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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 Jennifer on April 26, 2000, at 12:22:12
I took my first dose of Effexor last night. I did not go to school or work this morning. I can hardly type. It feels like an acid flash back. My doctor told me that only 3% of people taking Effexor reacts this way. He said it made my anxiety worse and he is right. I feel horrible. Nothing is worth all of those side effects. I would rather cry all day than feel this way.
Posted by Greg on April 26, 2000, at 13:41:53
In reply to This is not worth it, posted by Jennifer on April 26, 2000, at 12:22:12
Jennifer,
I'm very sorry to hear about your experience, when things like this happen it REALLY sucks! I was unable to take Effexor also, but it was for different reasons (memory loss, fatigue). We never know how a new med is going to react in us, what works well for some is a nightmare for others. Sometimes it is just a matter of giving the med time to get into our system properly and then the side effects go away. I've been on Prozac now for 5 days and 3 of the 5 nights that I've take it I've woken up during the night very sick to my stomach. My doc has told me this am to stop taking it and that we'll try something different. I would definetly let your doc know what's going on with you ASAP. I hope you get to feeling better soon, my thoughts are with you.Peace,
Greg> I took my first dose of Effexor last night. I did not go to school or work this morning. I can hardly type. It feels like an acid flash back. My doctor told me that only 3% of people taking Effexor reacts this way. He said it made my anxiety worse and he is right. I feel horrible. Nothing is worth all of those side effects. I would rather cry all day than feel this way.
Posted by kazoo on April 27, 2000, at 0:37:42
In reply to This is not worth it, posted by Jennifer on April 26, 2000, at 12:22:12
> I took my first dose of Effexor last night. I did not go to school or work this morning. I can hardly type. It feels like an acid flash back. My doctor told me that only 3% of people taking Effexor reacts this way. He said it made my anxiety worse and he is right. I feel horrible. Nothing is worth all of those side effects. I would rather cry all day than feel this way.
^^^^^^^^^
Wow, can I relate to this!
My nephew takes EFFEXOR, and, on a lark, I decided to try just one half a tablet of the stuff.
My God, within 40 measly minutes, it felt like I was back in the 60's tripping on acid (I've tripped a number of times).
My whole sense of "being" just melted away, and it felt like I was crawling out of my skin.
I was having sensory hallucinations; i.e., auditory and visual, not as intense as LSD, but, nonetheless,
very similar.
I did *not* like this feeling at all, and needed to take 20 mgs. of Valium to calm down (my heart was racing and I was feverish).Now, before I get my ass chewed out about this, let me say that I know many people take this drug with success
and I'm very happy for them, but for me, it was a total nightmare.No mas! No mas!
(electrical) kazoo
Posted by JohnL on April 27, 2000, at 5:17:17
In reply to This is not worth it, posted by Jennifer on April 26, 2000, at 12:22:12
> I took my first dose of Effexor last night. I did not go to school or work this morning. I can hardly type. It feels like an acid flash back. My doctor told me that only 3% of people taking Effexor reacts this way. He said it made my anxiety worse and he is right. I feel horrible. Nothing is worth all of those side effects. I would rather cry all day than feel this way.
The CORRECT med for your chemistry will be characterized by:
Quick response, often the first day, but definitely within a week. Continued improvement after that.
Minimal side effects.The farther away a drug is from matching your chemistry, the slower the response (if any), perhaps a worsening of symptoms, and drastic side effects.
My doctor always sends his patients home with a small sample of Xanax(benzo) and Stelazine(antipsychotic). Both are for the same purpose...bringing immediate relief to an initial bad reaction to a new trial of an antidepressant. Having Xanax and/or Stelazine onhand is the same as having seatbelts in your car.
It would appear to me that Effexor is not the correct drug for you. My doctor does NOT continue with a drug when there is a bad initial reaction. He will authorize discontinuation that very day, even if it's just the first day. He is looking for a SUPERIOR medicine for my chemistry, which is NOT characterized by a rough go of it in the very beginning. While many doctors will preach that lower doses and longer time is needed to get past that initial tough stage, my doctor thinks that is hogwash. Most people I think would debate me on this issue, and that's OK, but personally I would dump the Effexor immediately and move on to another choice. If you've already tried 3 antidepressants, I wouldn't even try another at this point. Move on for comparisons in different classes, like antipsychotics, stimulants, mood stabilizers, etc. At the very least, do 1 to 2 week trials of EVERY SSRI to see if a best match for you exists before committing to any one of them.
Posted by Jennifer on April 27, 2000, at 11:12:59
In reply to Re: This is not worth it - AMEN!, posted by kazoo on April 27, 2000, at 0:37:42
So if you are not taking Effexor what are you taking? Or have you stopped the drugs all together. I have decided to try Zoloft. Have you taken that? What were some effects it had on you. My eyes were dialated all day yesterday. I mean big. I have blue eyes and it just looked like black holes. Did not really like how that appeared. They are better now. Apparently the half life is only 24 hours. After that there is only 25% left of it in your system after one dose. Talk to me.
Posted by Jennifer on April 27, 2000, at 11:16:51
In reply to Re: This is not worth it, posted by JohnL on April 27, 2000, at 5:17:17
My doctor did tell me to stop taking the Effexor. I think that your doctor is right about matching chemistries. We are planning on trying Zoloft in the near future. Paxil was really the only drug that I had a bad withdrawal from. Effexor is the only drug that made me feel badly instantly. All the others worked fine until I quit cold turkey. Which will not happen again.
This is the end of the thread.
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