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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by wifeofarmyguy on February 9, 2006, at 0:33:48
In reply to Re: Please be civil steve3590, wifeofarmyguy, TinMan, posted by steve3590 on February 8, 2006, at 23:41:23
Steve, Honestly, I'm glad Effexor worked for you, and I hope it continues to work for a really long time.
I'm not bashing anyone for taking it or not, I just came to this forum looking for other people using the drug, and stopping the drug and I realize that others come to this forum because they are looking to take it or have been taking it and still are. I think we all need to just respect and understand that not all of us are here for the same reasons, so we all have different opinions and experiences and we should respect that.
I still do not appreciate you using me to try and come off as a funny guy. But hey that's just me.
Posted by FrannyGlass on February 9, 2006, at 1:33:53
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Below is an account of my three week and five day experience taking Effexor XR. Starting dose 35.7 mgs for one week, increasing to 75 mgs at week 2.
At first things were fine. Early in week three however I began to notice some problems. Today I'm nearing the end of my 3rd week and am now experiencing a dozen or more side effects, some of which are just too fierce for me bear. I've reduced the dose back to 35.7 and (with any luck) will be able to stop taking Effexor completely within 1-3 weeks. That's the plan anyway.
If you read the blow-by-blow account I've transcribed from my journal below you'll see that I have had a pretty bad exerience with this medication. But please keep in mind that just because it didn't work for me does not mean it wouldn't work beautifully for you; in fact it has worked wonders for many. I'm posting this as a portrait of my experience only (as well as to kill the hour I have to wait for the pharmacy to fill the Xanax prescription that my doc has called in). Anyway, as always YMMV.
::: ::: :::
Week 1. Nothing - no effects, good or bad.
Week 2. Nothing - no effects except (and this may be unrelated but I've never experienced anything like it before) I'm suddenly completely disgusted by the appearance of the wood grain in my desk. I can't stand to look at it; I have had to cover it up. Just thinking about it makes me shudder. Weird.
Week 3. Increasing dose as advised to 75 mgs. Nothing much is going on. I do feel sleepy during the day though.
Week 3, day 2 on 75 mgs. I'm developing quite a tremor in my hands. My balance is off--I'm stumbling a lot and bumping into furniture. My vision, for lack of a better way to explain it, is at once too fast and too slow when I move my eyes from one thing to another. I had night sweats last night. Am mildy nauseated and have no appetite. Quite thirsty but nothing seems to help.
Week 3, day 3: Tremor in hands increasing and now have sensation of trembling and shaking throughout body. Night sweats worsening. Dry mouth, dry eyes. Balance problems increasing. Visual disturbance (slow to reorient) when turing head is now constant and very bothersome. Heart rate up. I'm nervous, jumpy. Street noises, cars honking, kids playing, the muffled sound of TV in next room, all exacerbating nervous and jumpy feeling. Can't satiate thirst. Throat constricted, anxiety pretty high. Sore muscles in neck and shoulders.
Week 3, day 4: Reduced dose back to 35.7. Throat feels coated in wax, very tight and constricted. I cannot alleviate my thirst. Pulse is racing; sensations of skipping beats and odd fluttering in heart area. Weakness in limbs, tremor in hands much worse, and everywhere I feel a buzzing or bubbling as if my veins were filled with 7-UP. Nausea has fluctuated between mild and moderate, but today it's inching toward severe. More intense vertigo last night and today, especially as I begin to fall asleep. Last night in bed I felt a profound sense of dread as if I were free falling from a great height and SPINNING at the same time--definitely not fun. Continued spinning (as if I were stuck on the Teacup ride at Disneyland) off and on all night, plus sweating, nausea, waking up disoriented, off balance and stumbling as I tried to make my way to the bathroom. Bizarre dreams and even near nightmares, vaguely sexual and vaguely threatening, unpleasant to say the least.
Week 3. day 5: Unaccountable crying, sadness, gloom & doom, feelings of utter hopelessness--all clearly chemically induced as there's no reason for any of it. I haven't felt this bad in since I began taking Lexapro almost 2 years ago (10 mgs. to start then 20 mgs per day for 1 year). Lexapro banished 90 percent of my depression and I continue to take it to this day. Effexor was added to "boost" the effects of the Lexapro a bit, but really it wasn't necessary and I regret messing with it.
Week 3., day 5, part II: The worst yet: a tugging sensation at my heart as if it's being clutched or squeezed--very unpleasant--accompanied by vertigo: tight, Teacup ride spins. I'm off-the-charts nervous, totally off balance, stumbing around the house. Food tastes terrible. Ice water, soda, tea, milk all taste like baby powder and do nothing to quench thirst. Muscles in shoulders tight and seriously uncomfortable--I'm knotted up.
