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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 0:01:03
I have been under an extreme amount of stress over the past two months. I got to the point that I knew I needed some help coping so I made an appointment with my doctor. She gave me a low dose Effexor XR "starter kit" plus a prescription with 1 refill.
I have been taking this for 6 days and the change is amazing. I feel much better already.
The only down side is occasional the sleepiness and a little stomach irritation. I feel calmer and much more refreshed when I wake up in the morning.
However, after surfing the net for some feed back regarding withdrawal symtoms, I am afraid to continue taking Effexor XR. The reported brain shocks really scare me. Since I have only taken it for a few days, I'm thinking of stopping and trying something more natural like St John's Wort. Has anyone experienced bad side effects by going off effexor cold turkey?
Posted by awatts on March 23, 2004, at 6:30:04
In reply to Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 0:01:03
> However, after surfing the net for some feed back regarding withdrawal symtoms, I am afraid to continue taking Effexor XR. The reported brain shocks really scare me. Since I have only taken it for a few days, I'm thinking of stopping and trying something more natural like St John's Wort. Has anyone experienced bad side effects by going off effexor cold turkey?
Don't let those people scare you! If, at some time, you want to stop or reduce the Effexor XR, don't do it cold turkey. Taper off over many weeks. If Effexor works for you, I'd stay with it. You may want to adjust the dosage from time to time, but do this very slowly. I take 300mg of Effexor XR per day. It works for me.
Posted by T_R_D on March 23, 2004, at 9:45:43
In reply to Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 0:01:03
Don't be afraid. Effexor is a very good drug and has helped a lot of people (present company included.) As far as the discontinuation effects go, cross that bridge when/if you come to it. There's a great tip for coming off...take a few days' worth of Prozac. It has a much longer half life and carries you through. I've done it before and it's fantastic. Trust me, if you have to come off the Effexor, you'll be able to do it...I've done it more than once and survived!
Posted by sjb on March 23, 2004, at 9:52:00
In reply to Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 0:01:03
First, you have to be careful drawing conclusions soley based on experiences your read online. It's the nature of the beast that you'll hear more negative comments than postive ones on ANY drug on forums such as this one. There are exceptions, of course. For myself, I've found that I frequent this board more frequently when I'm on a backslide, want to vent, etc. When I doing well, I tend to not come hear as often.
Second, yes those shocks are a little weird but that wouldn't be my biggest concern. Third, withdrawal is not a problem until you get up to the higher dosages, something like 150mg per day or more. EffexorXR has been one of the best drugs for me, but it pooped out. I have been off and on it a few times at dosages ranging from the starter dose of 37.5 to 450mg per day. Coming off of 450mg was not a walk in the park, let me tell you, but I had no trouble coming off of 75mg and even 150mg cold turkey. Not that I recommend doing this without Dr's advice, esp. from 150mg!!! (A lot of people have had trouble coming off of 150mg even with a conservative taper). I just think that if you went up to 75mg and decided it wasn't the drug for you, tapering to 37.5 for a while, just to be safe, would not cause you much withdrawal problems. One thing to be on the lookout for is an elevation of BP. You may want to monitor your BP (easily done for free at most drug stores) for a while before you make a decision on Effexor. Good luck.
a backslide.
Posted by Bill LL on March 23, 2004, at 10:34:05
In reply to Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 0:01:03
TRD is correct. People who take Prozac while weaning off of Effexor seem to have less problems.
Please do not go off of the Effexor.
Posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 11:34:17
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Bill LL on March 23, 2004, at 10:34:05
Thanks for all the encouragement and advice! Yes, some people are posting some pretty scary things on this forum. As someone who has very little experience with anti depressant meds, it can be frightening. I have read much about St John's Wart and it is supposed to do a great job
without the drug side effects. There's also a natural product called "Prime One" that I'm going to try. HBP runs in our family so that's another big concern. I'll try the Prozac for a few days. THANKS AGAIN!
Posted by harryp on March 23, 2004, at 11:37:24
In reply to Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 0:01:03
It sounds like the Effexor is working very well for you. I would continue to take it.
