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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by bgbham on June 3, 2003, at 21:08:55
In reply to Cost??, posted by Rickey on June 3, 2003, at 19:52:38
Ricky, felt anything strange yet? The first day for me, a couple of yrs ago, although pleasant, it felt like a train was running through my head. Went away the next day. Nothing unusual since.
Brian
Posted by zinya on June 3, 2003, at 21:19:21
In reply to Re: New to Effexor » ROVER, posted by Napaba on June 3, 2003, at 10:44:51
Gosh, Rover. You've been on for over a month and no effects at all?
I'm much much newer than you are to actually taking XR -- tonight will be night #10 only and because i'm sooo sensitive, i've started on only 18 mg per night so far... and i've still had both side effects and some positive effects as well... Beginning the very first day actually...
I've tried numerous other a-ds in the past and i also discovered this website and started reading on here last Dec. at which time i decided to postpone starting it... The point being that over the months i've read a lot of posters here, many of whom had such bad effects that it was why i delayed, but so far i'm dealing with manageable side effects and plan to up to 37.5 in the next couple of days.
What my reading on here tells me though as THE single biggest lesson of all is that we are ALL different. The biochemistry of each of us is SOOO unique that I would give quite different advice from your previous respondent here (napaba?)...
I think you shouldn't try to figure out on your own in advance what you're going to ask your doctor to do. Is he an internist? or a p-doc? Hopefully he has enough familiarity that he will know what to make of your lack of any symptoms either way, and I wouldn't try to pre-guess what that might be. I don't believe in letting a doctor talk you into staying on something forever (i've had that experience) but a total of 2 months would seem adviseable. Maybe it means there's some completely other source of your depression than a serotonin type cause.
One thing you might do in the interim though is to monitor yourself even more closely, if you haven't already. Ask yourself periodically if you are, for example, less anxious than usual in a given situation... Or other very concrete things rather than the more global question of "Am i still depressed?" It will help the doc at the very least by best of all hopefully help you verify to yourself in micro levels if indeed there's been no change (not that i'm doubting your word, but sometimes if we just think globally, we can forget to notice 'locally' ... so to speak :))
wishing you luck. What you didn't express but what must be motivating your finding us is considerable understandable frustation at starting such a course and finding as yet no relief. Do you also have some form of counseling?
again, wishing you very well!
z.
Posted by Tino02 on June 3, 2003, at 21:43:59
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
i recently starting seeing a pyschiatrist who proscribed effexor to me after i had been taking paxil for 2 years with no success. i am now up to 150 mg of effexor and one paxil cr (37.5mg) a day. i feel exhausted, lethargic, and unmotivated all day long. at night, my head races and i have trouble getting to sleep. when i started getting night sweats, my doctor said they would go away, but they haven't. i feel like i have mono, which i had years ago, only now i feel worse. i get tired very easily, and the slightes activity makes me exhausted. i had also been sick 3 weeks ago with a very bad cold, and i feel like i am still having trouble fighting it. my doctor says that i am so physically and mentally stressed that my body is having trouble fighting back.
i have noticed slight improvements in my depression and anxiety, but ideally, i wanted a more noticeable change.
will i continue to improve or should i try something else?
Posted by ROVER on June 3, 2003, at 22:48:46
In reply to Re: New to Effexor » ROVER, posted by Napaba on June 3, 2003, at 10:44:51
Thanks Napaba
You have given me some things to think about.My Doc. is a internist and no I am not in any form of counseling it was such a big step for me to go and see my regular doc.
I should say that one positive effect I have had is I am sleeping better.Prior to starting Effexor I was only sleeping 2-3 hrs per night but over the past ten days I am sleeping about six hrs.per night
I should also say that after being on 75 for a week I felt better than I ever have but it only lasted two days then I crashed big time.I didnt put this in my first message as it seems so irrelevant now.
I have heard that above 150 other chemicals kick in.
