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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Katia on October 20, 2002, at 16:24:31
In reply to Re: constipated on Effexor XR?, posted by metiron on October 20, 2002, at 14:10:16
I just upped my dose to 300mg a day and now NOTHING. I'm having no movements for three days now, following very little movement for days. I have bought an enema from the pharmacy and I'm doing that today. Distilled water warmed with coffee (one cup). Being constipated is not healthy by any means and I cannot live with it. Has anyone had this side effect that got better with time?
Thanks.
> Whoa!! Totally constipated from effexor. I had to reduce my amount by half and I still have problems with it, although Citricel does help. Hwever, the constipation apparently puts some pressure on my urinary tract (my doctor told me this) and I often have to contend with urinary tract infections as a result of it. Then sometimes the urinary tract infection will lead to a yeast infection, so I'm all messed up down there. But, this does make me keep on my toes with my eating habits to make sure I take enough fiber. My doctor said colace and pericolace are fairly mild laxatives to take although to watch becoming to laxative dependent. I think that over the past 8 months of taking it I've begun to manage the problem fairly well, but I absolutely would not be able to take the maximum dosage. I've been thinking about getting one of those colonics-- one of my new age friends swears by it, but I don't know. Anyone ever tried it?
> Hope this helps
> Metiron
> > Yes, its the only side effect that is still consistently (as in more than once a week) bothering me after more than 7 months. I always eat a lot of fiber in my diet and I still have to add Citrucel occasionally. It's the frequent small hard movements for me. It also results in abdominal gas which is quite embarrassing. I'm to the point I am going to do a food journal to see if I can't make some specific dietary changes which will help. If I was not receiving subsantial benefit from this med, and if the constipation were not a listed side effect of virtualy every antidepressant available, I would stop this med just because of the constipation. Very annoying.
>
>
Posted by LynnPerley on October 20, 2002, at 19:00:52
In reply to Can't Think, Brain Dumb, Inspiration Won't Come, posted by Ezzy on October 20, 2002, at 0:50:54
The worst symptopm of my depression was the inability to get things accomplished at work (I'm an attorney) and the inability to conentrate. I would not be able to recall accurately how I spent my time all day (which is not good if you bill by the hour!). I agree you should wait until after a critical presentation to start, but give it a try. Remember it often takes several weeks to see the actual benefits from this medication, and you probably will need to play with the time of say you take it. The drowsies became much better after I started taking it in the early to late evening.
Posted by jannbeau on October 21, 2002, at 10:52:49
In reply to Re: constipated on Effexor XR? » Katia, posted by LynnPerley on October 18, 2002, at 19:27:13
>Hi, Lynne,
Try Phazyme Ultra (or other med containing simethicone) for the gas! Helps a lot!
Jannbeau
Yes, its the only side effect that is still consistently (as in more than once a week) bothering me after more than 7 months. I always eat a lot of fiber in my diet and I still have to add Citrucel occasionally. It's the frequent small hard movements for me. It also results in abdominal gas which is quite embarrassing. I'm to the point I am going to do a food journal to see if I can't make some specific dietary changes which will help. If I was not receiving subsantial benefit from this med, and if the constipation were not a listed side effect of virtualy every antidepressant available, I would stop this med just because of the constipation. Very annoying.
Posted by jannbeau on October 21, 2002, at 11:06:06
In reply to Re: Can't Think, Brain Dumb, Inspiration Won't Come, posted by sandylou on October 20, 2002, at 13:53:47
> SandyLou-- your experience is exactly what one might expect with abrupt discontinuation of Effexor or other AD with a short biological half-life, from what I have read. If anything comes across this message board with clarity and regularity, it is that one should taper off Effexor. It took me, personally, about four or five weeks to get off completely and I experienced no intolerable side effects. That does not mean that I didn't experience any unpleasantness. I had brain zaps, some slight nausea with each step-down, some dizziness, some lack of control especially of angry feelings (did some acting-out, but not physical--said a few things to my husband that might better have been left unsaid, yelled some, felt really angry, but not for long). Nothing earth-shaking, however. Do try a taper regimen, after checking with your doctor.
