Posted by nilla on November 24, 2002, at 14:07:32
In reply to Re: Just started Effexor XR - please advise » nilla, posted by Mr Cushing on November 24, 2002, at 13:38:46
Out of curiousity, why are you getting off the drug? Or is it just the time where you no longer need them? I'm glad to see that it was effective for you.. I haven't been diagnosed as being Bi-Polar so there isn't a need for a mood stabilized drug (yet). I've experienced no real side effects other than jittery hands and an occasional feeling of head fuzziness. I've had no problem sleeping and my stomach has responded well.
Anyways, many thanks.. keep me posted on any other info/opinions you might have
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> I'm just trying to get off of Effexor XR myself at the moment. Aside from the withdrawal being absolute Hell, the drug did work for me. Which is surprising since I've been diagnosed since as being Bi-Polar 1 and if I timed the doses just right Effexor would level me out rather nicely -for the first few months that I was on it. However, if you're Bi-Polar, then ADs without a mood stabilizer already in your system (I've been on Depakote now for 3 weeks)is just not advised.
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> Anyways, when you first start on Effexor, expect to feel horrible for maybe the first 2 weeks. No energy, sleeping too much, not interested a whole lot in food, sweating profusely, very vivid dreams, etc. That's all normal for about the first 2-4 weeks. I noticed a huge improvement in the side effects around day 15.
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> From what I was told, the differences between Effexor and Effexor XR is that Effexor XR releases itself more slowly into your system and doesn't upset your stomach as much. It also has a longer half-life.
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> Out of all the SSRIs I've tried (Paxil, Celexa, Zoloft, Effexor) Effexor was probably the most stabilizing out of them all. The only real problem I've found with this medication was the horrible first two weeks on it and that it's VERY hard to come off of.
poster:nilla
thread:129029
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021122/msgs/129064.html