Thanks for caring
Posted by Napaba on June 4, 2003, at 7:44:14
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Tristan on June 3, 2003, at 14:55:02
I found Benadryl (sp) helps me to sleep. I buy the cheapest brand (that's Sam’s club or Wal-Mart). It helps me to sleep and I don't wake up drowsy. I still have the vivid dreams, but I've adjusted to those.
Effexor has greatly improved my life. After years of panic attacks, anger attacks, general depressed feelings and a bad experience with counceling and prozac I am so happy to have found Effexor. I did not realize how depressed I was. After refusing to see a councelor who was not helping me, my regular family doctor prescribed Effexor. The first week I had a strange out of body feeling. Now, after six weeks I'm not depressed and I have a different perception of the world. It's hard to describe. It's like my focus expanded from myself and three feet around myself to seeing things as others do. My field of vision seems to have widened and I am more aware of my surroundings. I see more clearly even. Effexor has not seemed to help my panic attacks but I get angry less often and for once I feel normal. I feel like I never knew what normal was before now. WOW. I was verrrrry sceptical. The only problem I've had is sleeping. I was told this medication causes drowsiness. Not with me. It has a slight affect like too much caffeine. I'm not nervous just UP.
Posted by Napaba on June 4, 2003, at 7:53:15
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » waterlily, posted by melley on June 3, 2003, at 17:25:14
AMEN Waterlily, drs should try something besides EXR first. EXR is bad stuff. I took my last dose 5 days a go. I've switched to Lexapro. So far the only side effect is I'm a little drowsy.
I've been reading posting made by those on Lexapro and they're not scary like those you read on EXR.
> > WOW. I was verrrrry sceptical. The only problem I've had is sleeping. I was told this medication causes drowsiness. Not with me. It has a slight affect like too much caffeine. I'm not nervous just UP.
> >
> >
> > Same here. My husband kept saying that I wasn't the same person he married 14 years ago and I didn't know what he was talking about until the Effexor kicked in about a month ago. Now I actually have a sense of humor, am reasonably relaxed, and am more social. My husband said that it's nice to have me back. It's nice to be back after almost nine years of being on the wrong antidepressants and two years of therapy. I have insomnia as well, but I can deal with that - it's a small price to pay to have my life back.
> >
>
> I am almost off effexor and am delighted at feeling again. I think effexor just turns the world into stepford people. No extremes in feeling. It is better than being depressed and anxious but I missed my feelings:) Plus the side effects got to be too much at 225mg. I think effexor is the drug of choice for drs(because of hitting two things at once) but it also has many dangerous side effects and the hideous withdrawal. It hasn't been around long enough to know what the long-term consequences of its use will be. I think drs should try other stuff first.
>
>
Posted by waterlily on June 4, 2003, at 8:03:30
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » waterlily, posted by melley on June 3, 2003, at 17:25:14
> I am almost off effexor and am delighted at feeling again. I think effexor just turns the world into stepford people. No extremes in feeling. It is better than being depressed and anxious but I missed my feelings:) Plus the side effects got to be too much at 225mg. I think effexor is the drug of choice for drs(because of hitting two things at once) but it also has many dangerous side effects and the hideous withdrawal. It hasn't been around long enough to know what the long-term consequences of its use will be. I think drs should try other stuff first.
>
Effexor is the last in a list of medications I've tried, including Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Luvox,imipramine, Serzone, and Wellbutrin. I still take a therapeutic dose of Wellbutrin in addition to the Effexor, but have been on Wellbutrin alone for a long time.Effexor does not seem to be the first drug of choice from my experience. My daughter, my sister, and myself, each with a different psychiatrist, were all started out on Zoloft. My daughter is on Lexapro now. Zoloft deadened my feelings. Each of the others either did nothing, not enough, or had intolerable side effects.
My feeling is that aside from the MAOIs and tricyclics, none of the newer medications have been around long enough for us to know what the long-term consequences of use are. If my life is shortened from the use of antidepressants, so be it. I'd rather have a short happy life than a long depressing one.
