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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kub on July 31, 2001, at 21:42:31
Hello, I just started effexor xr today. I came here to read up on it and i couldn't help but get scared......lol.....weight gain, nausea, no libido,
abnormal ejaculation??? holy..my doctor said you might
get a tummy ache! can someone Please get back to me and let me know the extremities of these symptoms.
It would mean a lot. Thanks
Posted by SalArmy4me on July 31, 2001, at 23:07:43
In reply to just started effexor xr today, posted by kub on July 31, 2001, at 21:42:31
Posted by mila on July 31, 2001, at 23:48:07
In reply to just started effexor xr today, posted by kub on July 31, 2001, at 21:42:31
It made me very mean, evil, defiant, asocial. by the end of the third week I managed to destroy all my new friendships and moved on to the old ones. Then I stopped taking Effexor. Today I know that this effect was probably due to the unsufficiently high dose of Effexor xr I was taking. But I never got to verify that theory. It is my understanding that effexor is a good antidepressant at the right doses and has helped many people. When it works, it works like a charm. Although the article sal referred you to states that all antidepressants are equally effective, in my experience it is far from the truth. I wish you a good luck on your journey. Effexor is a good start and might be the only medication you'll ever need.
mila
P.S. I hope that your tummy ache, if any, will pass rather quickly. This effect lasted only 4 days in my case.
Posted by Snuffy on August 3, 2001, at 12:40:35
In reply to Re: just started effexor xr today, posted by mila on July 31, 2001, at 23:48:07
My pdoc added effexor to my meds about three months ago. I am on 300mg/day. I had NO side effects when I started and none now. I am feeling good and plan to stay on this regiment until it stops working. Give it a try and think positivly. Don't let the negative posts stop you from trying something that might work for you. I know that there are others out there that have had success with effexor. Come on people with success ... give KUB some support.
> It made me very mean, evil, defiant, asocial. by the end of the third week I managed to destroy all my new friendships and moved on to the old ones. Then I stopped taking Effexor. Today I know that this effect was probably due to the unsufficiently high dose of Effexor xr I was taking. But I never got to verify that theory. It is my understanding that effexor is a good antidepressant at the right doses and has helped many people. When it works, it works like a charm. Although the article sal referred you to states that all antidepressants are equally effective, in my experience it is far from the truth. I wish you a good luck on your journey. Effexor is a good start and might be the only medication you'll ever need.
>
> mila
>
> P.S. I hope that your tummy ache, if any, will pass rather quickly. This effect lasted only 4 days in my case.
Posted by pellmell on August 3, 2001, at 13:19:23
In reply to Re: just started effexor xr today, posted by Snuffy on August 3, 2001, at 12:40:35
Effexor has been great for me. I felt my anxiety symptoms dissapate in the first two weeks, and after six weeks at 150mg my symptoms of depression have (finally!) almost completely lifted. As a result of this, the relationships in my life have improved significantly. I can be spontaneous and clever again, and find it easier to concentrate. Just two weeks ago I was afraid that Effexor was slowing me down mentally, but now I'm nearly positive that my slowbrainedness was just a more stubborn symptom of depression that took longer to resolve. In the middle there I found it sort of odd to be feeling relaxed and mentally dull at the same time, because before Effexor when I felt that way it'd usually trigger a good bit of anxeity in me. I'm glad my pdoc when I saw him two weeks ago didn't decide to raise my dose. He said something like, "It's still early. Let's take it slow." Good advice.
As for side-effects: the first two weeks the stuff made me drowsy, so I took it at night. Then it started disturbing my sleep, so I switched to mornings. From what I've read on this board it's not uncommon for Effexor to go from sedating to activating as treatment progresses. I also have some minor dry mouth, but that seems to be going away, and some bruxism (clenched jaw, grinding teeth), which seems to be less of a problem now as well. As for sexual side effects, I saw my libido actually *increase* on this stuff, but my erections are kinda rubbery and it takes longer to get to orgasm.
So, good luck, and hang in there. Try to ride the side-effects out for a couple of weeks before giving up. If you find them significantly screwing with your life, though, there're many other options out there.
-pm
This is the end of the thread.
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