I've been taking Effexor XR for a year now. I recently had the bright idea to ask my doc to switch me the Wellbutrin because I heard it would speed up your metabolism. Well, I've has the worst weekend of my life. The withdrawals are horrifying! I've experienced mania, severe agitation with everything, shocking sensations, and have cried for 3 days. I just now broke down and took an Effexor. Screw the Wellbutrin. Doc gave me a months supply of it to see how it does because the insurance company requires prior authoriztion or something. I know I can't go on feeling like this. I've been alone with my 2 year old daughter for 3 days and it has been awful for her to watch me have a mental breakdown. I do want to get off of medication all together. I'm so frightened of how my life will be without it.
Posted by kitkat on October 21, 2002, at 18:30:21
In reply to Re: Can't Think, Brain Dumb, Inspiration Won't Come, posted by sandylou on October 20, 2002, at 13:53:47
Jannbeau's right, haven't heard of anyone who quit Effexor cold turkey without problems. You might need to find a way to check out medication switches if your Doc isn't informing you.
Also, my doc (and the RX literature) says Well butrin has a 1 in 1,000 change of causing seizures. As a single mom with a young child, I didn't like those odds and steered clear of it. Did your doctor tell you about that?
It may take some time to get your meds right. Is there anyone who can take your kid for a few hours a day? That really helped me when I was going thru the roughest times. (helped the kid, too!) If not, maybe just go to a park or take a walk every day until things settle down.
Good luck!
> I've been taking Effexor XR for a year now. I recently had the bright idea to ask my doc to switch me the Wellbutrin because I heard it would speed up your metabolism. Well, I've has the worst weekend of my life. The withdrawals are horrifying! I've experienced mania, severe agitation with everything, shocking sensations, and have cried for 3 days. I just now broke down and took an Effexor. Screw the Wellbutrin. Doc gave me a months supply of it to see how it does because the insurance company requires prior authoriztion or something. I know I can't go on feeling like this. I've been alone with my 2 year old daughter for 3 days and it has been awful for her to watch me have a mental breakdown. I do want to get off of medication all together. I'm so frightened of how my life will be without it.
Posted by Rickp on October 21, 2002, at 19:17:55
In reply to Re: Can't Think, Brain Dumb, Inspiration Won't Come, posted by sandylou on October 20, 2002, at 13:53:47
Did you quit cold turkey or reduce dosage? Because cold turky is not the way to go. You ease off any drug like this.
Posted by Mrs. M on October 21, 2002, at 20:35:05
In reply to Re: need info on side effects - help, posted by jflange on October 14, 2002, at 22:17:49
Hey, Thanks for the information and suggestions from everyone. It helps. I have been "sidelined" for a couple of days with an especially bad bout of eye pain/headache. It was miserable. (Then something was going "nuts" and I couldn't get my message to post.) I continue to search for answers for my head pain.
kitkat, I too have acute chronic sinus problems. A few years ago I had to have surgery to correct a diviated septum. It was so bad that I had no choice. What did you decide to do to correct you sinus cavity problem? The ENT doc has ordered two CT scans in the last two months (I am scheduled to see him on Wed.) and hopefully he can give me some information to provide some relief. I have certainly had my share of sinus headaches over the years, but this eye pain/head pain didn't quite feel like that. But, perhaps it is sinus related.
I have had my eyes checked out, and everything seems to be okay there. I am also trying to double check that there are no med reactions between the effexor and other meds I take.
Some suggested that my pain might be a migraine headache. I have had a few headaches that I would truly label migraine, and again, this current pain doesn't feel quite like that either. But, perhaps it is vascular related. At this point, I am willing to consider almost anything. I am definitely struggling for answers. This pain gets so very frustrating and discouraging.
jflange, the information about calcium and magnesium supplements was interesting. I currently take calcium supplements but not magnesium. I have not heard of the theory of that deficiency in migraine sufferers. How much magnesium do you take a day?
