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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Wheezer on August 14, 2002, at 12:45:54
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? Dinah, posted by Roo on August 14, 2002, at 10:38:38
Dinah,
I had the same problems getting off effexor as you. I oould have written that post. I ended up going down very slowly, 37.5 every 10 days. I started at 300mg, so do the math, and it took forever. At the worse, my doc and I talked about augmented it with Prozac, but at that point I was so anti-med, I just stuck it out. Took at mini leave from work, halted my social life, and bonded with the couch and cat. It worked and I got off. A year later my anxiety, depreesion and hyperactivity returned, and I am now on 37.5 of effexor every other day, which is working well. I wish you luck!
Posted by Dinah on August 14, 2002, at 17:14:05
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? » Dinah, posted by .tabitha. on August 14, 2002, at 11:59:16
Hmmm. If I ever get in bad enough shape that I am willing to try another AD, I'll mention it to my pdoc. :)
Of course there's always the possibility that I will mercifully forget my experience with Effexor, the way women forget the pain of childbirth (or so they say...).
Posted by Dinah on August 14, 2002, at 17:18:17
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? Dinah, posted by Wheezer on August 14, 2002, at 12:45:54
That sounds like a nice low dose. Hopefully it will continue to work well for you and you'll never need to worry about withdrawal. I know a lot of people who really benefit from Effexor.
Take care.
Posted by quarterlifer on August 14, 2002, at 20:51:52
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? » Wheezer, posted by Dinah on August 14, 2002, at 17:18:17
Here I am, just about a week later, off teh Effexor. I still have the shocks, but am dealing better. I wake up, and I'm not as groggy as I was when I was on Effexor. I do feel a little crazy still, I have this uncontrolled energy, and right around Noon every day I run around in circles at work. So I've started putting together Priority lists, and I can handle it. To ease the pain during the evening, I've resorted to drinking a couple of beers, which suits me fine, and I find that my senses are dulled a bit, so I don't get the anxiety attacks I was getting. Mind you, beer is a depressant, but I wasn't depressed, just had major anxiety.
The good news is that things seem to be coming together for me, which is good, because I can't imagine dealing with this if my life weren't turning so rosy. Hopefully will be getting word on a promotion at work that will involve lots of travel and being home on the weekends (I don't like the office bit much anymore, and don't have many ties here, family is crazy anyway, and far away, and a source of my anxiety).
Posted by judy1 on August 14, 2002, at 23:54:39
In reply to Re: Am I crazy?, posted by quarterlifer on August 14, 2002, at 20:51:52
i just heard on the news that drinking 4-6 beers/week lowers blood pressure :-). alcohol is a very common drug that people with panic/anxiety disorders self-medicate with. i'm glad it's helping you, just please be careful to keep it under control. take care, judy
Posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I've been on Effexor, low dose 75 mg, for about 5-6 months now. I truly believe this drug changed my life. I feel fantastic now, I can sleep, read, concentrate, enjoy sex, I'm more productive at work, and able to feel happiness and laugh again.
Next week I'm going back to my Doctor and he wants to talk about coming off the meds, but what I'm reading here scares the hell out of me. I can't go back to the way I was, I won't, it was too hard, I couldn't sleep, eat, think, and forget about sex, I didn't even like it never mind have an orgasm.
I am absolutely terrified of going through what you guys/gals have gone through, depression was bad enough, but the withdrawal sounds worse, I'd almost rather stay on a low dose forever than go through that again. I barely survived the depression the first time, another episode might kill me.
Posted by quarterlifer on August 15, 2002, at 9:46:18
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
In regard to that, I understand how you would be scared to get off it. The things you describe being able to do on Effexor, I could never achieve without much effort. After being off the drug for a week, I feel like my life is coming back and I'm not the ultra sensitive Zombie that I was on the drug. I'm getting shit done and relationships in my life are improving immensely every day I'm off it. Plan on a week of hardship, more like being on illegal drugs, and then it's like the Prozac ads when the sun comes out and you can see again.
Good luck and get off the drugs!
Posted by Dinah on August 15, 2002, at 9:55:51
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
I guess with one episode of depression, doctors do try to get you off meds after a while. But if you are doing so well on Effexor, does your pdoc really think it's important to go off of it?
A lot of people (but not all) do experience nasty withdrawal symptoms, but they do wear off (eventually). If you and your pdoc decide that now is the right time to try to go off the Effexor, my main advice would be taper, taper, taper....
