Posted by Cybercrone on July 30, 2003, at 23:32:48
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by Gill Angel on July 29, 2003, at 13:26:40
> i am supposed to start taking it tomorrow but i am very nervous about possible side effects, can anyone help me?
I researched the Effexor XR very thoroughly before I went on it. I had some side effects when starting and each time I increased my dosage. Mostly gas, diarrhea, loss of taste - stuff like that.
BUT - what really worries me about what I read here, is the people trying to get off it. From what I read, you have to be on it for 18 months to 2 years (timed from when you start your highest dosage)before you try to get off it, or you may have a serious relapse and then may never be able to be medication-free.
*Apparently* - and I don't know because I haven't gotten there yet, if you time it like that, there should be many fewer problems weaning yourself too.
Doctors don't seem to have enough time to read everything they should before they start prescribing, so they rely on what the pharm. sales people tell them. Consequently, I research everything assiduously myself, and then take the results of my research to my doctor and discuss them, before I will take any medication.
Canadians should always look at the US information too, since the law in the US is much stricter about them having to report adverse side effects.
Best of luck to you all - I know that since I got to the highest dosage, I'm feeling a lot better. I wasn't too impressed before that, but the jump from 150 to 225 made a huge difference within about 2-3 weeks.
poster:Cybercrone
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030728/msgs/246909.html