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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Lairkeeper on April 9, 2003, at 17:02:30
In reply to Re: Effexor Q's--PLEASE ANSWER » jack smith, posted by melley on April 9, 2003, at 16:11:55
My GP put me on Effexor XR 150 for depression in October of 2002, and since then, my sedation has been destructive. I sleep through EVERYTHING! I can get up for a couple hours, feeling soo groggy.. after that, I have to sleep again! One of the biggest side effects of depression for me IS sleeping the day away.. which concerns me as to why my GP put me on this med. I am so angry with myself because I can't keep my head off the pillow! I need to find a better alternative... my life is beginning to suffer.
Posted by melley on April 9, 2003, at 18:50:42
In reply to Re: Effexor Q's--PLEASE ANSWER » melley, posted by jack smith on April 9, 2003, at 16:49:29
> > As long as I have you here, (not to be too personal), have you had any problem with weight gain on the effexor? That is one side effect I hate.
> >
> > mel
>
> No weight gain here but haven't been on it that long. I will give 150 a few more weeks probably then see if 225 will reduce the sleepiness.My dr. suggested that the sleepiness was still the depression manifesting itself. I am not sure now that I am hearing others had the same problem. Altho it supposedly targets anxiety and depression. Perhaps the lower dose helped more with the anxiety and once that was relieved made the depression more apparent. Just a thought.
>
>
Posted by Napaba on April 10, 2003, at 7:42:21
In reply to weird impulses, posted by bluestar on April 9, 2003, at 1:10:46
Yes, may experience was simular to yours. I don't swear. And all of a sudden I was saying things like "Get the h*(( over here, out loud at work. My coworkers said I was developing terrets (sp). Im greatful that it has gone away. Only lasted a couple of weeks.
Has anyone else experienced weird impulses since starting effexor? I feel totally fine and then out of NO WHERE I get an impulse to do something totally out of character. I've never had this problem before. It's not like I can't control it. I don't actually do whatever my impulse is but its disturbing how intense the feeling is for the short duration in which it happens. The other day I was walking past this little kid and I had the strongest urge to knock him over. I didn't wish the child any ill will, I just wanted to see what would happen. Ofcourse I didn't do it but it was such an extreme thought! Other times during my climb to a higher dosage, I've felt the urge to just scream at work as loud as I can or to break things. This is not out of anger or something I feel during a stressful situation, it seems to happen most when my mind is idle.
Posted by Napaba on April 10, 2003, at 7:48:21
In reply to Re: Effexor Q's--PLEASE ANSWER, posted by jack smith on April 9, 2003, at 15:34:09
I found that the sedation wears off after about two weeks. I had the same thoughts as you, I was going to give it a month and if it hadn't gotten better I had planned to discontinue using Effexor. I also had horrible hot flashes, but those have gone away as well. Effexor seems to be working for me. I feel good and have lost about 23 pounds.
Absolutely! How long have you been taking it? At what dose and for what diagnosis? Higher doses were definitely more stimulating for me.
>
> Taking it for depression/anxiety. I am at 150, got there in about two weeks of ramping up and sedation kicked in at that dose, been on that dose for about a week. Pretty intense daytime sedation. I am going to give it a month before I conclude that it is here to stay. How high did you get? Did you like it? Withdrawls?
>
> > YES! I found that the XR or whatver it's called form of effexor was VERY SEDATING...but that the IR actually gave me energy! HOWEVER, even with the IR I had to be very precise -- I had to take it between 12 and 2 pm --
>
> Did you take all the IR at once? So, did your sedation only end once you switched to IR??
>
> Thanks,
>
> JACK
Posted by Napaba on April 10, 2003, at 7:58:05
In reply to Re: Effexor Q's--PLEASE ANSWER, posted by melley on April 9, 2003, at 18:50:42
I had problems with anxiety at 37.5 mg and 75 mg. Sence I started taking 150 mg the anxiety is gone. (although my neck hurts all the time, especially at night)I haven't had any weight gain, I've actually lost over 20 lbs.
As long as I have you here, (not to be too personal), have you had any problem with weight gain on the effexor? That is one side effect I hate.
> > >
> > > mel
> >
> > No weight gain here but haven't been on it that long. I will give 150 a few more weeks probably then see if 225 will reduce the sleepiness.