>
Posted by Napaba on June 4, 2003, at 8:15:12
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by ROVER on June 3, 2003, at 22:48:46
For me the higher the dose the more severe the side effects. I couldn't take 150 mg's because of the side effects. I'm so glad to be off EXR.
Thanks Napaba
> You have given me some things to think about.My Doc. is a internist and no I am not in any form of counseling it was such a big step for me to go and see my regular doc.
> I should say that one positive effect I have had is I am sleeping better.Prior to starting Effexor I was only sleeping 2-3 hrs per night but over the past ten days I am sleeping about six hrs.per night
> I should also say that after being on 75 for a week I felt better than I ever have but it only lasted two days then I crashed big time.I didnt put this in my first message as it seems so irrelevant now.
> I have heard that above 150 other chemicals kick in.
> Thanks for caring
Posted by KimberlyDi on June 4, 2003, at 8:20:59
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » waterlily, posted by melley on June 3, 2003, at 17:25:14
Melley, i agree with your comment about how doctors should try other stuff first. Effexor seems pretty heavy-duty to me, in comparison to other AD's I tried. Paxil & Welbutrin both worked well for me UNTIL I stopped taking them. That was my fault, and they never seemed to work as well when I started up on them again. Folks, please be careful when you decide you are ok enough to just stop taking the AD's. You might regret it later.
Posted by Shari H. on June 4, 2003, at 14:22:34
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I have been taking Effexor (75mg per day) for
about 15 months. About 6 months after I started
taking it I started gaining weight. I excercise on
average 4 days per week and I am exremely
careful with what I eat. I not only cannot
lose weight but I keep gaining weight.
I am only 27 years old and female. I was put on
Effexor as a result of depression that
I suffered brought on by an eating disorder (Anorexia).
When I started the Effexor I weighed 110lbs.
I know weigh approx 138lbs!! That is 28lbs in 15
months. I was underweight before starting the
medication but I can now lose a very healthy 15
pounds. I have been doing research about Effexor
and I keep reading that there are incidences of
"substantial" weight gain with Effexor.
Can someone out there please confirm to me that
my weight gain was brought on my effexor or I
simply did this to myself. Also does anyone know
if once I stop using the effexor will I lose the
weight and return back to my "normal" weight
(i.e.about 120-125lbs).Help me please I feel terrible about myself!!
Shari
Posted by melley on June 4, 2003, at 18:57:37
In reply to Help: Weight gain with Effexor?, posted by Shari H. on June 4, 2003, at 14:22:34
> I have been taking Effexor (75mg per day) for
> about 15 months. About 6 months after I started
> taking it I started gaining weight. I excercise on
> average 4 days per week and I am exremely
> careful with what I eat. I not only cannot
> lose weight but I keep gaining weight.
> I am only 27 years old and female. I was put on
> Effexor as a result of depression that
> I suffered brought on by an eating disorder (Anorexia).
> When I started the Effexor I weighed 110lbs.
> I know weigh approx 138lbs!! That is 28lbs in 15
> months. I was underweight before starting the
> medication but I can now lose a very healthy 15
> pounds. I have been doing research about Effexor
> and I keep reading that there are incidences of
> "substantial" weight gain with Effexor.
> Can someone out there please confirm to me that
> my weight gain was brought on my effexor or I
> simply did this to myself. Also does anyone know
> if once I stop using the effexor will I lose the
> weight and return back to my "normal" weight
> (i.e.about 120-125lbs).
>
> Help me please I feel terrible about myself!!
>
> Shari
I know how you feel! I gained 30 lbs (I'm 47). That is one of the reasons I am now switching to wellbutrin. I know it is from the effexor because I took it for a year about 5 years ago and gained 20 lbs. Stopped taking it and lost it. Not right away but....I feel much better now that I am almost off the effexor (37.5 mg) and onto the wellbutrin. Good luck. You might consider switching.