Good luck.
Posted by cybercafe on August 15, 2002, at 16:12:17
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
> I've been on Effexor, low dose 75 mg, for about 5-6 months now. I truly believe this drug changed my life. I feel fantastic now, I can sleep, read, concentrate, enjoy sex, I'm more productive at work, and able to feel happiness and laugh again.
>
> Next week I'm going back to my Doctor and he wants to talk about coming off the meds, but what I'm reading here scares the hell out of me. I can't go back to the way I was, I won't, it was too hard, I couldn't sleep, eat, think, and forget about sex, I didn't even like it never mind have an orgasm.
>
> I am absolutely terrified of going through what you guys/gals have gone through, depression was bad enough, but the withdrawal sounds worse, I'd almost rather stay on a low dose forever than go through that again. I barely survived the depression the first time, another episode might kill me.grrrrrrr..... i went through hell on effexor withdrawal at first cuz i was too proud to call my pdoc.....
then when i did he just told me to take a little clonopin and i went from unbearable agony to happy happy joy joy
Posted by Reneb on August 15, 2002, at 17:06:57
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
> I've been on Effexor, low dose 75 mg, for about 5-6 months now. I truly believe this drug changed my life. I feel fantastic now, I can sleep, read, concentrate, enjoy sex, I'm more productive at work, and able to feel happiness and laugh again.
>
> Next week I'm going back to my Doctor and he wants to talk about coming off the meds, but what I'm reading here scares the hell out of me. I can't go back to the way I was, I won't, it was too hard, I couldn't sleep, eat, think, and forget about sex, I didn't even like it never mind have an orgasm.
>
> I am absolutely terrified of going through what you guys/gals have gone through, depression was bad enough, but the withdrawal sounds worse, I'd almost rather stay on a low dose forever than go through that again. I barely survived the depression the first time, another episode might kill me.
Hi, Why are you getting off it if you are feeling good? I am very happy that it has worked for you. I think it might be your low dose. It seems that when people get into higher doses there the problems start. I was on 300mg for a year and became a zombie. I hated it!!
Renee
Posted by shar on August 15, 2002, at 19:52:03
In reply to Re: You people are scaring the hell out of me! » sly, posted by Reneb on August 15, 2002, at 17:06:57
I will chime in on the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" side of things. If you are feeling good on Effexor, why get off? On more than one occasion there have been people who have stopped meds 'too soon' and relapsed into depression, and there is no guarantee that once off Effexor it would work for you again (people have also had that experience--trying to go back to a drug that worked once only to find it works not again).
HOWEVER the big caveat is that everybody seems to have their own reactions to these things, and for some people they get off the meds and do fine. Or, if they get depressed again, they try the same med and it works fine. Also, you might find getting off effexor is not a horror story, especially if you get off slowly, add a little prozac before you're off completely, and have access to Klonopin (which helped me a lot).
I have sort of a hard time relating to episodes of depression because my dx is dysthymia (chronic low-level depression with clinical (really bad) episodes). So, I am never depression free except for moments, maybe hours at times.
But, enough about me! Sounds like you are not ready to stop effexor, you are feeling good and enjoying it, and you and your pdoc should probably talk about how long you want to stay as you are. A lot of people use meds for a year when dealing with episodic depression. Then, after a year they stop (but have a supply in the medicine cabinet just in case....).
Shar
Posted by cybercafe on August 16, 2002, at 0:01:43
In reply to Re: You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by shar on August 15, 2002, at 19:52:03
hey shar do dysthymics have atypical or melancholic depression?
Posted by spencer on August 16, 2002, at 4:04:20
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
I know how you feel about going off when it's working for you so well. But you are on a low dose which means that you can almost certainly manage without it. I was on 150mg for about 10 months and was also worried that I would slip back. I tapered very slowly over about 2 months eventually taking a half 37.5mg of normal release Effexor every morning. I had no symptoms except the first two days after I stopped completely I was quite dizzy, but that went away. Now I feel absolutely normal. I have not had any feelings of depression or anxiety, I sleep well and I don't get those funny feelings because I forget to take my capsule on time...and by the way the difficulty in reaching orgasm has gone. I'm doing lots of gym and I'm convinced that is helping the feeling of well-being.
