![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 9998 to 10022 of 10407. Go back in thread:
Posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 6:35:43
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Ah. I am calling the doctor today to see I can get in today or sometime this weekend. I get nervous every time I go to talk to him about my anxiety. I havn't had to in a while, but I can't take this. I get really freaked out because I constantly scare myself into thinking I shouldn't use medication (which leads me to believe maybe I need it), but I have some questions that I am going to ask him and I thought I would ask you guys first. I do not have HORRIBLE depression or anxiety. I mean my head gets very twisted up and my chest gets tight occasionally and some days I cry badly over something so small and for the most part, everday, everything dumb or that isn't my business or that maybe I don't even really care about, but my head makes me think I do, I get really pissed off. Just for no reason. And not to seem like I am a loner, but other than my boyfriend... I don't really hang out with people. My two best friends who have been there for me through this all both go to college, and one has college and a job so I hardly see them. I go out once in a while, but that's when I force myself that people will actually like me. I think I am just getting deeper into insecurity. I mean I am secure for the most part, but I can't seem to let that sink into my head. I can't let anything positive sink into my brain. I get confused a lot... one minute I will say something and I KNOW that is how I feel about something, but I scare myself and second think it and then tell myself that isn't how I feel. And that it's this long process of getting worried that I'm going crazy. It sounds bad, but I mean I have been handling it for two years... it's just I can't take pretending that eventually it's just gonna go away. I have been wanting to go back to therapy, because talking to someone and having them tell me EXACTLY what the hell is going on, makes me understand and feel more safe and content. That's all I want... to be content. But reading some of these posts scares the sh*t out of me. I mean I DO NOT want to keep changing medications, I mean if this doesn't work, maybe I'll try something else, but if that doesn't... straight to therapy again unless my head stops freaking out. And I also get freaked out because I make myself think that what everyone is writing, is going to happen to me. Even though I KNOW I alread have taken it before for a month and two weeks and the only side affect I had was yawning and losing weight, and I believe I still felt nervous (and that i really would like to go away because i always feel nervous). But I'm hoping this all passes and it kicks in, but I am fearing maybe I am not qualafied to be on medication... it seems everyone else REALLY has the depression sever and the anxiety the same... so maybe because mine seems minor compared to everyone else... I should just shut up.
Posted by Frankie2120 on September 28, 2006, at 9:40:48
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 6:35:43
Even when i took laxepro for the first time i started feeling better after like 4 months so i stopped taking it... then all the stupid depression started comming back... (like you said crying for no reason)... trust me if you saw me you wouldn't think i would be someone to cry)... :) So going back to my doctor he told me that you have to take it for at least 13 months to get things balanced.... The laxepro did make me yhan alot at first too... however it did nothing for my social anxiety... and like you my life is really good... i have a great job and a great faimly and a ton of fun going out.. .however everything inside of me was like a struggle... and i knew that wasn't me... I would get anxieties over the stupidest things.... Try the Effexor XR... I'm 28 years old 6 foot about 205 pounds of all muscle... (besides the point just trying to give you a size to my dosage)... and my doctor started me out at 37.5 for a week... then 75 for a week... then leveling out at 150 where i am now.... It's been about 6 weeks.... I wasn't feeling anything for the first 4 weeks but getting real tired and I started getting a low ringing in my ears... but i kid you not right at the beginning of the 5th week it was like someone flipped a switch in my head and it was like I was a wake for the first time... I used to have anxieties about talking on the phone cause i worried everyone was listening to me... gone... at the gym i hated people around me cause i felt like they all were watching me... (rediculous i know)... but that's gone... i used to feel the need to smoke all the time at work... like once an hour... Now i havn't even smoked in the past two weeks... that was an unexpected effect that just sort of happened.... If you're going to try somthing try the Effexor XR... There is nothing wrong with taking medication to get your head going right... and like everyone else sais give it time... it may take 2 weeks... it may take 2 months... everyone's head is different... and don't wake up every day in the beginning trying to notice if you feel different... Trust me when this stuff starts working for you you will know it like i did... The being tired all the time was the most annoying side affect being that i'm such an active person... however i stuck through it and it went away... you may not even experience it... but if you do keep with it and don't complain like i read alot of people doing on here... The benifits far outweigh a few side affects that go away after a week or two...
and don't ever feel bad about writing long messages... I love reading about other people's experiences with depression and anxiety and getting help and different things people go thorugh... Plus it's a great way for me to kill some time at work when i feel like taking a break... haha....