I was encouraged by the reports from some of you that had not experienced much problem with withdrawal when coming off effexor. I think it has helped my depression and anxiety some, however I hope I won't have to take it forever. Some of the encouraging reports makes the time that I could possibly get off effexor a little less scarey.
Posted by Lost Lamb on October 22, 2002, at 1:32:08
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Has anyone been prescribed Effexor for ADD or ADHD? And has it helped you at all?
Thanks,
Lost Lamb
Posted by Noorah on October 22, 2002, at 10:05:38
In reply to Have I got too many side-effects?, posted by cherry on October 17, 2002, at 23:09:03
Cherry,
I too feel "weird" and disassociated. I also grind my teeth more at night since taking effexor 75 mg. Constipation , tremors, hands shaking, as well as hot and then cold feelings are also my many side effects.I told my psychiatrist that I am not sure that I want to stay on effexor. I now have made up my mind that I am getting off the effexor and going back to celexa which has worked for me in the past.
If you have more side effects and not so much improvement in your depression then you should think about getting off the effexor and on to something else.
Noorah
> I've just been put on Effexor slow release 75mg, for long-standing depression (10years) and some anxiety. Have tried Zoloft or Serzone once (can't remember which), got headaches and rash. After 4 days of this stuff, I feel nauseous (now manageable), but also disturbed vision, feel disassociated ('weird'), lop-sided, jaw tension, hot face then sometimes chills, body on the verge of twitching (but not yet), foggy-brain and now, today, a return of my 'dark' feelings, where I don't feel trustful of others, and that I don't 'fit in'.
>
> Is this amount of side-effects normal so soon? Should my doctor be trying something else first? I feel scared, especially after reading so many postings, that this drug is really bad news, and a 'last resort', but for me it seems to be only second resort. I'm really sensitive to medicaiton normally, and have had a bloody awful last 2 years getting my brain back after TB drugs - of all things. So, I'm really not into a repeat.
>
> Any advice?
>
> Also, has it struck anyone reading these boards that many of us seem to be very intelligent - Does anyone agree, and do you think there's a link between a high ability to see the world as it really is, and depression?? Cos I've been trying to work this stuff out for years...
>
>
> cherry
Posted by dde on October 22, 2002, at 18:54:37
In reply to Effexor XR and ADD/ADHD?, posted by Lost Lamb on October 22, 2002, at 1:32:08
My 10 year old son was prescribed Effexor XR for ADHD. 37.5 mg to 225 mg in less than 3 weeks. IT HAS NEVER BEEN APPROVED FOR THAT CONDITION, PER FDA. He committed suicide on August 13th. BE VERY CAUTIOUS. de
Posted by Rickp on October 22, 2002, at 21:10:24
In reply to Re: Have I got too many side-effects?, posted by Noorah on October 22, 2002, at 10:05:38
Noorah how long were you off of celexa before you changed to effexor?
Please respond.I've done this depression thing 3 times in the past 15 years and don't want to see anyone go thrue more grief than necessary.
Rickp
Posted by Rickp on October 22, 2002, at 21:32:41
In reply to Have I got too many side-effects?, posted by cherry on October 17, 2002, at 23:09:03
I just read your post. From what I've read we are a cut above. Just check it out on the web. There are quite a lot of gifted people that have depression. I don't understand why but to me it all points to that conclusion.
Posted by Ritch on October 22, 2002, at 22:11:43
In reply to Re: I am scared of this medicine, HELP ME!, posted by dde on October 22, 2002, at 18:54:37
> My 10 year old son was prescribed Effexor XR for ADHD. 37.5 mg to 225 mg in less than 3 weeks. IT HAS NEVER BEEN APPROVED FOR THAT CONDITION, PER FDA. He committed suicide on August 13th. BE VERY CAUTIOUS. de
I'm very sorry about what has happened to your family. I've got a few questions if you don't mind. Do you think your son was misdiagnosed as having ADHD? Did he have any additional diagnoses other than ADHD? What meds had he been on previous to the Effexor? Could you tell us how he reacted to the medication (side-effects)?
