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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by hhp on May 31, 2003, at 23:33:01
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by notquitethereyet on May 29, 2003, at 19:24:30
Hi,
Just this week I was prescribed Effexor XR. I am hoping that this treatment will give me back the ability to learn, to remember and to comprehend things.
My doctor says that when the depression is under control/cured that my brain will start to work again.
Does anyone have any experience with this?
Posted by zinya on June 1, 2003, at 22:50:31
In reply to Re: new to effexor, and I have questions/Zinya, posted by wnj on May 31, 2003, at 22:39:59
This is good news, wnj... I'm sure you are probably doing as i am and not wanting to have too high expectations too soon ... Least that's where I'm at. It's been a week ago tonight I started, still at the half of 37.5 dose, which is a little tricky to divide up but at least the side effects are mild. Some dizziness in the past couple days enough that it kept me from joining friends for dinner last night, but i too feel an increased resilience that seems already an effect of the med, a certain bleakness has lifted noticeably... And so i can relate to your sense of hopefulness and am very very pleased to hear you're feeling it ...
And it sounds very good that you have a counselor lined up... and I hope it proves to be someone who understands, listens well and sheds light that resonates...
Posted by zinya on June 1, 2003, at 23:08:42
In reply to Re: new to effexor, and I have questions » jtc, posted by Mercedes on May 29, 2003, at 15:11:56
Thanks for posting this, Mercedes! This is inspiring to read... I confess it's been a looong time since i've felt that spontaneous joy-in-the-eyes thing... at least not by the criteria of what i've known in the past in my good years or months or days or hours...
I'm curious whether you started to get the "finally happy" feelings prior to getting to the 300 mg level. And one of my curiosities is that when i first started checking this site in Dec. i read someone who said that the 2nd-system effects of Effexor (on the adrenal system) don't start kicking in until -- I think he said -- 150 mg and higher. And that until that point it's only the SSRI effects that are experienced. My guess is that this varies by person like everything else. But i'm wondering if you would associate your levels of greater joy and zest at the 300 mg levels with a sense of increased "adrenalin" ??
That's what has been most missing for me for so long - dating back to 1987 or even 1985 (with some 'remissions' for some years since then)... and, to respond to the poster who asked about chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, i've been diagnosed over the years with those as chronic myofascial pain syndrome ... each of which led to a prescription (sometimes an a-d) none of which worked. Whether what i'm dealing with now anymore in CFS or fibro, I'm kind of at the "who knows?" phase of fed-up with too many years of diagnoses that led to no results. And maybe it was depression all along. Who knows.
As posted just now, i'm starting 2nd week tonight and so far just not having intolerable side effects and some sense of 'lifting' even just a little... So i join the other seemingly all positive messages here tonight and wishing you all continued success too...
z.
Posted by bgbham on June 2, 2003, at 0:23:19
In reply to Re: new to effexor, and I have questions » wnj, posted by zinya on June 1, 2003, at 22:50:31
i am in the positive group where I am experiencing some good effects from EXR. My pdoc upped me to 300 a day 3 days ago, after getting the foggy feeling again, and I agree, counseling and follow ups with the doc are a must. It is a very dark place where I have been, as I know you all have. I don't want to go back - ever.
B
Posted by bgbham on June 2, 2003, at 0:36:29
In reply to Re: new to effexor, and I have questions/Everyone, posted by wnj on May 31, 2003, at 22:48:10
Wendy, good luck and I am thinking about you. You have a lot to deal with. Sounding boards such as this, but most importantly, your doc, are invaluable. Make the time, you are worth it, and only are in control of your life.
brian
Posted by notquitethereyet on June 2, 2003, at 1:54:19
In reply to Re: new to effexor, and I have questions » Mercedes, posted by zinya on June 1, 2003, at 23:08:42
yes, the "who knows phase" I think thats a place
I reside in currently. I'm on 37.5 and on the
weekly schedule advancing toward 225mg\
very tough side effects lasting 50 % 0f the day
and 10% at night. cant sleep easily etc,if this works for me, major change will have
happened.