Remember that the stories about withdrawl here are often worst-case scenarios. Some people have no problems with withdrawl, or not anything too severe, expecially if they have help.
I have been very bothered by the way in which the mfg of Effexor has not seriously addressed the issue of withdrawl. Nevertheless, this drug is regarded as one of the best AD's.
Your response to this drug sounds so good, that I would not worry about the withdrawl.
Posted by pretty_paints on March 23, 2004, at 11:52:20
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by harryp on March 23, 2004, at 11:37:24
hello
I'm starting on Effexor tommorrow. I was on prozac before and relatively happy with that, but wasnt working v.well, so now I'm starting on this. Dont worry, when my doc prescribed Venlafaxine, I was all "hmm whats the generic name for this? Its not effexor is it...?" and he was like "yeh thats it!" and I COMPLETELY freaked out! Then he was worried about prescribing it for me, wondering what good it would do if I was so gonna be so adamently negetive about it!
But now I'v learnt to trust my doctor. He was right about prozac, it really did help, at least to some extent. And often I think the angust (is that spelt right? eek. who knows) we have at the beginning is just (well for me anyway) the depression talking and a little bit of anxiety lumped in for good measure. The reality is, things are always going to seem 100 times more scary from our side of the fence. And I'm certainly not trying to take anything away from those people who have horrendous withdrawal symptoms with Effexor. But I dunno, sometimes I think you just need to take a leap of faith. If you're anything like me, you'll spend about 5 centuries researching every medicine you're given before you take a single pill of it! But sometimes, I dunno, maybe its better just to trust your doc and see what happens.
By the way, Iv taken St.Johns Wart in the past and it didnt really help. That was only my experience though.
I'll keep in touch when I start on the effexor. Fingers crossed..! eeeek
xxxxx
Posted by CareBear04 on March 23, 2004, at 12:17:39
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by pretty_paints on March 23, 2004, at 11:52:20
Like everyone else said, if Effexor works for you, I would take it! It's so hard sometimes to find an AD that actually works, so I wouldn't hesitate to stick with something that does. Definitely don't stop taking it cold turkey, though. I did that after taking Effexor for six months, and the withdrawal was awful. I feel pretty confident, though, that if I'd tapered off properly, I wouldn't have had a hard time.
Posted by Dirtylowdown4 on March 24, 2004, at 8:18:36
In reply to Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 0:01:03
When I found this bulletin board and read the comments about the nightmarish Effexor withdrawl symptoms I thought "this won't happen to me - I'm not like these people". I believed that they were all exaggerating. And then I stopped cold turkey just to see for myself and wow was I in for a surprise! It was as bad as everyone described! And the withdrawal symptoms lasted several days after I started taking it again. At this point it's been helping me tremendously with my depression and I try not to think about going off it and the inevitable withdrawal symptoms but now I'm past the point of no return and know what I will eventually have to deal with when I stop. This bulletin board offers a wealth of personal experiences but again it bares repeating - every person's experience is different and users have reported experiencing completely opposite side affects from one another. When I finally stop taking this medication for good I'm sure I will go back and review the helpful suggestions of others who have posted here and who have tried to wean themselves off while trying to lessen the horrible side affects. Good luck with whatever you ultimately decid to do!
> I have been under an extreme amount of stress over the past two months. I got to the point that I knew I needed some help coping so I made an appointment with my doctor. She gave me a low dose Effexor XR "starter kit" plus a prescription with 1 refill.
> I have been taking this for 6 days and the change is amazing. I feel much better already.
> The only down side is occasional the sleepiness and a little stomach irritation. I feel calmer and much more refreshed when I wake up in the morning.
> However, after surfing the net for some feed back regarding withdrawal symtoms, I am afraid to continue taking Effexor XR. The reported brain shocks really scare me. Since I have only taken it for a few days, I'm thinking of stopping and trying something more natural like St John's Wort. Has anyone experienced bad side effects by going off effexor cold turkey?
Posted by pretty_paints on March 24, 2004, at 14:28:17
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Dirtylowdown4 on March 24, 2004, at 8:18:36
by the way Jeano, what is your dose at the moment? Is it 37.5mg or 75mg per day? You might have said already..I cant remember...
