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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by michaelb on August 9, 2002, at 11:40:26
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I just started Effexor XR yesterday. So far just a little nausea and sometimes dizziness. What I want to know is about the sexual disfunction associated with it. What kind, how long and when does it start? I had no problem on Wellbutrin but it didn't help my mood/depresstion very much.
Posted by sleepy lizard on August 10, 2002, at 0:25:35
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by michaelb on August 9, 2002, at 11:40:26
I have been on Effexor XR (currently 150 mg once daily) for about 10 weeks. I have had delayed orgasm and eventually anorgasmia, that began from the start. However I had the same problem on Paxil and Celexa and I transitioned from Celexa to Effexor XR to get rid of the sexual side effects, which it did not do. It was taking 45-60 minutes to have an orgasm, way too long, considering normal is about 3-5 minutes. My doctor has added Wellbutrin 100 mg (once daily) to the Effexor XR and it has not worked yet (at 2 weeks). You may not have the same effect, however, I have read that any drug that increases Serotonin has the potential to decrease libido and ability to orgasm. The exceptions may be Remeron, Serzone, and Desyrel. Serzone is on the black list now, due to reported liver failures. Serzone and Desyrel both increase Serotonin but also have 5HT2 rec. antagonizm. The 5HT2 receptor is the one connected to libido and orgasm.
Posted by quarterlifer on August 11, 2002, at 3:26:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » michaelb, posted by sleepy lizard on August 10, 2002, at 0:25:35
Ah, for god sake. Alright folks, I understand exactly what you mean in the 45 minute+ deal with male orgasm with Effexor. It really put a strain on my relationship. I tapered down a little bit and stopped the drug completely three days ago, and that problem is now 100% better, however, I am now going through extreme withdrawal, and think I may be going completely insane. I was set to start taking Serzone, and was ramping up on it, but got scared with the liver deal, and so stopped ramping up, so thertefore did the double whammy over a weekend of coming down off two and started going completely nuts. I won't take effexor anymore, no matter what, even if it would help this current situation, because for the first time in six months, I was able to achieve orgasm with my partner within a reasonable amount of time. Was quite nice, however, I'm feeling like I might actually belong in a Psych Ward shortly. So, I've decided to continuie to go on the Serzone, and watch for liver type side effects, as I understand it may be easier to come down off that than that horrid Effexor.
Posted by Wheezer on August 12, 2002, at 11:49:43
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » michaelb, posted by sleepy lizard on August 10, 2002, at 0:25:35
Thanks so much for your knowledgable information. I will be speaking with my doc shortly! I wish you and me luck. This really sucks : (
Posted by Wheezer on August 12, 2002, at 16:31:02
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by quarterlifer on August 11, 2002, at 3:26:58
Effexor is a total bitch to come off of! BUT, it is a good drug that works quickly.
Posted by quarterlifer on August 12, 2002, at 21:18:21
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Wheezer on August 12, 2002, at 16:31:02
So, do you happen to know how long it takes to come off of? I finished my last dose on Thursday of last week, and I feel like I'm on crack. Not that I've ver tried crack, but if I had, it would likely feel like this. I just need an estimated date of when this feeling might end. If anyone has any idea, please please let me know!
Posted by sleepy lizard on August 12, 2002, at 22:48:34
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by quarterlifer on August 12, 2002, at 21:18:21
I've read that it takes a couple of weeks to come off of Effexor. However one person said she was still having dizziness after 4 weeks. When I've stopped it for just three days I've had the "shocks" that seem to have something to do with visual focus and balance. No fun at all. And also more pain, but the sexual side effects lift. Check out what people have written on tripod:
Posted by Roo on August 13, 2002, at 8:47:17
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by sleepy lizard on August 12, 2002, at 22:48:34
I haven't had hardly any withdrawal effects coming
off this stuff...maybe a little insomnia...but nothing
like the nightmares people are talking about. Of course
I only went as high as 75 mg's--that might be the reason.
Sexual side effects lessened almost immediately.
Posted by quarterlifer on August 13, 2002, at 9:19:49
In reply to Re: Am I crazy?, posted by Roo on August 13, 2002, at 8:47:17
I'm glad to hear that your SSE went away at 75! That is awesome! I'm in day six of withdrawal. Better this morning, I finally did get to sleep last night. There is no trace of the previous SSE I was having. The electric shocks are still here, but I'm doing much better today (knock on wood).
Posted by angeltalena on August 13, 2002, at 9:45:47
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by sleepy lizard on August 12, 2002, at 22:48:34
> I've read that it takes a couple of weeks to come off of Effexor. However one person said she was still having dizziness after 4 weeks. When
I think you would do better if you stop gradually and not cold turkey. Dump out part of a pill on each day.