Posted by Jedida on June 5, 2003, at 1:12:42
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - So Far - 12/12/02, posted by melsey on December 13, 2002, at 16:18:55
Posted by bgbham on June 5, 2003, at 2:01:22
In reply to any good xperiences withdrawing from effexor? (nm), posted by Jedida on June 5, 2003, at 1:12:42
Why withdrawing? I have had nothing but good experience with it for 2 yrs. Weight loss, great mood, etc. Why is everyone trying to withdraw, don't understand.
brian
Posted by Napaba on June 5, 2003, at 8:06:14
In reply to Re: Help: Weight gain with Effexor? » Shari H., posted by melley on June 4, 2003, at 18:57:37
I quit taking Effexor a week a go. But I had a weight lose with it. I lost 34 pounds from the third week in February to last week. I know this sounds stupid, but maybe your not eating enough. Your body may think it's in starvation mode, which causes you not to lose weight. Try a low carb diet. It really works for me.
> > I have been taking Effexor (75mg per day) for
> > about 15 months. About 6 months after I started
> > taking it I started gaining weight. I excercise on
> > average 4 days per week and I am exremely
> > careful with what I eat. I not only cannot
> > lose weight but I keep gaining weight.
> > I am only 27 years old and female. I was put on
> > Effexor as a result of depression that
> > I suffered brought on by an eating disorder (Anorexia).
> > When I started the Effexor I weighed 110lbs.
> > I know weigh approx 138lbs!! That is 28lbs in 15
> > months. I was underweight before starting the
> > medication but I can now lose a very healthy 15
> > pounds. I have been doing research about Effexor
> > and I keep reading that there are incidences of
> > "substantial" weight gain with Effexor.
> > Can someone out there please confirm to me that
> > my weight gain was brought on my effexor or I
> > simply did this to myself. Also does anyone know
> > if once I stop using the effexor will I lose the
> > weight and return back to my "normal" weight
> > (i.e.about 120-125lbs).
> >
> > Help me please I feel terrible about myself!!
> >
> > Shari
>
>
> I know how you feel! I gained 30 lbs (I'm 47). That is one of the reasons I am now switching to wellbutrin. I know it is from the effexor because I took it for a year about 5 years ago and gained 20 lbs. Stopped taking it and lost it. Not right away but....I feel much better now that I am almost off the effexor (37.5 mg) and onto the wellbutrin. Good luck. You might consider switching.
>
Posted by Napaba on June 5, 2003, at 8:50:09
In reply to Re: any good xperiences withdrawing from effexor?, posted by bgbham on June 5, 2003, at 2:01:22
Brian,
Your lucky, Effexor was the worse drug I've ever experienced. I am so greatful to be off it.
Why withdrawing? I have had nothing but good experience with it for 2 yrs. Weight loss, great mood, etc. Why is everyone trying to withdraw, don't understand.
> brian
Posted by Nicola on June 5, 2003, at 9:41:50
In reply to Re: any good xperiences withdrawing from effexor? » bgbham, posted by Napaba on June 5, 2003, at 8:50:09
I put on about 2 stone within 1 year of taking Effexor. I have also had hot flushes, heart palpitations, scary stuff. So I am now in my first week without this drug. God, I feel terrible, dizzy, head spinning, sleepy, confused, tired, on edge. My advice to anyone COME OFF THIS PILL GRADUALLY WITH YOUR DOCS HELP. Good luck to all.
Posted by Shari H. on June 5, 2003, at 10:59:17
In reply to Re: Help: Weight gain with Effexor? » Shari H., posted by melley on June 4, 2003, at 18:57:37
I am reading more and more about people's side
effects with this drug. When I was put on it I
started at 37.5mg a day for a week and then 75mg
a day intil now. To be honest I didn't feel much
side effects and I started feeling better after
a couple of weeks. When I started making the
connection that my weight gain may be due to
Effexor I took my own liberty to taper off them
myself. Big Mistake. I got myself down to 37.5mg
a day with almost no side effects but if I went
more than 2 days without taking a pill I would
feel these horrible electric shocks going
through my body, I was getting hot flashes,
headaches and jut not able to function or
concentrate on anything. I now started cutting
my pills in half so I'm taking 19mg a day.
