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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 5905 to 5929 of 10407. Go back in thread:
Posted by zeugma on December 14, 2003, at 12:45:59
In reply to Re:Thanks Dr. Bob blocked for week, posted by glenn on December 14, 2003, at 11:09:36
Klonopin is working for anxiety. Buspar, nortriptyline, Strattera, SSRI's, CBT either had little to no effect on anxiety or worsened it dramatically (SSRI's and CBT). My pdoc is very grudging about prescribing Klonopin, he refers to it in terms that do not conceal his dislike of this med, but it is literally the only thing that has worked for this problem.
Posted by Gummybear on December 14, 2003, at 22:53:56
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by SEVE on May 24, 2000, at 6:46:08
Hi, I've just started taking (one week) Effexor XR and it's really helped with the anxiety. However I feel TOTALLY tired, yawn and lifeless during the day, also I get spells of dizziness, disorentation and I feel like fainting or having to sit down/lie down. It's only been a week on 37.5 dose, this week I'm upping the does...so I'm trying to hang in there.....
....please, do these side affects go away? Has anyone experienced these and have they gone away? How long does it take????????? It's really affecting my work / life.
Posted by PennyLane on December 16, 2003, at 0:46:39
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Hey everyone!
I started effexor xr about a month and a half ago. It's been really good for me so far, very effective. I've improved a lot, especially my anxiety although i still suffer from waves of depression - no where as severe as it was before.
My story is a little different from everyone else's experiences, I think. Up until three months ago, I've always been pretty happy. I had my down moments like mostly everyone does but I was satisfied with my life in general. I'm a university student and I experimented with recreational drugs... nothing major, just pot and occassionally mushrooms. So three months ago, I went to my friend's cottage and we all did some shrooms. I had an extremely bad trip and suffered from a severe anxiety attack. i had never had one before so I thought i was going crazy. The world completely changed for me, it was the scariest thing I had ever experienced. it felt like my brain was getting squeezed and just crazy was coming out. And I was scared of everything! I was paralyzed with fear even though there was no logical reason to be afraid. After that night, I vowed never to do anything like that ever again.
But unfortunately it wasn't over. For weeks after, I started getting anxiety attacks. I would walk down the street and this terrible sensation that the world was just different now would wash over me. I started getting chest pains all the time and it became increasingly difficult to be around my roomates. I had trouble going to class because large crowds made me nervous. I stopped eating because everything made me feel nauseous. i couldn't enjoy any of the things I used to like. I was scared to do anything, basically and I just didn't feel like myself. I was trying to keep it together but after a while I just broke down. I had to leave school and go home. I told my parents everything. They're amazing people and they completely supported me through everything. I told my dad all of my symptoms... he suffered from a bout of depression about ten years ago and he said what i was describing was very similar to how he felt. it was so great to have someone understand what I was going through but I was still crying constantly and feeling the lowest of low possible.
I tried st. John's wort for a while but my depression was growing worse... I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, cried constantly. I knew I might need something stronger and I wanted results right away. one night i was lying in bed thinking of ways to commit suicide. it was terrifying but I just wanted to end this pain I was feeling. My whole world had flipped upside down in just one month. I still felt like I was going slowly insane and I was so scared of what the world was turning into. Mornings were the worst. I would wake up crying and wanting to die. I didn't understand what was happening to me. I knew I needed to give antidepressants a try.
I started the effexor xr and noticed the results in about a week, and each week I started feeling better. It took time. The first week I had trouble going to a restaurant with my parents because the crowds of people made me anxious. But three weeks into it, I was able to go back to school and resume my life but it was still extremely hard.
I'm doing a lot better now, but I still find some things hard... I thought i would get increasingly better but I've been on the same level for a few weeks now. I'm wondering if maybe I should up my dosage? I'm on the 75 mg dosage now. I've never taken any drugs like this before so I'm not certain how it all works. I just want to feel like me again, and I'm having difficulty enjoying all the same activities I used to. And I used to have big dreams and now I feel like they're not important anymore and that makes me feel bad. I've tried to talk to a counselor but I didn't find that very effective. Just looking for advice from people with experience! I'd appreciate any advice, thanks so much!
