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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Britt on September 29, 2005, at 8:55:28
In reply to I'm so glad I finally did this!, posted by Melinda on April 27, 2000, at 14:02:39
I hate taking medications. But, I have an inner saddness that won't go away. I get irritable and tired...I sometimes obsess over work problems, I feel ugly most of the time even though I know I'm not. Paxil helped, but I gained weight and had a serious libido decline (I married a young man and NEED my libido!). I'd almost rather live with the symptoms I have than lose my libido again. It's really the only thing that makes me feel alive sometimes. Does anyone know an antidepressant that does NOT come with sexual dysfunction?
Posted by haddsl on September 29, 2005, at 8:59:21
In reply to Re: Effexor and Tiredness?, posted by hevvi1 on September 29, 2005, at 8:01:34
It is hard to say, I used to take mine in the morning after breakfast, I still couldn't sleep, and had jaw clenching all day, and would grind my teeth in my sleep. I also had the sweating problem, it goes away soon after you get used to the medicine. By The Way... If the sweating thing is really a problem, I use Certain Dry, it comes in a box in the deoderant section. I get mine at Rite-Aid. You put it on at night like a deoderant, and it helps to stop the sweating under your arms at least. I know I used to pour down sweat from everywhere, but this does help, and I use it for heat waves and everything.
> I have just started taking Effexor xr and am currently on 75mg.I have a lot of sweating and can't sleep properly,also i have the jaw clenching thing going on...I was relieved to read that it was not only me who had these side effects.I was wondering if what time of day you take it makes a difference to anything,particularly the sleeplessness,as I take mine in early evening after dinner.Does anyone think I should take it in the morning instead?would this eleviate the sleeplessnes???any input would be helpful....thanks...
Posted by Britt on September 29, 2005, at 9:05:36
In reply to Re: Effexor/ info re: libido » NicknameRay, posted by wildcard on September 27, 2005, at 16:25:45
Wow. Wellbutrin really is a hard medication for those who suffer PTSD (to include agitation). I also am being treated for PTSD (along with anxiety and depression) and I asked about the Wellbutrin because I wanted my libido back after losing it to Paxil. My doc said no. No, he would never prescribe Wellbutrin to those with PTSD because the anger already present due to war and grief would be further agitated. Please research the Wellbutrin to see if this would be true for you. As I asked before, does anyone know of an anti-depressant (besides one that heightens agitation) that does not give us the "salt-peter" effect? LOL.
Posted by haddsl on September 29, 2005, at 9:16:26
In reply to Re: I'm so glad I finally did this!, posted by Britt on September 29, 2005, at 8:55:28
How about a different Med to help you be happier. I am having trouble being happy. I love my life and stuff, I just can't seem to get myself in a good mood, or happy outwardly. Any Suggestions are welcome!> I hate taking medications. But, I have an inner saddness that won't go away. I get irritable and tired...I sometimes obsess over work problems, I feel ugly most of the time even though I know I'm not. Paxil helped, but I gained weight and had a serious libido decline (I married a young man and NEED my libido!). I'd almost rather live with the symptoms I have than lose my libido again. It's really the only thing that makes me feel alive sometimes. Does anyone know an antidepressant that does NOT come with sexual dysfunction?
Posted by wildcard on September 29, 2005, at 9:23:30
In reply to Re: Effexor/ info re: libido, posted by Britt on September 29, 2005, at 9:05:36
Unfortunately, I have not heard of one or taken one except Wellbutrin that did not have that s/effect. I take Effexor Xr and Klonopin. I have severe fatigue and residual depression/anxiety and PTSD as well. I am currently (3rd day) taking 150mg Wellbutrin XL w/ the other two meds.. When i took WButrin alone, I was overagressive and angry so i see where ur doc is coming from BUT everyone reacts differentely to meds. and if the libido issue bothers u that much, maybe approach ur doc about WButrin and an anti anxiety as well? There have been some that have had success w/ an Effexor and Wellbutrin combo along w/ a benzo(xanax,valium,klonopin). Wellbutrin tripled my *normal* libido and now i have a 10 month old beautiful baby boy!! ; ) Just FYI! Take care.