Week 3., day 5, part III in real time: I can't think straight; I'm in a muddle. Prescription for .5 mg Xanax is almost ready, pharmacy says about 20 minutes. Tearfulness, sad mood, anxiety and nervousness all at intolerable levels. This is what depression felt like before I took any antidepressant medications. I haven't had a panic attack yet but I feel I could any minute. I'm managing to keep half a grip on myself only because I recognize these symptoms as unhappy brain chemicals and nothing more and it will soon pass, but man it has NOT been easy.
Thanks for letting me divert myself while I waited for my Xanax to be filled. It's ready now; I hope I can drive. My hands feel tingly though I know I'm not hyperventilating. Well, wish me luck, and take care all.
PS
While it's true that YMMV, Efffexor is serious business. If your current meds are working well enough for you, I'd think twice before trying to fix what ain't broke.
Posted by jacobs on February 9, 2006, at 6:30:45
In reply to My non-success on Effexor XR » jp, posted by FrannyGlass on February 9, 2006, at 1:33:53
wow,that sounds scary. im really surprised how many people have had bad reactions to this med. i have been on it over a month now. the only side effect i have really noticed after the initial first couple weeks that is still going on is the focusing thing like if im reading then look at the tv then back at the book it takes a minute to focus back, but starting to think that is just the 40ish thing and may need reading glasses. i have the dream thing but it isnt bad, accually before the effexor my dreams were gray and kinda like impending doom, now they are colorful and mildly sexy and happy. i smile more and laugh and im not in my room crying from having panic attack after panic attack. it hasnt really helped with my phobias per say but it has helped with the depression part. but with having panic and reading all this bad stuff im starting to wonder if im the only one that this stuff is working for. and yes effexor is a serious drug just as all AD and may meds. xanax is a nasty med to come off of, believe me i know was addicted to it for 3 years and it was hell coming off of. and that was 10 years ago. back on it again so now when im over all this i got 2 meds i know are going to have withdraw from. but back to my point when i got on here and first started taking this med. what i read on here scared the crap out of me. i thought about stopping it, but now im glad i didnt. i feel more like myself again. meds effect people differently. prozac made me feel postal, i mean for real postal. and zoloft made me feel like a zombie. but for some people those 2 drugs are great for them. im just curious how many people here that the effexor is working good for? it is for me. anyone else?
Posted by crxsi on February 9, 2006, at 7:19:42
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by jacobs on February 9, 2006, at 6:30:45
Hi I had great success with effexor xr 75mg. The first three weeks I was on 37.5mg and had many side effects but stuck it out as it was the second drug I had tried. When it was increased it seemed the side effects went away. I have a little trouble falling asleep and I seem to need less sleep. I don't know if I should be taking it in the am or pm.
I t has worked wonderfull for me. I had GAD for four years and panic attacks. In december I had my first episode of depression. The depression is totally gone and I am having no more panic atttacks. There still is mild anxiety at times but nothing like before. I have not felt this great in years. I was terrified to take it but it saved my life. The anxiety had been starting to effect my work which terrifed me. My husband says I am happier and more talkative in a good way. I used to sit for hours and say nothing.
Glad to hear it is working for you!
Posted by 3djp on February 9, 2006, at 7:50:00
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by crxsi on February 9, 2006, at 7:19:42
i have been on the med almost six weeks. i seems to have worked for me also. i had my first big anxiety attack this past november. i still seem to get some attacks. but no as bad i am still hoping that these will go away. i had a big change in my life last year when i retired from the military after 25 years, and looking for a job and watching my father passing away just 2 weeks before i was to retire it all just caught to me. i too was scared to take this med because of the side effects. the only thing that i still have is ringing in the ears, my rate increases alittle and i wake up at time during the night. i started to change my life style i am back riding my bike, eating less fry foods, and started yoga(done 3 classes so far). it's been hard coming from the military to change at this time, but so it has been working. i am glad that you all have had success with this...
Posted by TylerJ on February 9, 2006, at 18:41:55
In reply to Re: will this help my sex life?? » joeriley, posted by ed_uk on February 7, 2006, at 13:28:42
somebody recommended PROZAC! Yes it will help with premature ejac. as a matter of fact you may not ejac at all-and that is not a good feeling at all...not to mention not healthy. I was on Prozac for 3 mos. and guess what I couldn't do for 3 mos. But everybody responds differently to dif. meds. Anyway good luck, and maybe check out some natural techniques before trying drugs. Check out some books on sex.