Posted by camel on December 16, 2003, at 7:16:15
In reply to been on it for a month - good but is there more?, posted by PennyLane on December 16, 2003, at 0:46:39
Hey there......first talk to your Doc. You may need to up to 150mg. I had success on the 75mg for about one month and then started feeling some of the old feelings and KNEW I had to up it. My Doc had told me to immediately start up on the 150 if I felt I needed it. No problems since. Hnag in there......
Posted by KimberlyDi on December 16, 2003, at 8:57:26
In reply to been on it for a month - good but is there more?, posted by PennyLane on December 16, 2003, at 0:46:39
Someone said "There is no reality, only perception." The world can be a scary place.
If a lower dosage is doing just fine for you, I wouldn't try to bump the Effexor up yet. I'm on Effexor XR 150mg plus 100mg of Imipramine. I was on Effexor XR 300mg daily but it raised my blood pressure too high. Anxiety is my number one problem, depression second.
GOod Luck!
KDi in TX
Posted by nicky847 on December 16, 2003, at 9:51:09
In reply to been on it for a month - good but is there more?, posted by PennyLane on December 16, 2003, at 0:46:39
Penny-
From reading your post I can empathize with you b/c I suffer from panic attacks as well which bring on depression..(I started taking Lexapro about 2 1/2 weeks ago). There is alot of great info on panic attacks out on the web to help you deal with them..if you go to google and type in "tapir" it will take you to a great site with tips on dealing with panic attacks..the most important thing to know is that they are extremely unsettling but NOT dangerous...you can't die or go crazy or lose control from a panic attack..you just have to ride it out...the less you fear them the less frequent and intense they become...if you find you are having a panic attack try taking slow deep breaths through your nose, and exhaling through your mouth with pursed lips..making sure to exhale longer than usual..when you have a panic attack you are forgetting to exhale and there is too much oxygen in your system..which causes the giddiness and unreality feelings so remember to BREATHE OUT!there is also alot of literature available as well...a book that really helped me is "From Panic to Power" by Lucinda Bassett..she suffered from panic attacks as well and the book is written in a way that makes you feel not so freakish for having these...
I'm glad the meds are helping you! I do recommend educating yourself on panic attacks too..that will help you lose the fear of relapsing..
Take Care!
Nick
Posted by AnneL on December 16, 2003, at 10:17:06
In reply to been on it for a month - good but is there more?, posted by PennyLane on December 16, 2003, at 0:46:39
Hi and welcome to P-Babble,
Speak to your doctor and find out if he/she recommends increasing your dose by 37.5 mg. every
4 to 6 weeks until you find the dose that works for you. I found that 225 mg. worked for me, it's been 3 years now. Many people on this board and pdocs agree that 75 mg. is essentially a starting point (after the initial 37.5 mg. induction phase) and that some people benefit from higher doses. High blood pressure at higher doses is usually not seen until the 400 mg. + range, although as mentioned by another poster on this board, it can occur at lower doses.Good luck to you and good luck in your studies. Your post brings back memories of my experience as a teenager when I ate some of those "magic mushrooms" and experienced a panic attack. I wonder if my earlier drug-experimentation with hallucinogenic substances, "social cocaine" use
(sounds funny, dosen't it?)back in 1977-1990 increased by chances of panic disorder/depression later in life? Just musings from a forty-something year old with two kids beginning college. Take Care, Anne :)
Posted by gunnar on December 16, 2003, at 18:24:00
In reply to been on it for a month - good but is there more?, posted by PennyLane on December 16, 2003, at 0:46:39
Your story is amazing - I had virtually an identical experience my second year of University only my catalyst was LSD. Although I experienced many of the same emotions that you did, I did not do anything about it for 3 months. After I finished my year at University I really started to fall apart. I pretty much thought I had scrambled my brains for life and that I had done irreparable damage. I was pretty open with my Dr’s that if this was the case I was going to live out the rest of life feeling the way I did. Anyhow after god knows how many tests they classified me as phobic anxiety/de-realization and put me on Zoloft. Things will get better I promise.
