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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Sandykay on February 25, 2001, at 21:02:14
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I have been taking 150mg Effexor now for about four years. I absolutely love the way it makes me feel compared to my normal moods and anxiety levels. Taking Effexor gave me the strength to get out of a long bad relationship and the power to be myself in and out of public instead of worrying about appearances all the time. I am now married to a wonderful man. We want to have children but are concerned about what the side effects could be from the medication. I had every single side effect when I started effexor, the constipation for weeks, the sweating, the nausea, the weird dreams, the shaking, but they went away. If I miss a dose I am already nauseated and weird by late in the afternoon. I tried tapering off last summer under doctor supervision but the depression and anxiety came back and made life uncomfortable for my husband and I. My doctor says that there really is no data to show problems with fetuses but I am concerned because I have had two miscarriages while on the medications. My Obyn seems to think that it could be related to the medication and is reluctant to try any tests for other causes until after I stop the medicine. I also teach first graders and for that reason alone am uncomfortable with stopping the medication. Is their anyone out there who has had any experiences with effexor and pregnancy? I would really appreciate any input.
Posted by Kazza on February 26, 2001, at 1:01:00
In reply to Re: Has ANYBODY out there lost their Effexor weight ??, posted by lyra31 on February 25, 2001, at 16:28:47
Hello, I have been on Efexor for over 2 years and have decided to get off them because I am SICK of the 20 pounds I gained in less than a year. I am a personal trainer and the weight gain was not caused by not exercising but because my appetite has been INSANE! I am hungry every 2 hours no matter what I eat. Has anyone else found this? I am hoping that my appetite will decrease, and I can stop having nightmares. I am at 150mg down from 225mg. Other people mention nice dreams, but I seem to spend my nights being chassed/killed/hurt/ or being dumped! I find it very exhausting, and I am often tired during the day. I find napping to be very helpful. I am quite scared of the side effects, and since I am in University I am worried my grades will be affected. My depression was better on the pills, but I want to be drug free for awhile. Thanks to everyone who has posted info about their side effects ect. Doctors only know what the big pharmasutical companies tell them, and we are the ones who are experiencing it.
good luck to all.
Posted by MarkinBoston on February 26, 2001, at 12:50:04
In reply to I gained 20 pounds BLAH, posted by Kazza on February 26, 2001, at 1:01:00
I now take Adderall with my Effexor, and used to take Ritalin. It helps my ADD, energy, mood, concentration, and decreases appetite.
The most effective drug that I've ever taken to help with weight is testosterone - it produced fat loss and muscle gain. More suitable for women are less androgenic anabolic steroids like Primobolan or Winstrol. The benefits from taking these drugs, like most drugs, fade soon after they they are discontinued, so you may need them as long as you are on Effexor. Again, like most drugs, anabolic steroids may have some dose related unwanted side effects or hepa-toxicity - depending completely on which drug is used. Hey, I know steroids are as evil as communists in the McCarthy era, but they do work.
As far as insomnia goes, I do much better on the old non-XR than XR, taking 150mg. first thing in the morning and 75mg. in the early afternoon. I might get a little withdrawl headache my late morning the next day to remind me if I haven't taked my morning dose yet. When I do dream, they are usually good.
In the past, after 6-9 months or so on Effexor, I am through my depression and go off it. Research indicates stopping meds before 1 year has been up increases the likelyhood of eventually relapsing. With SSRI's (not Effexor), its also likely that the same drug may not work the second time.
> Hello, I have been on Efexor for over 2 years and have decided to get off them because I am SICK of the 20 pounds I gained in less than a year. I am a personal trainer and the weight gain was not caused by not exercising but because my appetite has been INSANE! I am hungry every 2 hours no matter what I eat. Has anyone else found this? I am hoping that my appetite will decrease, and I can stop having nightmares. I am at 150mg down from 225mg. Other people mention nice dreams, but I seem to spend my nights being chassed/killed/hurt/ or being dumped! I find it very exhausting, and I am often tired during the day. I find napping to be very helpful. I am quite scared of the side effects, and since I am in University I am worried my grades will be affected. My depression was better on the pills, but I want to be drug free for awhile. Thanks to everyone who has posted info about their side effects ect. Doctors only know what the big pharmasutical companies tell them, and we are the ones who are experiencing it.
> good luck to all.