>
> My dr. suggested that the sleepiness was still the depression manifesting itself. I am not sure now that I am hearing others had the same problem. Altho it supposedly targets anxiety and depression. Perhaps the lower dose helped more with the anxiety and once that was relieved made the depression more apparent. Just a thought.
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by Cosmic on April 10, 2003, at 8:11:40
In reply to Re: Effexor Q's--PLEASE ANSWER » jack smith, posted by Napaba on April 10, 2003, at 7:48:21
Damn...posted a message here last night (actually 3am this morning) but it didn't go thru. I'm taking the EXR and just wondered if anyone else has had this side effect....it's kinda personal but hey..I don't know any of you. Tried taking mine before bedtime last night....not the thing to do I guess as I was up most of the night. But can't function if I take it during the day. My question: Have any of you guys (I guess it would apply to the gals too) had any sexual side effects on EXR? It's not that I don't desire (function)....but there's no bang. Both my wife and I are frustrated (well...actually she's pretty happy). Does this effect go away as you up the dosage, as a mutually active sex life is important to us and she's kinda feeling inadequate (but pleased...I'm not), with me on this med. Thanx
Posted by lovemybabies on April 10, 2003, at 9:34:56
In reply to Does tiredness go away?, posted by Jack Smith on April 6, 2003, at 14:01:21
Yes, absolutely. Give it another two weeks.
Posted by Paco on April 10, 2003, at 9:43:15
In reply to Re: Effexor Q's--PLEASE ANSWER, posted by Cosmic on April 10, 2003, at 8:11:40
I've heard other people on this site say that they have had this effect and some have said that it went away after 4-6 weeks. My psych says that taking Wellbutrin (with the Effexor) often helps relieve this. I've had this effect myself, but it's not that there's no ejaculation, it just takes a LOT longer to get there. Who knows - I might end up becoming quite popular.
Have you talked with your doctor about this?
=====================================================
> Damn...posted a message here last night (actually 3am this morning) but it didn't go thru. I'm taking the EXR and just wondered if anyone else has had this side effect....it's kinda personal but hey..I don't know any of you. Tried taking mine before bedtime last night....not the thing to do I guess as I was up most of the night. But can't function if I take it during the day. My question: Have any of you guys (I guess it would apply to the gals too) had any sexual side effects on EXR? It's not that I don't desire (function)....but there's no bang. Both my wife and I are frustrated (well...actually she's pretty happy). Does this effect go away as you up the dosage, as a mutually active sex life is important to us and she's kinda feeling inadequate (but pleased...I'm not), with me on this med. Thanx
Posted by Cosmic on April 10, 2003, at 10:14:57
In reply to Re: Effexor Q's--PLEASE ANSWER, posted by Paco on April 10, 2003, at 9:43:15
Paco....thanx for the reply,
Just recently started this drug so I'm trying to give it a chance. Have been on Wellbutrin in the past and didn't care for it. Haven't talked to my Dr. yet but will if this situation doesn't change. I've always been a tough cookie to crack (ya know what I mean) and didn't need this kind of help. It's not fun for me and she walks funny. Hey...at least I still have a sense of humor! TY
> I've heard other people on this site say that they have had this effect and some have said that it went away after 4-6 weeks. My psych says that taking Wellbutrin (with the Effexor) often helps relieve this. I've had this effect myself, but it's not that there's no ejaculation, it just takes a LOT longer to get there. Who knows - I might end up becoming quite popular.
>
> Have you talked with your doctor about this?
>
> =====================================================
>
> > Damn...posted a message here last night (actually 3am this morning) but it didn't go thru. I'm taking the EXR and just wondered if anyone else has had this side effect....it's kinda personal but hey..I don't know any of you. Tried taking mine before bedtime last night....not the thing to do I guess as I was up most of the night. But can't function if I take it during the day. My question: Have any of you guys (I guess it would apply to the gals too) had any sexual side effects on EXR? It's not that I don't desire (function)....but there's no bang. Both my wife and I are frustrated (well...actually she's pretty happy). Does this effect go away as you up the dosage, as a mutually active sex life is important to us and she's kinda feeling inadequate (but pleased...I'm not), with me on this med. Thanx
>
>
Posted by humbly72 on April 10, 2003, at 11:28:17
In reply to Re: Does tiredness go away?, posted by lovemybabies on April 10, 2003, at 9:34:56
Hi all,
Most of you probably don't remember me, since I last posted four weeks ago. I had been documenting my side effects and improvements in a journal. Well, I finally got to see the psychiatrist today, except she didn't tell me the whole diagnosis directly, it's in a form with some numbers (codes). What she did tell me was that I had depression/obsessive compulsive disorder/social anxiety disorder. And she switched me from Effexor to Paxil. I loved the Effexor, since many of the side effects subsided within four to six weeks--tiredness being the longer lasting. But it did make me extremely disinhibited. It also, I think, made me want to drink alcohol more often (don't know how or why).