Posted by Salty_Dog on December 16, 2003, at 23:23:04
In reply to Re: been on it for a month - good but is there more? » PennyLane, posted by AnneL on December 16, 2003, at 10:17:06
Hello and Happy Holidays
I am at 600 mg of Effexor XR and currently tapering to 450 mg for one week to see the outcome. My doses are off the charts so don't go there please. I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. I have done probably everything including getting Hepatitis 'C' or 'HCV' as it is refered to, from shared needles (Heron,Cocain,Speed IV style) or shared blood during sex (Let's not go there)After a few tries, I was able to get sober and clean July 1, 1988. Like you there was a family history of mental health. My Father was given shock therapy in the 60's, which seemed to work until he passed away 2 years later. He was an alcoholic in recovery and was also contending with survivor's guilt from Perl Habor.
My Mother was an inpatient to several mental health wards and in the end, lived 20 more years in half-way houses which could keep a eye on Her and provide the basics. She was pretty much unrestricted and only needed to show up for medication. The majority of the P-Docs now would have been able to treat Her successfully because the newer disorders would explain Her condition.I successfully treated 'HCV' to a sustained verologic response (SVR) which mean no HCV virus can be detected. That is better than most average people walking around. The treatment is beyond 'Chemo' and lasts for 8-12 months. At several points during my treatment (We pushed the envolope again) I was at risk of death but we kept pushing. During a recent MRI (2 years post treatment) we discovered 5 lessions which by the Dr where tagged as side effects of the 'Chemo'.
I have always had depression. The only time I felt normal was after running/training as a distance runner (a long time ago). My current Dx is Rapid Cycling Bi-Polar Manic Depressive. In a nut shell, I can have Depression and Mania at the same time which if put in words would sound and look like anxiety attacks. If a Bi-Polar is given AD's (S)he will be forced into Mania which is equally dangerous. Bi-Polar's tend to inadvertently use street drugs and alcohol to treat themselves.
I have dumped enough and would extend to you my best wishes in your journey toward discovery.
You have several possible directions to take and you can be trying to shoot a moving target. I am very happy you have such a supportive family. I really wished my parents where still alive, but that would be selfish because they have moved on to a higher plain and extending their lives would mean more pain for them. Both of my parents passed away from natual causes.BTW I take several drugs including Zyprexa which has prevented the mania. I am not depressed today but I have to take care of myself to stay that way. I have not found therapy useless which pretty much fits the mold for Bi-Polar Manics.
Keep posting, please.
> Hi and welcome to P-Babble,
>
> Speak to your doctor and find out if he/she recommends increasing your dose by 37.5 mg. every
> 4 to 6 weeks until you find the dose that works for you. I found that 225 mg. worked for me, it's been 3 years now. Many people on this board and pdocs agree that 75 mg. is essentially a starting point (after the initial 37.5 mg. induction phase) and that some people benefit from higher doses. High blood pressure at higher doses is usually not seen until the 400 mg. + range, although as mentioned by another poster on this board, it can occur at lower doses.
>
> Good luck to you and good luck in your studies. Your post brings back memories of my experience as a teenager when I ate some of those "magic mushrooms" and experienced a panic attack. I wonder if my earlier drug-experimentation with hallucinogenic substances, "social cocaine" use
> (sounds funny, dosen't it?)back in 1977-1990 increased by chances of panic disorder/depression later in life? Just musings from a forty-something year old with two kids beginning college. Take Care, Anne :)
Posted by new2fxr on December 17, 2003, at 1:30:19
In reply to Effexor XR - I'm new! Please help...., posted by Gummybear on December 14, 2003, at 22:53:56
> Hi, I've just started taking (one week) Effexor XR and it's really helped with the anxiety. However I feel TOTALLY tired, yawn and lifeless during the day, also I get spells of dizziness, disorentation and I feel like fainting or having to sit down/lie down. It's only been a week on 37.5 dose, this week I'm upping the does...so I'm trying to hang in there.....