Posted by louxloux on February 26, 2001, at 13:56:28
In reply to Re: New to Effexor XR, my side effects, anyone else?, posted by Kara on August 28, 2000, at 13:45:02
I have been on Effexor XR for a little over two months now... My Doc bumped me up to 75 mg. about 3 weeks ago... the only changes that I have noticed are: tremors when I first get up in the morning, and that it is much easier to get up in the morning. No positive effect on my mood, in fact, I recently had a depressive episode which was much worse than those I have experienced previously. Stopped eating altogether, obsessing about my low, withdrawn... locked myself in my house literally for days which is something that I have never done before. I have always managed to go to work, etc. even during episodes until this last one. Felt like I was absolutely going crazy. Has anyone had this sort of reaction from Effexor XR?? Have an appointment today with my Doc... this last episode really scared me, so I am opting to get off the med.
Also prior to Effexor XR... I took Paxil for nearly a year. It took around 6 weeks to finally kick in and boy did it. It was wonderful for several months before it seemed to lose its efficacy.. like taking nothing at all. Has anyone had this type of reaction from Paxil? Is it possible to build a tolerance? My Doc bumped me up in dosage and continued on the med for another two months. All the increase did was make me want to sleep 24/7, so he took me off of it, and then I was started on Effexor. Any information about these two would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
louxloux
Posted by annj on February 27, 2001, at 15:14:49
In reply to Paxil, now Effexor XR, anyone experience the same?, posted by louxloux on February 26, 2001, at 13:56:28
Posted by annj on February 27, 2001, at 15:22:39
In reply to Re: withdrawal » pocahontas, posted by Janie on February 25, 2001, at 15:40:57
Is there anything we can do to warn others and their doctors how terrible this drug is to get off of. It seems like the company should be required to tell people about this. It is terrible!
Posted by annj on February 27, 2001, at 15:37:01
In reply to Long term effects of Effexor/permanent , posted by Leo on February 13, 2001, at 11:55:34
As I read all of these posts from people getting off of effexor I want to cry. I know exactly how you all feel. My memory is shot, I can't finish sentences because I can't find the word I want, I feel like I have the flu most days and the eye-whooshing/ weird dizziness/ brain catching up with eyes thing....I don't think I will ever be the same. I am living in the fog of effexor withdrawl. If I can do anything to help with your investigation, let me know. I was only on it for 9 months, but what it has done to me is amazing.....amazing that it did so much harm. I feel such a kinship with all of you. Please feel free to contact me to chat or share stories, or what ever. Depression and anxiety are bad enough without having to deal with drugs screwing us up more.
Posted by betsy on February 27, 2001, at 17:54:56
In reply to Re: Long term effects of Effexor/permanent , posted by annj on February 27, 2001, at 15:37:01
> As I read all of these posts from people getting off of effexor I want to cry. I know exactly how you all feel. My memory is shot, I can't finish sentences because I can't find the word I want, I feel like I have the flu most days and the eye-whooshing/ weird dizziness/ brain catching up with eyes thing....I don't think I will ever be the same. I am living in the fog of effexor withdrawl. If I can do anything to help with your investigation, let me know. I was only on it for 9 months, but what it has done to me is amazing.....amazing that it did so much harm. I feel such a kinship with all of you. Please feel free to contact me to chat or share stories, or what ever. Depression and anxiety are bad enough without having to deal with drugs screwing us up more.
How long have you been off of effexor? I am now one week off and still am having awful dizziness whenever i move my head. I hope to g-d this will stop. I hope someday this information will get to the FDA.
Posted by Sahara on February 27, 2001, at 19:29:58
In reply to Re: Long term effects of Effexor/permanent , posted by annj on February 27, 2001, at 15:37:01
> As I read all of these posts from people getting off of effexor I want to cry. I know exactly how you all feel. My memory is shot, I can't finish sentences because I can't find the word I want, I feel like I have the flu most days and the eye-whooshing/ weird dizziness/ brain catching up with eyes thing....I don't think I will ever be the same. I am living in the fog of effexor withdrawl. If I can do anything to help with your investigation, let me know. I was only on it for 9 months, but what it has done to me is amazing.....amazing that it did so much harm. I feel such a kinship with all of you. Please feel free to contact me to chat or share stories, or what ever. Depression and anxiety are bad enough without having to deal with drugs screwing us up more.
