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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by rumbera on September 8, 2002, at 22:29:38
In reply to Re: should i increase my dose?, posted by DebraA. on September 8, 2002, at 17:55:26
Hi everyone,
I also think that everyone needs to be aware of serzone. I was on it only for a short time. Now I see all these warnings for potential side effects. They include liver damage,seizures,etc... Anyway, this makes me think will Effexor be next in the recall chain?
I am going thru withdrawl ,but am doing better by the day. I am feeling better if only I could get all the weight gain off.
Posted by sjb on September 9, 2002, at 9:23:30
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol, posted by Alara on September 6, 2002, at 8:29:12
I, too, had increased cravings for alcohol on Effexor.
Posted by sjb on September 9, 2002, at 9:30:05
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol, posted by DebraA. on September 8, 2002, at 18:19:06
Let us know how you make out. I, too, have eating problems. I have been unable to avoid the refined junk.
I'm disgusted with psyciatrity, in general, at this point. I've been on almost 30 different meds and am at a real low point now. The only thing "high" is my weight. When the meds work it's only temporary. Wish I knew the answer.
Posted by jannbeau on September 9, 2002, at 12:40:11
In reply to Re: Anyone use Effexor XR for prevention of migraines? » 123, posted by Ritch on September 6, 2002, at 23:39:08
> > My neurologist has prescribed Effexor XR for a daily medication for prevention of my migraines. She recommended starting with 37.5 milligrams once a day for two weeks, the increasing it to 75 milligrams every day after that. But I'm very worried after reading the numerous negative postings on the medication. I just went off Verapamil because of weight gain, but research shows that you don't gain weight on Effexor XR, but these postings say otherwise. Help!
>
> Hi,
>
> Check out this link: http://www.fpnotebook.com/NEU118.htm
>
> You will find that topiramate(Topamax) is one of the top four meds for migraine prophylaxis effectiveness. It tends to cause weight loss and might be a good switch. Talk to your neuro.
>
> Mitch
>
> FYI, you might wish to check out the following website also before you choose to take Topamax for your migraines, should you be prescribed the medication. After marketing surveillance has revealed that, in a very small number of patients, secondary angle glaucoma may be associated with use of topiramate. This is not a reason to not take the medication, just a significant side effect of which you should be aware. Here's the link:http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2001/safety01.htm#topama
Jannbeau
Posted by jannbeau on September 9, 2002, at 13:19:19
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol, posted by sjb on September 9, 2002, at 9:23:30
> I, too, had increased cravings for alcohol on Effexor.
Hi, I had an increased craving for carbohydrates while taking Effexor. I wonder. . . could it be that this craving is related to the craving some folks experience for ethanol? Ethanol is a source of calories that is similar to sugars, isn't it, and carbs are broken down into simple carbs called sugars?????----just a thought.
Jannbeau
Posted by Linear on September 9, 2002, at 19:15:38
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol, posted by DebraA. on September 8, 2002, at 18:19:06
I certainly haven't experienced any unusual
cravings for alcohol while taking Effexor; in
fact, I got sober while taking this drug. I
am part of a 12-Step group and have been sober
for one year. I have been craving carbs and
refined sugar but I think that's more from
giving up the alcohol and less a side effect
of taking Effexor.
Posted by DebraA. on September 10, 2002, at 7:22:41
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol, posted by Linear on September 9, 2002, at 19:15:38
Thanks for your input. If you look carefully at the posts, Alara and I theorized that the craving for alcohol came in the late afternoon when we believed the effexor was wearing off. The carb cravings, in my opinion, are something that happens when folks are recovering from alcohol abuse. I've had a bunch of friends that turned to food after quitting alcohol. The good news is that eventually most people's metabolism eventually was restored to normal and the cravings and extra weight went away. Same thing happened to me when I quit smoking.
My hat is off to you for your success this past year! I am also happy that effexor has been such a wonderful help to you during this process. However, please be prepared when it's time to reduce/quit/change this drug - the withdrawal can be intense!!