>
> ....please, do these side affects go away? Has anyone experienced these and have they gone away? How long does it take????????? It's really affecting my work / life.I started about two months ago and experienced similar side effects for the first few weeks. I also had pretty bad headaches (ibuprofen worked well). Most of those effects tapered off after the first few weeks, although they can come back if I forget a dose for 1/2 day as has happened a few times. I'm taking the 75 dose currently. A good night of sleep helped by Ambien sleeping pills helps as well.
The most annoying side effect for me has been retarded sexual climax - something I had mild troubles with before starting treatment of mild depression and anxiety. After weeks of hard effort (insert here every Viagra joke you've ever heard about guys with their right arm in a sling) there was a rather "explosive" breakthrough, but the problem still exists to an annoying extent.
On a more positive note, I do feel less depressed and anxious thanks to the drug, which is pretty amazing considering my present external circumstances (American I.T. worker - jobless and soon homeless from foreclosure).
Best of luck to you on your treatment.
Posted by Warrior13 on December 17, 2003, at 11:09:20
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Hi There, I wondered if recreational use of cocaine would be detrimental to the affects of Effexor or worse still damaging overall ?
Any ideas on this subject ?
Many thanks
Wilf
Posted by jerseydevil on December 17, 2003, at 15:28:28
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Cocaine use !, posted by Warrior13 on December 17, 2003, at 11:09:20
Let's start with Effexor increasing blood pressure at higher doses, hummm, add cocaine... My familiarity with Effexor is its use as an AD, so if you want to get high on coke and crash while going through a depressive cycle, that could have some problems. Mind you, coke adds life, been there done that, these days I can't afford to play with chemicals. I tend to think it is not such a great idea to mix the two.
Posted by temery on December 20, 2003, at 20:37:43
In reply to Re: been on it for a month - good but is there more? » PennyLane, posted by KimberlyDi on December 16, 2003, at 8:57:26
I have a 9 year old that was on effexor, At first it seem to do great, but as time passed he seem to get angry and moody, didnt sleep well and didnt eat well. he suffors from anxiety disorder. I decided to talk to the doctor about the side effects of effexor. Now he is on remeron. I would like to know if anyone has had any good experiences with remeron. I am a worried mother trying to fix her little boys life. Please let me know.
Posted by Rev. J. on December 20, 2003, at 23:29:07
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - I'm new! Please help...., posted by new2fxr on December 17, 2003, at 1:30:19
> > Hi, I've just started taking (one week) Effexor XR and it's really helped with the anxiety. However I feel TOTALLY tired, yawn and lifeless during the day, also I get spells of dizziness, disorentation and I feel like fainting or having to sit down/lie down. It's only been a week on 37.5 dose, this week I'm upping the does...so I'm trying to hang in there.....
> >
> > ....please, do these side affects go away? Has anyone experienced these and have they gone away? How long does it take????????? It's really affecting my work / life.
>
> I started about two months ago and experienced similar side effects for the first few weeks. I also had pretty bad headaches (ibuprofen worked well). Most of those effects tapered off after the first few weeks, although they can come back if I forget a dose for 1/2 day as has happened a few times. I'm taking the 75 dose currently. A good night of sleep helped by Ambien sleeping pills helps as well.
>
> The most annoying side effect for me has been retarded sexual climax - something I had mild troubles with before starting treatment of mild depression and anxiety. After weeks of hard effort (insert here every Viagra joke you've ever heard about guys with their right arm in a sling) there was a rather "explosive" breakthrough, but the problem still exists to an annoying extent.
>
> On a more positive note, I do feel less depressed and anxious thanks to the drug, which is pretty amazing considering my present external circumstances (American I.T. worker - jobless and soon homeless from foreclosure).
