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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by molly on November 12, 1999, at 7:51:48
I justed started Effexor after 7 years on Zoloft. Even though I'm only starting with 37.5 mg of slow release, my gut has exploded!!! burning, cramping, nausea, diarrhea.... bleh!!! How long will this last? Does it ever go away?!
Posted by jamie on November 12, 1999, at 17:03:36
In reply to how can I handle gut problems from Effexor?, posted by molly on November 12, 1999, at 7:51:48
> I justed started Effexor after 7 years on Zoloft. Even though I'm only starting with 37.5 mg of slow release, my gut has exploded!!! burning, cramping, nausea, diarrhea.... bleh!!! How long will this last? Does it ever go away?!
My pdoc said the gut side effects go away in about 3 weeks. Too bad you got the extended release though. With the regular it could be divided into smaller pieces to start with. Can't do that with the extended release. How about dosing every other day for a while instead of daily? Just until you develop some tolerance to the effects. Then go back to daily after that. That might help a lot.
Posted by Bob on November 12, 1999, at 22:32:07
In reply to Re: how can I handle gut problems from Effexor?, posted by jamie on November 12, 1999, at 17:03:36
You might want to think of diet issues as well. (Wonder why I never thought about saying the same for anyone else having the same trouble...)
You have any dairy in your diet, for instance? I never really had a problem with it, even on three different meds. Then I start on a fourth (for side effects) and BOOM! How many feet of intestines do we have? 32? Well, it started feeling like I had 32 cu.ft. of gas in me all of a sudden several times a day (yes, I realize that would mean my intestines expanding to 1 ft in cross-sectional area ... that's EXACTLY how it felt.) Anyway, lactose intolerance. Never a problem before that new med.
From other posters, it sounds like this is fairly common for effexor, but obviously its more "common" for some people than for others. Maybe diet has something to do with it.
[On wellbutrin, I suddenly developed an allergy to cats. Off wellbutrin, back to no allergy. Go figure]
Bob
Posted by JohnL on November 13, 1999, at 1:50:52
In reply to how can I handle gut problems from Effexor?, posted by molly on November 12, 1999, at 7:51:48
> I justed started Effexor after 7 years on Zoloft. Even though I'm only starting with 37.5 mg of slow release, my gut has exploded!!! burning, cramping, nausea, diarrhea.... bleh!!! How long will this last? Does it ever go away?!
I think it will take a couple or three weeks. However, in the meantime try some ginger. I've heard it is very good for upset stomach problems. Also, skipping a day might help. But I've heard others rave about how well ginger works for symptoms like yours.
Posted by Annie S. on November 13, 1999, at 11:03:20
In reply to how can I handle gut problems from Effexor?, posted by molly on November 12, 1999, at 7:51:48
> I justed started Effexor after 7 years on Zoloft. Even though I'm only starting with 37.5 mg of slow release, my gut has exploded!!! burning, cramping, nausea, diarrhea.... bleh!!! How long will this last? Does it ever go away?!
Molly,I've been on Effexor XR for 3 months and when I first started I felt extremely nauseated. It gradually lessened every day until one day I realized I wasn't even thinking about it. It probably was a month before it wasn't a concern. Your stomach & intestinal distress seems much worse than what I experienced. It made me constipated. Everyone does react differently. Try to eat even if you don't feel like it because you do need something in your stomach and tell you doctor about your side effects. The Effexor for me has been a God send and I have no noticeable side effects now. Good luck.
Annie S.
Posted by Racer on November 14, 1999, at 23:33:42
In reply to how can I handle gut problems from Effexor?, posted by molly on November 12, 1999, at 7:51:48
First of all, the side effects that I had on Effexor did go away quickly, in a matter of weeks.
Then, I took psyllium daily, which helped a lot. (Metamucil is the brand name I used. Drink lots of water with it.) The psyllium acts as bulk in your intestines, to help move everything along. That's a good thing, though the first day or two can be a bit uncomfortable. Still, it helped a lot.
Third, ginger helped settle my stomach. I would drink ginger tea, or eat pickled ginger, or drink really good ginger beer (like Stewart's, if you can find it.) The ginger beer was the best, largely because it tasted so good!
Good luck.
Posted by Alison on November 22, 1999, at 23:05:39
In reply to Three things that helped me..., posted by Racer on November 14, 1999, at 23:33:42
I know how you feel, I have been on 37.5mg x2 daily for a couple of months now. It has been really strange for me in the gut department. First I had the nausea that my doc warned me about, then it went away for a few weeks and I had unbelievable cravings which caused about 10-15kg weight gain, but now I have started feeling crook again also with vomiting as well. I haven't done anything different either. It was suggested that I cut my tablets in half for a while, this hasn't really changed anything except I am beginning to get anxiety attacks again!
I would go back and see your doc, and in the meantime ginger is absolutely fantastic. If you don't like the taste then get them in tablet form from a naturopath maybe. And try drinking peppermint tea (no sugar or milk)
Hope that we all find relief soon!!
Alison.
This is the end of the thread.
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