Posted by wildcard on September 29, 2005, at 9:26:30
In reply to Re: I'm so glad I finally did this!, posted by haddsl on September 29, 2005, at 9:16:26
Hey there! It sounds like it cld. be ur serontonin?? What have u tried? I'll try to offer help any way i can! (((hugs)))
Posted by haddsl on September 29, 2005, at 9:32:35
In reply to Re: Effexor/ info re: libido » Britt, posted by wildcard on September 29, 2005, at 9:23:30
You are too cute! Congrats on the baby boy! You are SO lucky! I can not wait for me and my other half to get pregnant. Of coarse my mood change hasn't helped that. I have tried Prozac, and something else I can't remember the name of right now that made me sick, and now Effexor XR. I haven't been trying many different kinds as of yet, but I am getting these from my normal doc, as I have a hard time talking to a phsyciatrist. It is hard for me to open up to those people, has been since I was a kid.
> Unfortunately, I have not heard of one or taken one except Wellbutrin that did not have that s/effect. I take Effexor Xr and Klonopin. I have severe fatigue and residual depression/anxiety and PTSD as well. I am currently (3rd day) taking 150mg Wellbutrin XL w/ the other two meds.. When i took WButrin alone, I was overagressive and angry so i see where ur doc is coming from BUT everyone reacts differentely to meds. and if the libido issue bothers u that much, maybe approach ur doc about WButrin and an anti anxiety as well? There have been some that have had success w/ an Effexor and Wellbutrin combo along w/ a benzo(xanax,valium,klonopin). Wellbutrin tripled my *normal* libido and now i have a 10 month old beautiful baby boy!! ; ) Just FYI! Take care.
Posted by wildcard on September 29, 2005, at 9:35:05
In reply to Re: Effexor and Tiredness?, posted by hevvi1 on September 29, 2005, at 8:01:34
Hey! When i first started taking Effexor Xr, my doc rec. i take it early AM b/c it cld. cause the sleeplessness. As someone else posted, this definately wore off and i have severe fatigue(i could drink an entire pot of STRONG coffee and sleep like i didn't have a worry in the world)! I take 150 in the mid AM 10-11 along w/ my newly added Wellbutrin and another 75 Effexor 2-3PM and it helped somewhat. Take care!
Posted by NicknameRay on September 29, 2005, at 9:39:04
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Man, if I could make a decision, I'd be scary!!! After I posted (thank you for the responses) - I decided maybe I should give it a try and see what happens after 2 weeks.
Then I made the mistake of going through and reading more posts this morning. Now I'm TOTALLY freaked out again. So I think I'm going to stop. My doctor is out of town for 2 wks on vacation so I can't talk to him, but I will when he gets back.
Anyway, where I am. I started the 37.5mg last Thursday for a week and this morning took my first 75mg. I sat there and looked at the damn thing and thought "Do I really want to take this?" but took it. Now I wish I hadn't. I'm wondering if I don't take one tomorrow if I'm going to screw myself up or is it too early to worry about it? Maybe I should try to get another sample pack of 37.5mg and go back down to that and wean from there. I'm so confused and so scared!!!
Any thoughts??? (Besides I'm a neurotic mess??) I'd really appreciate the help!!!
Posted by haddsl on September 29, 2005, at 9:54:52
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? Follow up, posted by NicknameRay on September 29, 2005, at 9:39:04
Ray- How long have you taken it? It takes a while for side effects to go away and after they do it is worth it, it helped me. And if after 2 weeks you still don't like it, then ween off.
> Man, if I could make a decision, I'd be scary!!! After I posted (thank you for the responses) - I decided maybe I should give it a try and see what happens after 2 weeks.