Posted by jyl on October 23, 2002, at 8:00:58
In reply to Re: Have I got too many side-effects?, posted by Rickp on October 22, 2002, at 21:32:41
its strange that many people do not feel
being talented in the arts-is not a gift.
rather something that makes the person very odd.
jyl
Posted by jannbeau on October 23, 2002, at 11:50:17
In reply to Re: I am scared of this medicine, HELP ME!, posted by dde on October 22, 2002, at 18:54:37
> Oh, Dear God, DDE! I am so very sorry to hear of the death of your son. Please accept my condolences and those of others who come to PB.
Thank you for your warning! A ten-year old given 225 mg of Effexor?????? for a condition for which the drug has not been approved?????--I am incensed by this horrible tragedy, although I'm sure you know that FDA rules and regulations do NOT prohibit what is known as "off-label" prescribing.
God Bless You. I know that you are suffering horribly! Please do NOT blame yourself for this terrible event. You trusted your son's physician to act responsibly and to know what he/she was doing! It appears this may not have been the case!
Have you considered hiring an attorney to represent your family in this matter? Because of our laws and because the medical community does NOT adequately police itself (I am NOT an attorney. I am married to a doctor, my aughter is a doctor, and I have chronic health problems for which I see several doctors, so I am NOT anti-physician; au contraire, I depend upon them for my very life--as did you), the only way we have to protect ourselves from unscrupulous, negligent, or just plain stupid physicians is through lawsuits.
Again, I am so sorry!
For the others who read this board--take care and listen to this cautionary tale!
Jannbeau
My 10 year old son was prescribed Effexor XR for ADHD. 37.5 mg to 225 mg in less than 3 weeks. IT HAS NEVER BEEN APPROVED FOR THAT CONDITION, PER FDA. He committed suicide on August 13th. BE VERY CAUTIOUS. de
Posted by dde on October 23, 2002, at 12:58:09
In reply to Re: I am scared of this medicine, HELP ME! » dde, posted by Ritch on October 22, 2002, at 22:11:43
Yes, I do think he was misdiagnosed and was more than likely bi-polar. That being the case, Effexor XR would definitely not have been the correct medication as it doesn't address the mania, only depression. Most of his ADHD symptoms are similar to those of mania. The day we buried him there was an article in Newsweek (August 19) about bi-polar and a checklist. It said if the child met 20 of the 40 symptoms, he would be considered bi-polar. My son met 37 of the 40. As for previous medications, he had been on Adderall, which helped immensely for the ADHD "symptoms"....he was able to concentrate, was less agressive, etc. The problem with it was that he lost a lot of weight when his father failed to feed him before administering the meds. He was changed to Concerta LA because of the weight issue. He did miserably on it. So this summer I asked that he be put back on Adderall and that depression be addressed as well. I feel like such a fool, but how is a person to know? In any case, the Psych put him on Adderall XR and Effexor XR to begin with. Symptoms....he didn't sleep, literally, for 6 days, looked like a zombie, was unable to think, was agressive/latent at times, his sleep paterns changed incredibly, he complained of headaches, of his brain rolling around in his head, of being light headed, stomach aches, sore throat, trouble breathing. I finally took him off the Adderall XR and put him back on the normal Adderall. He slept better, but the other symptoms were still there. The nurse practitioner that he saw for followups said it was just his body trying to get used to the meds and bumped up the dosage! Sorry for the book. And thank you for inquiring. de
Posted by dde on October 23, 2002, at 13:06:06
In reply to Re: I am scared of this medicine, HELP ME! » dde, posted by jannbeau on October 23, 2002, at 11:50:17
Thank you for your kind words, Jannbeau. Yes, I have consulted with an attorney...I am a paralegal, so it was the first thing I did to comfort myself....what I know how to do. To add to this story, my little guy was seen only once by the psychiatrist at this clinic. The med checks were performed by a nurse. That in itself set off bells. Add to it that the doctor spent, literally, less than 10 minutes with him in the initial visit and well, need I say more?
