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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by trobyn on November 17, 2000, at 18:39:42
In reply to My personal exp. with Effexor XR , posted by Nj_James on November 16, 2000, at 23:24:43
i am taking effexor75mg for a week now and i am jumping out of my skin. i have rqcingthoughts and can't keep still. can i expect this to go away son. The pdoc told me to take atavan to counter the symptoms. I am myserable!! When does this stuff start to work???
Posted by stjames on November 17, 2000, at 19:07:47
In reply to Re: My personal exp. with Effexor XR , posted by trobyn on November 17, 2000, at 18:39:42
When does this stuff start to work???
James here.....
4 to 8 weeks. Hope your doc told you that, too.
james
Posted by R.Anne on November 22, 2000, at 19:08:20
In reply to My personal exp. with Effexor XR , posted by Nj_James on November 16, 2000, at 23:24:43
Just wanted to say that I have forgot to take Effexor for 24 hours or more and nothing special happened. I guess we are all different. I just took it the next morning. I am on a lower dose than you, too, though-112.5 per day.
Posted by MS on November 22, 2000, at 19:47:11
In reply to Re: My personal exp. with Effexor XR-- NJ, posted by R.Anne on November 22, 2000, at 19:08:20
Hi! I was just put on effexor xr 37.5 by my cardiologist because of neurally mediated hypotension (low blood pressure) which caused me to black out & my heart to race. Have always been caffeine sensitive too. He is trying because it can raise blood pressure which I need ( I feel tired & blurred vision from low BP). Am having difficulty starting. I feel like I have the shakes on the inside, like one of those snow globes someone is shaking. Also, I feel very silly almost clumbsy like if you're slightly tipsy. Has anyone used for low BP & will the jitters subside?? Have to go up to 75mg. soon & am afraid too. MD's alternative is to try Zoloft if this doesn't work. Thanks MS
Posted by wr on November 27, 2000, at 15:44:36
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
> Hi there,
>
> I have been using efexor for about 2 and half months. Has any body out there ever had any problems with their joints or muscles well being on efexor. If so please email me at [email protected]
Thanks for any help you can be.>
Posted by Shell on November 27, 2000, at 21:38:02
In reply to Re: Just started need advice on effects , posted by MS on November 22, 2000, at 19:47:11
> Hi! I was just put on effexor xr 37.5 by my cardiologist because of neurally mediated hypotension (low blood pressure) which caused me to black out & my heart to race. Have always been caffeine sensitive too. He is trying because it can raise blood pressure which I need ( I feel tired & blurred vision from low BP). Am having difficulty starting. I feel like I have the shakes on the inside, like one of those snow globes someone is shaking. Also, I feel very silly almost clumbsy like if you're slightly tipsy. Has anyone used for low BP & will the jitters subside?? Have to go up to 75mg. soon & am afraid too. MD's alternative is to try Zoloft if this doesn't work. Thanks MS
This is the first I have heard of using Effexor to raise low blood pressure. It does make sense, since one of Effexor's side effects is increased blood pressure.
You don't say how long you have been on Effexor, but sometimes the side effects will fade in a few weeks. You might consider asking your doctor if he/she could hold off on increasing your dosage until your body adjusts to the dose you are currently taking.
Unfortunately (or fortunately for some), Effexor doesn't raise blood pressure in everyone. I am taking 300 mg/day and my blood pressure hasn't changed a bit; the top number is still in the 90s and the bottom in the 60s.
Shell
Posted by Robin on November 30, 2000, at 19:17:59
In reply to Re: Just started need advice on effects , posted by Shell on November 27, 2000, at 21:38:02
I just started Effexor XR about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I'm up to 150mg, and I was wondering if anyone else has expereinced a weird feeling with their neck. It's hard to describe, but it's a struggle to hold my head up! The muscles in my neck become very tired and tight. I often find myself holding my head up with my hand to rest the muscles in my neck! When I put my head down and just let it fall towards the ground it feels fine. This is really strange to me and I was wondering if anyone else feels this. When I tell my boyfriend he just looks at me like I'm crazy!