>
> Best of luck to you on your treatment.
>Hey gummybear! Two years of getting continuously better. Only on 150mg. of Effexor XR now. Used to have a dozen pills a day and I think Effexor helped with pain from my back injury as well as anxiety, depression and bi-polar. It takes the edge off enough to let me deal with life as it is.
It's been a long time since I first started it, but I do remember feeling like I couldn't get blood to my hands, increased anxiety, massive sweating and sleeplessness. Buspar helped to control these and taking the Effexor XR in the morning not only kept me from feeling 'withdrawal' symptoms toward the end of the day, but it seemed to time perfectly with normal sleep patterns. Also, it gave me all day to remember to take it!
For me, having a caring Dr. who listened to me and what I was trying to accomplish was everything. It worked for me. Finally I am able to dream and know I can function tomorrow to make them come true.
The rough and scary beginning was the hardest part. Now I just make sure I don't abruptly run out because it is miserable, but I've has six different pharmacies "front" me a five day supply when I missed a Dr.'s appointment and didn't get my new RX.
Try taking it in the morning.
Try getting lots of sleep while your body adjusts.
Talk to your Dr., relax, get informed.
Many Blessings,
Rev. J.
Posted by Salty_Dog on December 21, 2003, at 0:38:34
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - I'm new! Please help...., posted by Rev. J. on December 20, 2003, at 23:29:07
Hello Effexor group,
I have been at 600 mg for a few months now and recently began the withdrawl phase. I have had bouts of Sleep lasting 36-48 hours at a shot in the last 4-5 weeks. The dreams I have in my sleep are far better than real life and they don't cost me any energy. This is what has prompted me to stop the Effexor.
I am on my second day at 300 mg. What withdrawl symptoms has other people noted ? I am also taking 15 mg of Zyprexa which seems to somehow help prevent me from having a complete mental breakdown.I am very interested in Remeron as I have exhausted the list of SSRI's.
I will be driving to NC to pick up my two Daughters (6 & 7 yrs old) and proceeding to the Grandparents (my ex-wifes side) house. I don't want to be out-of-it untill I return on the 28th.
I wish you all a Happy Holiday season.
Posted by burnedout on December 21, 2003, at 13:30:22
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » Rev. J., posted by Salty_Dog on December 21, 2003, at 0:38:34
To find the possible side effects of Effexor & the discontinuation effects go to www.effexor.com
Look at both the info the consumer and the info for the doctors. Near the bottom of most pages there is a list of "some" of the effects of withdrawal or even lowering the dose.
I have been off it for over a year now. I still have Tinnitus which started during withdrawal, my B.P. went from 120/70 to 170/120. Now it's at 150/110 so I guess that's good. The "sensory sensations" they are talking about is electrical shocks when you move your eyes.
During the withdrawal phase, it was happening all the time, now only when I awake.
It feels sort of like putting your tounge on a fully-charged 9-volt or one of the heavy duty headlight batteries.
Just the other night the sound in my ears kept me awake. I took a hypnotic to try and knock me out. It did for an hour. When I awoke, I went to get something else to try to calm me down. During that time, I counted 27 "brain/eye zaps."
They stop you right in your track.
You wouldn't know what the warning about "sensory perception--electical like," means unless it can happens to you. And the tinnintus is maddening.The withdrawal effects are now finally being adressed. They even say if you've been one it just one week, you need to taper off.
They have a schedule for tapering: 75 mg/d for 4 days, see how you do, try another 75, until off. This may work for some but not all if you get into trouble, you'll know it right away & you'r doc had better interrupt whatever he is doing and attend to you--otherwise, your liable to wind up in the ER.
Wyeth say that if your take it for more than 5 weeks, the .75 mg/reduction/x4days is only a guide--that the individual needs to be closely monitore and the taper adjusted to the individual.I hope you make it through with little discomfort. just at the first sign of some of the withdrawal affects listed, you need to go back to where you were, stabalize and start over.