Does anybody have any suggestions or comments about the Paxil, and why I may have been switched?
Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post.
Posted by humbly72 on April 10, 2003, at 11:36:37
In reply to 8 Week Update, posted by humbly72 on April 10, 2003, at 11:28:17
I forgot to add that she said I could quit the Effexor and start the Paxil the next day, since they worked similarly.
> Hi all,
> Most of you probably don't remember me, since I last posted four weeks ago. I had been documenting my side effects and improvements in a journal. Well, I finally got to see the psychiatrist today, except she didn't tell me the whole diagnosis directly, it's in a form with some numbers (codes). What she did tell me was that I had depression/obsessive compulsive disorder/social anxiety disorder. And she switched me from Effexor to Paxil. I loved the Effexor, since many of the side effects subsided within four to six weeks--tiredness being the longer lasting. But it did make me extremely disinhibited. It also, I think, made me want to drink alcohol more often (don't know how or why).
> Does anybody have any suggestions or comments about the Paxil, and why I may have been switched?
> Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post.
>
Posted by jetfixer on April 10, 2003, at 12:06:23
In reply to Re: What is Lorazipam? » paxvox, posted by Napaba on April 8, 2003, at 9:52:31
I have been using ambien for awhile now and it works very well for me. Puts me to sleep in 10 minutes and I'm not groggy when I wake up. I don't use it all of the time because I don't want to become dependent on it. Although I guess in a way I am because I usually don't sleep well without it. Other people I know have also had good success with ambien.
Posted by jb07 on April 10, 2003, at 13:10:30
In reply to Re: 8 Week Update, posted by humbly72 on April 10, 2003, at 11:36:37
I to have begun to drink alcohol in the evenings?
I take my pill prior to bed, can anybody help me or have experienced this?Is there a correlation with taking the pill @ night and drinking prior to ingestion of my pill?
Posted by mambo on April 10, 2003, at 13:27:35
In reply to Effexor Q's--PLEASE ANSWER, posted by jack smith on April 9, 2003, at 11:03:08
Hi there,
I have had some success on effexor, i have only been prescribed 75mg a day at the moment, I have been on that dosage for about three months, and it seems to have had some positive effects, I will be upping the dosage soon to 150mg and I am hoping it will help even more, Good luck with it!!
Andy,
Posted by KSA on April 10, 2003, at 13:53:27
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS HAD A REAL PROBLEM WITH WEIGHT GAIN ON EFFEXOR XR. MY DR. PUT ME ON THIS MEDICATION BUT I HAVE YET TO START TAKING IT. I WANTED TO RESEARCH AND READ WHAT EXPERIENCES OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD FIRST. I DON'T SEE MUCH MENTIONED REGARDING WEIGHT GAIN. HAS ANYONE BEEN ABLE TO STAY ON THIS MED. AND MAINTAIN THEIR WEIGHT OR LOSE WEIGHT THEY MIGHT HAVE GAINED. THANKS!
Posted by melley on April 10, 2003, at 14:36:09
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by KSA on April 10, 2003, at 13:53:27
Hi there,I have gained 20 pounds in the year I have been taking it (now at 225 mg) but leveled off at my current weight a number of months ago. Have been working out at a gym for about 6 weeks. Feel a bit better in that arena. Some people on here have said they have lost weight. However, weighing everything (no pun intended), I have gotten myself fairly used to the gain as I feel SO much better mentally. Hope this helps.
mel
> I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS HAD A REAL PROBLEM WITH WEIGHT GAIN ON EFFEXOR XR. MY DR. PUT ME ON THIS MEDICATION BUT I HAVE YET TO START TAKING IT. I WANTED TO RESEARCH AND READ WHAT EXPERIENCES OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD FIRST. I DON'T SEE MUCH MENTIONED REGARDING WEIGHT GAIN. HAS ANYONE BEEN ABLE TO STAY ON THIS MED. AND MAINTAIN THEIR WEIGHT OR LOSE WEIGHT THEY MIGHT HAVE GAINED. THANKS!