I'm also having trouble sitting still. I'm always tapping my feet. I think it's because when I do sit still my muscles are constantly twitching. If I have something moving I don't notice it.
My mouth is also extremely dry and I can only get about four hours of good sleep a night, yet I'm exhausted when I get home from work.
Any response to this would be great. Thanks for taking the time to read it!
Robin :)
Posted by Noa on December 1, 2000, at 7:57:20
In reply to new to effexor xr wondering about effects, posted by Robin on November 30, 2000, at 19:17:59
I don't have dry mouth, or the neck thing, but I do have the twitchiness, foot tapping, etc. For me, combining the effexor with Serzone helps to counter this a lot.
I don't have the neck thing, but I do have tightness in my face and neck muscles, which could be from the effexor. It hasn't been that bad, so I haven't bothered to pay much attention to it.
Have you asked your doctor?
Posted by bronwyn on December 5, 2000, at 13:14:18
In reply to Bye-Bye Paxil, posted by Liz from Phoenix on October 20, 2000, at 9:20:16
> I really liked Paxil as well...Zoloft made me fill sick..but the racing thoughts and counting, as well as insomnia and weight gain (35 lbs.) was getting to me so my dr. suggested starting on effexor. He suggested that I go down to 30mg of Paxil for three days before starting the effexor xr. I will let you know if it is better or worse in the following days and weeks.
> > I loved Paxil...5 years ago when I began taking it I finally discovered what it was like to live free from depression. The side effects have become troubling. Feeling a little too hyper, compulsive smoking, very poor memory retention, can't concentrate long enough to finish a sentance,repetative thoughts and counting.
>
> I am currently being weened off the paxil as I increase the dosage of effexor XR...so far so good, no side effects from either med. I hope I will be able to sleep again, stop chain smoking, and stop all this brain F*rting and think clearly again. Is there anyone else out there that has made this change for similar reasons?
Posted by Palexizarticon on December 5, 2000, at 16:45:20
In reply to Re: Bye-Bye Paxil » Liz from Phoenix, posted by bronwyn on December 5, 2000, at 13:14:18
yes, that is the same reason i stopped taking Paxil. except for the smoking, everything you said sounds like what i was going through not a few weeks ago. the memory problems and brain "f*rts" as you call them were the prominent issues for me. i'm glad i am off it. these problems faded away after only a week of being off the drug.
Posted by Kinderprize on December 6, 2000, at 11:04:18
In reply to Re: Bye-Bye Paxil » Liz from Phoenix, posted by bronwyn on December 5, 2000, at 13:14:18
Feeling a little too hyper, compulsive smoking, very poor memory retention, can't concentrate long enough to finish a sentance,repetative thoughts and counting.
> >I just been through the same stuff except I went crazy. I thought I had a mild chronic mania and I kept waiting for it to pass, until I got so hyper and broken up I got told to stop, yess especially that sentence bit, when I got manic it was horrible, I was running around with a hiccup in my process. I though I had truly flipped. It was the Paxil, and I blamed the Effexor because Effexor is such a thrilling clear rush to my brain . I found my usual obsessions could'nt even get a look in. I could'nt concentrate enough to obsess. Yes Effexor has none of these problems. But it is somewhat a different beast.
I;m going to try it again maybe weaving it more subtly into my system with plenty of food.
Posted by stac on December 6, 2000, at 16:11:21
In reply to Re: Bye-Bye Paxil bronwyn, posted by Kinderprize on December 6, 2000, at 11:04:18
I am getting ready to start Effexor RX. I am 21 years old. I have been reading all these comments on the side effects of the med and now i have to admit i am a little anxious about taking it now. does it really cause that bad of side effects?? my dr is starting me out on a low dose for a week and then moving me up to 75mg for 2 months. anyone done this and had problems? any comments would be helpful. thanks!
