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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 15:09:58
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I have social anxiety disorder. It comes on mostly at work, usually when I'm in a meeting or sometimes when I'm just having a discussion with a co-worker. I begin to blush and sweat. My doctor prescibed Effexor. I'm late in my 2nd week of Effexor and haven't noticed any results yet. Has anyone had success treating this disorder and what other methods or medications did you use?
Posted by nana on January 9, 2006, at 15:57:31
In reply to Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 15:09:58
Hello, I have what they say is GAD Generalized Anxiety disorder. I had the same thing happen to me when I was in a meeting and would have to say something. I would get an adreniline rush, my face would flush, rapid breathing and I could hardly say what I needed to say.
I now after taking Effexor 75mg for approx 1 yr can go to meetings, say what I need to relate to them, I still get just a little twinge in my stomach but am able to handle my self. I do have 37.5 Effexor if a day is to much for me I can add this dose in the afternoon. I can tell when it is needed or major stress brings it on. I don't have to take the extra dose very often.Hang in there and keep trying to get it under control. It worked for me and it can work for you.
Posted by TinMan on January 10, 2006, at 7:59:36
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by nana on January 9, 2006, at 15:57:31
I have been on Effexor (225 mg) for about 8 or so months. It did take about 3 weeks to kick in. It helps me with the SAD/GAD so much. Things that used to make me so anxious, ah, now I feel like "who cares?", I am just fine!
So hang in there and see how you do and feel after about three weeks or so.
BTW, for the first time in a couple of years, I can actually feel "happy".
~TinMan
Posted by 3djp on January 10, 2006, at 8:04:34
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by TinMan on January 10, 2006, at 7:59:36
> I have been on Effexor (225 mg) for about 8 or so months. It did take about 3 weeks to kick in. It helps me with the SAD/GAD so much. Things that used to make me so anxious, ah, now I feel like "who cares?", I am just fine!
>
> So hang in there and see how you do and feel after about three weeks or so.
>
> BTW, for the first time in a couple of years, I can actually feel "happy".
> ~TinManI have been on this medication for a week now. I am still having problems sleeping through the night. When I start to fall a sleep I've been having muscle spasm in my arm or my leg just enough to jerk my leg at times. I don't feel them when I am sleep. Has anyone encounter this type of SE. Tomrrow I begin my 75mg dosage
Posted by kmm on January 10, 2006, at 15:17:06
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by 3djp on January 9, 2006, at 10:56:39
It took quite awhile for me to feel better on Effexor (about 4 - 6 weeks) and a dose of 150 mgs. I went all the way up to 225 but actually felt worse (exhausted during the day, zombie like, couldn't sleep at night and had no sex drive). I have been on 150 mgs of Effexor XR combined with 150 mgs of Wellbutrin XL for about 5 months and feel the best I have felt in years. The Effexor helps with my anxiety and the Wellbutrin for depression. I still have occasional tremoring in my leg or arm. The doctor told me that all of the medications will have some side effect(s) that you don't like, so you have to choose what you can deal with. Good Luck and hang in there. It took me 7 months to get the "correct" dose and combination of medication. However, even in the interim I felt markedly better.
> I have been on this medication for a week now. I am still having problems sleeping through the night. When I start to fall a sleep I've been having muscle spasm in my arm or my leg just enough to jerk my leg at times. I don't feel them when I am sleep. Has anyone encounter this type of SE. Tomrrow I begin my 75mg dosage.
Posted by Walker on January 10, 2006, at 21:13:38
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by 3djp on January 10, 2006, at 8:04:34
> > I have been on Effexor (225 mg) for about 8 or so months. It did take about 3 weeks to kick in. It helps me with the SAD/GAD so much. Things that used to make me so anxious, ah, now I feel like "who cares?", I am just fine!
> >
> > So hang in there and see how you do and feel after about three weeks or so.
> >
> > BTW, for the first time in a couple of years, I can actually feel "happy".
> > ~TinMan
>
> I have been on this medication for a week now. I am still having problems sleeping through the night. When I start to fall a sleep I've been having muscle spasm in my arm or my leg just enough to jerk my leg at times. I don't feel them when I am sleep. Has anyone encounter this type of SE. Tomrrow I begin my 75mg dosage
I just finished my second week and did not have any of those problems. I've been sleeping fine and have not had any spasms.
Posted by jacobs on January 10, 2006, at 21:50:04
In reply to Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by Walker on January 9, 2006, at 15:09:58
hi i just started taking effexor xr today and noticed tingling in my scalp, is that normal? i have horrible GAD and today is the first day in i dont know how long i have felt normal. other then the tingling thing.