>
> Then I made the mistake of going through and reading more posts this morning. Now I'm TOTALLY freaked out again. So I think I'm going to stop. My doctor is out of town for 2 wks on vacation so I can't talk to him, but I will when he gets back.
>
> Anyway, where I am. I started the 37.5mg last Thursday for a week and this morning took my first 75mg. I sat there and looked at the damn thing and thought "Do I really want to take this?" but took it. Now I wish I hadn't. I'm wondering if I don't take one tomorrow if I'm going to screw myself up or is it too early to worry about it? Maybe I should try to get another sample pack of 37.5mg and go back down to that and wean from there. I'm so confused and so scared!!!
>
> Any thoughts??? (Besides I'm a neurotic mess??) I'd really appreciate the help!!!
Posted by Britt on September 29, 2005, at 10:24:06
In reply to Re: Effexor/ info re: libido » Britt, posted by wildcard on September 29, 2005, at 9:23:30
Well, on the bright side... I could take the Wellbutrin without anything else and start a dominatrix business! LOL! No, seriously, thank you for your input. I will ask my doctor about the combinations you described. It may be the answer I've been searching for. Congratulations on your new little son. What a blessing.
Posted by TinMan on September 29, 2005, at 13:46:21
In reply to Re: Effexor/ info re: libido, posted by Britt on September 29, 2005, at 10:24:06
OK, I have been on 150 Wellbutrin and 150 Effexor going on two weeks now.
I have noticed that I have a lot more energy and am motivated - more like my usual self. My libido is still not where it used to be...and certainly not where I like it to be! I don't feel irritable, in fact, I don't feel much of anything. I feel like I couldn't cry or laugh if I wanted or had to. I dream and remember them now. I don't have the night sweats like I did with the Effexor alone, but today just working around my house, I was sweating buckets! Bizarre...
My Dr. didn't say anything about PTSD and Wellbutrin, so Thanks! for the heads up on the irritability. I like the Dominatrix idea...hehe...
Posted by haddsl on September 29, 2005, at 14:15:33
In reply to Re: Effexor/ info re: libido, posted by TinMan on September 29, 2005, at 13:46:21
I like that Idea too! I need something to help boost my mood. Although I am not depressed per say, I am not happy. And I miss that. Any Ideas?
> OK, I have been on 150 Wellbutrin and 150 Effexor going on two weeks now.
>
> I have noticed that I have a lot more energy and am motivated - more like my usual self. My libido is still not where it used to be...and certainly not where I like it to be! I don't feel irritable, in fact, I don't feel much of anything. I feel like I couldn't cry or laugh if I wanted or had to. I dream and remember them now. I don't have the night sweats like I did with the Effexor alone, but today just working around my house, I was sweating buckets! Bizarre...
>
> My Dr. didn't say anything about PTSD and Wellbutrin, so Thanks! for the heads up on the irritability. I like the Dominatrix idea...hehe...
Posted by NicknameRay on September 29, 2005, at 15:32:38
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? Follow up, posted by haddsl on September 29, 2005, at 9:54:52
Well I put a call into my doctor's office to talk to the dr taking calls for my dr while he's on vacation. He is going to give me another week of 37.5mg so I can back off slowly. But he was pretty adamant about me not stopping. He asked me what I was afraid of. He even told me that his wife is on it and she has no problems.
So then he told me I should try something else. He said he's going to leave me a month of Lexapro to try. He also suggested Zoloft.
I think I'm going to wean off the Effexor and then I don't know what, but according to what I'm reading about Lexapro - I'm not too thrilled about that either (weight gain). I think I'm not going to start anything else until I get more information. I hate taking anything!!
So anyway, thanks to those of you that responded - I really appreciate it!!!
Posted by haddsl on September 29, 2005, at 15:52:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? F/U - PartII, posted by NicknameRay on September 29, 2005, at 15:32:38
That was what I tried also!!! Lexapro! That made me SO sick! I hated that, and if you think the jaw clenching on Effexor is bad, this had me grinding my teeth in my sleep SO bad, that my other half had to sleep in the living room, as my teeth grinding was the creepiest sound he had ever heard. I hated Lexapro!