Posted by jannbeau on September 10, 2002, at 10:27:59
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol, posted by Linear on September 9, 2002, at 19:15:38
> I certainly haven't experienced any unusual
> cravings for alcohol while taking Effexor; in
> fact, I got sober while taking this drug. I
> am part of a 12-Step group and have been sober
> for one year. I have been craving carbs and
> refined sugar but I think that's more from
> giving up the alcohol and less a side effect
> of taking Effexor.Hi, Linear: I don't drink and I DID experience a massive increase in my cravings for carbohydrates that started almost as soon as I started Effexor and has leveled off in the months since I took my last pill of this medication.
Jannbeau
>
Posted by Pariah on September 10, 2002, at 18:13:55
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
i just found out through experimentation that (for me) taking my effexor in the evening makes it more effective than when i take it early in the morning. i take my single dose of 150mg of effexor xr in the morning and i have had a lot better results. fewer panic attacks and those i have seem to be only about a 2 on a scale of one to ten. i almost went to my doctor again and he would have increased my dose. glad i didnt i dont want to be on any higher a dose, dont want that much withdraw. i already missed my dose once for two days in a row and had bad effects, felt like my brain was hooked up to a car battery.
Posted by sleepy lizard on September 11, 2002, at 17:25:34
In reply to Re: Long term effects of Effexor/permanent , posted by annj on February 27, 2001, at 15:37:01
AnnJ if you are still posting here, how are you doing off of the Effexor? Did your side effects go away?
Posted by Cybill on September 11, 2002, at 20:35:29
In reply to Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by JL on January 26, 2001, at 19:18:27
I am in the withdrawal process (from 225 mg
Effexor daily, over 2 years.) I can only reiterate
what we've all read here - it's pure hell.
The first two days were emotional roller coasters,
but I expected that. What I didn't expect was for
the muscles in my arms to seize up, and the
muscles in my shoulders and chest to tighten.
I thought I was having a heart attack and went
to the Hosp. Emergency. (I wasn't, thank God!)Has anyone else ever experienced any muscle
tightening during withdrawal?
Posted by jannbeau on September 12, 2002, at 10:51:37
In reply to Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by JL on January 26, 2001, at 19:18:27
> JL, if you are still reading this board, will you tell me how you are doing? It's been almost a year since you posted this message and I just wondered. Hope you are doing very well. I think there HAVE been suits over Effexor. I KNOW there are/have been suits over Paxil and other AD's.
With regard to serotonin syndrome, that seems to be a result of being ON the medication. Effexor and other meds like it, block the reuptake of serotonin (Effexor is NOT an SSRI, but DOES affect serotonin reuptake, I've been told, along with norepinephrine, I THINK).
Good luck to you,
jannbeau
This is living Hell! I've been on Effexor for 3 1/2 years - at one point I was on 375 mg/day. Two years ago, the quack that put me on this damn drug tried to change me to Wellbrutrin and had me go off Effexor cold turkey. I ended up in the emergency room due to the severe and sudden withdrawal I went through. The quake WOULD NOT return my call for help and even the emergency room didn't know if it was the Effexor or the Welbrutrin causing the problem. They sent me home, without ANY treatment, because they didn't know what to tell me. After calling everyone on the planet for advise, my primary care physician's on-call doctor told me to take the Effexor immediately and that would solve the problem - it did. The quake psychiatrist didn't call me back until the NEXT DAY! I've since fired that quack and have been seeing a real pyschiatrist for the past year and a half (and have filed formal medical mal-practice charges against to former quake - for the above, and other very serious problems I had with her). At the time I switched to a real doctor, I had been able to SLOOOOWLY get down to 150 mg/day. I've been on that amount for about a year and 1/2 and, since then, with my good doc, SLOWLY got down to 75 mg/day. She wanted to increase the Effexor a few weeks ago for the ongoing depression but, due to the severe withdrawal problems I've had, she agreed to put me on Serzone instead. Since then, I was able to get down to 37.5 mg/day of Effexor with minimal side effects (these do, however, hit me like clock work within 24 hours after taking the previous dose).