Posted by 3djp on January 11, 2006, at 7:58:21
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by jacobs on January 10, 2006, at 21:50:04
> hi i just started taking effexor xr today and noticed tingling in my scalp, is that normal? i have horrible GAD and today is the first day in i dont know how long i have felt normal. other then the tingling thing.
I had the tingling in my scalp before I started and still do at time; however it has slow down since i have been on this medication i am still only on my second week. I am hoping it will go away soon i think it will.
Posted by kmm on January 11, 2006, at 13:49:43
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by 3djp on January 11, 2006, at 7:58:21
I absolutely had this symptom and it did go away after time.
Posted by cerebus on January 11, 2006, at 16:41:54
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by kmm on January 11, 2006, at 13:49:43
I have been taking Effexor for over 3 years at 75mg then upped the dosage to 112.5mg last year. I also have GAD/SAD and it sucks. I recently went back to pdoc, and indicated I was only activating the serotonin at the above dosage, so he increased my dosage to 225mg. I hope it works because the next experiment will be an MAOI. The side effects everyone is inquiring about is unfortunately normal. The body aches,tingling around the scalp, constipation, sexual problems, and headaches. The only ting I can recommend is give the medication time, alot of these problems will subside, if you can handle it. Effexor is a very strong and good medication.
Posted by TABOB on January 12, 2006, at 0:55:47
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex » kmm, posted by cerebus on January 11, 2006, at 16:41:54
I tried it and had a mini-stroke which landed me in jail for DUI.
Posted by jacobs on January 13, 2006, at 7:08:27
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by TABOB on January 12, 2006, at 0:55:47
ok its been 3 days now that i have been taking effexor xr at 37.5 and it seems to be helping but i do find im tired more. next week they are wanting me to go up to 75. if 37.5 is working for me why do i need to raise the dosage? i have heard this stuff is really hard to get off of so why whould you want to take more if the 37.5 is working? thanks!
Posted by 3djp on January 13, 2006, at 8:33:35
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by jacobs on January 13, 2006, at 7:08:27
> ok its been 3 days now that i have been taking effexor xr at 37.5 and it seems to be helping but i do find im tired more. next week they are wanting me to go up to 75. if 37.5 is working for me why do i need to raise the dosage? i have heard this stuff is really hard to get off of so why whould you want to take more if the 37.5 is working? thanks!
I know what you mean. I started almost two weeks ago, and now been on my 75mg 4 days now. according to my dr. going to 75mg will get you to the right therapeutic level of medicine. I believe to get off this medicine depends on the level of mgs and how long you will be on it. I will ask my doctor next week when I go in for a follow-up.
Posted by TinMan on January 13, 2006, at 8:52:23
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by 3djp on January 13, 2006, at 8:33:35
>>I believe to get off this medicine depends on the level of mgs and how long you will be on it. I will ask my doctor next week when I go in for a follow-up.<<
Let us know what your Dr. says. I do know that at the beginning, I could go without a dose and not have much of anything in the way of side effects. But now, after about 8 months, if I am a little late taking it, I get "the headache".
~TinMan
Posted by sanny on January 13, 2006, at 8:56:03
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by TinMan on January 13, 2006, at 8:52:23
> >>I believe to get off this medicine depends on the level of mgs and how long you will be on it. I will ask my doctor next week when I go in for a follow-up.<<
>
> Let us know what your Dr. says. I do know that at the beginning, I could go without a dose and not have much of anything in the way of side effects. But now, after about 8 months, if I am a little late taking it, I get "the headache".
> ~TinMan
>
> Amen to that TinMan..not only do I get "the headache", but I get that horrible "swimming effect" in my head.....That is the absolutely worse feeling in the world....nausea, etc.
Sanny
Posted by kmm on January 13, 2006, at 12:21:28
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by jacobs on January 13, 2006, at 7:08:27
My doctor explained that they are not only trying to fix your current hormonal problem but also build up your "bank" so that your stores can be replenished. I had the same question about increasing but, ultimately, I think you will find that you will feel better when you get up to maintenance dose. Incidentally, I had to reduce down from 225 mgs to 150 mgs. I did it in 37.5 increments and took about two weeks to do it. I felt a little like I was car sick but, it really was nothing compared to what I was expecting.