For me, during withdrawal, it was shaking, sweating so heavily that my blue-jeans were soake, falling over, passing out from pain, the electrical zaps, the tinnitus and many more.
In fact we (my doc & I) counted something like 52 things that went wrong all at once.But I made it through.
Again, whatever you do. DO NOT STOP TAKING IT ALL AT ONCE. --what can be the result of that? Death.
Posted by Lyrical13 on December 21, 2003, at 21:48:55
In reply to Re: Effexor, think twice!!!!, posted by harryartin on November 15, 2002, at 4:56:55
Actually this is re: effectiveness of Effexor XR. There are about a jillion posts about this med. I couldn't get to the bottom of the list to respond!
I started on Effexor XR about a year ago after trying several different SSRIs. It has been incredibly helpful for me with very few side effects. Very thirsty, sweat a lot and that's about it. My sex drive is way down but I'm still trying to figure out if that is from the med or from the depression. Lately I'm having some memory and word-finding problems but I think that's probably from teh Seroquel since it's been very noticable since then. I feel better than I've ever felt. About 4 months after starting Effexor I went into a hypomanic state...this could be caused by Effexor. However, I'm realizing now (hindsight=20/20) that I have had several hypomanic episodes over the years so I think it's more me than the med.
Lyrical13
Posted by maxx44 on December 23, 2003, at 20:15:35
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by burnedout on December 21, 2003, at 13:30:22
after 30 years on and off tcas and maois, i'm amazed at so many differing accounts coming from users of the newer ADs. those old ADs? brief taper and over---but i'm seeing posts talking about withdrawal from paxil, effexor, etc. that sound extraordinarily long for any AD. are the new ones potentially that dangerous?
Posted by camel on December 23, 2003, at 20:59:33
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by maxx44 on December 23, 2003, at 20:15:35
Max...all I can tell you is that withdrawl from Paxil was not pleasant. It was not dibilitating(sp) but defintely NOT fun. The "eye" zaps were the worst. Every time I moved my eyes it felt like lightening was going off in my head! On top of the fact my original symptoms returned! I tapered over 2 months but after 3 weeks of no AD's I went on Effexor and right now I love it!
Posted by mom_cheeks on December 25, 2003, at 19:50:31
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by maxx44 on December 23, 2003, at 20:15:35
Hi all...I have been on Effexor for about 8 months now for GAD and concurrent depression, and it has chnaged my life - and the lives of those I love.
However, it was not the drug that changed my life alone. I have been going to therepy, changing my thinking, pushing myself hard, etc.
At the time I took it I was having the worst epioside oh my life. I guess the second nervous breakdown in 2 years. I had been feeling anxiety-riddent for 15 years, and it peaked after my daughter was born. I was more frightened than I thought possible, and I felt out of control.
I was always someone who thought "everyone and their brother is on anti-depressants, I don't want to pop a pill to cure me". I susbscribed to this adage for more than a decade. But after I hot rock bottom, I talked to my amazing doctor and began the drug AND therepy, my life changed.
I felt the way it must feel for people with high blood pressure who feel exhausted all the time, to begin to take medication. No longer did I have anxiety headaches, feel exhasted beyond repair at 7pm, feel in constant fear of nothing, plummet into depression every few weeks, or a general sense of uneasiness. The biggest change I felt was in my overall energy at first.
Let me tell you that when I stood at the kitchen counter about to "pop" that first pill, I was REALLY scared of where this nightmare was going to end up next. Was I going to LOSE it? What if the meds didn't help? What if I became addicted?, etc etc etc. When would anxiety pop its ugly head into my life again. On the highway? in a movie theatre? IN my sleep? I was scared SHITLESS. And some times I still am.
Eight months later at 32 years old, having spent 15-20 years as an axiety-ridden, depressed person, I feel free for the first time in my life. Free of exhastion, neck-aches, fear, free that my mind may one day "Do me in".