>
> This week, we decided to try to take me off completely - here's what happened. Had fairly strong withdrawal problems on Tues., so I took 18.75 mg (1/4 of a pill) that day. Since then, I haven't had any. However, I'm still having nausea, rather severe dizziness, as well as that delightful "space cadet" feeling that seems to be one of those "Effexor things." While it's now been 3 full days since I've taken any Effexor, the withdrawal symptoms remain. Things seem especially bad when I do anything physical. I just called my doc and she said to take a little more Effexor to help reduce the problems, if I wanted to, or to try and suffer it out some more. As I've NEVER gone more than 24 hours, during the past 3 1/2 years I've been on this drug, without taking it, I'm inclined to continue the "cold turkey" routine. (My doc is aware of the withdrawal problems of Effexor.)
>
> The BIG question is, HOW LONG do I have to go through these horrible withdrawal symptoms? My doc wasn't too sure becuase she usually DOESN'T prescribe Effexor, due to problems with it. I just happened to be on it because that's what my original quack had put me on.
>
> I've just seen, elsewhere on the 'net, something about "Serotonin Syndrome" caused by Effexor. Does anyone know about this? So far, I haven't been able to find any information about it, other than this appears to be caused by Effexor.
>
> When I was placed on this awful drug, I was told there were minimal side effects (NOT) and that it wasn't addicting - if Effexor is NOT addicting, then the sky must be green. Have any lawsuits been filed on behalf of people subjected to this horrible drug?
>
> Thanks for your support.
Posted by sjb on September 12, 2002, at 13:16:18
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcohol » sjb, posted by jannbeau on September 9, 2002, at 13:19:19
Yeah, I think that's a good point. When I stopped drinking my cravings for carbs increases. Pick your poison. Some therapist have theorized that my problem with binge-eating is related to my years of abusing alcohol. Don't know if others have this problem, I think a lot don't.
Posted by sleepy lizard on September 12, 2002, at 22:38:46
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by jannbeau on September 12, 2002, at 10:51:37
I think you will be having the withdrawal symptoms for about a month after you get the dose to 0 mg. I stepped down from 225 to 150 to 75 to 0. I'm about a week at 0 now and still am getting emotional upheavals and some mild shocks. But, God, it feels good to feel my skin again (it was numb) and to have some depth of feeling. I was loosing my compassion. Good luck to you, I think you can make it through the worst witdrawals. Effexor is right up there with Paxil for horrible withdrawal symptoms. Did you get the horrible nightmares too?
Posted by mamawriter on September 13, 2002, at 11:30:36
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor » jannbeau, posted by sleepy lizard on September 12, 2002, at 22:38:46
I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one experiencing awful withdrawal symptoms from Effexor. I've tried a couple times to get off the medication, but the experience is too terrible.
I'm actually only on a keep-me-from-going-berserk dose of only 75 mg a day, so now what I'm doing is opening up each XR capsule and removing one granule one day, two the next, three the next, and so on. I'm hoping I'll be able to come off this stuff more easily that way. Too soon to tell if it's working yet.
Posted by jannbeau on September 13, 2002, at 13:51:44
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by mamawriter on September 13, 2002, at 11:30:36
> Hi, Mamawriter:
I've COUNTED those little suckers (and weighed them, too)! There are roughly 100 beads in each capsule. That means it will take you about three and 1/2 months to taper to 0. Let us know if this works: perhaps THIS is a good idea for those who have major discontinuation syndrome.
Cheers,
jannbeau
I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one experiencing awful withdrawal symptoms from Effexor. I've tried a couple times to get off the medication, but the experience is too terrible.
> I'm actually only on a keep-me-from-going-berserk dose of only 75 mg a day, so now what I'm doing is opening up each XR capsule and removing one granule one day, two the next, three the next, and so on. I'm hoping I'll be able to come off this stuff more easily that way. Too soon to tell if it's working yet.
Posted by jal on September 13, 2002, at 14:53:11
In reply to Re: sexual side effect- effexor-xr, posted by marlene on February 25, 2002, at 16:57:37
I've been on effexor xr for the past 4 months, went from 37.5mgs up to 225mgs now and the only thing I feel is numbness in my penis and my sex drive is way down from where it was before effexor xr.Is this common for men to feel this?
Any men out there have the same numbness down there? Whats the cure ? Help my girlfriend thinks its her but I'm telling her its my meds.
