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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Pamela Lynn on June 7, 2003, at 17:28:48
Hi to all and thank you for reading and/or posting to my question. I've been on and off of this site for 2 years now and have always found helpful people here.
I just recently started on Effexor XR (37.5) again after having been off of it for quite sometime now. I have been having to take Xanax or Ativan for my anxiety/panic attacks pretty steadily for 2 weeks now 0.5mgs. 4X daily (to ward them off). Since the re-introduction of the Effexor XR i've noticed that neither taking Xanax or Ativan is having ANY effects on me right now, not sedating nor calming. I do intend to call my shrink Monday but thought I might get some insight into this this weekend.
Thanks alot.
P.L.
Posted by Janelle on June 7, 2003, at 17:49:45
In reply to Can EFFEXOR XR be making my benzo. not work??, posted by Pamela Lynn on June 7, 2003, at 17:28:48
Hi!
I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV(!) - joke, hah-hah! However, I can tell you, and it's based on many (too many) months on Effexor XR along with a benzo (and a few other meds), that it IS possible that the EffexorXR could be making your benzo "not work" -- because Effexor XR happens to be a particularly *strong* SRI and also SRI's are known to induce hypomanic type behavior - I'm NOT saying this is happening to you (although it has happened to me on THREE different SSRI's with Effexor and Celexa being the worst for it).
It's possible that in your case, even 37.5 mg (which is not even the so-called minimal therapeutic dose - that would be 75 mg/day) COULD be interfering with the ability of the Ativan and/or Xanax to work on the anxiety/panic attacks.
I think it is very wise that you call your pdoc on Monday to discuss it with him or her; s/he is supposed to be the expert and should know the answer!
Good luck 2 U and if you don't mind, please post what your pdoc tells you about this. I'm very interested, as I'm sure others here are!
Posted by linkadge on June 7, 2003, at 21:04:14
In reply to Re: Can EFFEXOR XR be making my benzo. not work?? » Pamela Lynn, posted by Janelle on June 7, 2003, at 17:49:45
Yes,
Anxiety and nervousness are common side effects of Effexor - even though this is what it is meant to treat.
The serotonin effect at the 5HT2a receptor causes anxiety, and norepinephrine can cause activation and heart palpatitions.
Usually these subside somewhat after time,
AD's are only helpful for anxiety in that they can reduce psychic fear over time, and they can be taken regularly.Best of Luck
Linkadge
Posted by Pamela Lynn on June 9, 2003, at 13:00:56
In reply to Re: Can EFFEXOR XR be making my benzo. not work?? » Pamela Lynn, posted by Janelle on June 7, 2003, at 17:49:45
> Hi!
>
> I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV(!) - joke, hah-hah! However, I can tell you, and it's based on many (too many) months on Effexor XR along with a benzo (and a few other meds), that it IS possible that the EffexorXR could be making your benzo "not work" -- because Effexor XR happens to be a particularly *strong* SRI and also SRI's are known to induce hypomanic type behavior - I'm NOT saying this is happening to you (although it has happened to me on THREE different SSRI's with Effexor and Celexa being the worst for it).
>
> It's possible that in your case, even 37.5 mg (which is not even the so-called minimal therapeutic dose - that would be 75 mg/day) COULD be interfering with the ability of the Ativan and/or Xanax to work on the anxiety/panic attacks.
>
> I think it is very wise that you call your pdoc on Monday to discuss it with him or her; s/he is supposed to be the expert and should know the answer!
>
> Good luck 2 U and if you don't mind, please post what your pdoc tells you about this. I'm very interested, as I'm sure others here are!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Janelle, firstly thank you for your response...Very kind of you to post!
Secondly, ya know....i've been on Effexor XR before, it actually "saved my life" years ago. However, at that time I had not yet suffered my first panic/anxiety attack yet (ohhhh and aren't those lovely???!!) This time (and the 37.5 dosage for me was for only the first week and then I was to up it to the 75 mg dosage starting on week 2.....same as I did the first go around with the Effexor XR years ago, and then I went up to even higher levels, but I won't ramble on about that :) ).
This time, at the notification of the death of my Father 2 months ago I started to sink back into depression again. I didn't want to start another AD...(I have been on soooo many since I was an adolescent.) I started off on Prozac for another trial and it was not working well. That is why my shrink (I say 'shrink' in a loving way btw.) ANYHOW....my shrink called me a few ago and I she believes that "right now" my panic/anxiety attacks take the front seat to the depression and that the Effexor XR can be stimulating me too much right now (those were her layman terms). I'm going to continue on the Ativan right now and try the Effexor XR once we get these attacks under control....She believes that my attacks are peaking right now and that they will "settle down", then I can try the E. again. She said that the E., in some people, can even bring on the panic/anxiety attacks, even though it is 'supposed' to help with anxiety. All of this 'should' work itself out after a few weeks on the E. but I just can't go through those 3 weeks right now, I just can't do it.
Again, thank you and the other poster for taking the time to respond. Your kindness is wonderful.
P.L.
This is the end of the thread.
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