Posted by worrier on August 5, 2003, at 21:02:14
In reply to MY Effexor experience and a Xanax XR question, posted by TrishaTreasure on August 2, 2003, at 5:55:56
> I have been on Xanax for 16 years for PAD and agoraphobia. Many doctors I saw over the years suggested an AD but I didn't want one. I finally caved in and decided to give one more than a 3 day try. That AD was Effexor. My father and sister are on and seem OK so I wasn't afraid of it.
>
> HA! I started out at 18.50 mg and felt terrible. Every increase, I felt like death. EVENTUALLY, I got up to 75 mg and then 150. It was then that I noticed a urinary problem and I went to my doctor thinking I had a bladder infection. After a lot of messing around with tests, we realized it was the Effexor causing urinary retention and urgency.
>
> So...I started down the hill to 75 from 150. Welcome to hell! It was AWFUL So awful that, as much as I wanted to get off the stuff, I stayed on 75 for a year. Finally, I decided to get off it and mapped out a plan with my doctor to do so. Oh my Lord. It was so bad. Every dose decrease was like I was going to die. I never felt so bad. The brain shocks were so loud that I could hear them as if they were church bells and I was standing inside one. They also made blinding light flashes. Plus headaches, stomach problems, dizziness, you name it.
>
> It was the same every dose change. It was slow too. Not fast, we knew I would have some withdrawal. But this was just insane. At 37 mg I almost gave up and took a 75 because I hated feeling like death. I didn't do it though and eventually I got off it completely. I had brain shocks and other symptoms for weeks after my last pill.
>
> Now I am just on Xanax once again and won't go on another SD. I feel so much better. Effexor kicked my butt! I was so tired and unmotivated, Now I am doing so much better. Of course, this, after a manic episode when getting off Effexor. I never had one before and I am not MD. But WOW. Every time I used to hear that people were manic I thought it must be cool to have all that energy. Um, no. Mania is so not cool. I was out of my gourd.
>
> I am at 4-5 mg of Xanax a day and would like to cut down to 2-3.
>
> My doctor gave me a RX for a 4 mg XR -- scared of it.
>
> I knew it is the same thing but does it really last all day and night? I find it so hard to believe. Plus Xanax is my crutch. Knowing it is there and IMMEDIATELY will help the panic is such a comfort.
>
> But I am going to do it and then, maybe, will be able to cut back. The fog lifted 100000 times since getting off Effexor but I would like it to lift a bit more by lowering my Xanax dose.
>
> Will I panic? Oh yeah. Do I now? Yup. Not as much and it isn't as scary but it's there.
>
> Anyway, I just wanted to 1) tell you that Effexor is horrible to get off and caution everyone who does go off to be prepared and so very very slowly
> and 2) ask if anyone has been on the Xanax XR and if it seems to be the same (or better?) as short acting Xanax.
> Thanks! :)
> Trish> Never tried effexor,but had horrible experiences with prozac,wellbutrin and paxil (the worst) I had been taking regular xanax for a little over a year and switched to xanax xr 2mg about a month ago. My experience has been pretty positive...it's much smoother than regular xanax...none of that "now it's working, now it's not" feeling. Just sort of a steady state...as effective as the regular stuff. Does it really last all day? No, at least not in my case, so I take .5-1mg of the old stuff at night. I also make sure I have some regular xanax around for those occasional sneak attack panic attacks. Sort of like a security blanket (or crutch as you called it). I wouldn't be afraid to try it. (and I'm terrified to try any new meds!). Luck to you, Worrier.
poster:worrier
thread:9439
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030802/msgs/248411.html