Posted by Robin on December 6, 2000, at 16:31:57
In reply to scared of possible side effects, posted by stac on December 6, 2000, at 16:11:21
I started Effexor XR about 3 weeks ago and I feel great. I feel normal for the first time in awhile. The side effects I experienced are slowly fading. I started at 37.5 mg and took that for a week. I wasn't hungry at all for the first 3 days and I noticed my muscles twitched quite a bit which caused me not to be able to sit still. After a few days they went away. I switched to 75 mg the next week and the side effects came back for a few days, but then disappeared. Now I'm on 150 mg and I've been taking that for about a week now and that's where I'll stay. My mouth is pretty dry and my muscles still twitch which sucks when I try to be still to go to sleep, but it's helped me so much that I can definitely get passed those side effects. The side effects are different for everyone. You have to try it for yourself and you have to stick with it for a little while to see if the side effects will go away. If they are so bad you can't handle them then stop, but give it a chance. It's been great for me and I'm very happy I tried it and stuck with it. Hope this helps and that it works for you!
Robin
Posted by Dee Dee on December 6, 2000, at 19:04:21
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
> Hi there,
>Stac...I've had no side effects at all. I feel very lucky reading this. Dee Dee
Posted by bronwyn on December 7, 2000, at 8:54:04
In reply to scared of possible side effects, posted by stac on December 6, 2000, at 16:11:21
> I am getting ready to start Effexor RX. I am 21 years old. I have been reading all these comments on the side effects of the med and now i have to admit i am a little anxious about taking it now. does it really cause that bad of side effects?? my dr is starting me out on a low dose for a week and then moving me up to 75mg for 2 months. anyone done this and had problems? any comments would be helpful. thanks!
This is my 2nd day on effexor and I feel much better than I did on Paxil. No side effects at all so far. My brain also feels much clearer and I had a great sleep last night!
Posted by Bronwyn on December 7, 2000, at 9:47:14
In reply to I'm a newie to Effexor XR, posted by CKT on April 27, 2000, at 14:12:52
> As stated, I'm a newie with Effexor XR I just started yesterday on the starter kit and i am feeling a little anxious I feel like i'm on some type of speed. Is this normal? It kind of has me worried. I have tried Zoloft and Elevil and both have made me feel "racy" My doctor put me on Effexor because i am "Depressed" i don't know why and i'm tired all the time. I can't keep my eyes open and this seems to not let me sleep eventhough i keep yawning. I guess i really don't know what to expect and i'm afraid to become a "pill-popper" can anyone help me understand better please?
I think that everyone has a unique neurochemistry and you need to be patient and try different things but carefully. I have tried zoloft, paxil...both made me feel racy and spacy. I am now on day 2 of Effexor and feel fine. Would you worry about being a "pill-popper" if you were a diabetic and needed insulin? Be good to yourself and find what is best for you. Take care.
Posted by LISABECK on December 30, 2000, at 0:19:04
In reply to Re: Bye-Bye Paxil » Liz from Phoenix, posted by bronwyn on December 5, 2000, at 13:14:18
My doctor just gave me Celexa for Panic Disorder. Anyone have any luck with it??? She also gave it to me so I can get off Paxil, which has been hell...Someone Please REspond..
Oh, what about weight gain???
Posted by Ceeg on December 30, 2000, at 13:31:30
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Janie on October 23, 2000, at 10:27:20
I was on Effexor XR 150 mg; gained 15 lbs and decided I rather be a little depressed than overweight due to the medication. None of my clothes would fit and I refuse to buy new ones after investing so much money in my other clothes.
So I reduced down to 75 mg for one week and then to 37.5 mg for one week; everything was great and I felt fine and thought I would have no problems whatsoever going off the meds. Boy, was I wrong. I am now into day two of no medication and I feel so dizzy; everytime I move my eyes I feel like I'm about to fall over. I am hanging onto the walls or close my eyes to turn my head and then open them again to prevent the vertigo. I hope these symptoms don't last too much longer; thank goodness I chose a time to go off the meds when I don't have to work !!! Apparently from what I've been reading these symptoms can last a week or two; I hope that's all because I won't be able to stand this much longer. I can't even drive or go out for a walk.
