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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Spencer on May 31, 2002, at 8:49:39
In reply to Effexor.... how slow 2 go off, posted by Nat A. on May 29, 2002, at 23:10:34
I contacted the local Effexor representative of Wyeth and asked about tapering off the drug because I'm doing it now.
She advised, and only as a guideline, for someone taking 225mg XR once a day for 6 months:
Week 1 - down to 150mg per day
Week 2 - down to 75mg per day
Week 3 - down to 75mg every 36 hours
Week 4 - down to 75mg every 48 hours
Then stop.I was taking 150mg XR for about 10 months. My psychiatrist suggested 112.5mg in the form of 75mg XR capsule and 37.5mg tablet. The tablet is not XR though. I've done this for three weeks now with no side effects. I'm going down to 75mg XR next week and the Wyeth rep. suggested taking half a 37.5mg tablet just to top up a bit if I start feeling effects. My psychiatrist also said she might just finish off with some Prozac.
I'll see how it goes.
Posted by mara talamaur on May 31, 2002, at 15:29:33
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Greetings,
I began taking Effexor XR in March to aid with depression and concentration problems (not ADD, more likely related to the depression). I am currently on the 150mg doseage.
It seems now that I'm having a lot of trouble orgasming...this is kind of disturbing considering I'm pretty young (21) and am used to being, well, rather an "easy-orgasm-er". LOL!
It takes far longer than it used to and when I do achieve an orgasm, it's far from the intensity that I'm used to (although my boyfriend and I do not mind working on this problem..hehe). I'm disappointed, although this isn't enough of a reason for me to discontinue anti-depressent useage.Has any female had similar effects? What have you done about it? Has this side effect gone away for you? Any suggestions and commentary would be most appreciated.
Cheers,Mara
Posted by Ed O`Flaherty on May 31, 2002, at 17:03:15
In reply to Female w/ Sexual Side Effects, posted by mara talamaur on May 31, 2002, at 15:29:33
Efexor is well-known for sexual side effects and certainly worse than the SSRIs such as Prozac.It is pretty good for depression though.
Posted by kickink on May 31, 2002, at 18:05:52
In reply to Re: Female w/ Sexual Side Effects, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on May 31, 2002, at 17:03:15
My personal experience included the EXACT same thing. Takes longer, less intense etc. I also had weight gain. Worked OK on my depression. I didn't cry much. I finally discontinued but went through bad withdrawal. Best Wishes to you and your BOYFRIEND!!! LOL
Posted by Sleepy Lizard on May 31, 2002, at 22:29:02
In reply to Re: Female w/ Sexual Side Effects, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on May 31, 2002, at 17:03:15
I found this information on www.medhelp.org forum. I hope it helps. I have the same problem (male) from Paxil and Celexa and am switching to Effexor.
Answer Posted By: HFHS-M.D.-HG on Saturday, May 13, 2000
Dear LC,
Medications such as Wellbutrin, Serazone, Trazodone, Remeron are used as antidepressants in the treatment of patients with depression associated with sexual dysfunction. Medications such as Amantadine, Cyproheptadine and Yohunbine are seen to be useful in patients with sexual dysfunction on antidepressants. Sexual dysfunction secondary to effexor is dose related (as the dose increases, this side effect worsens). About 12% of the population that uses effexor have either abnormal ejaculation or orgasm difficulties. If the sexual dysfunction is secondary to depression itself, it can get better once the depression is relieved by the medication. I would recommend that you talk to your doctor about your concerns.
Sincerely
HFHS-M.D
Posted by kpo2002 on June 1, 2002, at 17:05:37
In reply to Re: Female w/ Sexual Side Effects, posted by Sleepy Lizard on May 31, 2002, at 22:29:02
I am female and have had no side effects from taking Effexor xr. In fact it seemed to be the opposite, not because it affected my body, per se, but because I seemed to have less animosity towards my boyfriend because of aggravating circumstances that occurred over many years.
But PAXIL was another story. It was outrageously difficult to reach an orgasm on that stuff.
I am back on Effexor after having been off it for a couple of weeks. Today is day number 2 and I feel better already. I know this time that I have to discontinue it as soon as couch-potato-ism sets in.
Posted by Sleepy Lizard on June 1, 2002, at 23:49:15
In reply to Re: Female w/ Sexual Side Effects, posted by kpo2002 on June 1, 2002, at 17:05:37
Its good to hear that you are getting some relief with Effexor. Sorry it makes you feel so tired. I've just started Effexor so I don't have any side effects yet to report. I had the same experience as you did with the Paxil. I'm wondering about the reason that so many have delayed orgasm or anorgasmia when they have more Seretonin in their systems. Apparently the balance of Seretonin, Norepinepherin, and Dopamine must be exactly right to make the nervous system work correctly? From what I read, Effexor increases all three of these neurotransmitters, whereas Paxil increases only Seretonin.
