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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by notfred on September 1, 2006, at 22:11:17
In reply to Re: effexor... urination problems???? » alimae, posted by Elroy on August 31, 2006, at 15:46:03
This is less a side effect and more a primary effect. This effect is not uncommon in AD's effecting norepinephrine. Common effects are vasoconstriction, increased heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output; norepinephrine (Levophed)is used for some medical crisises due to these effects. Norepinephrine has effects on mood but is also a key player in all things cardiac. All AD's that effect norepinephrine have the potential to raise heart rate and blood pressure. For me urination problems were/are start up effects with Effexor and any other AD that effects norepinephrine; it went away with time.
Posted by vanni on September 2, 2006, at 13:23:55
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Thanks to everyone for participating on this website. When I started EffexorXR 5 months ago it was reassuring to hear other people's experiences (even though some did freak me out!). I am 53 and am taking 75mg Effexor, 50mg of trazadone at night and have a low dose estrogen patch...I call it my menopause cocktail! I have never taken any psychotropic medication before. Prior to this combo I was very anxious, couldn't sleep, had night sweats, was irritable, cried easily, my memory was lousy and I had trouble focussing. I was worried I was not doing my job well and that I shouldn't be driving. Well now I feel like a million bucks! I am sleeping at least 7 hours, have energy, feel calm and optimistic most of the time, can think straight, can laugh again, and am more active. I think I have had a low level of anxiety and depression my whole life and didn't know it. I think about how it might be when I have to go off all these drugs (if I have to) but that is not today and I am grateful to be enjoying my life again.
Vanni
Posted by invisibleman15010 on September 2, 2006, at 15:47:09
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by vanni on September 2, 2006, at 13:23:55
Wow..that's great to hear. I am on my 4th day at restarting 75mg of Effexor XR. First two days were not bad at all, today I feel pretty wiped out. More or less like flue symptons. Today was the first day in a long time that I was not able to force myself to exercise after breakfast, just went back to bed. But, I have high hopes that in a few days it will pass. I had some luck on Effoxor about 1 and half years ago, but quit after reading to much about horrible withdrawl stories, plus my cholestorol did sky rocket and my family has a serious heart disease history on both sides. I easily weaned myself off of effexor and got my cholesterol back down on Omega 3 and Niacin as my Dr. did not want to add a statin to my new med. cocktail that followed Effexor......well the first step on my way to getting well is started, restarting Effexor, the second is over too, making the commitment to have ECT and going through the prescreening.
e
Posted by vanni on September 2, 2006, at 18:06:50
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » vanni, posted by invisibleman15010 on September 2, 2006, at 15:47:09
To e,
I felt a bit nauseous and really revved up for the first few days (started with 37.5 mg for three weeks) and needed the trazadone to be able to sleep at all. I lost my appetite and lost some weight at first. All of that settled down after 3 weeks and I went up to 75mg and felt even better. I can't drink much coffee or other caffienated drinks as I get too speedy. I know it's time to eat (I usually eat three healthy meals a day) because I start to feel a bit nauseous. I also get this chirping sound in my left ear every once in awhile that is weird but not a problem! As well as feeling emotionally better I have noticed that tension I used to get in my upper back doesn't happen anymore. I also have had left leg pain due to a herniated disc and that is less intense. Brain chemistry is pretty amazing!Vanni
Posted by HOPEFULL on September 2, 2006, at 18:23:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by vanni on September 2, 2006, at 13:23:55
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT, I JUST STARTED TAKING EFFOREX AND STOP TAKING IT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT LET ME SLEEP AND THEN I READ ALL THESE COMMENTS AND IT JUST SCARED ME, SO I STOP TAKING IT AND NOW TODAY AFTER READING YOUR COMMENT, I STARTED AGAIN,BUT TELL ME HOW LONG DID IT TAKE BEFORE YOU STARTED FEEELING POSITIVE? AND TAKING TRAZONE DOES IT LET YOU SLEEP ALL NIGHT OR DO YOU WAKE UP AND HAVE A HARD TIME GOING BACK TO SLEEP? AND DID YOU GAIN ANY WEIGHT? THANK YOU
Posted by HOPEFULL on September 2, 2006, at 18:25:02
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by vanni on September 2, 2006, at 13:23:55
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT, I JUST STARTED TAKING EFFOREX AND STOP TAKING IT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT LET ME SLEEP AND THEN I READ ALL THESE COMMENTS AND IT JUST SCARED ME, SO I STOP TAKING IT AND NOW TODAY AFTER READING YOUR COMMENT, I STARTED AGAIN,BUT TELL ME HOW LONG DID IT TAKE BEFORE YOU STARTED FEEELING POSITIVE? AND TAKING TRAZONE DOES IT LET YOU SLEEP ALL NIGHT OR DO YOU WAKE UP AND HAVE A HARD TIME GOING BACK TO SLEEP? AND DID YOU GAIN ANY WEIGHT? THANK YOU
Posted by vanni on September 2, 2006, at 20:33:49
In reply to Re: VANNI, posted by HOPEFULL on September 2, 2006, at 18:25:02
I had more energy right away. It was a couple of weeks later I added the trazadone and my sleep then began to improve. My mood improved gradually, especially when I got more regular sleep. I began with 25mg of trazadone and that wasn't enough. I have settled at 50mg. Most nights I sleep through, but if I wake up I can go back to sleep. I rarely get that middle of the night anxiety, and if I get it at all it passes more quickly and I don't feel wrecked the next day.