TylerJ
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 10, 2006, at 3:38:03
In reply to Re: Please be civil steve3590, wifeofarmyguy, TinMan, posted by TinMan on February 8, 2006, at 17:44:58
Posted by kmm on February 10, 2006, at 12:57:51
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Works Great for ME, posted by bangersgirl on February 6, 2006, at 20:23:31
I had almost all of the same symptoms that you are experiencing. The carb cravings and exhaustion were brutal!! It was like living in a fog. My doctor first increased the Effexor to 225 mgs which made the symptoms much worse. She then reduced the Effexor back to 150 and added 150 of Wellbutrin. I take both in the morning and feel really good. Nothing is perfect, of course, but I am much less tired, have a normal sex drive again and the carb cravings have reduced significantly. I have two small children, a spouse that travels 90% of the time and live in a foreign country, so being continuously exhausted just wouldn't work. Don't give up trying until you find what works for you! It's too early in the process to settle for symptoms that are making you so uncomfortable.
Good Luck!
Posted by ed_uk on February 10, 2006, at 15:17:58
In reply to Re: will this help my sex life??, posted by TylerJ on February 9, 2006, at 18:41:55
Hi
>somebody recommended PROZAC!
In the treatment of premature ejaculation, the dose of fluoxetine should be adjusted to achieve adequate supression of ejaculation without inducing anorgasmia.
Regards
Ed
Posted by TylerJ on February 10, 2006, at 20:21:02
In reply to Re: will this help my sex life?? » TylerJ, posted by ed_uk on February 10, 2006, at 15:17:58
sorry Ed...I didn't mean for it to sound like that. And your right, I didn't even think of dosage adjustment, duh! Take care.
Sincerely,
Tyler
Posted by ed_uk on February 11, 2006, at 7:36:05
In reply to Re: will this help my sex life??, posted by TylerJ on February 10, 2006, at 20:21:02
Hi Tyler
No problem :)
Ed
Posted by surfaced on February 13, 2006, at 1:25:22
In reply to My non-success on Effexor XR » jp, posted by FrannyGlass on February 9, 2006, at 1:33:53
ditto, the last 3 weeks and 5 days of insane increasing side effects that you mentioned are definetly not fun , they make me want to jump out of my skin ...calling my doc tomorow and requesting to be taken off of it and to get my xanax filled as well :)
Posted by 3djp on February 15, 2006, at 12:22:36
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR » FrannyGlass, posted by surfaced on February 13, 2006, at 1:25:22
Iam having issues with this med. I don't know to ask for an increase or to be taken off it and to be put on something else. I am on 75mg for 6 weeks now. I still get attacks mainly in my stomach feels like a knot. I found my mind stuck on something that I didn't want to think about. Bad thing about that it had nothing to do with me. I thought this med was to allow you to turn your mind off when you don't want to think of things? Any help???
Posted by crxsi on February 15, 2006, at 15:35:25
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by 3djp on February 9, 2006, at 7:50:00
Hi don't give up yet 75mg is a very low dose. I was on 75mg until this monday when the DR. increased it to 112.5mg. The 75mg helped my panic attacks and depression but I was still having some anxiety. Also I learned from this site that low doses have very little effect on dopamine where as higher doses have more affect.
Posted by 3djp on February 17, 2006, at 12:07:39
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by crxsi on February 15, 2006, at 15:35:25
> Hi don't give up yet 75mg is a very low dose. I was on 75mg until this monday when the DR. increased it to 112.5mg. The 75mg helped my panic attacks and depression but I was still having some anxiety. Also I learned from this site that low doses have very little effect on dopamine where as higher doses have more affect.
Thank you for the information. I have a doctor visit today and I will ask about this. Again thank you.