Posted by Allen F. on June 2, 2002, at 1:41:37
In reply to Re: Female w/ Sexual Side Effects, posted by Sleepy Lizard on June 1, 2002, at 23:49:15
Interesting question ... since Effexor increases all three of the neurotransmitters how does an idividual know which one, if in fact all three, need to be increased. Seems like its taking a shotgun approach to a sling-shot problem.
And I don't know of any tests that can be done to tell if any of these neurotransmitters are in balance or not, what the level in a persons system is, and if that is the correct level they need.
The reality is that the Doctor's don't know. Kinda scarry if you think about it, especially since its your "mind" that is the target organ for these drugs.
Posted by Grace Coyote on June 2, 2002, at 5:39:20
In reply to Re: Female w/ Sexual Side Effects, posted by Allen F. on June 2, 2002, at 1:41:37
I have decided to go off this stuff, the side effects outweigh the benefit that I haven't been getting anyway. Not dreaming, no interest in sex, or ability once it gets started, being very removed from my experience. The other day I developed this rash on some very weird places on my body. At first I thought it was poison ivy, but then the welts stopped, and the palms of my hands began to itch like crazy. Today will be day 3 on 37.5. My GP just told me to stop and from everything I have been reading and hearing about this stuff, that would be a poor choice. So, I take apart the caps and separate all the little beads. It is a crap shoot because science does not entirely understand how these neurotranmitters are functioning, nor do they know what other neurotransmitters are truly being effected. These are just the ones they know about.
Posted by Angel Girl on June 2, 2002, at 17:35:23
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Hi! I haven't posted here for awhile. I've been dealing with something really weird now for a few weeks and I don't know the cause of it.
My brain 'vibrates' when I move, bend, look up or turn my head or at least that's what it feels like. With that comes the feeling of severe light-headedness and feeling like I might pass out.
This has been going on for several weeks now. I'm taking 267.5mg of Effexor XR and haven't had any med changes for several months.
Side effect, anxiety, or what???
Desperately looking for some answers.
Angel Girl
Posted by supergirl on June 2, 2002, at 21:27:57
In reply to Side effect or something else????, posted by Angel Girl on June 2, 2002, at 17:35:23
That sounds a lot like one of the withdrawal effects of effexor. You didn't accidently get SR instead of XR did you? The same thing happened to me when I had to take SR after being used to XR.
The very best thing you can do is see your doctor. Whatever is happening can't be good. You could be having some kind of reaction due to Effexor or taking something else. You need to talk to your doctor and figure out what has changed.
supergirl
Hi! I haven't posted here for awhile. I've been dealing with something really weird now for a few weeks and I don't know the cause of it.
>
> My brain 'vibrates' when I move, bend, look up or turn my head or at least that's what it feels like. With that comes the feeling of severe light-headedness and feeling like I might pass out.
>
> This has been going on for several weeks now. I'm taking 267.5mg of Effexor XR and haven't had any med changes for several months.
>
> Side effect, anxiety, or what???
>
> Desperately looking for some answers.
>
> Angel Girl
Posted by fairnymph on June 2, 2002, at 22:18:07
In reply to Re: Female w/ Sexual Side Effects, posted by Ed O`Flaherty on May 31, 2002, at 17:03:15
> Efexor is well-known for sexual side effects and certainly worse than the SSRIs such as Prozac.It is pretty good for depression though.
Whoa, I disagree. The SSRIs tend to be have more severe sexual side effects (and particurilary prozac!), IME.
I couldn't orgasm on Effexor, but at least my libido was intact. Prozac destroyed my sex life entirely.
~fairnymph
Posted by kickink on June 3, 2002, at 0:24:33
In reply to Side effect or something else????, posted by Angel Girl on June 2, 2002, at 17:35:23
> Hi! I haven't posted here for awhile. I've been dealing with something really weird now for a few weeks and I don't know the cause of it.
>
> My brain 'vibrates' when I move, bend, look up or turn my head or at least that's what it feels like. With that comes the feeling of severe light-headedness and feeling like I might pass out.I'm curious if you are taking your meds at the same time each day. Are you missing any doses? I agree with the prior post about the withrawal. Because of Effexors very short half life, it seems that some individuals are very sensitive to withdrawal effects, particularly the zingy brain feeling. This would happen to me if I was late or missed doses. Then when I finally decided to discontinue I had to wean slowly, otherwise the withrawal effects were pretty severe.
Hope things work out OK .
Kelly>
> This has been going on for several weeks now. I'm taking 267.5mg of Effexor XR and haven't had any med changes for several months.
>
> Side effect, anxiety, or what???
>
> Desperately looking for some answers.