Posted by mamawriter on September 13, 2002, at 15:06:02
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor » mamawriter, posted by jannbeau on September 13, 2002, at 13:51:44
Pretty funny -- I didn't think about how long it would really take to get down to 0! Three and a half months. Okay. Hey, I've got time. If it goes all right, I'll say so. If not, I'll say so.
Posted by DebraA. on September 13, 2002, at 15:28:25
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by jannbeau on September 12, 2002, at 10:51:37
Hi There. I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know that after several weeks of "tapering" down off my 375 mg dose of effexor, I finally went cold turkey 14 days ago. It was holy hell the first 5 days - brain tremors, anxiety, nausea, diarrhea, extreme fatigue, etc. I thought I was dying. But I had decided to wait it out because I felt very strongly that anything that felt this bad to get off of had to be something I NEVER wanted in my system again. After the first two days of withdrawal I decided that I needed to put all my normal activities on hold until I got through this. So, for the next 3 days, I canceled all my appointments and practically stayed in bed the whole time - trying to sleep and rest. I drank tons of water, tried to eat right, and didn't drink any alcohol (alcohol seemed to exaggerate the already bad symptoms for me). The ordeal reminded me of when I had a major depressive episode. On about the 5th or 6th day, I started having "waves" of feeling better which as the days have gone by have been progressively increasing. On day 14 I am still dealing with some extra anxiety, and I've still got some of those brain tremor things (although much more mild than at first - they also seem to be more present in the evening that during the day).
I'm not sure I would recommend the "cold turkey" route for everyone. For me though, I could hardly take the "slow death" of tapering off versus the "sudden death" of just quitting altogether. I just wanted to get it over with. I can say with great confidence that you will get through this and it will pass. I can also say that I understand that feeling of "this is never going to end" too. I think my first post to this website simply asked the question "will this ever end?" It will so hang in there!
Sorry I wrote so much. Good luck to you.
Posted by jal on September 13, 2002, at 15:48:57
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Noa on January 7, 2000, at 16:08:50
Whats the difference between Effexer and Effexer xr?
Posted by jannbeau on September 13, 2002, at 16:39:23
In reply to Effexer and Effexer xr, posted by jal on September 13, 2002, at 15:48:57
> Effexor XR is an extended release formulation of venlafaxine (generic name for Effexor).
Jannbeau
Whats the difference between Effexer and Effexer xr?
Posted by jotho on September 13, 2002, at 16:58:22
In reply to Re: Withdrawal From Effexor, posted by DebraA. on September 13, 2002, at 15:28:25
Hello all...
I have to say (not to be argumentative) that i just don't see the advantage of either extreme of 1.) coming down from Effexor all at once, when the odds of a "cleaner" break accompany a slow, downward titration of dosage, or
2.) taking one bead out of an Effexor capsule at a time as a efficient withdrawal method.It would appear to me, regarding the former, that according to this board only the smallest minority succesfully stop Effexor all at once without at least some side-effects....most suffering horrendously. Why take that chance when you know the crap you're gonna feel when you stop is as bad as the crap you felt while on it?
As for the latter, I would think if you are actually that sensitive to one singular bead of Effexor, that the full dose you were on would have sent you to emergency ward in the first place. And i've never heard of a doctor titrating up or down a meager bead or two, or know of no medication that is packaged in that fashion (though, yes, i realize we all frequently must resort to making our own 'adjustments' with a pill cutter). Ultimately, it does seem that this method would be, by its very nature, the gentlest *possible* method of eliminating the drug from your system. It just seems for the most part, and for most people, that it would be overkill, and could be done more quickly, and as safely, in larger steps. Just my two-cents worth of blather.
Posted by Starwatcher on September 13, 2002, at 17:36:06
In reply to Re: sexual side effect- effexor-xr, posted by jal on September 13, 2002, at 14:53:11
I have been on 37.5 mg. for about three months now for fibromyalgia pain - and I still feel groggy when I wake up in the morning and my eyes look wasted for a little while - those side effects have never gone away.
I have sometimes been feeling some numbness on the bottom of my feet - but not in my private parts. My sexual response is still as good or even better in some ways than before taking the drug.
