Posted by jackt on December 19, 2002, at 15:25:46
I posted this on the 17th with hopes that you would read and comment. In case you missed it, I reposted the message with a few modifications.
Larry and anyone else who wants to comment,I suffer from severe GAD and possibly mild ADD. I would like to know your theory on why Effexor would work for anxiety.
I think I read that the down regulation of serotonin (S)and norepinephrine (N) could be the action that makes it work. Of course we know that Effexor is a SSRI and SNRI ... but one theory is that once an individual has extra S and N floating around in your brain that you will tend to produce less of it. Therefore, taking Effexor over time would actually reduce S and N in your brain.
My mind is always in a "fight or flight" mode. Extra N would only increase the anxiety rather than reduce it, right? Maybe the brain goes through a stage of increased N before it is decreased. Effexor in the less than 4 week stage makes me more anxious. I think the extra N is causing the increased anxiety.
I've tried Effexor about 7 years ago, but I probably only stayed on it for 4 weeks. Maybe I didn't give it enough time.
Bottom line is maybe it will take a while for the brain to adapt and ultimately reduce the production of N and possibly S to alleviate the anxiety. Is this a valid assumption, or am I way off?
If I am wrong, what does "down regulation" really mean and why would Effexor work for anxiety?
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Jack T.
poster:jackt
thread:132507
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021217/msgs/132507.html