Posted by jack smith on April 10, 2003, at 15:04:12
In reply to 8 Week Update, posted by humbly72 on April 10, 2003, at 11:28:17
If I were you, I would get a new doctor, if Effexor is working for you, there is NO reason to switch to paxil. I can see no reason why Paxil would be better for you than effexor. Both are ssris (effexor is also affects the reuptake of norepinephrine). As far as I am concerned, your doctor is just plain wrong. Stick with what works, trust me, it's hard to find something that does.
JACK
Hi all,
> Most of you probably don't remember me, since I last posted four weeks ago. I had been documenting my side effects and improvements in a journal. Well, I finally got to see the psychiatrist today, except she didn't tell me the whole diagnosis directly, it's in a form with some numbers (codes). What she did tell me was that I had depression/obsessive compulsive disorder/social anxiety disorder. And she switched me from Effexor to Paxil. I loved the Effexor, since many of the side effects subsided within four to six weeks--tiredness being the longer lasting. But it did make me extremely disinhibited. It also, I think, made me want to drink alcohol more often (don't know how or why).
> Does anybody have any suggestions or comments about the Paxil, and why I may have been switched?
> Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post.
>
Posted by Napaba on April 10, 2003, at 15:22:11
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by KSA on April 10, 2003, at 13:53:27
I've been on Effexor for about 8 weeks. Over the past two years I've gained 50 pounds. Sense I started taking Effexor I've lost over 20 pounds. I'm not sure if it's the Effexor or just feeling better. But I'm greatful for the weight loss.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS HAD A REAL PROBLEM WITH WEIGHT GAIN ON EFFEXOR XR. MY DR. PUT ME ON THIS MEDICATION BUT I HAVE YET TO START TAKING IT. I WANTED TO RESEARCH AND READ WHAT EXPERIENCES OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD FIRST. I DON'T SEE MUCH MENTIONED REGARDING WEIGHT GAIN. HAS ANYONE BEEN ABLE TO STAY ON THIS MED. AND MAINTAIN THEIR WEIGHT OR LOSE WEIGHT THEY MIGHT HAVE GAINED. THANKS!
Posted by melley on April 10, 2003, at 19:27:59
In reply to Alcohol??, posted by jb07 on April 10, 2003, at 13:10:30
Do you mean you have the desire to drink alcohol? It is unwise to drink with an antidepressant. There is one that it doesn't interact with but effexor isn't it. My dr. was telling me that it is like drinking twice as many drinks as you have. I have pretty much stopped drinking and never, absolutely never, have a drink and drive, not even one glass of wine.> I to have begun to drink alcohol in the evenings?
> I take my pill prior to bed, can anybody help me or have experienced this?
>
> Is there a correlation with taking the pill @ night and drinking prior to ingestion of my pill?
>
>
Posted by Napaba on April 11, 2003, at 7:27:12
In reply to Re: Alcohol?? » jb07, posted by melley on April 10, 2003, at 19:27:59
When my doctor perscribed Effexor he asked if I drink. I told him I usually have a couple glasses of wine on Friday and Saturday. He said that was OK. I have not noticed any increase in it's effect. What I did notice was that the wine I always choose tasted slightly different.
A few years a go I was on Prozac. I was told not to drink, but I did occasionally. When I did I was basically drunk after two drinks. I had to limit myself to one drink and I would feel depressed the next day and very tired.
> Do you mean you have the desire to drink alcohol? It is unwise to drink with an antidepressant. There is one that it doesn't interact with but effexor isn't it. My dr. was telling me that it is like drinking twice as many drinks as you have. I have pretty much stopped drinking and never, absolutely never, have a drink and drive, not even one glass of wine.
>
> > I to have begun to drink alcohol in the evenings?
> > I take my pill prior to bed, can anybody help me or have experienced this?