Try the Effexor XR... Talk to your doctor about it... that's what the doctor is there for... and don't feel weird in doing so... I did at first two... even before writing me a 6 month perscription he just gave me 8 weeks of sample packs so i could take it... get used to it... and then yesterday i just went back to discuss how i was feeling and if it would be a benifit to continue taking the effexor.... and yes it is....
So if it is right fo your... try it... and give it time to work... :)
Ok i'll go back to work now...
FRANKIE
Posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 9:49:18
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Frankie2120 on September 28, 2006, at 9:40:48
frankie
you made me feel very hopeful right now. i was getting freaked out from all these negative things people were saying... but i called the doctor today and i'm going tomorrow to talk to him. i was already on effexor xr and i didn't see a different, i mean one day i thought i was alright, the next nothing... but i'm impatient with this anxiety so i don't think i gave it enough time to tell, i guess once the month and 2 week mark showed up and i didn't feel anything... i wasn't sure. for the most part it seems like people really like effexor and it works. i mean i don't know if it will for me, because it seemed it wasn't after the month and 2 weeks, but i'm gonna try it again and stick it out for 2 months maybe a little more and hopefully i will see results, i'm scared to wait that long for a feeling of contentness, but i guess i have to be patient... and i love writing long crap about anything. it makes me feel better to know i got everything off my chest and makes me think somebody will read it and agree with me.
and everytime i ask my doctor stuff he seems to not really know stuff about the medication, but i'm gonna ask good questions tomorrow so hopefully we can figure this out.
thank you again.
Posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 9:52:10
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 9:49:18
also i am the same way with things... i go places and i feel like everyone is looking at me and i get so nervous... even if people are or aren't looking... it never bothered me before the anxiety, and now it's like a habit. i don't like being in places with a bunch of people i don't know. and i have a hard time talking to people online because it doesn't give me a chance to really know how i'll feel around them so my first feeling is anxiety which leads to being scared to talk to these people ever... it's horrible. i hate the computer because of it.
Posted by Frankie2120 on September 28, 2006, at 9:59:00
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 6:35:43
and one more thing... my depression and anxiety is just like you described... I felt like reading alot of other people's posts that i shouldn't even be in here cause other's seem to have it wayyy worse than i do... however mine is bad enough to affect my mind in my every day life enough that its driving me nutts and that's enough for me to have wanted to get help... so a little or alot it's deifnilty a problem that should be dealt with and that CAN be dealt with....
Did you ever see that mcdonalds commercial where the dude is drinking coffee and all the sudden he realizes he's married and has been for like 5 years and never realized it... haha... well the laxepro took care of my depression wich was great... but the Effexor XR did that and took care of the social anxiety... (the loner feeling) and the constant thinking in your head and talking your self out of things... so back to the commercial... I have this great life and i'm like that dude that drank the mcdonalds coffee cause now i feel like I'm awake in it finally.... :) so i feel you should definilty give it a try... and think positive about it... negative thoughts of anykind even about anything... keep them out of your head... :) they are no good for anything... :)
ok so putting off doing work again.... haha...
Posted by Frankie2120 on September 28, 2006, at 10:20:38
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 9:52:10
I know exactly wht you mean about feeling like people are looking at you... trust me... I love going to the gym and it used to drive me nutttsss... I'd be lifting and someone would be lifting next to me and i would be so fixated on thinking that they were watching me... when they so were not... haha... rediculous i know but that's how we feel... I know what you mean... It's been i just looked at my callander 7 weeks since i started taking at the max does of 150mg a day.. two small lil pills... no big deal at all... another thing that's important to take is a multivitamin every day... just take it with your medication... My doctor stressed that this is very good for the body and mind if you're not already taking one...