Don't worry about something that may not happen. If the doctor wants you to go off the medication, do it nice and slowly and see what happens. If there are withdrawal symptoms then the doctor will help you deal with them. GOOD LUCK!!!!
Posted by jay60 on August 16, 2002, at 8:57:31
In reply to Re: You people are scaring the hell out of me! » sly, posted by spencer on August 16, 2002, at 4:04:20
I do not see any reason to get off of Effexor if it is working so well for you, I think the decision to stop should be yours and only yours (only you know when you are ready). A good doctor should understand this.
Posted by shar on August 16, 2002, at 15:34:35
In reply to Re: You people are scaring the hell out of me! » shar, posted by cybercafe on August 16, 2002, at 0:01:43
> hey shar do dysthymics have atypical or melancholic depression?
Yes.
kiddin around there.
these are technical terms for describing certain kinds of depression found in dysthymia? I'm not that familiar with the nuances of each term. Can you give me more of a description?
Thanks,
Shar
Posted by Starwatcher on August 16, 2002, at 16:20:53
In reply to Re: You people are scaring the hell out of me! » cybercafe, posted by shar on August 16, 2002, at 15:34:35
Hi, Shar. I always thought I might be dysthmic, too, but I never saw a doctor to be diagnosed. I would get episodes of depression, sometimes deep, and then I'd be "normal" - somewhere in between -not happy, but not totally sad - just kinda okay. No mania. I've been able to deal with myself and my moods before without outside help, but now I'm on a low level of Effexor ( 37.5 mg.) at night to help me sleep and to relieve fibromyalgia pain. And boy, does it!! I've been on that dose for about two months now, and I still wake up groggy and loaded in the mornings for awhile. It goes away as the day goes on. I don't think I'm ever going to get more used to it and have that go away, if it hasn't happened in two months of being continuously on the medication with no missed doses! At least my pain is mostly gone!
Posted by quarterlifer on August 16, 2002, at 22:14:10
In reply to Re: You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by Starwatcher on August 16, 2002, at 16:20:53
Does it really help with fibromyalgia? My mother has had that for years, and after my experience on Effexor, I was gonna almost tell her to get off it and go with something else, however if that is the case, mums the word!
Posted by quarterlifer on August 16, 2002, at 22:16:01
In reply to Re: Am I crazy? » quarterlifer, posted by judy1 on August 14, 2002, at 23:54:39
Thank you, Judy! I appreciate the info and advice!
Posted by LynnPerley on August 16, 2002, at 23:09:55
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
Sly, I agree that it is your decision and nobody else's, but if you do, go slowly. Get a prescrip for 37.5 and maybe try an every third day thing at first? (75 for 2, 37.5 for 1, etc.?) I ended up at 225 mg and I've been contemplating seeing if I can cut back. The thought of how long it will take, and the side effects of withdrawal, are daunting for me. Had I stopped at 75 mg, it seems like it would be easier. Let us know what the doc says.
Posted by cybercafe on August 17, 2002, at 18:23:25
In reply to Re: You people are scaring the hell out of me! » cybercafe, posted by shar on August 16, 2002, at 15:34:35
> > hey shar do dysthymics have atypical or melancholic depression?
>
> these are technical terms for describing certain kinds of depression found in dysthymia? I'm not that familiar with the nuances of each term. Can you give me more of a description?Yes.. I can give you more of a description... but I will not! Never! You shall forever be tortured by your curiousity!
Instead I shall simply ask you if you experience sleep less and eat less when you are more depressed or sleep more and eat more ...
and if you get mood reactivity (your symptoms pretty might go away occasionally when you do a fun activity when you are in the depths of depression) and if you get rejection sensitivity...Muhahahahaha I shall seek to confound and thwart the innocent with technical jargon forever more.... and no one can stop me!
Posted by MomO3 on August 17, 2002, at 23:38:09
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
I have been taking SSRIs since 1989 and I have become an expert at dealing with different Drs, due to geographical and insurance changes over the years. Simply tell the Dr. :
"No. I don't want to go off of it right now. Write me a prescription for the next six months and we'll talk again then." If he wont do it, then find a new Dr. You can walk into any general practitioner in the world and say "I am here because I need a prescription for Effexor", and chances are they will ask you why you take it, for how long, and what dosage should they write it for...
Ultimately it is up to you to be your own advocate in the Dr.'s office. And don't worry about withdrawal symptoms until you are READY to go off of the medication. You may reach a point in the future where you don't WANT to be on Effexor anymore and the side effects of stopping wont matter.
