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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gloria on March 17, 2000, at 6:30:17
Isn't there anything good about Effexor? Should I just stay away from it altogether? Help!!!!!!! I'm scared!!
Posted by Cam W. on March 17, 2000, at 7:05:34
In reply to Effexor; Geeez, You Guys Have Me Scared!!!, posted by gloria on March 17, 2000, at 6:30:17
>
> Isn't there anything good about Effexor? Should I just stay away from it altogether? Help!!!!!!! I'm scared!!Gloria - Effexor is really no worse than any other drug out there and probably safer than most. It relieves the symptoms of depression in a vast majority of people who take it. The older tricyclic (TCA) antidepressants like Elavil and Tofranil can cause heart problems and kill you (especially in overdose).The same with the MAOIs like Nardil and Parnate. Not so with Effexor. Tylenol can do more permanent damage to your body with long term use (liver problems) when taken with alcohol or in large doses. No drug (or food, for that matter) is completely safe. When we comment on drugs on this board, we are telling you what CAN happen, not what will happen. Everyone's body chemistry is different. The side effects are worse at the start because your body has adjusted to low levels of serotonin. When you introduce serotonin back into your system it is binding to sensitive serotonin receptors that are use to a lack of this neurotransmitter. Within 2 weeks, the body readjusts and the side effect go away. You have to ask yourself, "Am I able to live with this depression/OCD/panic (or whatever your affliction is) or would I like to feel "normal" again and enjoy life like I see other people doing." Life is a set of risks and the side effects we mention are one of them. Effexor should not scare you anymore than an antibiotic (like Erythromycin), perhaps less. Take care - Cam W.
Posted by Cindy W on March 17, 2000, at 9:45:27
In reply to Re: Effexor; Geeez, You Guys Have Me Scared!!!, posted by Cam W. on March 17, 2000, at 7:05:34
> >
> > Isn't there anything good about Effexor? Should I just stay away from it altogether? Help!!!!!!! I'm scared!!
>
> Gloria - Effexor is really no worse than any other drug out there and probably safer than most. It relieves the symptoms of depression in a vast majority of people who take it. The older tricyclic (TCA) antidepressants like Elavil and Tofranil can cause heart problems and kill you (especially in overdose).The same with the MAOIs like Nardil and Parnate. Not so with Effexor. Tylenol can do more permanent damage to your body with long term use (liver problems) when taken with alcohol or in large doses. No drug (or food, for that matter) is completely safe. When we comment on drugs on this board, we are telling you what CAN happen, not what will happen. Everyone's body chemistry is different. The side effects are worse at the start because your body has adjusted to low levels of serotonin. When you introduce serotonin back into your system it is binding to sensitive serotonin receptors that are use to a lack of this neurotransmitter. Within 2 weeks, the body readjusts and the side effect go away. You have to ask yourself, "Am I able to live with this depression/OCD/panic (or whatever your affliction is) or would I like to feel "normal" again and enjoy life like I see other people doing." Life is a set of risks and the side effects we mention are one of them. Effexor should not scare you anymore than an antibiotic (like Erythromycin), perhaps less. Take care - Cam W.
Gloria, I take Effexor-XR 375 mg/day and have had practically no side effects. It has been wondrously helpful with OCD and depression, for me. Everybody's different, so you need to find a medication that will help without any unbearable side effects (I tried Prozac, Luvox, and Zoloft; all interfered with orgasm; lots of people; lots of people report better sex on them!). Don't get scared off by one person's report...Cam is right, that most side effects disappear within two weeks from AD's.
Posted by gloria on March 17, 2000, at 10:50:08
In reply to Re: Effexor; Geeez, You Guys Have Me Scared!!!, posted by Cindy W on March 17, 2000, at 9:45:27
> > >
> > > Isn't there anything good about Effexor? Should I just stay away from it altogether? Help!!!!!!! I'm scared!!
> >
> > Gloria - Effexor is really no worse than any other drug out there and probably safer than most. It relieves the symptoms of depression in a vast majority of people who take it. The older tricyclic (TCA) antidepressants like Elavil and Tofranil can cause heart problems and kill you (especially in overdose).The same with the MAOIs like Nardil and Parnate. Not so with Effexor. Tylenol can do more permanent damage to your body with long term use (liver problems) when taken with alcohol or in large doses. No drug (or food, for that matter) is completely safe. When we comment on drugs on this board, we are telling you what CAN happen, not what will happen. Everyone's body chemistry is different. The side effects are worse at the start because your body has adjusted to low levels of serotonin. When you introduce serotonin back into your system it is binding to sensitive serotonin receptors that are use to a lack of this neurotransmitter. Within 2 weeks, the body readjusts and the side effect go away. You have to ask yourself, "Am I able to live with this depression/OCD/panic (or whatever your affliction is) or would I like to feel "normal" again and enjoy life like I see other people doing." Life is a set of risks and the side effects we mention are one of them. Effexor should not scare you anymore than an antibiotic (like Erythromycin), perhaps less. Take care - Cam W.
> Gloria, I take Effexor-XR 375 mg/day and have had practically no side effects. It has been wondrously helpful with OCD and depression, for me. Everybody's different, so you need to find a medication that will help without any unbearable side effects (I tried Prozac, Luvox, and Zoloft; all interfered with orgasm; lots of people; lots of people report better sex on them!). Don't get scared off by one person's report...Cam is right, that most side effects disappear within two weeks from AD's.>I feel better now. Have been going thru some old posts. Just like every other med it just takes time to see if this is the one. Sorry if my sentences are short and abrupt. It was a taxing day yesterday at the Pdoc, first visit and all. My brain doesn't work to well today. It was taken to the limit yesterday. Is Effexor really hard to get off of? I see alot of people comment that it is. I am taking Effexor tablets. Is Effexor XR better. What is the difference? I am sorry that I can only ask quetions and not have any answers or help for others. I will wait til tomorrow to start. Better to start on the weekend. I probalby will be bugging you guys again, but it means so much to me to have people to rely on. Thanks ever so much. Gloria
Posted by Cam W. on March 17, 2000, at 18:52:41
In reply to Re: I'm Sorry Guys!, posted by gloria on March 17, 2000, at 10:50:08
Gloria - Bug away, that's why we are all here. Good luck and keep us posted. - Cam W.
Posted by saint james on March 17, 2000, at 21:15:20
In reply to Re: I'm Sorry Guys!, posted by gloria on March 17, 2000, at 10:50:08
I am taking Effexor tablets. Is Effexor XR better. What is the difference?
James here....
I have been on Effexor since 1995 and XR since 1998, basically when each came out.
I find a big difference between tablets and Effexor XR. Effexor is a short acting med so an extended release formulation makes sence. The original Effexor is a hard pill which accounted
for the GI problems, I think. I have no sideeffects with the XR and the sweating problem has stopped.It is important to remember that Effexor is short acting, even in the XR. Unlike most other AD's, with halflifes measured in days and weeks and where a missed dose makes no difference, in Effexor you will often feel a missed dose. This accounts for peoples problems in stoping Effexor. The dose has to be tapered very slowly or replace Effexor with a long acting AD (with good 5-HT action) like Prozac. 1 or 2 doses of Prozac will end any any w/d problems.
I find Effexor to be the most powerful AD I have ever been on. It is a very powerful 5-HT RI (more so than Prozac) and a somewhat powerful nor-e RI. I am a nor-e person, none of the SSRI's or any AD that effects 5-HT work on me. I notice the nor-e effects at 150 mgs but need to take a higher dose to avoid break-thru depressions.
james
This is the end of the thread.
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