The transition from 37.5 to 19 was fine
(it's been a week now). I am going to see my
doctor tomorrow and I am going to confront her
about the weight gain. I am no
longer depressed. The issues surrounding my
depression at the time I was put on the AD no
longer exist. My life has completely changed
since I started the drug, new job, new
relationship and everything is going well.
I want to try and not have to rely on a pill to
make me happy. Yes effexor did remove my
depression but it caused other issues in terms
of weight gain, loss of sex drive etc..
I personally don't think that my doctor new
enough about the drug and its side effects at
the time I was put on it. I will in a few days try
to take the 19mg (half pills) only ever 2 days
instead of everyday and see how that feels.
Posted by Rickey on June 5, 2003, at 16:38:52
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
On my third day. have starter kit which starts off with 37.5 and goes to 75 after 8 days. My question is when is the best time to take it. I have been doing it in the morning as a problem I had was sleeping too much(10-12 hrs nightly). Seems to be helping me dealing with my stress at work. Is the AM the best time?? Should I try taking it at night this weekend?
Thanks
Posted by KimberlyDi on June 5, 2003, at 16:48:40
In reply to best time to take?, posted by Rickey on June 5, 2003, at 16:38:52
I take in the morning (AM). Too close to PM and I have problems sleeping. But whatever works for you is what is best for you. :)
Kim
> On my third day. have starter kit which starts off with 37.5 and goes to 75 after 8 days. My question is when is the best time to take it. I have been doing it in the morning as a problem I had was sleeping too much(10-12 hrs nightly). Seems to be helping me dealing with my stress at work. Is the AM the best time?? Should I try taking it at night this weekend?
>
> Thanks
Posted by sierra1 on June 5, 2003, at 19:54:29
In reply to Re: any good xperiences withdrawing from effexor?, posted by Nicola on June 5, 2003, at 9:41:50
I can't sleep at night on effexor... after 2 years of extreme fatigue the Dr. suggested maybe I was in a depression. I thought she was nuts. After an hour and a half appointment with her I decided maybe she was right. I have been on effexor for 3 weeks now and can't believe the difference in me. I never really understood depression but it all fits into place now. I get about 4 hours of sleep per night, should I be taking a sleeping pill? any suggestions?? thanks
Posted by CherC68 on June 5, 2003, at 21:51:03
In reply to best time to take?, posted by Rickey on June 5, 2003, at 16:38:52
> On my third day. have starter kit which starts off with 37.5 and goes to 75 after 8 days. My question is when is the best time to take it. I have been doing it in the morning as a problem I had was sleeping too much(10-12 hrs nightly). Seems to be helping me dealing with my stress at work. Is the AM the best time?? Should I try taking it at night this weekend?
>
> ThanksI suggest doing it about an hour after dinner. I was on Zoloft for 4 days and was taking it in the morning. I was nauseous from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed. I am not hardly nauseous at all, and I'm having a little trouble sleeping, (but I also have carpal in both hands and they hurt)so to me it is the best time, but everyone is different. Tonight is my fifth night.
Take Care. Cher
Posted by bgbham on June 6, 2003, at 12:52:44
In reply to Re: any good xperiences withdrawing from effexor?, posted by sierra1 on June 5, 2003, at 19:54:29
I do have to take Ambien most nights to get good sleep, but my pdoc expects this to not be needed in a few months. Like you, it has made a big diff in me. IT is taking a while to adjust mood wise to the large dose (150 am, 150 @ noon or so), but I am very hopeful. See the doc regularly, get thee to a SD group, and get on with it when you can. DO NOT take on too much at one given day. Ask friends fam for help with anything! I am hoping for you the VERY best!