I have been off of Effexor XR (225mgs) for fourteen days now and I feel better than I have ever felt. I too went through terrible withdrawls; head spinning, nausea, severe night sweats and vomitting. I was only on this drug for seven months. In that time I gained 20 lbs and all I wanted to do was sleep. I have since lost ten of those extra (Effexor) pounds as I have so much positive energy. I advise all out there who are expieriencing these horrible withdrawls to take some liquid thera-fu, nite-time formula, please just try it. For me and another out here on this site it worked. I took it for about three days and was amazed at the results I had. Please just try it, what do you have to lose? My MD saw me yesterday and couldn't believe the difference in me from two weeks ago. I let her know all that I have been experiencing so she would be more cautious about this awful drug. I don't appreciate being a drug companies lab rat. I have since fired the idiot that prescribed this to me. Hang In There Everyone....You are not alone.
Posted by Cecilia on February 28, 2001, at 1:25:57
In reply to Insomnia and depression, posted by Richie on February 25, 2001, at 2:46:53
> I have had insomnia for years which I used to solve by drinking and smoking marijuana, both of which I have stopped for over two months and now I can not sleep. I was given scrips for Sonata and then Ambien but find I need more than one to get to sleep. The doc started to prescribe anti depressants: Wellbutrin, Celexa and now Effexor 37.5mg), to help with anxiety and sleeplessness, but I have found they just keep me awake. I started to take the Effexor yesterday, and am not sure if it will help my insomnia. He told me to stop taking the Celexa with the Effexor, and the Wellbutrin definitely does not help. He doesn't want to prescribe Trazadone or Remeron because they are narcotics, but I have tried to go off everything and nothing helps to get me to sleep. Melatonin, Valerian, warm milk, turkey, etc. I will spend twelve hours in bed and sleep less than two hours. Any ideas on what I can ask the doc to prescribe to help me sleep? Thanks for any input.
First get a new doctor-neither Trazodone or Remeron are narcotics-the idea of any doctor that ignorant being in practice is scary.
Posted by sar on February 28, 2001, at 14:30:55
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I've been on 75 mg of Effexor XR for 2 weeks now, after 1 week of 37.5 mg. A doctor prescribed this to me after a suicidal episode...I've been severely depressed for nearly a year and have anxiety problems as well. At times it seems the effexor is helping and at other times I feel more hopeless and anxious than ever! Can't fall asleep at night, then can't wake up in the morning. How long does it take for this drug to kick in? Do any of you know of another drug that might help? Tried Paxil but hated it.
Thanks in advance for your help and best wishes to all of you.
Posted by annj on February 28, 2001, at 20:34:03
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by sar on February 28, 2001, at 14:30:55
> I've been on 75 mg of Effexor XR for 2 weeks now, after 1 week of 37.5 mg. A doctor prescribed this to me after a suicidal episode...I've been severely depressed for nearly a year and have anxiety problems as well. At times it seems the effexor is helping and at other times I feel more hopeless and anxious than ever! Can't fall asleep at night, then can't wake up in the morning. How long does it take for this drug to kick in? Do any of you know of another drug that might help? Tried Paxil but hated it.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help and best wishes to all of you.I was on effexor for 9 months and I had a bad experience. It made me angry instead of sad and I had no sex drive.
Now I am on Wellbutrin. As soon as Ii switched to Wellbutrin my mood improved and I have a sex drive again. Effexor is an evil drug! You should get off of it. My mind doesn't work anymore because of it.
Posted by Leo on February 28, 2001, at 23:02:01
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I am now 18 days with no Effexor. With the exception of what feels to be chronic fatigue and
occsional "flashes" of the withdrawal effects, I am mentally better than I've been in years. The difference between my personality now versus the last 3 years is the difference between night and day. I can hardly believe it. I lived a nightmare of despair, anger and anxiety while on this horrific drug. I went for years with no motivation and an ever continuing sense of hopelessness. This has all but dissapated since getting off effexor. My physical health declined tremendously while on this drug. As the effects of the drug wear off I am realizing just how bad that has been as well. Those of you that are still taking Effexor must beware of whats happening. These posts on this website about the terrible effects of effexor are 100% true. These people are living the same nightmare I did. I am 100% certain that the effexor I took worsened my condition. The drug itself contributed to my depressed state. All this time I've been looking for other causes of the depression and it was most likely the medicine. Effexor robbed me of 5 years of my life. Look out Weyth-Aeryst.....I'll be having my day in court with you as I'm sure will hundreds just like me.