I just wonder if I ever did decide to stop taking it, if I'd have withdrawals from only having been on 37.5 mg a day for most of the whole time. What's the lowest continuous dosage anyone here as come off of and still felt bad side effects?
Posted by jannbeau on September 13, 2002, at 17:58:53
In reply to Re: sexual side effect- effexor-xr, posted by Starwatcher on September 13, 2002, at 17:36:06
>Hi, Stargazer:
I had SOME slight discontinuation syndrome even though most of the time I was on Effexor, I was only on 37.5 mg --like you, I took it for fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc. The discontinuation effects were not bad: increased anxiety, brain zaps, dizziness, especially when I turned my head quickly, nausea- and they didn't last long; certainly less than a month, decreasing with each passing day. I've been off for two or three months, now, and I'm fine, back totally to normal.
the pain is back, too, unfortunately, but I just couldn't tolerate the medication althogh it really helped my pain and anxiety.
Each person seems to have a different experience in coming off this medication. I'm not sure whether the degree of difficulty with coming off Effexor is due to the medication, itself, the person's personality, his/her expectation of problems, or a combination. Perhaps some of all??
My advice for now is, if the medication is working for you and you can tolerate the side effects, that you should just take each day as it comes and don't worry 'til you have to! Maybe it will not be a problem for you.
Cheers,
jannbeauI have been on 37.5 mg. for about three months now for fibromyalgia pain - and I still feel groggy when I wake up in the morning and my eyes look wasted for a little while - those side effects have never gone away.
>
> I have sometimes been feeling some numbness on the bottom of my feet - but not in my private parts. My sexual response is still as good or even better in some ways than before taking the drug.
>
> I just wonder if I ever did decide to stop taking it, if I'd have withdrawals from only having been on 37.5 mg a day for most of the whole time. What's the lowest continuous dosage anyone here as come off of and still felt bad side effects?
Posted by Starwatcher on September 13, 2002, at 20:47:25
In reply to Re: sexual side effect- effexor-xr, posted by jannbeau on September 13, 2002, at 17:58:53
Thanks, jann, for the reply. I'm not really seriously contemplating going off of it. I did miss one dose (ha,ha! I fell asleep and slept through the night without taking it!) and I had no withdrawal problem. So far, the grogginess in the mornings and strange looking eyes and occasional numbness on the soles of my feet seem to be the only problems. I have seemed to also have increased headaches, though very mild ones. If this is all I trade for being out of pain the majority of the time - I can live with it!
You were on much higher doses for awhile, though, correct? If you don't mind sharing, what happened with the medication that made you decide to go totally off of Effexor? What side effects did you have experience that made it so you couldn't tolerate continuing to take it, even at the low dosage?
> >Hi, Stargazer:
>
> I had SOME slight discontinuation syndrome even though most of the time I was on Effexor, I was only on 37.5 mg --like you, I took it for fibromyalgia, arthritis, etc. The discontinuation effects were not bad: increased anxiety, brain zaps, dizziness, especially when I turned my head quickly, nausea- and they didn't last long; certainly less than a month, decreasing with each passing day. I've been off for two or three months, now, and I'm fine, back totally to normal.
>
> the pain is back, too, unfortunately, but I just couldn't tolerate the medication althogh it really helped my pain and anxiety.
>
> Each person seems to have a different experience in coming off this medication. I'm not sure whether the degree of difficulty with coming off Effexor is due to the medication, itself, the person's personality, his/her expectation of problems, or a combination. Perhaps some of all??
>
> My advice for now is, if the medication is working for you and you can tolerate the side effects, that you should just take each day as it comes and don't worry 'til you have to! Maybe it will not be a problem for you.
>
> Cheers,
> jannbeau
>
> I have been on 37.5 mg. for about three months now for fibromyalgia pain - and I still feel groggy when I wake up in the morning and my eyes look wasted for a little while - those side effects have never gone away.
> >
> > I have sometimes been feeling some numbness on the bottom of my feet - but not in my private parts. My sexual response is still as good or even better in some ways than before taking the drug.
> >
> > I just wonder if I ever did decide to stop taking it, if I'd have withdrawals from only having been on 37.5 mg a day for most of the whole time. What's the lowest continuous dosage anyone here as come off of and still felt bad side effects?
>
>
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