Sure, I am scared to come off of them, have had some side effects...I have read ALL of the internet stories/nightmares, but it was the best thing I have ever done for myself and my family.
The comination of drugs, therapy, and massive amounts of self-rediction has showed me that anxiety to that degree is NOT normal, average or necessary. That I don't need to live with it.
No one gets a gold star at the end of their life for "toughing it out" or not getting help.
I want to live in this world, and I want to be happy. My experience has changed me into a whole person...I don't feel like I am watching my life through a movie. I feel real and happy.
Posted by sasha71 on December 25, 2003, at 20:41:31
In reply to Re: Effexor, think twice!!!!, posted by Lyrical13 on December 21, 2003, at 21:48:55
My first year or so on Effexor gave me memory troubles and also I felt like I was searching for words to finish sentences all the time. I used to be able to multi-task quite easily and now if I can work on 2 things at a time, this is a good day.
However, I wouldn't trade it to back to the depression and anxiety - not for all the cheese in the moon! LOL! (not even if it were chocolate!)
Posted by Zellie on December 25, 2003, at 21:06:15
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by mom_cheeks on December 25, 2003, at 19:50:31
I'm right with you! My anxiety, depression and ADHD are quite significant. But now that I have been on Effexor XR for 7 months, I have a life, for the first time ever in 42 years. I am over the moon. If living with some side effects is going to be a continual reality for me, it will be a small price tag, compared to the debilitating disorders that have crippled me for so long.
Kindest regards,
Zellie> Hi all...I have been on Effexor for about 8 months now for GAD and concurrent depression, and it has chnaged my life - and the lives of those I love.
>
> However, it was not the drug that changed my life alone. I have been going to therepy, changing my thinking, pushing myself hard, etc.
>
> At the time I took it I was having the worst epioside oh my life. I guess the second nervous breakdown in 2 years. I had been feeling anxiety-riddent for 15 years, and it peaked after my daughter was born. I was more frightened than I thought possible, and I felt out of control.
>
> I was always someone who thought "everyone and their brother is on anti-depressants, I don't want to pop a pill to cure me". I susbscribed to this adage for more than a decade. But after I hot rock bottom, I talked to my amazing doctor and began the drug AND therepy, my life changed.
>
> I felt the way it must feel for people with high blood pressure who feel exhausted all the time, to begin to take medication. No longer did I have anxiety headaches, feel exhasted beyond repair at 7pm, feel in constant fear of nothing, plummet into depression every few weeks, or a general sense of uneasiness. The biggest change I felt was in my overall energy at first.
>
> Let me tell you that when I stood at the kitchen counter about to "pop" that first pill, I was REALLY scared of where this nightmare was going to end up next. Was I going to LOSE it? What if the meds didn't help? What if I became addicted?, etc etc etc. When would anxiety pop its ugly head into my life again. On the highway? in a movie theatre? IN my sleep? I was scared SHITLESS. And some times I still am.
>
> Eight months later at 32 years old, having spent 15-20 years as an axiety-ridden, depressed person, I feel free for the first time in my life. Free of exhastion, neck-aches, fear, free that my mind may one day "Do me in".
>
> Sure, I am scared to come off of them, have had some side effects...I have read ALL of the internet stories/nightmares, but it was the best thing I have ever done for myself and my family.
>
> The comination of drugs, therapy, and massive amounts of self-rediction has showed me that anxiety to that degree is NOT normal, average or necessary. That I don't need to live with it.
>
> No one gets a gold star at the end of their life for "toughing it out" or not getting help.
>
> I want to live in this world, and I want to be happy. My experience has changed me into a whole person...I don't feel like I am watching my life through a movie. I feel real and happy.