>
> Angel Girl
Posted by Angel Girl on June 3, 2002, at 2:49:24
In reply to Re: Side effect or something else????, posted by kickink on June 3, 2002, at 0:24:33
supergirl and kickink
I checked my capsules and they are XR so I am taking the right meds and I take them at relatively the same time each day. I've never taken them right at the exact same time since the beginning and have not had a problem with that before. I've been on Effexor XR since last October. I'm also dealing with insomnia, hence the time of this post :( in the last couple of weeks. My doctor changed my sleeping meds but as you can see, that hasn't made any difference. My meds are prescribed by my GP. I don't have a pdoc. I'm seriously thinking of going to the ER at the psych hospital here to see what's going on. Do you think I should do that???
Angel Girl
Posted by kickink on June 3, 2002, at 13:02:06
In reply to Re: Side effect or something else????, posted by kickink on June 3, 2002, at 0:24:33
What other feelings and difficulties are you having, what other meds are you on? You must be feeling pretty bad to be considering the ER. I wish I could help you.
Kelly
Posted by renelso1 on June 3, 2002, at 13:19:39
In reply to Re: Angel Girl difficulties, posted by kickink on June 3, 2002, at 13:02:06
hey hun, talk to your GP. i know what you are talking about witht the lightheadedness and stuff. I had the same problems with sleeping pills. I would say that if they aren't helping anyways, stop taking them. focus on all the other things for sleep such as exercise, bath before bed, breathing exercises. i also find that forcing my kitty to lie on my chest and purr is the best knock out tool i know. good luck angel girl.
rock star
Posted by sly on June 3, 2002, at 13:34:03
In reply to Female w/ Sexual Side Effects, posted by mara talamaur on May 31, 2002, at 15:29:33
I have the exact same problem. In the past, I had a hard time holding back sexually and used to delay orgasm. Now on Effexor, I can still get aroused and feel all the excitement and tension of an orgasm building, but I can't get any final release, it's incredibly frustrating and ultimately killing my sex drive!
But on the bright side, my depression is lifting and the sexual side effects have curtailed my promiscuity - oddly enough, the one symptom of depression I never had was lack of sex drive, if anything I was hypersexual and experimented with new partners, male and female, Effexor has wiped out that sexual need, which in my case is probably a good thing.
Posted by Reneb on June 3, 2002, at 13:34:17
In reply to going off, posted by Grace Coyote on June 2, 2002, at 5:39:20
> I have decided to go off this stuff, the side effects outweigh the benefit that I haven't been getting anyway. Not dreaming, no interest in sex, or ability once it gets started, being very removed from my experience. The other day I developed this rash on some very weird places on my body. At first I thought it was poison ivy, but then the welts stopped, and the palms of my hands began to itch like crazy. Today will be day 3 on 37.5. My GP just told me to stop and from everything I have been reading and hearing about this stuff, that would be a poor choice. So, I take apart the caps and separate all the little beads. It is a crap shoot because science does not entirely understand how these neurotranmitters are functioning, nor do they know what other neurotransmitters are truly being effected. These are just the ones they know about.
Hi Grace, I have successfully weaned off of effexor, but it took a long time. I first tried going from 150 to 100 to 50 then everyother day and that didnt work at all. My pdoc told me to go from 50 to 25mg to cutting the 25mg in 1/2 taking the 1/2 cutting it to 1/4. I followed this taking one in the moring and the other in the evening. 2 weeks on each dose. When I got to the 1/4...after 2 weeks I only took it in the morning. I can't tell who wonderful it was to wean off this way and feel terrific when I finished. No dizziness, lightheadedness. brain zaps, etc., I know the process is long but worth every second.Renee
Posted by sly on June 3, 2002, at 13:35:41
In reply to Female w/ Sexual Side Effects, posted by mara talamaur on May 31, 2002, at 15:29:33
I have the exact same problem. In the past, I had a hard time holding back sexually and used to delay orgasm. Now on Effexor, I can still get aroused and feel all the excitement and tension of an orgasm building, but I can't get any final release, it's incredibly frustrating and ultimately killing my sex drive!
But on the bright side, my depression is lifting and the sexual side effects have curtailed my promiscuity - oddly enough, the one symptom of depression I never had was lack of sex drive, if anything I was hypersexual and experimented with new partners, male and female, Effexor has wiped out that sexual need, which in my case is probably a good thing.
Posted by supergirl on June 3, 2002, at 17:15:49
In reply to Re: Side effect or what? - supergirl/kickink, posted by Angel Girl on June 3, 2002, at 2:49:24
> supergirl and kickink
>
> I checked my capsules and they are XR so I am taking the right meds and I take them at relatively the same time each day. I've never taken them right at the exact same time since the beginning and have not had a problem with that before. I've been on Effexor XR since last October. I'm also dealing with insomnia, hence the time of this post :( in the last couple of weeks. My doctor changed my sleeping meds but as you can see, that hasn't made any difference. My meds are prescribed by my GP. I don't have a pdoc. I'm seriously thinking of going to the ER at the psych hospital here to see what's going on. Do you think I should do that???