If you would like humorous analogy... Withdrawal after medication is like childbirth after pregnancy. At 4 months pregnant, the idea of labor & delivery is a really frightening prospect. But, ask ANY woman who is past her due date if she STILL wants to be pregnant and you will get a resounding "NO!!!" Childbirth is no longer frightening because it is the lesser of two evils.
Regards,
Mom O'3
Posted by Alf on August 18, 2002, at 9:22:19
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
The nature of the depression holds the key to my way of thinking. Is it biochemical or behavioral? If it is behavioral is therapy part of the treatment? No I don't want an answer. It's none of my business! My point is that there should be some kind of support in place to help you if you decide to become Effexor free. You might consider keeping a month's supply on hand just in case the depression returns.
Yes I'm on Effexor at present but I have no intention of going off it regardless. My impression of pdocs is that they treat DEPRESSION like it's some kind of headache. Just take some Effexor and after a while you'll be normal. (?!) Funk and Wagnall defines NORMAL as "Well adjusted to the outside world; without undue mental tensions." I don't know what that feels like. I've never experienced it.
In any case, good luck to you with whatever decision you make.
Posted by angeltalena on August 18, 2002, at 12:59:28
In reply to Re: Don't be scared.... » sly, posted by MomO3 on August 17, 2002, at 23:38:09
Good answer and reassuring to me as I have no desire to get off of the pills that are helping me so much. Life is good again and it's scary to even think of stopping something that helps so much. When and if the time comes I will gradually go off and I'm sure it will be fine. If not, I will stay on them.
Karen
> I have been taking SSRIs since 1989 and I have become an expert at dealing with different Drs, due to geographical and insurance changes over the years. Simply tell the Dr. :
>
> "No. I don't want to go off of it right now. Write me a prescription for the next six months and we'll talk again then." If he wont do it, then find a new Dr. You can walk into any general practitioner in the world and say "I am here because I need a prescription for Effexor", and chances are they will ask you why you take it, for how long, and what dosage should they write it for...
>
> Ultimately it is up to you to be your own advocate in the Dr.'s office. And don't worry about withdrawal symptoms until you are READY to go off of the medication. You may reach a point in the future where you don't WANT to be on Effexor anymore and the side effects of stopping wont matter.
>
> If you would like humorous analogy... Withdrawal after medication is like childbirth after pregnancy. At 4 months pregnant, the idea of labor & delivery is a really frightening prospect. But, ask ANY woman who is past her due date if she STILL wants to be pregnant and you will get a resounding "NO!!!" Childbirth is no longer frightening because it is the lesser of two evils.
>
> Regards,
> Mom O'3
Posted by menolly57 on August 18, 2002, at 17:23:48
In reply to You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by sly on August 15, 2002, at 7:51:54
Sly, I was on Effexor for years and it worked very, very well. If I were you I would be very careful about going off medication if it is working so well for you. If you do it, you should taper off gradually and be prepared to go back on it if the depression returns.
Every medication works differently on different people, so you should NOT assume that what happened to others will happen to you. For example, Paxil seems to be a wonder drug for some people, but it didn't help me much and I gained 20 pounds on it. Effexor gave me almost no problems. Side effects are far from universal, so don't let the horror stories scare you too much.
If the Effexor works for you, I'd say let it work for you. Don't just go off it because you feel you "should." It is better to be on drugs and happy than to be drug-free and suicidal.
Take care and good luck with everything.
Posted by redape on August 19, 2002, at 0:06:55
In reply to Re: You people are scaring the hell out of me!, posted by menolly57 on August 18, 2002, at 17:23:48
Ugh...scream...I am new to this board but am feeling like...ugh! I hope you know what I mean. I have been on effexor for just about 4 months and it has worked wonders. I was upped to 150mg/day two mos ago and it seems I have once again hit my plateau(sp?)...My doctor told me what to watch out for-feeling like you're going backwards in progress instead of forward. For the last week I have been increasingly on edge, moody, sad, needing to sit in a corner and wrap a blanket on my head and hide. I was hoping it was just a bad couple of days, but...Now I am going to call her tomorrow and see if my dosage needs to be upped. It is worse than the first time of hitting the plateau. Have any of you gone through this? How much do you guys take? Help!
I would love to hear from you!
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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