Posted by Lyrical13 on December 26, 2003, at 0:51:57
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - I'm new! Please help...., posted by Rev. J. on December 20, 2003, at 23:29:07
I am very sensitive to meds and so it is always scary when I start a new med. What is it going to do to me? My main side effects are the sweating, feeling tired and then later, having some difficulty sleeping. These fade after a few weeks, except I am still hotter than usual but not nearly as clammy as I felt at first. Every time the does gets increased the side effects come back full force but gradually lessen. Be careful with Effexor if you are bipolar...it can push you into a manic or hypomanic state...that's what it does for me...after the holidays we will be adjusting my meds but I didn't want to be a mess during med changes for the holidays. What happened after a few months on it, and during a time of the year when I usually feel pretty good, I started waking up after only 2-4 hours of sleep and not being able to go back to sleep...excess energy, euphoria (which was wonderful after being depressed for so long...but it was hard to tell..is this what normal feels like or not?) and I was "on the go" non-stop all day until 10 or 11 at night and then the pattern would repeat. I would go like that for several days and then be wiped out and sleep fairly normally for a couple days and then the cycle would repeat. I also had several spending sprees...
But anyway, side effects do generally lessen. As far as the sexual side effects go, I've always had difficulty climaxing but my sex drive used to be very high. For the past several years it had been very low...but I've been on various ADs (Paxil, Celexa, Serzone) With Effexor, it has been low but I didn't know if it was the depression killing my sex drive or the med. But as I started to feel better, the sex drive started coming back, so there is hope. My husband has been very patient and understanding but this is very frustrating for me.
I am reading a book right now that I stumbled onto at the library looking up books about depression/anxiety/BP etc. It's called "The Antidepressant Survival Guide" I don't have it handy right now to tell you the author but so far it's very good. It talks about how changes in diet and other lifestyle changes (exercise etc) can reduce side effects from meds and enhance how well the ADs work. It is written by a pdoc who has treated many many patients with mood disorders. He thought that just "dealing with" side effects and being thankful for having a med to help wasn't enough and wasn't truly living. That people who are on these meds should have as rich and full a life without the sacrifices in QOL that meds often bring. I am in the middle of it but so far it is very good. I am already doing some of the things it mentions (on my own before reading it) and I have noticed a definite help in how I feel. I exercise almost every day...when my anxiety is high I get to Curves every day and it reduces it significantly. I also avoid sugar, caffeine and white flour products (I am also hypoglycemic). I have more energy and don't feel so fatigued. There's also info about supplementation (vitamins, minerals ,etc)
anyway, if anyone is interested I'll type in the rest of the publishing info later.
but to make a short story long....there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Good luck
Lyrical 13
Posted by Lyrical13 on December 26, 2003, at 0:54:34
In reply to Re: Effexor, think twice!!!! » Lyrical13, posted by sasha71 on December 25, 2003, at 20:41:31
I am having the same troubles with word-finding and memory. Sometimes at night I am ready to fall asleep by 9pm (and I'm usually a night owl). But these effects weren't as bad on the Effexor alone. They have been very noticable since adding Seroquel and Synthroid. Anyone else notice this?
Lyrical 13
Posted by jerseydevil on December 26, 2003, at 10:01:45
In reply to Re: Effexor, think twice!!!!, posted by Lyrical13 on December 26, 2003, at 0:54:34
I've been on Effexor for about three weeks and Paxil (another SSRI) for several years now. I'm also on Welbutrin at 400 mg/day (since about a year ago, the plan was to go on Welbutrin and wean off of Paxil, still in the process, the low dose of Effexor is to help finish the job - really it is a Thread of its own). I have experienced no "word loss" which I associate with the SSRIs or ADs. I experienced significant "word loss" when my Neurontin was bumped up to 2400 mg/day. My pdoc's solution was to scale back the Neurontin (I have since scaled it back further, which my pdoc knows about) and give me Provigil. Provigil is like speed for Alzheimers patients and it does seem to "pro"mote "vigil"ance. The other remedy seems to be time. The brain is an amazing thing and can reroute itself ever more quickly to find a word the fits the place of the word you can't find. These days I can sometimes notice when it happens even though no one else would ever notice. Good luck and talk to your pdoc.
- jerseydevil
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