Vanni
Posted by invisibleman15010 on September 3, 2006, at 8:28:57
In reply to Re: VANNI, posted by HOPEFULL on September 2, 2006, at 18:25:02
Just like most of the meds. , they all effect us differently. So strange, starting effoxor again, I am wiped out and others it makes anxious, just like Paxil, regular wellbutrin and Zoloft did to me. I hope this passes for me in a few days, as I like to workout everyday and eat healthy also. This I can handle if it passes in a week or so. Paxil had me on the floor, puking, shaking all over, brain zaps...yadah......and Yes, I was scared off of Effoxor the first time I tried it by reading the posts.......so one has to be careful and try to balance out the comments and remember they are relating others experiances, not necessarily something that will happen to you. Restarting Effoxor is the prelude for ECT for me. I will post my experiances........if I remember how to...good luck to all....hang in there...there has to be life out there for us....
e
Posted by Galennt on September 3, 2006, at 14:17:29
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.
Hi,After trying numerous other meds with no success Effexor yanked me out of a deep five month depressive episode. Thirteen years later my dose is higher than it was at the beginning, but it is still working. I switched to XR when it came out, to reduce side effects. I know several other people who are doing well on Effexor. It sometimes gets a bad press, here among other places, but it worked for me when nothing else would.
Good luck,
gt
Posted by corafree on September 3, 2006, at 17:25:20
In reply to Re: New header/old topic » corafree, posted by Phillipa on August 28, 2006, at 21:01:27
Hi Phillipa!
Yep ... I'm pretty sure that was 'mania'. Didn't like, couldn't handle.
Checking email. Been sick.
Will get in touch.
love, cf
Posted by corafree on September 3, 2006, at 19:16:20
In reply to Re: effexor... urination problems????, posted by alimae on August 31, 2006, at 13:43:03
All I can say is, I took different AD once and had the same thing happen. Don't recall what AD. I know it was before Effexor or Effexor-XR made its debut.
I had to go to an ER and be catheterized.
I believe it's a nervous system thing related to some chemical or combination of chemicals ... causing stress/spasm. I wonder if it will go away. Feelin' like ya gotta go, and can't, is a horrible feeling.
Good luck.
bestwishes, cf
Posted by Phillipa on September 3, 2006, at 20:14:36
In reply to Re: New header/old topic » Phillipa, posted by corafree on September 3, 2006, at 17:25:20
Thanks I miss you and have a lot of questions for you. So I'll wait til I hear from you to e-mail. And don't forget to tell what you were sick from Love Phillipa
Posted by chickey on September 5, 2006, at 14:58:24
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I am new to this whole thing and my husband doesn't want me on any drugs. I have been on this for a month and am starting to feel better but have no support to help me out. I am hoping to find some here!
Posted by TKaz on September 6, 2006, at 21:31:32
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by chickey on September 5, 2006, at 14:58:24
I too am new to effexorXR and will be following this thread to see how it affects new people like me. I have been on other meds before (Celexa was one), and they helped. Each time (a couple of years apart) I am go for help with depression, I get a new one. So I guess Effexor is it this time. I know I'm drepressed, but believe it may be related to surgical menopause. Anyway, any help I can get, I'll take it.
Posted by cristyleigh on September 7, 2006, at 13:29:35
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by chickey on September 5, 2006, at 14:58:24
> I am new to this whole thing and my husband doesn't want me on any drugs. I have been on this for a month and am starting to feel better but have no support to help me out. I am hoping to find some here!