:)
Posted by Bill LL on March 24, 2004, at 14:51:42
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 11:34:17
Saint John's Wart works ok for some people with mild depression. But it has a poor record with moderate or severe depression. It also tends to make people jittery.
> Thanks for all the encouragement and advice! Yes, some people are posting some pretty scary things on this forum. As someone who has very little experience with anti depressant meds, it can be frightening. I have read much about St John's Wart and it is supposed to do a great job
> without the drug side effects. There's also a natural product called "Prime One" that I'm going to try. HBP runs in our family so that's another big concern. I'll try the Prozac for a few days. THANKS AGAIN!
Posted by Jeano on March 24, 2004, at 16:39:29
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Bill LL on March 24, 2004, at 14:51:42
To pretty_paints:
I was put on a "starter kit" beginning with 37.5 mg. Today I'm supposed to increase to 75 mg.
I plan to discuss this with my doctor before I continue on with the 75 mg.
I think I would rather be taking something a little milder with less possible side effets. I have never been diagonosed as manic depressive or bipolar or anything like that. I've just been going thru it lately and needed something temp. to get me through. I'm not so sure Effexor is the answer.Many thanks for your replies!
Posted by pretty_paints on March 24, 2004, at 17:11:37
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Jeano on March 24, 2004, at 16:39:29
Ah, okeydoke.
Sorry to highjack this post (dont mean to!) but was just wondering if I could ask a question...
My doc gave me the same, 37.5mg per day. It was in the regular form. He said he'd then increase this after a week. I read the sheet inside and it said that the usual starting dose was 75mg per day. But obviously, my doc prescribed this dose for a reason, so thats cool. Probably because I was on 40mg prozac and came down to 20mg over one week and then had one week of nothing. So he was probably just playing it safe.
I was fine with the 37.5mg, but I fancied having the XR version since thats a modified release and the idea appealed to me more than getting some WOOH wooosh with the regular version. However I put a post on here and people reasured me, so then I wasnt really bothered either way. HOWEVER I had to go visit my doc for some iron tablets because I'm really anaemic and the subject of regular/XR came up. It was a different doc to before, as my other guy is ill. Anyway, this other doctor was like "oh well I can give you some XR if you like" and I was like "okaay then". Then I realised it only comes in 75mg tablets, which is why the other doc probably prescribed the regular version..
GRRR. Wow, this post has become waaay too long! haha. I'm a bit bored tonight, is why :)
Right so the whole point of this post (er if I can still remember what that is..) is that I'm gonna go with the 75mg XR tablets. The 2nd doc knew I'd only been off prozac for 2 weeks. But I feel a bit bad as I have a good, trusting relationship with the old doc (whos out ill). Do you think it will make much of a difference if I take the 75mg instead of the 37.5mg he prescribed? It cant be dangerous can it, otherwise mr 2nd doc wouldnt have given me the okay. I just wonder whether I'll even notice a difference on the 37.5mg, since it seems such a teeenyweeeny dose compared to the 300mgs people on here are on!
Am I making a mountain out of a molehill here?!! Yes I think so. So I'll bring this little passage to a close.
any advice appreciated!
ciao!
Posted by Jeano on March 24, 2004, at 18:25:12
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by pretty_paints on March 24, 2004, at 17:11:37
To pretty_paints and all:
Since I have only just been on 37.5 mg for one week, I have no clue (p_p) if what doc #2 prescribed for you is OK or not.
All I know is, as of today, I have no intention of continuing the Effexor XR. I have a mild prescription of Prozac from last year. I'm going to try the Prozac to "come down" from the Effexor XR (already started this afternoon).
If I can't adjust to this change, I'll start taking the E-XR again until I see my doc next week.
Sorry guys, I'm just too afraid of Effexor. If I start having bad withdrawals, I'll let you know.Chow!
Posted by Bill LL on March 25, 2004, at 8:51:31
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by pretty_paints on March 24, 2004, at 17:11:37
I think you will be fine with the 75 mg.