I am not impressed with this medication due to the side effects, especially the weight gain, and now the withdrawal symptoms. I would NEVER recommend this medication to anyone.
> > THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING ALL THIS! I have been on Effexor for 5 months and didn't like some of the side effects I had - the trembling, and the how my "parts" didn't work during intimacy with my husband. After that long, I wanted to have fun again. I told this to the doctor and he had me start zoloft and go cold turkey off the Effexor! What a jerk. Now that I see y'all had the same problems, I know it isn't just me! YEAH! Glory be to God that I had some pills left over. I just split one and took it with some chocolate milk (chocolate makes everything better) and am SO thankful to see that this is a common side effect and not merely my brain disintregrating into a primordeal mass of jelly.
> > Thanks again!
> _______
>
> Hi. This is my third day of reducing my dosage of Effexor from 75mg to 37.5mg per day. So far, so good. I actually feel more energized and the yawning has stopped. My problems centered around lethargy, sedation and the inability to get up in the morning until about 11 a.m. Perhaps 37.5 mg will turn out to be the best dosage for ME. Has anyone else taken such a low dose with success?--Janie
Posted by Yasmeen McKnelly on December 31, 2000, at 11:49:31
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.I have been taking Effexor for about 2 years now. It literally saved my life. My whole life I felt that there was something wrong with me because now matter how happy I SHOULD have felt, I was always sad. When I was in college I tried to kill myself. From then until I was 29 I can't count how many psychiatrists I saw. They all tried "to get to the root of my problems". But not one of them tried medication or realized that MAYBE, my problem wasn't psychological.
Then, I injured my ankle (for which I am STILL having troubles). I was (and am) in pain 24/7. I was under so much stress that I again became suicidal. My orthopedist sent me to a psychiatrist for "pain management". We talked for a while and he then told me that he didn't think I needed pain management. He decided to put me on Zoloft. I wasn't depressed anymore, but I was a zombie. Then he put me on Effexor. I can't believe the difference it has made. After I had been on it for a couple of months I was visiting my parents and my mother made a comment. She said that she couldn't remember the last time she had seen me smile or heard me laugh. It was then that I realized, NEITHER COULD I.
I've been on it now for about 2-2 1/2 years, and it is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. The only side effect that I have noticed is that I get sleepy. So, I take it about 2 hours before bed every night and now I wake up refreshed in the morning. I guess I've been lucky. I have the maximum benifit and minimum side-effects. But if anyone ever has any questions about anti-deppressants, Effexor XR is the FIRST one I would recommend for them to try.
Posted by Ceeg on December 31, 2000, at 14:00:08
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Yasmeen McKnelly on December 31, 2000, at 11:49:31
I just wanted to comment that Effexor XR, other than the weight gain, is great WHILE YOU ARE ON IT. However it is when you decide you no longer need it that the problems arise - today is day 3 of being off the meds and still have vertigo, dizziness, brain "freezes", etc.
So if you plan to go on Effexor XR, just be aware of the consequences of withdrawal, that's all.
> > 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.
>
> I have been taking Effexor for about 2 years now. It literally saved my life. My whole life I felt that there was something wrong with me because now matter how happy I SHOULD have felt, I was always sad. When I was in college I tried to kill myself. From then until I was 29 I can't count how many psychiatrists I saw. They all tried "to get to the root of my problems". But not one of them tried medication or realized that MAYBE, my problem wasn't psychological.
> Then, I injured my ankle (for which I am STILL having troubles). I was (and am) in pain 24/7. I was under so much stress that I again became suicidal. My orthopedist sent me to a psychiatrist for "pain management". We talked for a while and he then told me that he didn't think I needed pain management. He decided to put me on Zoloft. I wasn't depressed anymore, but I was a zombie. Then he put me on Effexor. I can't believe the difference it has made. After I had been on it for a couple of months I was visiting my parents and my mother made a comment. She said that she couldn't remember the last time she had seen me smile or heard me laugh. It was then that I realized, NEITHER COULD I.