I am just really concerned that this drug is being prescribed, possibly for the wrong diagnosis and hope that my warning will cause people to think about the symptoms and effects and weigh if it really worth it to take it. I mean, if the meds make you feel worse and give you other undesirable side effects, they aren't the right drug for the diagnosis or the diagnosis is wrong altogether.
Posted by slowhand on October 23, 2002, at 21:58:10
In reply to Re: I am scared of this medicine, HELP ME!, posted by dde on October 23, 2002, at 12:58:09
My doc just suggested this medicine to help me out of a rut , death of my mom and loss of a job just an awful time...i took it for 2 days and felt absolutely awful....dizzy, double vision...very nauseous...and very, very, cold...couldn,t stop shaking. Couldn,t recall things that happened 5 minutes ago without serious concentration. After 2 days thought i needed research... i found this site and with all the info about withdrawl and side affects and altered personality i figured thats enough for me...I,m not taking a chance with it. My Doctor said only side affect could be possible constipation...why aren,t Doctors more informed.
Thank god, for information sites like this where you get real feedback. Good luck to you all.
I,m off to see if my head can stop spinning...
Thank-you all for the eye opener..
Posted by Ritch on October 23, 2002, at 23:05:36
In reply to Re: I am scared of this medicine, HELP ME!, posted by dde on October 23, 2002, at 12:58:09
> Yes, I do think he was misdiagnosed and was more than likely bi-polar. That being the case, Effexor XR would definitely not have been the correct medication as it doesn't address the mania, only depression. Most of his ADHD symptoms are similar to those of mania. The day we buried him there was an article in Newsweek (August 19) about bi-polar and a checklist. It said if the child met 20 of the 40 symptoms, he would be considered bi-polar. My son met 37 of the 40. As for previous medications, he had been on Adderall, which helped immensely for the ADHD "symptoms"....he was able to concentrate, was less agressive, etc. The problem with it was that he lost a lot of weight when his father failed to feed him before administering the meds. He was changed to Concerta LA because of the weight issue. He did miserably on it. So this summer I asked that he be put back on Adderall and that depression be addressed as well. I feel like such a fool, but how is a person to know? In any case, the Psych put him on Adderall XR and Effexor XR to begin with. Symptoms....he didn't sleep, literally, for 6 days, looked like a zombie, was unable to think, was agressive/latent at times, his sleep paterns changed incredibly, he complained of headaches, of his brain rolling around in his head, of being light headed, stomach aches, sore throat, trouble breathing. I finally took him off the Adderall XR and put him back on the normal Adderall. He slept better, but the other symptoms were still there. The nurse practitioner that he saw for followups said it was just his body trying to get used to the meds and bumped up the dosage! Sorry for the book. And thank you for inquiring. de
Thanks, de for that. I have bipolar-II and ADHD. I'm on Depakote for the BP, and I take Ritalin for the ADHD. I also take some Effexor (12.5mg), primarily for anxiety. I am super sensitive to antidepressants. Effexor (and others) in doses that approach anything "typical" cause intense hypomania for me. The max Effexor I have ever taken was 37.5mg and only for a couple of days. Effexor (higher dose) and other SSRI's also tend to cause extreme insomnia with me as well. Stimulants don't disrupt my sleep though. Again I am sorry for what has happened, and thank you for relating your experience.
Posted by Katia on October 24, 2002, at 1:58:14
In reply to Re: I am scared of this medicine, HELP ME!, posted by slowhand on October 23, 2002, at 21:58:10
Hi, I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your Mom and your job. It must be incredibly hard for you right now.
In regards to you side effects. A LOT of side effects present themselves in the first month or so and fade away after you body adjusts. Ironically the ONE side effect I'm having from Effexor is CONSTIPATION. And it's pretty bad; almost enough to make me want to go off it and try another AD.