I started on Effexor just yesterday but I had been on Lexapro for about 4 months previous (serious weight gain caused a change). Anyway, my husband fought me tooth and nail before I just stopped listening to him and went to the doctor anyway. My depression/anxiety wasn't severe but it was causing me internal misery and I was being pretty distant/mean to my family. Steve thought that I should be able to handle it by myself since it was "all in my head"....according to him. Once I went against him and actually got help he was very pleased with the results and happy that I chose to listen to my body and not him. Give your husband time to come around. Once he sees the change in you he should just be thankful that you have a mind of your own and can use it! Feel free to email me anytime if you just want to vent or unload...I'm a great listener. crihawk@hotmail.com
Posted by dbc on September 8, 2006, at 1:00:32
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by cristyleigh on September 7, 2006, at 13:29:35
I did the whole california rocket fuel thing Effexor/Remeron. While its certainly the most potent and extreme conventional anti depressant experiance i've had in my life it didnt do much. It left me in a perpetual dream world where i was insulated from the outside world but i still wasnt well or very functional. I guess any improvement i showed was due simply to the fact that my poor brain was getting assaulted by massive amounts of neurotransmitters.
Also the effexor withdrawl was by far the worst drug experiance of my life. I did everything by the book and slowly lowered the dose over a month+ and i still went into full on discontinuation syndrome. Oh well, thats what i get for playing with fire i suppose.
Posted by corafree on September 8, 2006, at 6:23:07
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by TKaz on September 6, 2006, at 21:31:32
Hi. Just want to tell you my OB-GYN (a top doc in a big city and very into hormone stuff) brought up Effexor-XR re: my hot flashes just a couple wks ago. I suffered w/ PMDD, now in surgical menopause, was on plant-based estradiol valerate .. mood lifting but appetite inducing, so went back to synthetic estrogen in patch form. Good luck 2u.
bestwishes, cf
Posted by tiredguy on September 8, 2006, at 13:38:22
In reply to Re: effexor... urination problems????, posted by notfred on September 1, 2006, at 22:11:17
I have not been back to this site of over a year (so that's a sign of how Effexor worked for me).
I fought severe depression for over three years. I knew about ADs from a bout I had ten years earlier (as well as my wife’s experiences with it). The first thing I said when I walked into the Ps office was “I’ll try anything except Efexxor”. And that’s what I did. Nothing worked. After two years of this I gave in and tried Effexor. I have been taking 150 mgs for a year now and have not had any symptoms of depression.
In the process of looking for a solution I discovered two things. I have a hypo-active thyroid and very low testosterone. These are both things that can intensify depression (or as my GP says “I’ve got the triple whammy”). I now take medications for these. I also take 100 mg. of Welbutron in the morning.
Unfortunately, during my two years in hell, I developed a bad habit. I need to take 2mgs of Ativan to sleep at night. Yes, I am a benzo addict. My P is not concerned about it and is not in a hurry to have me “kick the habbit”.
I have had two major side effects that continue to haunt me.
One is that I am very fatigued all the time. To fight this, I have tried every stimulate you can name (my medicine cabinet is a college student’s dream!). Provigil helps and I occasionally take Adderal or Dexodrine or Ridiline. I’m not happy with any of these so I remain tired.
Second side effect, total death to the “neather regions”. I’m 46, have kids; so it’s not that bad. Wish it wasn’t true but I can deal with it.Over all. I feel really good (for a junkie)! Popping lots of pills a day is not a fun thing but it’s worth it if I can stay in the light. I can’t tell you what it’s like to get off Effexor; my P does not want me to try. I may try it anyway in a year or so.
Posted by Ts6639 on September 9, 2006, at 13:02:02
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » TKaz, posted by corafree on September 8, 2006, at 6:23:07
I was resistant initially to the Effexor. Didn't like the postings on the withdrawl, but my depression has gotten to the dangerous point. I just took my first dose. I'm lucky to have a husband who supports me (in the past he was resistant and then he saw how the medicine treats the depression and improves the quality of my life). Now if I can just remember once I start feeling better not to stop taking it. Let me know how you do. I'll do the same.
Posted by BB1969 on September 9, 2006, at 13:09:02
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Ts6639 on September 9, 2006, at 13:02:02
Good luck. While on Effexor XR, my mood was great, no depression. Just beware of the side effects and if you start having other problems, go to your doctor immediately. I just can't see the point in having to take 4 other medicines to counteract the effects of the Effexor on me. Maybe you will never be bothered with high cholesterol, hyperglycemia (diabetes), restless leg syndrome, and exhaustion just to name a few. Again, mentally, I was great.