> >
> > Is there a correlation with taking the pill @ night and drinking prior to ingestion of my pill?
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by Paco on April 11, 2003, at 7:27:42
In reply to Alcohol??, posted by jb07 on April 10, 2003, at 13:10:30
Taking a depressant (alcohol) with an antidepressant (Effexor) seems to defeat the purpose of taking an antidepressant.
I know from experience that drinking doesn't help depression.
======================================================
> I to have begun to drink alcohol in the evenings?
> I take my pill prior to bed, can anybody help me or have experienced this?
>
> Is there a correlation with taking the pill @ night and drinking prior to ingestion of my pill?
>
>
Posted by melley on April 11, 2003, at 8:01:25
In reply to Re: Alcohol?? » melley, posted by Napaba on April 11, 2003, at 7:27:12
My dr said the same thing, and I noticed the same thing you did. That is tastes different. I wonder why that is? I confess that when I went to dinner with my bookgroup the other night I couldn't resist having half a glass of white wine....cadged from someone else's glass (like it doesn't count then). Anyway, as you can see I made it home in one piece. But certainly don't want to make a habit of that.
> When my doctor perscribed Effexor he asked if I drink. I told him I usually have a couple glasses of wine on Friday and Saturday. He said that was OK. I have not noticed any increase in it's effect. What I did notice was that the wine I always choose tasted slightly different.
>
> A few years a go I was on Prozac. I was told not to drink, but I did occasionally. When I did I was basically drunk after two drinks. I had to limit myself to one drink and I would feel depressed the next day and very tired.
>
>
>
> > Do you mean you have the desire to drink alcohol? It is unwise to drink with an antidepressant. There is one that it doesn't interact with but effexor isn't it. My dr. was telling me that it is like drinking twice as many drinks as you have. I have pretty much stopped drinking and never, absolutely never, have a drink and drive, not even one glass of wine.
> >
> > > I to have begun to drink alcohol in the evenings?
> > > I take my pill prior to bed, can anybody help me or have experienced this?
> > >
> > > Is there a correlation with taking the pill @ night and drinking prior to ingestion of my pill?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by PuraVida on April 11, 2003, at 10:34:18
In reply to Re: Alcohol?? » melley, posted by Napaba on April 11, 2003, at 7:27:12
Exact same for me:
> Effexor - that the wine I always choose tasted slightly different.
>
> Prozac - I was basically drunk after two drinks.PV
Posted by fairnymph on April 12, 2003, at 13:53:05
In reply to Re: Effexor Q's--PLEASE ANSWER, posted by jack smith on April 9, 2003, at 15:34:09
>
> Taking it for depression/anxiety. I am at 150, got there in about two weeks of ramping up and sedation kicked in at that dose, been on that dose for about a week. Pretty intense daytime sedation. I am going to give it a month before I conclude that it is here to stay. How high did you get? Did you like it? Withdrawls?I got up to 450 (the max dose)...it evetnually pooped out for me, but until then I loved it. I did work up to higher levels (it didn't start working for me at all until 300 mg) then I would stay at that dose for a while utnil it stopped working then ramp up etc. I had withdrawal but it was manageable and I just handled it with a slow taper. It wasn't agonizing or anything -- more just annoying.
> Did you take all the IR at once? So, did your sedation only end once you switched to IR??Yep, I took it all at once. And the sedation did end only when I switched to the IR, but I wasn't at that high of a dose (maybe around 150 or 200 mg?) when I switched, so I don't know if that might have been a factor in my dose (i.e. higher doses were less sedating).
Hope that answers your questions, sorry abotu the late response.
Julia
>
Posted by Paco on April 12, 2003, at 20:32:57
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I keep seeing all of these horror stories about Effexor withdrawl, and I got to thinking "what about after withdrawl?".
Even if it is a difficult experience, don't things eventually get better? I've had bad experiences with other medications that have lasted two to three weeks each, and life has gone on. They were medications that didn't work out for me in the first place, so my attitude toward them was "good riddance". But Effexor is working quite well for me. I really don't know what to expect if and when I taper off, and I really don't care if it's hard to do because I am SO much better off now than I was before. As far as effectiveness goes, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. This is the fifth medication that I've tried, and I'm very glad I kept trying and didn't give up.
Good luck everyone.
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