Posted by CraigC on March 15, 2001, at 12:44:43
In reply to Re: From Wellbutrin for Dep. and ADD to Effexor XR, posted by Sara T. on April 16, 2000, at 12:17:40
> > It really is nice to have a place to write and ask questions. I have learned far more from reading the messages on the message boards than from reading the medical information. I was put on Wellbutrin about 3 weeks ago for adult ADD with depression. Like Maggie had mentioned in her message, I felt like I had electric shocks running through my body. I also was extremely sick to my stomach and didn't feel like eating anything. After 2 weeks I finally felt better and then broke out in the worst case of hives I've ever had. I'm not positive that the Wellbutrin caused it, but they took me off it. I am now on Effexor XR. I started it on Thursday. I am taking 37-1/2 mg. for 1 week and then am supposed to take 75 mg. for a week, and then 75 in the morning and 75 in the evening after that. I really hope it helps both the depression and the ADD symptoms. So far I have gotten a couple of headaches, am extremely crabby and feel sort of tired, but I am willing to give this a chance. Is there anyone who has been given this medicine for ADD? Please let me know! Thanks!
>
> I have been prescribed Effexor XR for ADD, anxiety and depression. I have been taking the 75 mg dose in the morning for a month now and I think it works well for me. Side effects have been miinimal. But I don't really think it has touched the ADD symptoms. Combining it with 10 or 15 mgs of ritalin gave me the energy and motivation I need to get started on things, but my BP went up into the 90's and the pschiatrist said to stop the ritalin, which I feel really bummed about. But I am also taking birth control pills for hormonal changes as well and that can bring out the BP stuff too.
>
> My doc said that Effexor plus adderall are the preferred mix of the "experts" on ADHD field at the moment.
>
> Hope you get good results.
>
> Also, I'm glad to see some other ADD adults posting med questions. Makes me feel like I have some company.
>
> Sara T.Hello. I am a 32 y/o male who was taking 300mg of effexor daily for about 1 year to treat ADD. I have always had ADD but after a friend of my wife's husband had succes with using medication to help his concentration and constant distractability i thought i would persue some help as well. I started seeing a doctor who had a good referral for helping peopel with ADD. He tried several medications over several months like adderal which did not help or have any side effects when i stopped the useage. He then put me on effexor which also had no positve results at all. Well,during the time i had missed a few days of taking the medication,or could not get the prescription filled in time and experienced horrible side effects. Headaches,dizziness,tingling in my brain,flu like symptoms and irritability. It was then i realized my body was physically addicted to the effexor. I then searched the internet for more info because of all the side effects i thought i was loosing my mind to say the least. I never had taken much medication, nor was i hardly ever sick but these side effects were really terrible. I was glad to find this format on line with alot of innformation of similiar people with the exact same side effects. I was very angry at my doctor for not even mentioning the possible side effects i could experience. If i had known i would have never tried it.
I made the decision to stop cold turkey which i do not recommend to everyone but i was determined to atleast try it for a week to see if i could make it. The first 3-4 days were aweful and for the first time in about 5 years i almost called in sick at work but staying busy and not laying around even though painful kept my mind off the withdrawals a little bit,which was better than not at all.I wanted to give in time and time again but i did not. I worked as much as i could,watched TV,stayed busy until i was so tired i was about to pass out which made going to bed alot better since i would not have to lay there,brain tingling,dizzy when i shut my eyes..etc. and i could just lay down and be out in a few minutes.
I started better about the 5th day,although still having many bad side effects,they were much milder.I could now walk standing straigh up and not holdiing my head down from the severe headache pain. Gradually the side effects went away,occasionally returning at night it seemed for about a week. I am now totally off the efexxor and feel 100%. It is so hard to explain to people who cannot relate how aweful the side effects are and what a terrible feeling it brings on.
If i can tell anyone anything else about my personal situation i would be glad to help.
Finally i would never ever take any medication without researching it first. I made this mistake once and it had terrible results and i will not ever go through that again.
HANG IN THERE !
Regards,
Craig
poster:CraigC
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010310/msgs/56585.html