Posted by collegeguy on April 16, 2004, at 23:06:59
In reply to Re: Effexor XR first time user and have some questions, posted by awatts on April 15, 2004, at 23:29:25
I've had experience with Effexor XR, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and Lexapro, and I personally think Effexor should be more of a last recourse type drug than a first shot because of the sometimes awful withdrawal effects (though that is not to say you'll experience any--everyone is different and some people come off of it without trouble); regardless, it is something to be mindful of though.
On to your prescription:
It looks as if you are reading it wrong, because it makes no sense at is---however, if you replace all the 9's with q's (your doc could just be very sloppy), here's what it says:
-1 tablet by mouth (p.o. = per orum) once a day (qd) for seven days ( x 7 d)
-then 2 tablets by mouth once a day for seven days
-then 3 tablets by mouth once a day for seven days
-then 4 tablets by mouth once a day for fourteen daysYou negelected to indicate a dosage though. Effexor XR comes in 3 sizes: 37.5 mg, 75 mg, and 150 mg. All of the doses are in the form of extended (24 hour) release capsules, not tablets as your doctor wrote on the prescription. Because each Effexor XR capsule must release medication steadily over the course of a day, each cap contains 100s of tiny beads of the active ingredient of Effexor (venlafaxine) that are all specially coated to release their contents at different times after taking. As such, there is virtually no way to accurately divide these capsules and should not be toyed with (preventing yourself from getting the full 24 hours of effexor is probably the worst thing you can do while on it, because that can induce withdrawal). Just a warning about the capsules though...some people often cut or divide their meds up and don't realize you simply can't do it with Effexor XR.
Also, more about your script: assuming your doctor prescriped you the 37.5 mg capsules, as is the standard starting dose for Effexor XR, you would end up being on 150 mg by the end up the "ramping up" phase. 150 mg is a relatively standard dose of Effexor XR for the treatment of depression. You may find you need either more or less once you get up to 150 mg, but you should talk to your doctor about that.
Good luck!
poster:collegeguy
thread:336761
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040412/msgs/337065.html