Posted by melley on June 2, 2003, at 7:02:01
In reply to Re: new to effexor, and I have questions, posted by notquitethereyet on June 2, 2003, at 1:54:19
I am getting off of effexor. Now down to 37.5 mg. from 225. First of all, I think therapy alone should be the first thing tried for someone who had not had therapy or med for depression. Cognitive/behavioral therapy is the best. Esp for someone who has had a traumatic experience. Going right to drugs is doing yourself a disservice. I personally think the thing about effexor being addictive shows from the people who have to keep upping their dose. Plus I really found effexor numbed me. It feels so good to have feelings again. Some have been a bit bad but hey that's what makes us human and not the stepford bunch. Sorry to be a naysayer.
Posted by CherC68 on June 2, 2003, at 8:24:50
In reply to Re: new to effexor, and I have questions/Everyone, posted by bgbham on June 2, 2003, at 0:36:29
I am new to Effexor, I took the 37.5 last night an hour after dinner. I had a horrible experience with Zoloft about a month ago, I was nauseous 24 hours a day and experienced a few boughts of vomiting and was getting headaches. Went off the medicine. My doctor promised me this wouldn't happen with Effexor. I decided to look-up information and came to this site. I'm already freaking out. What the heck is brain tremors? Come on - Don't they realize that it could take depression to another higher level feeling like this? I have a slight case of depression,lots of anxiety and stress in my life but was diagnosed as Borderline Personality ten years ago but haven't taken medicine until I went to a doctor for an eye twitch I had for a year and he put me on the zoloft. I had to quit smoking today because I'm getting a stress test on Thursday. I'm already feeling nauseaus this morning and now I'm afraid to take this medicine.
Posted by bgbham on June 2, 2003, at 8:50:12
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by CherC68 on June 2, 2003, at 8:24:50
cher, stick with it, i have known many who initially had same symtoms. I feel great. Effexor rules. Have had none of the sides mentioned in the chats.
Brian
Posted by notquitethereyet on June 2, 2003, at 9:55:22
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by CherC68 on June 2, 2003, at 8:24:50
my doc said to expect to get worse before
getting better meaning the side effects
are tough, BUT THEY GO AWAY. I've failed
in the past on other ssri's because I
quit before ths side effects went away.
you gotta hang tough for awhile.
Posted by bgbham on June 2, 2003, at 10:35:56
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by CherC68 on June 2, 2003, at 8:24:50
Effexor is a ssni. don't know what that really means but asked the doc. like i said, I am at 300 after about 3 weeks.
b
Posted by jmj on June 2, 2003, at 16:13:54
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Hello,
I've been taking Effexor for a little over two years now. It saved my life. My dosage grew in the beginning until it hit a max of 325mg per day. Right now I'm in the process of coming off of it and I haven't felt better. The main thing to remember is that each medicine effects people differently. I was really nausious when I started taking this medicine but it went away after about a week. What helped me was to eat before I took it. I did have tremors in the beginning, especially if i drank anything with caffine it it. It basically feels like your on a major caffine high. For anyone out there suffering, just don't give up and keep trying things until you start feeling better. For me, I didn't care how bad the physical effects got, as long as I became mentally happy in the end.
Posted by KimberlyDi on June 2, 2003, at 16:16:46
In reply to Re: Tapering down??, posted by jb07 on May 8, 2003, at 13:06:59
I am a recovering alcoholic. Effexor eliminates my cravings for alcohol, I presume because it numbs me. Be careful. Your concerns about becoming an alcoholic could be justified. It will take more & more drinks to numb you. Talk to your doctor about it.
Good luck! Kim
> I too have to get off this drug. Funny, the evening drinking binges happened to me?? I guess once the medication wore off, I turned to alcohol for my escape and numb feeling??
>
> If anybody else had the same drinking episodes in the evening, please feel free to share them with the board...I am beginning to think I am an alcoholic???
>
> B/C this alcoholism runs in my family...and I am beginning to get scared!!!
>
> P.S. I have tapered down to 18mg....broke open a 75 mg pill and split it into 4. I feel much better, b/c the drug is slowly getting out of my body, but am still having a few drinks every night to numb me out!!!
Posted by Napaba on June 3, 2003, at 7:43:41
In reply to some thoughts, including therapy first, posted by melley on June 2, 2003, at 7:02:01
FYI for those of you wanting to get off EXR. I quit taking EXR four day a go, I was taking 75 mg. I had tapered down from 150. I switched to Lexapro 10mg. I started taking it the day after my last dose of EXR. I've had no side effects. I'm not sure if the lex is working yet, but praying it does. I really want to feel better without all the side effects I experience from EXR.