> I've been on it now for about 2-2 1/2 years, and it is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. The only side effect that I have noticed is that I get sleepy. So, I take it about 2 hours before bed every night and now I wake up refreshed in the morning. I guess I've been lucky. I have the maximum benifit and minimum side-effects. But if anyone ever has any questions about anti-deppressants, Effexor XR is the FIRST one I would recommend for them to try.
Posted by Kaarina on December 31, 2000, at 15:42:08
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Ceeg on December 31, 2000, at 14:00:08
Ceeg
What do you mean by brain freezes? I had a scary episode meanwhile driving. I'm wandering if it is the same thing as you meant.
Posted by Lilly on December 31, 2000, at 23:26:20
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Yasmeen McKnelly on December 31, 2000, at 11:48:41
> > 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.
>
I'm a little surprised Effexor hasn't been taken off the market. I had a horrible experience with it. In 1995 a Rheumy prescribed it for FMS. He mentioned it might cause nausea for a few days but that isn't waht happened. I went home and took one dose that night. I started yawning, and thought OK, no big deal. The yawning turned into my entire neck and jaw being paralyzed. I could not move my head or neck at all or even close my mouth. It was awful and took several hours to wear off. The doctor would never accept my phone calls and the drug company said they were aware of the problem! Lucky I was watching TV when that happened instead of driving a car...
Posted by Ceeg on January 1, 2001, at 16:13:32
In reply to Brain Freezes?, posted by Kaarina on December 31, 2000, at 15:42:08
> Ceeg
> What do you mean by brain freezes? I had a scary episode meanwhile driving. I'm wandering if it is the same thing as you meant.I would describe the feeling as the brain "pausing" for a second or two; it's hard to describe; all of a sudden you just notice your brain has to catch up, or something. Just to let you know about this situation further, I had to go to emergency yesterday because of my withdrawal symptoms; they became totally unbearable. The doctor on-call finally got a hold of one of the hospital's psychiatrists (after all, it is a holiday long weekend) and guess what? He said I was cutback too quickly (one week on 75 mg and then one week on 37.5). The last thing I ever, ever EVER wanted to do was to go back on this drug, but the doctor said the only thing to try was go back on 75 mg for three weeks, then down to 37.5 mg for three weeks, and then go off it.
I can't believe this medication!! It is almost like heroin, or something. What is in this medication that makes you SO addicted that you can't come off the stuff? I sure hope six weeks from now, when I try to withdraw from the stuff again, this won't happen to me again. I also told the doctor about weaning off with "Paxil", as was suggested in another posting, but he said the two are totally different drugs and would not recommend it, as Paxil also has some unfavourable withdrawal symptoms. Go figure?!?!
Also, just like a drug addict, as soon as I told the 75 mg pill I started feeling back to normal. I think there is more in this pill than they care to admit; something very addictive.
I'll let you know what's going on after my next withdrawal attempt, as I definitely am not going to stay on this drug for the rest of my life.
Ceeg
Posted by dj on January 1, 2001, at 17:37:29
In reply to Re: Brain Freezes?, posted by Ceeg on January 1, 2001, at 16:13:32
> > I also told the doctor about weaning off with "Paxil", as was suggested in another posting, but he said the two are totally different drugs and would not recommend it, as Paxil also has some unfavourable withdrawal > >symptoms. Go figure?!?!
Substituting Prozac in the latter stages CAN HELP ease the wacky symptoms that Effexor, Paxil and Zoloft can produce during withdrawal...
Posted by bill on January 1, 2001, at 19:10:32
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I've been using effexor xr for 5 months, and have been pleased with the results. After working through the 1st month of side effects, I feel my depression has subsided. I'm left with few minor side effects, including delayed orgasm and hot flashes. I would like to ween myself off of the effexor and try to maintain this feeling without the help of a prescription. I've followed this forum for several months, and have heard of numerous withdrawal horror stories. I have discussed this with my pdoc, but he seems less informed than I, and has assured me it will not be a problem. Can anybody recommend a successful method, through personal experience, of minimizing these horrific side effects? Gradual reduction and/or mixing in another SRI? What period of time? Thanks.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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