Maybe stick with it for at least a month, while keeping in close contact with your Dr.???
The one thing about chemical treatment with depression is that it takes A LOT OF PATIENCE to find the right fit and to endure the side effects.
good luck
Katia> My doc just suggested this medicine to help me out of a rut , death of my mom and loss of a job just an awful time...i took it for 2 days and felt absolutely awful....dizzy, double vision...very nauseous...and very, very, cold...couldn,t stop shaking. Couldn,t recall things that happened 5 minutes ago without serious concentration. After 2 days thought i needed research... i found this site and with all the info about withdrawl and side affects and altered personality i figured thats enough for me...I,m not taking a chance with it. My Doctor said only side affect could be possible constipation...why aren,t Doctors more informed.
> Thank god, for information sites like this where you get real feedback. Good luck to you all.
> I,m off to see if my head can stop spinning...
> Thank-you all for the eye opener..
>
Posted by Mr Cushing on October 24, 2002, at 9:22:16
In reply to Re: I am scared of this medicine, HELP ME!, posted by dde on October 23, 2002, at 12:58:09
I am Bi-Polar and when I started taking Effexor XR I was in the middle of a pretty serious manic episode. Effexor XR within 4 weeks managed to pull me completely out of the manic episode and reduced my anxiety to a very mild form of hypomania. With the addition of a mood stabilizer now, I feel great, no more anxiety, every day just seems to be getting better and better.
> Yes, I do think he was misdiagnosed and was more than likely bi-polar. That being the case, Effexor XR would definitely not have been the correct medication as it doesn't address the mania, only depression. Most of his ADHD symptoms are similar to those of mania. The day we buried him there was an article in Newsweek (August 19) about bi-polar and a checklist. It said if the child met 20 of the 40 symptoms, he would be considered bi-polar. My son met 37 of the 40. As for previous medications, he had been on Adderall, which helped immensely for the ADHD "symptoms"....he was able to concentrate, was less agressive, etc. The problem with it was that he lost a lot of weight when his father failed to feed him before administering the meds. He was changed to Concerta LA because of the weight issue. He did miserably on it. So this summer I asked that he be put back on Adderall and that depression be addressed as well. I feel like such a fool, but how is a person to know? In any case, the Psych put him on Adderall XR and Effexor XR to begin with. Symptoms....he didn't sleep, literally, for 6 days, looked like a zombie, was unable to think, was agressive/latent at times, his sleep paterns changed incredibly, he complained of headaches, of his brain rolling around in his head, of being light headed, stomach aches, sore throat, trouble breathing. I finally took him off the Adderall XR and put him back on the normal Adderall. He slept better, but the other symptoms were still there. The nurse practitioner that he saw for followups said it was just his body trying to get used to the meds and bumped up the dosage! Sorry for the book. And thank you for inquiring. de
Posted by Dinah on October 24, 2002, at 14:16:07
In reply to Re: I am scared of this medicine, HELP ME!, posted by dde on October 23, 2002, at 12:58:09
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
Effexor can be horrible for some people, especially those on the bipolar spectrum. And anyone taking any antidepressant should take feelings of agitation and increase in suicidal ideation very seriously indeed.
Thanks for sharing your story. Someone reading it may decide to take the symptoms more seriously than they otherwise would have, and be more assertive with their medical professionals.
Dinah
Posted by jannbeau on October 24, 2002, at 18:30:41
In reply to Re: Can't Think, Brain Dumb, Inspiration Won't Come » Ezzy, posted by LynnPerley on October 20, 2002, at 19:00:52
> Hey, Lynn, how about some free lawyer advice??--Just kidding! I stopped taking Effexor because even 37.5 mg made me a zombie and I experienced the same "diddling away" of my time at work! I have hypothyroidism and take thyroxine and Cytomel. Wonder if the rather different metabolic life of brain cells might explain some of the differences in reactions to ADs? Just something to kick around in our spare time (at work??).