Posted by willow on March 1, 2001, at 7:38:08
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Leo on February 28, 2001, at 23:02:01
Leo
I too have lived with all the symptoms (and more) people are complaining about during their withdrawal since the spring of '96. The difference for me is that the effexor is relieving the problems. Perhaps we should be looking at the doctors who are prescribing these medications? I've gone through many different anti-depressants which made my problems worse and a doctor said I had a different perception of medications and because of this I had the side effects.
I had worked and enjoyed it immensely as a pharmacist's assistant for four years. I enjoyed it because I felt that I was doing a good service. I have seen medications give my father back some peace of mind. Though the doctors had kept him on such a high dose after five years he had a heart attack. I had kept asking them to lower the dose, which they finally did after he had the heart attack.
My point is that the medication isn't corrupt but the ignorant doctor who doesn't listen to his patients and communicate better with the pharmascists regarding these drugs. In the past I had complained that some of the meds have made me aggressive, gave me heart palipatations, severe electric shocks through my whole body, on and on. The doctors said it was anxiety not the drugs. The only one to acknowledge that it could be the medications was the pharmascist.
As an individual we have to advocate on our own behalf concerning our health. Doctors should be open about all literature concerning prescriptions and respect an individuals choice not to choose a certain course of treatment. If you want to castrate someone, let's go get all the close-minded dinosaur doctors! I'll stand on the front-line of the charge ...
Willow
Posted by Alli on March 1, 2001, at 8:51:41
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Leo on February 28, 2001, at 23:02:01
Leo ~ I had great success on Effexor. It gave me a good two years (and 12 lbs.). I went through (am still going through???) the hell of withdrawal and, like you, am now living with constant fatigue and I also have a racing heart. However, if Effexor didn't cause weight gain, I would go back on in a second. I'm in the process now of looking for something similar, but without the chance of weight gain. Not everyone is alike in the meds they take.
Posted by Lorraine on March 1, 2001, at 11:28:10
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Leo on February 28, 2001, at 23:02:01
> I am mentally better than I've been in years.
I hope you stay that way. I just want to warn you though that that was how I felt when I got off Effexor. I was off it for a year. The thing is that it takes time for a relapse into depression to occur sometimes. Keep your eyes open and your finger on the pulse. I found at the end of the year that one by one the lights in my internal world had gone out and I was sitting alone in a cold dark room. In short, I was vegetative and hibernating. So please just watch yourself, you will know if you need help. At first going off a drug you feel great because all the benefits of the drug are still there and the side effects are gone. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones that doesn't relapse. I hope so.
Posted by Leo on March 1, 2001, at 13:01:09
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal, posted by Lorraine on March 1, 2001, at 11:28:10
Lorraine,
Thank you for your input. I will keep everything you have said in mind, however, I do want to once again state that it is because I am off the effexor that I am feeling much better. Compared to the way I feel now versus when I was on the drug, indicates that the drug was most likely the culprit of keeping me in a depressed state of mind. Being on the effexor had nothing to do with my "recovery." Getting off the drug did. What's that tell you? The majority of the posts on this site as well as the others out there that you participate in, all predominately share the same common denominator. There are major problems with effexor, possibly permanent, that the manufacturer has yet to disclose to the user. It's time for that to change....Wouldn't you agree?
Posted by Leo on March 1, 2001, at 13:27:33
In reply to Wyeth or doctor Leo, posted by willow on March 1, 2001, at 7:38:08
Willow,
If the manufacturer isn't disclosing all the information about the drug, why blame the doctors? The doctors only know what we, the patients, are telling them. They are as much a victim as the people that have been adversely effected by this drug. You can't blame the doctor. It's the manufacturers duty and responsiblilty to disclose ALL the necessary information about the drugs that they develop. How can a doctor be accountable for something he hasn't been told. The pharmacist doesn't even have ALL the information. Do yourself a favor. Go to 5 local pharmacy's in your area and ask them to give you the med report for Effexor. The information on that report is supplied by the manufacturer of the drug. Read it. Then compare it to what the majority of the users of the drug are reporting. Weyth-Aeryst IS NOT disclosing all the facts on the drug. If they did, the law suits would cripple them. Their only form of "damage control" is hoping that people like me and the others out there that have been adversly affected by this drug, shut up. That's not going to happen.