Posted by jacobs on February 17, 2006, at 15:13:17
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by 3djp on February 17, 2006, at 12:07:39
ok im trying to figure out the best time to take this, any sugestions? i take it now arround 6:00pm and cant go to sleep till arround 1 or 2 in the morning. thanks! tonya
Posted by demon_child_cin-666 on February 17, 2006, at 16:56:26
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by jacobs on February 17, 2006, at 15:13:17
I'm bipolar and my original phsychiatrist and I took more than 5 yrs to find a mixture of medications that was good enough to let me live my live again. In August of '04 he left the province for a new job. Both of us thought that I was doing very well, so he didn't bother to set me up with one of the people that were taking on his workload. At the time I was fine with this. I had been working since Jan of '03 and had already dealt with some issues that would have knocked me on my *ss just 2 yrs before. We both thought That I'd be fine, and I could always get a referal to a new dr, if I felt I needed to. In November of '04 I noticed that I couldn't do my budgeting, which for me is big, because even when I couldn't work I could always do my budgeting. I know that this episode of my bipolar started before I noticed this, so I started asking for help. Finally on April 1st of '05 I was seen by the new phsychiatrist that my GP had referred me to. (yeah, April Fool's Day, I shold have known better.) Immediately he took me off of the Gabapentin that I had been taking, and put me on the Effexor XR. He started at the lowest dose and after that there was an extremely rapid increase. Each time that I saw him I told him that the pills were not making me feel better, I was actually feeling worse; nausea, dry mouth, insomnia, hyperactivity, etc.. By Aug '05 I was getting sick(puking)almost everyday. When I told my dr this he sent me for a blood test to check my Lithium levels, which had not been done since before my other phsychiatrist left. He phoned me back that day and told me to stop taking the Lithium immediately, because my levels were toxic (hence the puking). Lithium is one of the best balancers that I have ever come across, in the 12 years that I have been treated for bipolar. I did not agree with this but I wanted to believe that he was doing what was best for me. He increased the Effexor XR again (4x150mg/day). My moods started to swing like an acrobat in the circus. Some days I was amazing, other days you couldn't even look at me with out me crying or tearing your head off. At the start of Feb '06 I made my husband take me to the ER because if I had stayed home I know I would have hurt myself or someone else. I had enough medication at home to kill an elephant, nevermind a person. I realized that it was the Effexor XR that was doing this to me. (it took you long enough, stupid). The mobile crisis unit came to see me and the ER dr. and finally my phsychiatrist. He said that he would take my file home that night and review it, We had a meeting on Monday. As of Sunday, I did not take any more Effexor and I also stopped taking the sleeping pills that he had to put me on to make me sleep, while taking that crap. I went cold turkey. On the Monday I returned all of my remaining trazadone and Effexor to my shrink and told him to write me a prescription for lithium and something to control my highs. The stupid *sshole had me on 2 Antidepressants and I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. Now that I'm off the Effexor I know that there was nothing wrong with me that couldn't be fixed if I only had a doctor that listened.
Cindy
> ok im trying to figure out the best time to take this, any sugestions? i take it now arround 6:00pm and cant go to sleep till arround 1 or 2 in the morning. thanks! tonya
Posted by pattyu on February 17, 2006, at 16:59:49
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Works Great for ME, posted by steve3590 on February 7, 2006, at 23:23:47
I have been taking 150 mg once a day for about 4 months, it just started really working about 2-3 weeks ago. I just woke up one day and was the old me and still wake up every day like that. I have lost 25 lbs., and my sex life could not be better.
Posted by crxsi on February 17, 2006, at 19:58:45
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by jacobs on February 17, 2006, at 15:13:17
I was the same as you but now I take it first thing in the am and just recently was able to go to bed at a normal time. I was going to bed between 1and 3. It took a week to get my sleep pattern back to normal.
Posted by bangersgirl on February 17, 2006, at 20:24:29
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by crxsi on February 17, 2006, at 19:58:45
definitely take your meds in the AM. That gives them a chance to work on you all day, hence the XR which is extended release, right?! I take mine in the morning but I do find that I could nap everyday around 5 to 6 hours after taking it. I have to really fight to stay busy. Seen a "mental health nurse". He suggested that I get my GP to also prescribe Wellbutrin to take in the evenings. He also suggested that I consider Prozac and talk to GP about it. Going to also request a referral to a psychiatrist.
Posted by demon_child_cin-666 on February 17, 2006, at 23:18:11
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by bangersgirl on February 17, 2006, at 20:24:29
> definitely take your meds in the AM. That gives them a chance to work on you all day, hence the XR which is extended release, right?! I take mine in the morning but I do find that I could nap everyday around 5 to 6 hours after taking it. I have to really fight to stay busy. Seen a "mental health nurse". He suggested that I get my GP to also prescribe Wellbutrin to take in the evenings. He also suggested that I consider Prozac and talk to GP about it. Going to also request a referral to a psychiatrist.