Brian
Posted by Badger on June 6, 2003, at 14:56:26
In reply to best time to take?, posted by Rickey on June 5, 2003, at 16:38:52
Rickey -
My advice would be to take your pill at the same time for several days in a row (e.g., 4 - 5 days) before making any change. See if the Effexor is making you particularly alert or drowsy, or if it upsets your stomach (my doctor suggested taking it with meals if that was the case). Unlike some of the other posters here, I found that Effexor made me very tired, which was not too bad since I had been suffering from insomnia.
After a couple of weeks of experimentation, I found taking my dose around 8:00 or 9:00 PM worked best for getting a good night's sleep and not yawning too much during the day.
I've been taking Effexor for roughly 6 or 7 months now, and virtually all of the side effects (including drowsiness and loss of sex drive) have finally disappeared. I have put on weight (probably 15 lbs. or so), but it's a price I'm willing to pay to be free from depression.
Good luck -
Badger
> On my third day. have starter kit which starts off with 37.5 and goes to 75 after 8 days. My question is when is the best time to take it. I have been doing it in the morning as a problem I had was sleeping too much(10-12 hrs nightly). Seems to be helping me dealing with my stress at work. Is the AM the best time?? Should I try taking it at night this weekend?
>
> Thanks
Posted by zinya on June 6, 2003, at 17:34:00
In reply to Re: any good xperiences withdrawing from effexor?, posted by bgbham on June 6, 2003, at 12:52:44
hi everyone
well, after 10 nights at the 19 mg (half of 37.5) dose, which i've mentioned here before, i'd had two days with no dizziness (which i'd had both last Sat and Monday) and other early side effects, which had been manageably mild had also subsided, so on Wednesday night i decided to move up to the full 37.5 (brave me :) finally up to the minimum dose), feeling optimistic.
Welllll. Yesterday was something of a disaster of grogginess, to the point of intermittent stupor -- and even made me think at times of people talking here about feeling numb, which i had thought was meant in terms of emotional numbness but i had a kind of physical numbness at points -- but not dizzy like last week, more of a stupor-numb (??) feeling. I didn't actually notice it upon waking but by about 11 am yesterday and then pretty much the rest of the day with peaks of more intense grogginess at certain points.
Before dosage time last night, i even fell asleep (at a time of night i never fall asleep) and woke up 3 hrs later, still on the groggy side and decided I couldn't just compound the grogginess with another full 37.5 so i went back to dividing in half and only taking 19 again. Today is a lot less groggy but kind of a big blah (which is not all that unusual given the chronic depression). I don't know what to make of this side effect. (As noted before, my md. claims his patients don't have side effects so i don't expect him to have anything much helpful to say.)
My question: Did people experience something like the grogginess i'm describing? and did it happen for others upon moving from one okay dose level up to another? and did you find that it went away? Is this also something you just have to plow through?
thanks ... and good wishes to all,
z
Posted by Tino02 on June 6, 2003, at 18:19:16
In reply to grogginess from effexor dose increase?, posted by zinya on June 6, 2003, at 17:34:00
Z,
I am up to 150 a day and i have been taking effexor for about 3months. i noticed that as i continued to up the dosage, my side effects intensified, especially being extremely tired all of the time. at work, i feel like i could fall asleep at any moment of the day, and as im driving, i caught myself dosing off a couple of times and it scared me. on the weekends, and in general when i wake up, i feel as if i cannot even get out of bed.
my suggestion? i feel that every person will react differently to medication because of our individual body chemistry. in previous posts, i have read that effexor keeps people wide awake, so that they can only sleep 3 hours a night. in others, it causes weight gain, while i have a distinct loss of appetite, thus causing a slight weight loss. This is the reason why a certain medication works for some, and not for others.
i think that you should speak to your doctor, and if he isn't much help, and tells you that his patients don't have side effects, maybe find someone who will listen.
most importantly---hang in there--the most important thing is that you feel better overall, and, if you need to take something for your depression, make sure you find a medication and a doctor that is right for you.
best of luck and take care,
tino
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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