Posted by 3djp on January 13, 2006, at 12:58:07
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by kmm on January 13, 2006, at 12:21:28
> My doctor explained that they are not only trying to fix your current hormonal problem but also build up your "bank" so that your stores can be replenished. I had the same question about increasing but, ultimately, I think you will find that you will feel better when you get up to maintenance dose. Incidentally, I had to reduce down from 225 mgs to 150 mgs. I did it in 37.5 increments and took about two weeks to do it. I felt a little like I was car sick but, it really was nothing compared to what I was expecting.
hey, thanks for that info. That put me at ease alittle. Thanks again
Posted by ace11 on January 14, 2006, at 9:10:08
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 for 4 weeks now. The first week the medication worked well for me and gave me a sort of numb, zombie type feeling. i had less obsessive thoughts, my anxiety lessened tenfold, and my depression was a lot better. The first 3 days I was on 37.5 mg, and after that I took 75 mg. Unfortunately, since then, this medication isn't doing much for me. I'm back to the same old, depressed and anxious me. I'm wondering if I start to increase my dosage, whether I'll start to feel better again, because I can't go on like this. The worst part is, I don't even have a psychiatrist or even a family doctor with which to discuss my dosage with - though I'm in the process of getting one.
Anyone on this medication have any insights into this?
Thank you
Posted by sanny on January 14, 2006, at 9:33:09
In reply to help asap - effexor dosages, posted by ace11 on January 14, 2006, at 9:10:08
How were you able to get your meds without a dr? It's important that you have a physician who can monitor you...you need to monitor yourself because you're the only one who can relate what it does to you, but the physician should advise you...I'm not censuring you, I'm just concerned..
Posted by animama on January 14, 2006, at 9:40:50
In reply to help asap - effexor dosages, posted by ace11 on January 14, 2006, at 9:10:08
I have only been on effexor for two days at 37.5 mg. I did have a strict warning from my doctor not to miss a dose, stop taking it without notifing him or needing emerengcy care due to extreme side effects. He said that for the first two weeks, I could suffer anixety attacks, but if I could just get through them it would be much better the thrid week.
My suggestion to you is to start back at the 37.5 for a week then up it to the 75mg.
This is so scarry for me, I am taking effexor xr for migraines, or headache that are physical manifestation of my depression. This is just an effort to stop some very sever headaches. I am glad that we are on a path, instead of still searching for something.
I hope that you find a doctor soon. I was diagonosed about 4 years ago with severe depression and was only going to counsuling. I lost insurance and stop counsuling as well. Although the counsuling did help quite a bit, I really think the med with help even more.
Posted by kmm on January 14, 2006, at 13:20:08
In reply to help asap - effexor dosages, posted by ace11 on January 14, 2006, at 9:10:08
My recommendation is to stick with it until you get a doctor. Most of all, please try to see a psychiatrist over a G.P. The extent of my psychiatrist's experience with patient response to various medications has been invaluable to me. If you can find a good one, they can help tremendously. Good Luck!
Posted by steve3590 on January 14, 2006, at 18:22:41
In reply to help asap - effexor dosages, posted by ace11 on January 14, 2006, at 9:10:08
It would be amazing that in the first week of effexor dosing you would experience that dramatic a reversal of symptoms. My feeling is that you had a placebo effect that waned, then you went back to your normal self. It took a good 5 weeks for me to get any relief with effexor. Around the 5th week I started to feel REALLY GOOD. My sleep returned to normal (after 20 years of insomnia). The really good feeling left and now I just feel normal for the first time in many years. I sleep. Using AD's is nothing but a crap shoot. One may work for you, one may not. You are able to get the effexor without a doc, so play with the dose. Run it up to 225 for a few weeks and see how you feel. That's all the MD's are going to do. If you get no relief titrate it down, use some prozac at the end for the slow taper and try another one. Only you can tell if it works. Psych docs are not doing nothing but magic. They have no more idea than you do what will work.
Posted by spierson1253 on January 14, 2006, at 22:25:51
In reply to Re: Anyone treating social anxiety disorder with Effex, posted by sanny on January 13, 2006, at 8:56:03
ah, yes . . . the ever-threatening headache
Posted by paulbowden on January 19, 2006, at 19:54:59
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Has anyone had the experience, while on Effexor, that your lips tingle?
Posted by 4WD on January 19, 2006, at 20:35:31
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by paulbowden on January 19, 2006, at 19:54:59
> Has anyone had the experience, while on Effexor, that your lips tingle?
Nope. But the highest dosage I've ever been on was 75 (and that was brief). It does make my ears ring, though.
Marsha
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