Starting the effexor xr was like a rollercoaster at first... there definitly were up's... and downs... there was actually some increased anxiety at times... (not all that much) but i had some but that went away.. i just told my self that it was a side effect and it will go away cause other's had it too... but like i said it was like a switch after like 4-5 weeks... i mean i was a smoker for like 6 years... a pack a day... and it was so strange when all the sudden i had no urge to smoke anymore... and i go out alot in the city.. and i never thought i could be out drinking and not want to smoke... but i don't even want one then.. it's so strange... just gone... I'll take it though.. better for my body and saves me 5 dollars a day... haha... :)
ok almost lunch time... (i was out last night and I so don't feel like doing work today... haha..) a lil more about me i'm a project engineer and i have my own office... so it looks like i'm in here doing work... but i'm really just makeing sure the trees outside don't go anywhere..... and like you if you saw me you'd so not think that i was someone with depression and anxiety problems... when i sometimes talk about it with my friends they are so stunned... but seriously it's an internal battle in our mind that nobody else can see.... but we sure know it's there... :)
Posted by chickey on September 28, 2006, at 12:56:02
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Frankie2120 on September 28, 2006, at 10:20:38
Isn't that the truth. I was diagnosed with depression 2 months ago and have been on effexor rx since then. When I talk to my close friends about it they can not belive that I suffer from depression. They think I am just in the dumps and will snap out of it. It is so hard to talk to people that don't have this problem as they have no idea what you actually are going through. I just need people to talk to.....
Posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 13:33:34
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by chickey on September 28, 2006, at 12:56:02
It really is hard. Of course therapy worked because she listened and made me feel like I wasn't insane, but friends/family/lovers don't understand unless they go through it or have been there... which nobody I know has. My boyfriend and my mom are getting sick of me constantly complaining about it... they want me to just "snap" out of it, but I always try to explain that it's hard because you can say you will, but inside your head it's like a big giant tidalwave of problems and negativity and sadness and bad times. I can be a mean person (because I have an attitude at times) and I can be sweet, shy, outgoing, friendly, lazy.. blah blah and so on, but instead of knowing who I am and being content, it's like my head is telling me different and I feel like I don't know who I am.. and maybe if the effexor works... I'll stop worrying about who I am and all that and just be myself without problems.
Posted by Frankie2120 on September 28, 2006, at 13:42:11
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by chickey on September 28, 2006, at 12:56:02
I know what you mean... and even anymore i'm not even embarrassed to tell people that i am getting help... and funny enough like 20% of the time if i'm talking to someone new it turns out that they are going through the same thing or have been on some kind of medication before and were shy to talk about it too...
One other thing i used to do all the time was have routines... not like super bad ocd or anything where i had to touch things 4 times or walk a certain way... but just things like where i sat or what time i started getting ready and if i wasn't doing somthing at a certain time like normal i would get anxieties and start sweating and become very irratated... I swear everyone in this city knew where i would be sitting saturday nights in my corner in the club with my napkins and everything right in front of me... (it sounds stupid) but it had to be that way or i would be all uncomfterbal... all that has since gone away too and now things are like a whole different world when i'm out.... so far so good with this medicine.... I used to cry during commercials... and boy would i ball at sad movies... it was insane... I enjoyed being sad... sad songs everything... it was outta control... I just thought way too many sad thoughts all the time... and i never had any desire to do anything but lay around unless it was time for somthing routine like going to the gym or going out or going to work... that's it... now i'm doing alot more stuff....
and i'm totaly babbleing on.. i'm sure someones enjoying reading this... haha... I got an hour to kill before i'm leaving work today....
Do you have ringing your ears... My doctor yesterday told me that it may be from some sort of alergy and that's not a normal side effect of effexor.... or mabye i just listen to music too loud and my ears have finaly had it and it just happens to be coninsidental with me starting this medicaion...?? who knows... randome thought.....
Posted by chickey on September 28, 2006, at 14:32:50
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 13:33:34
Gabbie you are so right. I have been on Effexor XR for the last two months after a small but very bad spell of depression. Now that I have been on the meds and am starting to see changes I think I have been depressed for many years. It is so hard to explain to people and my husband is the worst of anyone at understanding. My mother died from suicide when I was a baby and I feel that I must do this for me and her.
Posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 16:32:06
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Frankie2120 on September 28, 2006, at 13:42:11
that was something i was going to ask about because some people were saying that had that, i didn't... but i used to get rining in the ears just from them popping or having water in them or music being loud... so maybe everyone is just going through loud music stuff
Posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 16:36:21
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by chickey on September 28, 2006, at 14:32:50
i am sorry to hear that, really. my best friend killed himself when i was 12, so i can understand the death of someone close, but nothing like the loss of your mother. i hope all is well and you are feeling better, let me know updates... because i'm gonna try to start it tomorrow, i go at 10:30 and i'm thinking around 11 i'll take it because i leave for work, so i guess taking it in the morning would be good. i always took meds at night, but never stayed on them long enough to see if they worked. i hope effexor does. the first time i wasn't sure, but maybe i should wait a couple months? i hope it works for you!
Posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 16:59:20
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
i know i keep posting, but i'm getting skitzed thinking about this because i just found another site and everyone is complaing... ahhh i don't want to have anymore problems, i just want to be back to smiling and not worrying as much or at all
Posted by Frankie2120 on September 29, 2006, at 6:04:55
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 16:59:20
I wouldn't worry about giving it a try... There is no way i would still be taking the Effexor XR and be talking about how nice its worked for me so far if I would have had all these crazy side effects.... I got sleepy a lil at first but that lasted like an hour and then after like a week that was gone.... I begain looking for these sites looking for positive responces... and boy do you sure find the negative people... haha... So i think youre only getting that one side of the story from sites like this.... :)
Posted by gabbie on September 29, 2006, at 9:13:14
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Frankie2120 on September 29, 2006, at 6:04:55
well i leave in a half hour. i'm always nervous talking to my doctor about this sort of thing. i keep stopping so he probably thinks i'm lying or something. but zoloft made me worse and lexapro i only got 2 weeks so i just went to therapy instead. its weird because the side effects people are getting on effexor are how i feel already... i feel nervous all the time, i sweat, i get dizzy... so i don't understand how i'd feel those side effects since i already feel them because of the anxiety. i don't know. i'll ask him stuff. wish me luck everyone! i'll keep updating because if i get it today, hopefully, i'll start it at 11... and then hopefully it works. i mean i am impatient, but if i could feel better in 2 months maybe more... i'll stick it out.
Posted by frankie2120 on September 29, 2006, at 9:26:19
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on September 29, 2006, at 9:13:14
Well just so you hear somthing positive... I didn't experience any of those side effects at all... And it still baffles my mind how after the 5th week i just lost all urges to smoke after being such a regular smoker... I wasn't even trying to quit... Brain chemistry is such an interesting thing....
Posted by corafree on September 29, 2006, at 9:47:45
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by frankie2120 on September 29, 2006, at 9:26:19
Once again let me mention I have also had positive results w/ Effexor-XR. I've been on it about four different times, prob' for 6mos max at a time. I had no negative side effects, except of course 'loss of my emotions', which this morning, would be a good thing. I dunno' what to do. I feel myself falling backwards, my life, everything. I'm soo bummed out. I'm so burned out. I see my P today. I have 15m to tell him ... , I don't know what to tell him. I'm miserable, I guess. I haven't been on an AD for months now and was feeling good, but now again feeling bad, sad. I have PTSD w/ borderline personality 'now' and anxiety. I'm on Valium and Xanax. I thought I was going to have another complete (well near complete) NB, so began Valium because I had some here at home. Is he going to be angry about that? Will he say I cannot be on both? Sorry I changed the subject. I'm searching for answers after awakening feeling 'stoned', lost and alone. I took some Vicodin last night because I was scared. I was scared I couldn't get through the night w/o it. I wasn't having pain. That was a bad thing I did, I guess. But, the pharmacy screwed up here in dysfunction junction and didn't give me my oxycodone yesterday. Sorry I'm changing the subject. I need help I think. Can anyone hear that little sound coming out of me ... it's saying 'help'. Effexor-XR again??? Hmmm. Better drink my coffee. I woke up stoned. Ridiculous!
whoamIagain, cf
Posted by frankie2120 on September 29, 2006, at 10:19:53
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » frankie2120, posted by corafree on September 29, 2006, at 9:47:45
Wow it sure sounds like you are on a lot of different medications....?? I am only taking the Effexor XR and I havn't lost any of my emotions at all... Infact it's allowing me to be more open and acceptable to people talking to me... I used to have to smoke before every meeting here at work... or anything big... those urges are completely gone now... mabye you should have tried taking only that drug for longer than 6 months...
when i took the laxepro and started feeling better after like 5 months i stopped and that messed everything up and i had to start again....
Then again i'm an engineer and not a doctor... I would have been a doctor but i couldn't stand cutting people... and chemistry isn't my thing... although brain chemistry is fasinateing....