> I am getting off of effexor. Now down to 37.5 mg. from 225. First of all, I think therapy alone should be the first thing tried for someone who had not had therapy or med for depression. Cognitive/behavioral therapy is the best. Esp for someone who has had a traumatic experience. Going right to drugs is doing yourself a disservice. I personally think the thing about effexor being addictive shows from the people who have to keep upping their dose. Plus I really found effexor numbed me. It feels so good to have feelings again. Some have been a bit bad but hey that's what makes us human and not the stepford bunch. Sorry to be a naysayer.
Posted by KimberlyDi on June 3, 2003, at 8:01:13
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by CherC68 on June 2, 2003, at 8:24:50
brain shivers-I believe I experienced those coming off of Paxil. They aren't painful, at least mine wasn't, but they are frightening because they just don't seem normal. This website is scaring me alittle, but my suicial urge to drive into a tree and end it all scares me more. 5 days on Effexor and I'm already more stable. ^5 to Effexor. It's working for me. As for Effexor Withdrawal, I've gone thru alcohol withdrawal before (not bragging) which ended me up in a hospital. As long as Effexor withdrawal isn't worse than that, I can handle it.
Posted by Napaba on June 3, 2003, at 8:10:03
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by KimberlyDi on June 3, 2003, at 8:01:13
I'm not an Effexor fan, but I can relate to your driving in to a tree feeling (except mine was off the local bridge). What I did while I was waiting for the benefits of EXR was to try and remember I would feel better in a few weeks. It helped to keep me alive. I no longer have the urge to drive off the bridge and for the most part feel pretty normal. I am currently switching to Lexapro. I couldn't handle the side effects from Effexor.
> brain shivers-I believe I experienced those coming off of Paxil. They aren't painful, at least mine wasn't, but they are frightening because they just don't seem normal. This website is scaring me alittle, but my suicial urge to drive into a tree and end it all scares me more. 5 days on Effexor and I'm already more stable. ^5 to Effexor. It's working for me. As for Effexor Withdrawal, I've gone thru alcohol withdrawal before (not bragging) which ended me up in a hospital. As long as Effexor withdrawal isn't worse than that, I can handle it.
Posted by KimberlyDi on June 3, 2003, at 8:41:27
In reply to Re: odd tastes, and coffee in particular » zinya, posted by Napaba on May 28, 2003, at 7:49:41
How funny, I was sitting here wondering about the strange aftertaste so many things seem to have now and this subject just jumped out at me. This change in my tastebuds is bearable. More preferrable than the hearing loss I seemed to suffer while taking Welbutrin for years. btw, Welbutrin was great, except it didn't help enough with my anxiety. Needs change along with life and my new high-stress job changed my med requirements. Effexor leaves me feeling very... emotionally insulated.
Posted by CherC68 on June 3, 2003, at 8:56:13
In reply to Re: odd tastes, and coffee in particular, posted by KimberlyDi on June 3, 2003, at 8:41:27
I am on day two now and I woke up at 1:00 a.m. Wide Awake! I had a battery taste in my mouth. (That taste when you were little and you stuck your tongue on a the tip of a battery). I only had one cup of coffee this morning and I am not too nauseous today, yet. I've been taking my pill about an hour after dinner hoping that it will help. I had a few drags of my friends cig. yesterday,but probably shouldn't have tried to quit smoking until I'm used to this medicine, but I probably will quit for good, haven't had anything today. I see my doctor Thursday for a stress test and I will let him know then if I am going to keep with it. The real test will be tomorrow when I go to work. I work only Wed. & Fri's and ALWAYS have a headache on the day I work. We'll see. Thanks for all the posts on my original post.
Posted by KimberlyDi on June 3, 2003, at 9:08:24
In reply to Re: new to effexor, and I have questions, posted by wnj on May 28, 2003, at 17:57:43
No drug in the world is going to completely take away the pain of a husband's betrayal, especially at this most vulnerable time of your life. I hope Effexor, or any other anti-d, can help you along until you are strong enough to deal with those emotions. You have the right to feel hurt, and angry. Good luck. You deserve to find happiness, and your baby needs you.
Posted by ROVER on June 3, 2003, at 10:13:36
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by CherC68 on June 2, 2003, at 8:24:50
Hi Folks
I am new to the board and to ADS.I have suffered from depression and GAD for many many yrs. but only got the courage to seek help six weeks ago.My doc. has started me on Effexor XR.