> Well I put a call into my doctor's office to talk to the dr taking calls for my dr while he's on vacation. He is going to give me another week of 37.5mg so I can back off slowly. But he was pretty adamant about me not stopping. He asked me what I was afraid of. He even told me that his wife is on it and she has no problems.
>
> So then he told me I should try something else. He said he's going to leave me a month of Lexapro to try. He also suggested Zoloft.
>
> I think I'm going to wean off the Effexor and then I don't know what, but according to what I'm reading about Lexapro - I'm not too thrilled about that either (weight gain). I think I'm not going to start anything else until I get more information. I hate taking anything!!
>
> So anyway, thanks to those of you that responded - I really appreciate it!!!
Posted by HelenR on September 29, 2005, at 16:00:56
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? F/U - PartII, posted by NicknameRay on September 29, 2005, at 15:32:38
you know, I really have a problem with a doctor that is so hasty to change your meds without even knowing a whole lot about you and your history
I think a lot of these dr's are too quick to prescribe.good luck with whatever you do try. just remember
you have to be patient. it took a full 3 months for medication to kick in for me. then you of course start to wonder if it is the meds that are helping or maybe I would have felt better anyway. but knowing my history, I know I need the meds and I hate that but what can you do.I've gained a bit of weight because of it, but hey, better fat and happy
Regards,
Helen
Posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2005, at 17:44:53
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? F/U - PartII, posted by haddsl on September 29, 2005, at 15:52:58
I started lexapro today and don't feel a thing. No side effects yet. How high was your dose mine is 5mg. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by canuck22 on September 30, 2005, at 1:07:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? Follow up, posted by NicknameRay on September 29, 2005, at 9:39:04
DOn't freak out. I scared myself too by reading this site right after I started taking it and guess what, I had very few side effects and it changed my life. You have to remember that most people who post things on websites are those that have bad experiences and are warning you about it...the people who have been helped are busy out living and enjoying their lives!! The only reason I post on this site is because I felt exactly like you..I was scared to death after reading some of the stuff on here...you have to make a decision that is right for YOU, you can't base how the medication is going to work for you on other people's experiences...it affects everyone differently. If you are on it and decide it is not working for you and you want to go off it, that's fine, but do not be persuaded by other people's bad experiences.
> Man, if I could make a decision, I'd be scary!!! After I posted (thank you for the responses) - I decided maybe I should give it a try and see what happens after 2 weeks.
>
> Then I made the mistake of going through and reading more posts this morning. Now I'm TOTALLY freaked out again. So I think I'm going to stop. My doctor is out of town for 2 wks on vacation so I can't talk to him, but I will when he gets back.
>
> Anyway, where I am. I started the 37.5mg last Thursday for a week and this morning took my first 75mg. I sat there and looked at the damn thing and thought "Do I really want to take this?" but took it. Now I wish I hadn't. I'm wondering if I don't take one tomorrow if I'm going to screw myself up or is it too early to worry about it? Maybe I should try to get another sample pack of 37.5mg and go back down to that and wean from there. I'm so confused and so scared!!!
>
> Any thoughts??? (Besides I'm a neurotic mess??) I'd really appreciate the help!!!
Posted by wildcard on September 30, 2005, at 1:32:09
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? Follow up, posted by canuck22 on September 30, 2005, at 1:07:24
Posted by haddsl on September 30, 2005, at 9:28:03
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? F/U - PartII » haddsl, posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2005, at 17:44:53
> I started lexapro today and don't feel a thing. No side effects yet. How high was your dose mine is 5mg. Fondly, Phillipa
I don't remember how high my dose was but more than 5 I am sure.