I took 2x150mg in the morning and 2x150mg in the evening. Plus, 1-150mg Wellbutrin 2x a day. The first day that I started taking Effexor XR my appetite went from 60 to 0 in 3 hrs. I stopped caring if I ate at all, and sometimes I wouldn't eat for more than 24 hours without it bothering me in the least. I had to be put on Trazadone, it keeps you asleep (if you can fall asleep), and I had some Valium which my phsychiatrist told me to take right before bed. Some times I was so revved up, even though I took the Trazadone, that I'd be awake for close to 48hrs or more and not feel grouchy or tired. You are right though, I lost a lot of weight. Not eating definitely helped me shed pounds. I went from weighing around 198lbs to 137lbs in 10 months. I was NOT, I repeat NOT, exercising or on a proper diet. This drug is not safe for many people. Be careful taking it. Speak to your Pharmacists, they can help.
Posted by Patricia Risi on February 17, 2006, at 23:26:20
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by jacobs on February 17, 2006, at 15:13:17
> ok im trying to figure out the best time to take this, any sugestions? i take it now arround 6:00pm and cant go to sleep till arround 1 or 2 in the morning. thanks! tonya
I used to take Effexor(some in the morning and some in the late afternoon/evening) and when I took it I also found it difficult to sleep...even when I did fall asleep I found that i'd wake up throughout the night. Sleeping pills would make me feel groggy and i have a 9month old son. I was taking zopiclone and my doctor suggested taking half instead of a whole 7.5mg pill (just snap it in half) if this dosnt work I also take melatonin with it. I havnt had a problem since. It really is all about trying different options and not being afraid to speak up if something isnt working for you. I had heard the term "finding the right recipe" before and it is true. It takes a long time to get it right. I have had a brain tumor half my life and solid depression for the past 5 years....still not found the exact "recipe" but am getting closer. Having the responsibility of a baby has actually really made me feel both sick with anxiety and also almost completely free of depression at times. I think keeping the mind busy(both challenged and stimulated with things that get you excited to get up and outside) and sometimes the right "recipe" is needed on top of that...its all trial and error. I wish everyone good health and happiness!!
Posted by Patricia Risi on February 17, 2006, at 23:40:33
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by bangersgirl on February 17, 2006, at 20:24:29
> definitely take your meds in the AM. That gives them a chance to work on you all day, hence the XR which is extended release, right?! I take mine in the morning but I do find that I could nap everyday around 5 to 6 hours after taking it. I have to really fight to stay busy. Seen a "mental health nurse". He suggested that I get my GP to also prescribe Wellbutrin to take in the evenings. He also suggested that I consider Prozac and talk to GP about it. Going to also request a referral to a psychiatrist.
I was taking 225mg of Effexor XR in the morning along with 200mg of Wellbutrin in the morning and 200mg of Wellbutrin in the evening (I took it in two separate doses because there is a seizure risk and I have seizures from brain surgery. Anyone else could probably take the whole dose in the morning) Along with a lot of other meds that I take (celexa, dexedrine, tegretol cr, topomax,zopiclone) I take my celexa effexor, half the wellbutrin in the morning - and when I was taking the effexor I also took that in the morning. I felt fine as long as I didnt take any of my meds right before bedtime (even the zopiclone I took an hour before bed and not after 11pm). So basically after all that what I meant to tell you is that Wellbutrin is a great med to be on...I dont notice any bad side effects....effexor...well thats another story...I took myself off of that one....did more harm than good for me. Its worth it to try everything for yourself at least once though (assuming your doctor has prescribed it for you!) You never know...one drug may be your nightmare and might end up saving the next persons life. My doctor also told me that being on Celexa before being on Effexor helps with the nausea....I had tried Effexor before and stopped it after 2 days because of the nausea...this last time (after being on Celexa for over a year) I ended up staying on Effexor for at least 5 months before the side effects are what led me to go off of it...not its ineffectiveness. So if Effexor is hard for you to start but you'd like to start it...then try Celexa beforehand for a few months...it might make it easier. Sorry...I tend to ramble on....I know I got off the topic a long ways back but I just remembered that about Effexor.
Posted by tizza on February 17, 2006, at 23:55:15
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by Patricia Risi on February 17, 2006, at 23:40:33
effexor sucks, it should be illegal. I hate it.
Posted by Patricia Risi on February 18, 2006, at 3:01:58
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by tizza on February 17, 2006, at 23:55:15
> effexor sucks, it should be illegal. I hate it.
I dont blame you...i said the same thing. I phoned my doctor and left a msg on his machine saying I was taking myself off of it and within a week I was off. I had lots of bad side effects...its by far the worst i've ever been put on. How can eczema, vision problems and absolutely no memory be in any way a good thing?? Its not thats why it sucks and no one should take it unless there is absolutely no alternative
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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