Posted by Ts6639 on September 9, 2006, at 13:17:59
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by BB1969 on September 9, 2006, at 13:09:02
The doctor also has me on Adderal and Valium if needed. Haven't needed the valium yet. If one of the side effects of effexor is fatigue, has anyone used it in conjunction with a stimulant? and if so did it help?
Posted by corafree on September 9, 2006, at 13:41:32
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Ts6639 on September 9, 2006, at 13:17:59
<If one of the side effects of effexor is fatigue>
Don't let TPOS getcha! I had no physical side effects on Effexor-XR, except maybe weight stabilization and I liked that. I drink lots of good coffee. In fact, I'm gonna' drink some now. I apologize if I'm being too blunt today, but I lost my mind last night and am kind of enjoying being mindless this morning and will prob' be poking fun at about everything until I find my mind again. Even 'this bad coffee, as good hasn't arrived from Idaho yet', will taste good. OMG did I need my Xanax last night. Big stuff in my life happening. Effexor-XR is, again, the one and only AD that helped my anxiety and 'my anxiety is wicked'!
behappee, cf
Posted by tedhazzard on September 10, 2006, at 23:29:02
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Amy on May 4, 2000, at 19:52:15
This has been the time for hell as I complete my withdrawl from Effexor. It is hard to pinpoint which symptoms come from deciding not to take the drug any longer and which come from my pitiful life circumstances, but after reading these posts, I believe I can isolate a few. I struggled long and hard to lose 30 pounds that I had gained while taking Zoloft a few years ago, then began taking Effexor 150 because my doctor said it did not cause weight gain. In little more than a year, I had gained back the 30 lbs but did not associate it with the drug even though my eating habits did not warrant the huge weight gain. My face and my stomach were the most noticeably changed and most disgusting to me. For the past year, I have had sudden painful leg cramps that literally knocked me out of a deep sleep and out of bed. Walking eased the cramps. If I forgot the medication for even one day, I had extremely unpleasant and vivid dreams/nightmares that bothered me for days after. During the night I also sometimes had what felt like an electric zap in my brain that also woke me suddenly. Otherwise, the medication made me feel just fine, so why would I quit this delightful experiment on my brain you might ask. I could no longer afford it after losing my job, so I simply stopped taking it. For the past two weeks, I have realized the wisdom of not having a gun in the house. Had it been near, I might have used it to end the unending agony of anxiety that makes up my day. Add to that the constant trips to the bathroom, following long periods of constipation while still on the drug. Then there is that "brain freeze" that makes me feel like the village idiot. Add to this a total lack of purpose and anger and extreme sadness and you have my life as I withdraw from Effexor.
Posted by corafree on September 11, 2006, at 12:04:24
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by tedhazzard on September 10, 2006, at 23:29:02
I'm so, so sorry, for what you have gone through and are going through, and hope you feel better with each new day. I've heard of your symptoms in more than a handful of others either 'on', or 'withdrawing from', THE GREAT (Almost right up there w/ Prozac!) ... Effexor-XR. Okay I'm making fun; I'm sorry. This is NOT funny. I'm seriously, totally w/ you th, and I hope you feel better day by day.
There should be peeps here that have gone through what you're going through th, and can suggest some 'remedies' for lingering bad effects(?). Couple yrs back I was sitting here babbling about the exact same Effexor-XR stuff! I've never been to archives here, but it's here somewhere.
thingsBbetter, cf
Posted by invisibleman15010 on September 11, 2006, at 16:27:02
In reply to Re: withdrawal » tedhazzard, posted by corafree on September 11, 2006, at 12:04:24
I quit Effexor XR about a year and half ago after my cholesterol skyrocketed and only had limited benefit for my depression and none for anxiety. As I have gone through many meds after, I thought I would try Effexor again as I begin the med workups for ECT. My first couple of days, no side effects , after that now on my 13th day, the side effects are much worse, they started about the 5th day, I thought they would pass, no luck, severe lethargy, flu like symptons, no energy, depression worse, anxiety worse at night.......I am going to ask to go back to Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Remerons and Klonopin that I was on before, at my depression was stil there but I was able to exercise and do a few things. Maybe they would click with the ECT........having the flu 24/7 won't work.......down the toilet with a bottle of meds once again........insanity upon insanity...by the way...the first time I had no withdrawl symptons....I weaned myself off over about 2 months....
e
e
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