Week one 37.5
Week two and three on 75
Weeks four,five and six one 150.That is where I am at the moment.
On the plus side I have had no side effects but on the negative it has had no effect on my GAD or depression.
Should I have had positive effects by now?
I am going back to doc.next week should I ask for an increase? Should I stay at 150 for longer? or should I try another med.?
This is a new venture for me I have read about all the possible withdrawl problems but at this moment I really dont care I will try anything.
Thanks for reading this
Posted by Napaba on June 3, 2003, at 10:44:51
In reply to Re: New to Effexor, posted by ROVER on June 3, 2003, at 10:13:36
I can't believe a doctor started you out with Effexor. (I'm not a fan) I'd give it four weeks at a 150 if that's the dose your doctor has planned for you. Before you let him up it from 150 I'd look into the long term side effects of a higher dose and have him/her perscribe something else. There are so many anti-deps out there that don't have the side effects of Effexor.
> Hi Folks
> I am new to the board and to ADS.I have suffered from depression and GAD for many many yrs. but only got the courage to seek help six weeks ago.My doc. has started me on Effexor XR.
> Week one 37.5
> Week two and three on 75
> Weeks four,five and six one 150.That is where I am at the moment.
> On the plus side I have had no side effects but on the negative it has had no effect on my GAD or depression.
> Should I have had positive effects by now?
> I am going back to doc.next week should I ask for an increase? Should I stay at 150 for longer? or should I try another med.?
> This is a new venture for me I have read about all the possible withdrawl problems but at this moment I really dont care I will try anything.
> Thanks for reading this
Posted by KimberlyDi on June 3, 2003, at 11:33:42
In reply to Re: Effexor and Anxiety » cruzandfamily, posted by Paco on May 2, 2003, at 20:37:20
Paco, I'm going to be optimistic and hope that there aren't any posts about "life after Effexor withdrawal" because the withdrawal finally does go away with no problems, so therefore nobody comes to this web site to complain. (Either that or they all died?) As for your repeat posts, I'm new to this group so your posts are a first to me. Thanks for the positive input.
Kim
Posted by Tristan on June 3, 2003, at 14:55:02
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Effexor has greatly improved my life. After years of panic attacks, anger attacks, general depressed feelings and a bad experience with counceling and prozac I am so happy to have found Effexor. I did not realize how depressed I was. After refusing to see a councelor who was not helping me, my regular family doctor prescribed Effexor. The first week I had a strange out of body feeling. Now, after six weeks I'm not depressed and I have a different perception of the world. It's hard to describe. It's like my focus expanded from myself and three feet around myself to seeing things as others do. My field of vision seems to have widened and I am more aware of my surroundings. I see more clearly even. Effexor has not seemed to help my panic attacks but I get angry less often and for once I feel normal. I feel like I never knew what normal was before now. WOW. I was verrrrry sceptical. The only problem I've had is sleeping. I was told this medication causes drowsiness. Not with me. It has a slight affect like too much caffeine. I'm not nervous just UP.
Posted by waterlily on June 3, 2003, at 16:31:02
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Tristan on June 3, 2003, at 14:55:02
WOW. I was verrrrry sceptical. The only problem I've had is sleeping. I was told this medication causes drowsiness. Not with me. It has a slight affect like too much caffeine. I'm not nervous just UP.
Same here. My husband kept saying that I wasn't the same person he married 14 years ago and I didn't know what he was talking about until the Effexor kicked in about a month ago. Now I actually have a sense of humor, am reasonably relaxed, and am more social. My husband said that it's nice to have me back. It's nice to be back after almost nine years of being on the wrong antidepressants and two years of therapy. I have insomnia as well, but I can deal with that - it's a small price to pay to have my life back.
Posted by bgbham on June 3, 2003, at 16:53:33
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Tristan on June 3, 2003, at 14:55:02
tristan, i have had a lot of luck with it also. i am back on it after self doctoring myself for a while ( big mistake). I am at a much higher dose than before (now at 300) and i can see a diff, but not quite ready for all the world has to offer, but can see i can do it. i am so glad to hear about your success, i have probs sleeping too which will be an issue when i go back to work, but that is manageable too. great luck to you, i am so sympathetic with your issues. feel free to write anytime.
Brian
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