, 2003, at 8:49:38
Talk about being confused? Day 12 of Effexor 37.5 XR mg..primarily given to me for menopause and all the SE from this change of my life thrusted on me due to a hysterectomy!So, yesterday I learn my cholesterol is high and now I need to go on Lipitor 10 mg! So my dr says effexor is good for migraines which I have..yet lipitor can give you mingranes.He told me effexor will help my HOT flashes..effexor and lipitor both are known to give you HOT flushes..He told me effexor will not effect my sex drive..I now say.."what sex drive???"
Constipation from effexor..diarrhea from lipitor??? Lack of sleep from effexor..dizziness and weakness from lipitor..
I think I need an antidepressant just to take the effexor.I don't expect a miracle..Though it would
be NICE!!!! Howevever, all the confusion combined with my mental staus is to say the least very unnerving at this time. Although, I may seem to sound negetive..I really am going to give it a try. I see my dr. in a month. Hopefully, by then I wouldn't be walking backwards.
Thank you,
Helaine
Posted by John G. on August 1, 2003, at 13:07:07
In reply to Re: Is there anyone else who is only taking 37.5?, posted by redman on July 27, 2003, at 10:20:31
Has anyone experienced pee trouble? I looked at all the possible side effects and this one isn't listed. I have a history of Prostate problems and am taking medication for it. Effexor seems to make matters much worse.
jg
Posted by Gill Angel on August 1, 2003, at 15:40:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by harlie on August 1, 2003, at 12:01:33
> I am new.I have had depression my whole life.Pamalar(sp?)was my first drug in the mid 80's.It was a true miracle drug for me.3 weeks and I poped out of it.Being young when I was better I quit the meds.Looking back I should of stayed on them.I got better with Pamalor 5 times and then quit over a 10 year period.I was in my teens/twenties and there was a big stigma in our family.Welbuterin has worked fine for years and is now pooping out.I go on Effexor Monday.After Pamalor,Effexor should be a walk in the park as far as side effects.People should do research on there own and take this forum with a grain of salt.Thank God for these drugs!My brother killed himself 20 years ago over depression and I have had a decent 20 years with them.I'm in great shape and should live a long time,but I have a problem that can be traced back a ways in my family.Quite a coincidence if not inherited.I'll let you know how it goes.My feeling after research is that this will work great for me.
I appreciate that you have had a hard time of it but this drug is very wierd, I have started sleepwaliking after never having done that in my life. When u miss a dose or try to withdraw it gives u the most wierd feelings. It is very scary. Everyone I know accepts that I am normal now but everytime I try and cut down the drugs I go very bizarre. It's scary
Posted by zinya on August 1, 2003, at 17:19:40
In reply to Re: Hi Kim, posted by KimberlyDi on August 1, 2003, at 7:53:16
that's a good question - I know Nyia is but is also beginning to wonder and seeing her md again next week - she thinks she's having more migraines and problems now than before although she does recognize the bleekness is less. Daph still takes only the sporadic 1/6 :)! ... and Mercedes is still on... YankeeGirl just went up to 150 i think (it's hard to keep people straight) ... Cher and Susy are still only taking xanax as needed, but Cher's scheduled carpal tunnel surgery at last for the end of the month so that's going to be a biggie for her. .. As had started happening here, we almost never talk about drugs themselves anymore so that's why i come here still to post re Effexor and have only really kept talking about it offline in the "club" with Nyia...
But, KIM! you said nothing about yourself in response to my Q -- was that intentional evasion?? :)? How are you doing?
hugs,
zinya
Posted by zinya on August 1, 2003, at 17:22:56
In reply to Effexor and aspartame, posted by catachrest on August 1, 2003, at 9:16:53
Nothing about interaction. All i know is that two independent sources have suggested that aspertame turns into formaldehyde in the body. That was enough to make me stop drinking diet Coke.
:)
how's it going, Susan?
zinya
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 1, 2003, at 17:24:45
In reply to Re: Effexor for Menopause? needs help, posted by migrainegirl on August 1, 2003, at 8:49:38
> Have you read "What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Menopause?"
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by Tiger's Dad on August 1, 2003, at 17:37:05
In reply to Starting Effexor XR - Trouble Urinating!, posted by John G. on August 1, 2003, at 13:07:07
> Has anyone experienced pee trouble? I looked at all the possible side effects and this one isn't listed. I have a history of Prostate problems and am taking medication for it. Effexor seems to make matters much worse.
>
> jgI had that early on. It went away and never recurred though.
Posted by theo on August 2, 2003, at 16:09:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?-WITHDRAWL, posted by lethe on August 1, 2003, at 4:53:05
Okay, so I had to find out for myself. I only took Effexor XR 37.5mg for 3 weeks and 75mg for 4 days, then back down to 37.5mg. After four days I stopped and after 24 hours, have felt so uncomfortable as if the world is coming to an end, scared to be by myself, this is not fun at all!!! Paxil was nothing for me to stop and on such a low dose of Effexor XR, I didn't think I had much to worry about. Thank god a had some Prozac I never threw away and am trying 20mg of it with 10mg Atarax(hydroxyzine hcl) and I'm not so "scared" feeling right now. I haven't drank in several months and this is the closest I've come just to get some relief until this withdrawal goes away. I realize that will create more problems for me so I'm not but I have not experienced horrible feelings like this since coming off of a drinking binge. I never felt this bad not taking SSRI's, makes me wonder if I should see how life is without them. The withdrawal started about 7:00pm last night, 8-1-03 and it's about 4:00pm now. I thought about breaking open a 37.5mg and taking half but at this point since the intensity is decreasing I think I'll ride it out with the Prozac and Atarax. I've gone back and forth with several SSRI's but will never swallow Effexor XR again!!! This is just my experience, I know everyone's different.
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