I hear the lil voice comming out of you.. :) Talk all you want i'm listening.. .it gives me a break from doing work... :) I don't know how good of advice i can offer... but u can know i'm listening... :)
Posted by corafree on September 29, 2006, at 10:39:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by frankie2120 on September 29, 2006, at 10:19:53
Yeah pain med for c-spine injury, then benzos because I had a nervous breakdown. I guess there were prob' times 'I had emotions' on Effexor-XR. Guess maybe was exaggerating. But what about sex drive? I think it messed w/ that. I've felt more 'sexual' since off ADs. (Am I being bad here, now?) Anyway, can you share if you notice anything this way? Ya' know, s*x drive?
Another thought is Celexa. I may have had a little success w/ it.
But, gotta' say once again, the big E has been the best I believe. I'm really beginning to think I'm going to tell my doc, "I think I need to go back on an AD!", this morning. OMG! Should I? Will I? The tension is building. It feels good. I'm really a wacko this morning!
Ya know, went to GYN for hot flashes and he said Effexor-XR works good and went to PCP for IBS and he said ADs work good.
I guess ADs work good 4 everything 'nowadays'!(?)
wacked, cf
Posted by chickey on September 29, 2006, at 10:47:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on September 28, 2006, at 16:36:21
Thanks for the support Gabbie and I hope all goes well at the doctors for you. I take the Effexor XR in the morning and at night. It has made a big improvement but my doctor wants to bump my dose up again. I refused but am now wondering if I should move it up. I don't think I know what good should feel like????
Posted by gabbie on September 29, 2006, at 10:55:33
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by chickey on September 29, 2006, at 10:47:24
No problem chickey! I went to the doctors... he said that it shouldn't have took a month and 2 weeks to know wether or not the medicine worked for me, but he said since sometimes it worked i can go on 75mg for three weeks and if i feel different or a change i can either up it... or if it isn't that good, change it. i don't know, hopefully something happens. i took it a couple minutes ago, i hope i don't get anything bad happening because i go to work at 2 EEK. and as far as you saying you don't know what good should feel like... trust me i was thinking the same thing. i am sooo used to being upset and having my had twist around all day long, that i'm afraid to not have that happen. not that i don't want to feel good, but i'm so used to it being the other way around. as long as we feel good it doesn't matter how to use it as long as it's happening! good luck.
Posted by corafree on September 29, 2006, at 10:55:48
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on September 29, 2006, at 9:13:14
RU going to doctor Gabbie? I am. I'm thinking of going back on Effexor-XR. I always had to take it twice a day ... never lasted all day for me. Took in a.m. and then 2nd dose around 5p or so. Never went above 225 total all day. Good luck.
cf
Posted by chickey on September 29, 2006, at 11:18:00
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by gabbie on September 29, 2006, at 10:55:33
I am sure you will be fine at work. Maybe a little drier then usual. I can't believe how much I drink these days. I started with 37.5mg and after 2 weeks went to 75mg and then another two weeks I take 75 at breakfast and 75 at dinner. Let me know how you make out!!
Posted by gabbie on September 29, 2006, at 12:01:03
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by chickey on September 29, 2006, at 11:18:00
i'll keep you posted. i'm sure i won't have bad side effects since i was already on it and nothing happened except the yawning and the weight loss. but i need the weight loss because i gained all it back when i stopped taking it and since then it's been hard to get back to my usual size. i feel a little better, but maybe that's just because i'm excited that there is a chance i could get better. who knows. i'll tell ya how work went later! have a good day
Posted by bon on September 29, 2006, at 22:40:54
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by chickey on September 28, 2006, at 14:32:50
thought I would add my two cents. I just found this site tonight. I have been on effexor for about 4 weeks now and am feeling pretty good. After being on lexapro for years it stopped really working and I was extreamly tired at around 2pm needing a nap. I have anxiety and depresion. It all sucks the big one. I hate dealing with this. I tried wellbutrin but had bad side effects like way worse anxiety. Besides right now dealing with constipation, dry mouth and gastric reflux from the effexor, I am feeling better. I have more energy. I feel more normal right now. I have read some horror stories on some other sites and got totally freaked out. I was glad to find this site. I hope the reflux can come under control, it is very bothersome. Thanks for listening.
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.