Posted by Jeano on March 25, 2004, at 11:26:33
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by Bill LL on March 25, 2004, at 8:51:31
S'OK guys,
I haven't taken Effexor since Tuesday. I took a low dose of Prozac (10mg) yesterday and seem to be fine (so far). I noticed feeling a little jittery last night. I was on such a low dose of Effexor XR (37.5) that I'm probably not going to suffer much. I'll go back on the E-XR if I start feeling really crazy. I'll keep you posted.
Posted by Angel Girl on March 25, 2004, at 15:15:24
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr, posted by pretty_paints on March 24, 2004, at 17:11:37
> Ah, okeydoke.
>
> Sorry to highjack this post (dont mean to!) but was just wondering if I could ask a question...
>
> My doc gave me the same, 37.5mg per day. It was in the regular form. He said he'd then increase this after a week. I read the sheet inside and it said that the usual starting dose was 75mg per day. But obviously, my doc prescribed this dose for a reason, so thats cool. Probably because I was on 40mg prozac and came down to 20mg over one week and then had one week of nothing. So he was probably just playing it safe.
>
> I was fine with the 37.5mg, but I fancied having the XR version since thats a modified release and the idea appealed to me more than getting some WOOH wooosh with the regular version. However I put a post on here and people reasured me, so then I wasnt really bothered either way. HOWEVER I had to go visit my doc for some iron tablets because I'm really anaemic and the subject of regular/XR came up. It was a different doc to before, as my other guy is ill. Anyway, this other doctor was like "oh well I can give you some XR if you like" and I was like "okaay then". Then I realised it only comes in 75mg tablets, which is why the other doc probably prescribed the regular version..
>
> GRRR. Wow, this post has become waaay too long! haha. I'm a bit bored tonight, is why :)
>
> Right so the whole point of this post (er if I can still remember what that is..) is that I'm gonna go with the 75mg XR tablets. The 2nd doc knew I'd only been off prozac for 2 weeks. But I feel a bit bad as I have a good, trusting relationship with the old doc (whos out ill). Do you think it will make much of a difference if I take the 75mg instead of the 37.5mg he prescribed? It cant be dangerous can it, otherwise mr 2nd doc wouldnt have given me the okay. I just wonder whether I'll even notice a difference on the 37.5mg, since it seems such a teeenyweeeny dose compared to the 300mgs people on here are on!
>
> Am I making a mountain out of a molehill here?!! Yes I think so. So I'll bring this little passage to a close.
>
> any advice appreciated!
>
> ciao!pretty-paints
Effexor XR 75mg does come in capsules because I take them. You don't have to have it in tablet form. I live in Canada though, so maybe it's different in the US, assuming that's where you live. I'm a little confused, are you currently taking 37.5mg and want to increase to 75mg? I would think from what I've read on here over the last few years that most people are on the lower dosages and not 300 as you mentioned. I think that 75mg works for a lot of people, it didn't for me. We're all different. If you think you need an increase, then try it and see what you think. If the 37.5mg is working for you, then stay where you are. BTW, the 37.5mg also comes in capsule form because I take that too. Again, I'm in Canada and things may differ.
Good luck.
Angel Girl
Posted by Jeano on March 25, 2004, at 19:52:50
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr » pretty_paints, posted by Angel Girl on March 25, 2004, at 15:15:24
Angel Girl,
FYI
The Effexor Xr that I have is in capsule form and I live in the USA.
I started out with 37.5 for one week and was supposed to increase to 75 yesterday.
Posted by Angel Girl on March 26, 2004, at 18:41:20
In reply to Re: Afraid of Effexor Xr-Angel Girl, posted by Jeano on March 25, 2004, at 19:52:50
> Angel Girl,
> FYI
> The Effexor Xr that I have is in capsule form and I live in the USA.
> I started out with 37.5 for one week and was supposed to increase to 75 yesterday.Jeano
My understanding of pretty-paints message was that she was on tablet form because it didn't come in capsules and also wanting to know if there was much of a difference between 35mg and 75mg. Maybe I misunderstood her???
BTW, good luck with your increase. :)
Angel Girl
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