At least that's what the other groups on yahoo tell me.Karen
I've stopped it for just three days I've had the "shocks" that seem to have something to do with visual focus and balance. No fun at all. And also more pain, but the sexual side effects lift. Check out what people have written on tripod:
>
> http://members.tripod.com/~BWarner/eff_letters.html
Posted by Roo on August 13, 2002, at 10:05:02
In reply to Re: Am I crazy?, posted by quarterlifer on August 13, 2002, at 9:19:49
I must have miscommunicated...my sexual side effects
didn't go away at 75 mg's...what I meant to say was
that maybe I wasn't having much withdrawal because I'd
never really gone on a high dosage of effexor...the highest
I went was 75 mg's. I got sexual side effects on as little
as 33 mg's....but after being totally off of effexor for just
one day, I noticed my sexual function came back really quickly...
not totally back, but a LOT better.But alas, I think I might have spoken too soon about
withdrawal...I'm just now noticing being really dizzy
and fuzzy headed and slightly nauseous...I guess it took
a couple of days to hit...whaaaaa
Posted by Dinah on August 13, 2002, at 10:15:27
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? quarterlifer, posted by Roo on August 13, 2002, at 10:05:02
> But alas, I think I might have spoken too soon about
> withdrawal...I'm just now noticing being really dizzy
> and fuzzy headed and slightly nauseous...I guess it took
> a couple of days to hit...whaaaaa
Yep, that sounds like it. :(I took half a capsule whenever I felt dizzy (every two or three days) for a while before stopping completely. And I found (in my totally unscientific survey of one) that large amounts of caffeine kept me functioning at least, if not terribly well.
Good luck,
Dinah
Posted by Roo on August 14, 2002, at 10:38:38
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? » Roo, posted by Dinah on August 13, 2002, at 10:15:27
Man was I ever wrong about not experiencing
withdrawal...first the dizziness and nausea, then
the emotional bottom fell out--I was sobbing hysterically,
thinking really dark thoughts like I'd have to go to the
hospital, I couldn't hold down a job, No one will ever be
able to love me, Felt like kicking the dog, breaking every
dish in the house, kept having this gory vision of chopping
off my hand...It was _SO_ awful. I ended up taking a half a capusule and it helped some.
I can take the physical effects, but the emotional ones...man...
How long do they last?What do you take now?
Posted by Dinah on August 14, 2002, at 11:02:30
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? Dinah, posted by Roo on August 14, 2002, at 10:38:38
Hi Roo. I didn't have any emotional side effects, so I guess I'm lucky there. But then again, I'm not really depressed as much as I am anxious. I was taking the Effexor for a resurgence of my OCD symptoms. And quite frankly, the OCD caused less problems than the Effexor did. :(
So I'm afraid to take anything right now. If I ever do another antidepressant, I'll go for Luvox. It made me stupid, emotionally flat and unable to orgasm, but that beats agitated hypomania (from Effexor and Wellbutrin) any day, and I'm afraid to try another AD ever again.
I do take my 125 mg Depakote and Klonopin as needed.
I lost well over a month of my life on Effexor and I just don't want to experiment ever again.
Posted by .tabitha. on August 14, 2002, at 11:59:16
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? Dinah, posted by Dinah on August 14, 2002, at 11:02:30
Hi Dinah,
Reading your list of ADs, I wondered if you ever tried Serzone? I actually don't even know if it's used for OCD. I mention it because I've also been unable to tolerate Wellbutrin or Effexor, and grudgingly put up with SSRIs (similar to what you describe), but I tolerated Serzone well-- it just didn't work on my depression nearly as well as the SSRIs.
Posted by Wheezer on August 14, 2002, at 12:45:54
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? Dinah, posted by Roo on August 14, 2002, at 10:38:38
Dinah,
I had the same problems getting off effexor as you. I oould have written that post. I ended up going down very slowly, 37.5 every 10 days. I started at 300mg, so do the math, and it took forever. At the worse, my doc and I talked about augmented it with Prozac, but at that point I was so anti-med, I just stuck it out. Took at mini leave from work, halted my social life, and bonded with the couch and cat. It worked and I got off. A year later my anxiety, depreesion and hyperactivity returned, and I am now on 37.5 of effexor every other day, which is working well. I wish you luck!
Posted by Dinah on August 14, 2002, at 17:14:05
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? » Dinah, posted by .tabitha. on August 14, 2002, at 11:59:16
Hmmm. If I ever get in bad enough shape that I am willing to try another AD, I'll mention it to my pdoc. :)
Of course there's always the possibility that I will mercifully forget my experience with Effexor, the way women forget the pain of childbirth (or so they say...).
Posted by Dinah on August 14, 2002, at 17:18:17
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? Dinah, posted by Wheezer on August 14, 2002, at 12:45:54
That sounds like a nice low dose. Hopefully it will continue to work well for you and you'll never need to worry about withdrawal. I know a lot of people who really benefit from Effexor.
Take care.