Jannbeau
The worst symptopm of my depression was the inability to get things accomplished at work (I'm an attorney) and the inability to conentrate. I would not be able to recall accurately how I spent my time all day (which is not good if you bill by the hour!). I agree you should wait until after a critical presentation to start, but give it a try. Remember it often takes several weeks to see the actual benefits from this medication, and you probably will need to play with the time of say you take it. The drowsies became much better after I started taking it in the early to late evening.
Posted by Ezzy on October 24, 2002, at 21:18:57
In reply to Re: Can't Think, Brain Dumb, Inspiration Won't Come » LynnPerley, posted by jannbeau on October 24, 2002, at 18:30:41
Well, it's day three on 37.5 Effexor, and except for a dry mouth and feeling a bit stoned, I'm not experiencing anything I can really complain about. I don't know if such a low dose will shift depression or anxiety, but I will find out soon enough. In the meantime, I'm trying to take in lots of fibre and water so that I can avoid the constipation that so many people seem to encounter. Thanks for all the info and feed back. ~Ezzy
Posted by Paul 1952 on October 25, 2002, at 23:28:07
In reply to Re: Can't Think, Brain Dumb, Inspiration Won't Come, posted by Ezzy on October 24, 2002, at 21:18:57
Hi- It's gratifying to me to see so many people sharing on these boards. Effexor is new enough- and still enough of an "unknown"- that it's helpful to be able to share information and experiences. My own experience with it has been different than most persons', and maybe the following will help someone:
I was prescribed Effexor not to treat depression or anxiety, but to treat the symptoms of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). I had acquired IBS after a serious case of food poisoning which sent me to the hospital. I suffered chronic and debilitating abdominal pains for seven months after the bout of food poisoning, and it wasn't until I began taking Effexor that the pains started to diminish.
My MD said that Effexor- intended, as it is, to "balance" seratonin levels- is in some ways an ideal treatment for stomach problems, because most of the body's seratonin resides in the stomach. My IBS was the result of the confusion of my digestive system's own separate "nervous system" (which was caused by the trauma of the food poisoning), and only a resetting of the seratonin level would allow my digestive system to return to normal functioning. That it did.
After about 20 months of Effexor, wherein I was taking 150mg/day, I finally weaned myself off of it. I backed off to 75mg for several weeks, then 37.5 for several days (probably not long enough, in retrospect), and as of today it's been 7 days since my last dose.
It worked minor miracles for me. Granted, my situation was different and I wasn't taking it specifically to treat classic depression symptoms, but nevertheless it seems to have pretty well fixed my problem.
I did experience some difficulty when I first began taking Effexor. In fact, it made me so dizzy that I abandoned the effort altogether. It was only when my stomach persuaded me that I needed to try something that I made another attempt, and then I found that the initial difficulties subsided fairly quickly.
Getting off the meds was a minor adventure, although had I consulted these boards at the time I would have been better prepared for what my body was going to go through. I experienced a severe bout of melancholy that lasted about 12 hours, I found myself highly irritable, I experienced a day or so of flu-like body aches, and I experienced a worrisome degree of dizziness and brain "noise" when I shifted my visual focus. The first three of those symptoms- the melancholy, irritability and flu symptoms- passed just about as quickly as they had arrived. The dizziness is still present, although it has lessened measurably and I've learned from other posters that the dizziness is likely to subside completely within another week or so.
I've been sobered to read in this forum about the severe problems with this med that other posters have experienced. In retrospect I gather that I may be one of the lucky ones, and at no time did I ever take any additional meds to either assist or counteract the operations of the Effexor. It occurs to me that, since everyone's system is different, reactions to any med (especially fairly new and less-tested ones) figure to run the gamut. At the very least, it's helpful to educate yourself as much as possible. And that's especially true when dealing with a med with which your doctor/s may not be so familiar.
I hope this helps. Best wishes to all of you.
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