Posted by haddsl on September 30, 2005, at 9:31:11
In reply to I agree 100% !!! Well said (nm) » canuck22, posted by wildcard on September 30, 2005, at 1:32:09
I agree too! Every med is different for different people. And all people are different too. Nothing is that same for everyone!
Posted by liza29 on October 1, 2005, at 10:37:16
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by NicknameRay on September 27, 2005, at 11:21:21
After reading the posts here (this is my first, too), I am posting to share a success (so far) story with Effexor XR and also to see if there are others who are like me. I think I've had off and on depression for several years, but, at 49, I got worse, and finally sought help. I started on Effexor XR at 75 mg and felt better, not great, after about a month. Then I went to 150 mg and it was like the lights came on. I felt like I was recognizing an old friend as I saw myself becoming the person I used to be. Colors were brighter, my relationship with husband improved, I became more outgoing. I had some symptoms like yawning all day, and some constipation, but nothing to offset the huge positives.
So..now I've been on it for nearly 5 years...I am mainly concerned with long term use, for which I realize there is no data. I tried dropping to 75 just to see...I am only working with a family practice medical person, by the way. At any rate, after about a month, I began to feel more irritability, and find that negative thoughts were creeping in more and more and were more difficult to control. I was also avoiding people. So I went back up to 150 and it took about 2 weeks to return to feeling "right" and that's where I am at now.
I would happily take it forever, if that's what it takes to keep feeling good.
However, I'm still worried about long term effects. I don't want to end up in 10 or 20 years with seizures, alzheimers, schitzophrenia, bipolar disorder...Not that I have ever read about any of these things happening, but that there just is no DATA that I am aware of. Anyone else have an information source on that subject? I've searched and read quite a bit.
Posted by liza29 on October 1, 2005, at 13:41:20
In reply to Re: Long time user of Effexor, posted by TinMan on September 24, 2005, at 7:50:18
I just posted for the first time earlier...and then I found posts by TinMan and LynnPerley that seem to echo my experiences. I laughed about not caring about not paying a bill late...that's me...I mean, I do pay my bills but I was always pretty mellow, flexible, and then all the demands of work, family got me into this overanxious, anal way of being that was part of my depression. I just don't miss that, even if it is drug induced. The only thing I miss is that I never cry. Horrible tragedies like 9/11 affect me, but the only outward sign of that is I get chills. Likewise, I haven't cried when my daughter was married...although I was extremely happy..I don't know
I think your recommendation of seeing a psychiatrist is probably what I should be doing. Like I said in my other post, I would happily take this stuff forever...but the two main worries I have are that it will have some horrible long term effect that turns my brain to jello...or that I could get into a horrible emergency situation where I couldn't get my medication and have to go thru a hellish withdrawal cold turkey. Of course, lots of people are dependent on medication to keep them alive and live with that concern always.
Posted by hevvi1 on October 1, 2005, at 14:29:13
In reply to Re: Effexor and Tiredness?, posted by haddsl on September 29, 2005, at 8:59:21
Thanks a lot for all your info..its really helped my peice of mind!!!
Posted by wildcard on October 1, 2005, at 14:36:30
In reply to Re: Long time user of Effexor » TinMan, posted by liza29 on October 1, 2005, at 13:41:20
Hey there! You are right that you may need med. the rest of your life. I have the same effects w/ Effexor XR re: no emotions. I do not cry and have not since i have been on Effexor XR but w/o it, i cry all the time. Effexor has been the only AD to really help so i continue to take it. Not everyone goes through the hellish w/d. I quit cold turkey and was fine(for 45 days). That is rare but each person is different. I have no clue what is in my future but i know i cld. leave this world tomorrow and if i did, i want to feel some relief and if that means taking a med., i will. My point is, no one knows what will happen next week, year, etc., so if u find a med. to help u, that is great!! Therapy is an option and under a docs care maybe try tapering off the Effexor slowly if u really do not want to take it. Just do not go by posts from other babblers alone as each one of us is unique. Take care!
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