>
> Angel GirlI wouldn't go to the ER unless you really think you need to, or have tons of money or a good health plan. (This has always been my practice thanks to my ER hating nurse of a mom) They can only temporary help until you can see a specialist. Did your symptoms start before or after you started taking the sleeping pills? You never know what introducing a new drug into your system will do to you. I agree with Kickink that if they are not working anyways, stop taking them.
Also, you should probably find you a good psydoc, they seem to know a lot more about drug reactions/problems than GP's do. Get an appointment with your doctor and have him refer you, that way you can have the best of both practices.
Concerning sleeping troubles, I have had some really nasty insomnia in the past and the best thing I tried that helped was meditation. Light you a candle and block out the world. It might take a while at first, but if you can teach yourself to relax, it gets easier to do it at anytime. The worst part about getting to sleep with insomnia is relaxing your body AND mind. While meditating, I found myself falling asleep in the middle of the floor and waking up feeling I had the best sleep I could ever have.Good luck
supergirl
Posted by slantie on June 3, 2002, at 17:38:14
In reply to Side effect or something else????, posted by Angel Girl on June 2, 2002, at 17:35:23
totaly side affect i've been trying to explain my side affects to the doc and brain vibration is spot on
Posted by JANNBEAU on June 3, 2002, at 17:39:01
In reply to going off, posted by Grace Coyote on June 2, 2002, at 5:39:20
> This is SO weird! I've noticed itching on the palms of my hands, too, and an increase in the "wheal" (whelp; welt) of the "wheal and flare" response to irritants since starting Effexor! My feet also itch sometimes!
Thanks for sharing this side effect. I had allergy testing done while taking Effexor and only was allergic to house-dust mites and they almost missed that one, yet I have all kinds of symptoms of seasonal allergies. Other antidepressants, specifically tricyclics, interfere with allergy skin tests. Wonder if Effexor does this also.
Has anyone had this come up with allergy tests?
Cheers,
JannbeauI have decided to go off this stuff, the side effects outweigh the benefit that I haven't been getting anyway. Not dreaming, no interest in sex, or ability once it gets started, being very removed from my experience. The other day I developed this rash on some very weird places on my body. At first I thought it was poison ivy, but then the welts stopped, and the palms of my hands began to itch like crazy. Today will be day 3 on 37.5. My GP just told me to stop and from everything I have been reading and hearing about this stuff, that would be a poor choice. So, I take apart the caps and separate all the little beads. It is a crap shoot because science does not entirely understand how these neurotranmitters are functioning, nor do they know what other neurotransmitters are truly being effected. These are just the ones they know about.
Posted by slantie on June 3, 2002, at 18:10:26
In reply to Re: Effexor.... how slow 2 go off » Nat A., posted by Spencer on May 31, 2002, at 8:49:39
has anybody had irregular periods while on efexor? I seem to have 2 per month my doc does not want to refer me to any one but its starting to worry me . i've come off efexor in the past week so maye l will see an improvement
Posted by Donald on June 3, 2002, at 19:40:31
In reply to Alternative Ways of dealing with Depression, posted by BJ on April 26, 2000, at 23:02:33
I was on Paxil, Effexor...
Constipation, Sleepless nights, Loss of libido...
In despair I decided to stop.I switched to Viagra + Senade.
MIRACLE RESULT !
No side effects!
No depression!They said Women Viagra will be available soon.
:)
Posted by Debra on June 3, 2002, at 21:42:59
In reply to Side effect or something else????, posted by Angel Girl on June 2, 2002, at 17:35:23
This is my 1st posting. In March I had a major panic attack. I guess you could say I got 'lost'. This doctor added Effexor (to my 30mg. Paxil) starting in small dosages and gradually raising it to 300mg. She also prescribed Xanax to be taken as needed. I was already taking Ambien or Restoril for sleep and Ibuprofin or Propoxy for pain. I became a Zombie. I haven't been to work since 3/12/02. I couldn't stand the side effects so I gradually reversed the dosages myself. It was tough but I feel better without the Effexor. Celebrex works better for the pain. I'm still taking the Paxil because the withdrawl is so bad. I get what I call 'brain lapses', short and long term memory 'blanks', abnormal thoughts and night mares, deep depression and anxiety, etc. I thought these feelings were just me! Now I see that it is withdrawl. I have doubled my weight, too. The constipation from taking Paxil is so bad I had to have a Colonoscopy to make sure there wasn't an obstruction. I lie to my husband. I do not orgasm or even get turned on at all anymore. I feel sexually 'detached'. Sex used to be wonderful. I don't love nor do I feel love. I trusted my doctors. Hah!
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