Posted by Gracie2 on March 2, 2001, at 18:47:03
In reply to Insomnia and depression, posted by Richie on February 25, 2001, at 2:46:53
Richie-
I haven't been here for awhile or would have answered sooner. Anyway, when I was having problems with high anxiety and insomnia, my pdoc prescribed depakote (500 mg. at bedtime) and seroquel (100 mg. at bedtime). The depakote is an anti-convulsant and the seroquel is an anti-psychotic so I took my pills and thought, "How is this going to help me sleep? Why didn't she give me something..." Wham, I was out cold. I always slept very, very well on the depakote and seroquel so it could be worth a try. Congratulations on giving up the drinking.
-Gracie
Posted by Effexor Junkie on March 4, 2001, at 14:56:07
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Yes I am a longtime Effexor Junkie. I have taken it for 5 years! Don't masturbate after you take it, you'll waste your time. It makes me last longer than Viagra! And don't forget to take it, because it will transform you into a vampire. When I forget to take it, I get electrical pulses through my brain, and my eyes become sensitive to bright light. Then my teeth grow into fangs. But after I take it, I'm a pretty daisy.
Effexor also makes me short of breath. Just the other day I was chasing some squirrels and I ran out of breath while the squirrels ran up the trees. Then they threw acorns at me.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU!
Posted by Amy3877 on March 5, 2001, at 2:42:08
In reply to SIDE EFFEX, posted by Effexor Junkie on March 4, 2001, at 14:56:07
Posted by Frank on March 5, 2001, at 11:45:24
In reply to Re: lots of success - gaining weight, posted by maxx on February 18, 2001, at 16:19:44
I saw many posts said taking Effexor can gain weight.
Has anyone lost weight while taking effexor? I have
been on effexor 75mg for about one month and I
lost about 6 lb since I took effexor. Thanks! Frank> Has anyone solved/reduced the problem of gaining weight from EFFEXOR?
>
> Thanks for any input! Max
Posted by Amy3877 on March 5, 2001, at 14:47:15
In reply to Re: lots of success - gaining weight, posted by Frank on March 5, 2001, at 11:45:24
Yes,
I have lost lots of weight on Effexor. I started taking it about eight weeks ago and I have lost about fifteen pounds. When I first started taking it my appetite totally dissapeared and then after several weeks my appetite returned but when ever I would think about food I would get sick to my stomach. Now, food just doesn't excite me, but I can eat with no problem. It is strange that Effexor can have opposite effects in some people, some gain and some lose. I'm cutting my dose today because of the side effects I mentioned in my last posting so maybe my weight will normalize. I'm down to 109 and I really shouldn't lose anymore.
Posted by willow on March 5, 2001, at 21:07:40
In reply to Re: Lost 15 pounds on Effexor, posted by Amy3877 on March 5, 2001, at 14:47:15
Me too, when I initially started taking it I became indifferent to food and craved coffee. I've been on it now for five months and it's not the indiffernce isn't as bad, I actually had a sensation of hunger today. Like Amy I too have had a difficult time maintaining my weight so I've tried to make a conscious effort to eat. Now though I don't think I'm losing any weight and I've bablanced back to my normal size.
Willow
Posted by Clara on March 6, 2001, at 9:53:12
In reply to Re: Effexor XR vs. Paxil and weight gain , posted by Cindy W on June 1, 2000, at 9:42:07
I took Paxil for about 5 months. I gained over 20 pounds. I did try to quit "cold turkey" and got really sick - dizzy, upset stomach and extremely tired. I talked to my doctor and he put me on Wellbutrin because he too had heard that Paxil can make you gain weight. But I read here that Wellbutrin can also make you gain weight? Am I correct? Also now that I am taking Wellbutrin, I think I am worse off than before I started taking Paxil. I am incredibly unhappy with everything - my weight, my job, my relationships - and I can't seem to be nice to ANYONE. I snap at people without thinking and I have always been a very likable, fun person and now I am making a lot of enemies. Any suggestions on something that might help and also has anyone successfully lost the weight they put on and if they had, was it off medicine completely or did they continue taking something? I have been exercising but I usually get so frustrated when I can't do something or when I get tired that I just want quit and feel like I am going to lose it. These feelings have really been controlling my life and I have noticed I do not want to leave my room in my own house. This can't be healthy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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