Posted by quarterlifer on August 14, 2002, at 20:51:52
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? » Wheezer, posted by Dinah on August 14, 2002, at 17:18:17
Here I am, just about a week later, off teh Effexor. I still have the shocks, but am dealing better. I wake up, and I'm not as groggy as I was when I was on Effexor. I do feel a little crazy still, I have this uncontrolled energy, and right around Noon every day I run around in circles at work. So I've started putting together Priority lists, and I can handle it. To ease the pain during the evening, I've resorted to drinking a couple of beers, which suits me fine, and I find that my senses are dulled a bit, so I don't get the anxiety attacks I was getting. Mind you, beer is a depressant, but I wasn't depressed, just had major anxiety.
The good news is that things seem to be coming together for me, which is good, because I can't imagine dealing with this if my life weren't turning so rosy. Hopefully will be getting word on a promotion at work that will involve lots of travel and being home on the weekends (I don't like the office bit much anymore, and don't have many ties here, family is crazy anyway, and far away, and a source of my anxiety).
Posted by judy1 on August 14, 2002, at 23:54:39
In reply to Re: Am I crazy?, posted by quarterlifer on August 14, 2002, at 20:51:52
i just heard on the news that drinking 4-6 beers/week lowers blood pressure :-). alcohol is a very common drug that people with panic/anxiety disorders self-medicate with. i'm glad it's helping you, just please be careful to keep it under control. take care, judy
Posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I've been on Effexor, low dose 75 mg, for about 5-6 months now. I truly believe this drug changed my life. I feel fantastic now, I can sleep, read, concentrate, enjoy sex, I'm more productive at work, and able to feel happiness and laugh again.
Next week I'm going back to my Doctor and he wants to talk about coming off the meds, but what I'm reading here scares the hell out of me. I can't go back to the way I was, I won't, it was too hard, I couldn't sleep, eat, think, and forget about sex, I didn't even like it never mind have an orgasm.
I am absolutely terrified of going through what you guys/gals have gone through, depression was bad enough, but the withdrawal sounds worse, I'd almost rather stay on a low dose forever than go through that again. I barely survived the depression the first time, another episode might kill me.
Posted by quarterlifer on August 15, 2002, at 9:46:18
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
In regard to that, I understand how you would be scared to get off it. The things you describe being able to do on Effexor, I could never achieve without much effort. After being off the drug for a week, I feel like my life is coming back and I'm not the ultra sensitive Zombie that I was on the drug. I'm getting shit done and relationships in my life are improving immensely every day I'm off it. Plan on a week of hardship, more like being on illegal drugs, and then it's like the Prozac ads when the sun comes out and you can see again.
Good luck and get off the drugs!
Posted by Dinah on August 15, 2002, at 9:55:51
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
I guess with one episode of depression, doctors do try to get you off meds after a while. But if you are doing so well on Effexor, does your pdoc really think it's important to go off of it?
A lot of people (but not all) do experience nasty withdrawal symptoms, but they do wear off (eventually). If you and your pdoc decide that now is the right time to try to go off the Effexor, my main advice would be taper, taper, taper....
Good luck.
Posted by cybercafe on August 15, 2002, at 16:12:17
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
> I've been on Effexor, low dose 75 mg, for about 5-6 months now. I truly believe this drug changed my life. I feel fantastic now, I can sleep, read, concentrate, enjoy sex, I'm more productive at work, and able to feel happiness and laugh again.
>
> Next week I'm going back to my Doctor and he wants to talk about coming off the meds, but what I'm reading here scares the hell out of me. I can't go back to the way I was, I won't, it was too hard, I couldn't sleep, eat, think, and forget about sex, I didn't even like it never mind have an orgasm.
>
> I am absolutely terrified of going through what you guys/gals have gone through, depression was bad enough, but the withdrawal sounds worse, I'd almost rather stay on a low dose forever than go through that again. I barely survived the depression the first time, another episode might kill me.grrrrrrr..... i went through hell on effexor withdrawal at first cuz i was too proud to call my pdoc.....
then when i did he just told me to take a little clonopin and i went from unbearable agony to happy happy joy joy
Posted by Reneb on August 15, 2002, at 17:06:57
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
> I've been on Effexor, low dose 75 mg, for about 5-6 months now. I truly believe this drug changed my life. I feel fantastic now, I can sleep, read, concentrate, enjoy sex, I'm more productive at work, and able to feel happiness and laugh again.
>
> Next week I'm going back to my Doctor and he wants to talk about coming off the meds, but what I'm reading here scares the hell out of me. I can't go back to the way I was, I won't, it was too hard, I couldn't sleep, eat, think, and forget about sex, I didn't even like it never mind have an orgasm.
>
> I am absolutely terrified of going through what you guys/gals have gone through, depression was bad enough, but the withdrawal sounds worse, I'd almost rather stay on a low dose forever than go through that again. I barely survived the depression the first time, another episode might kill me.
Hi, Why are you getting off it if you are feeling good? I am very happy that it has worked for you. I think it might be your low dose. It seems that when people get into higher doses there the problems start. I was on 300mg for a year and became a zombie. I hated it!!
Renee
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