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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mick3000 on December 14, 2004, at 10:46:25
I am new to Effexor XL. I was currently on Wellbutin SR but I had weight gain, hunger and mostly migraines. I was changed over to Effexor last week. The first couple days I felt drugged, lethargic and depressed. After about 6 days I am feeling much better. Sleeping better too, I take the Effexor is in am so I don't have insomnia. I did notice some water retention in my face but I am not as hunger as I was on Wellbutin and hopefully will lose the 15 pounds I gained. I was put on Wellbutin when my parents were tragically killed in a house gas well explosion. Will the side effect go away as time goes on. I am on 37.5mg and feeling uplighted and not depressed anymore. It did take 6 long, hard days as I felt tired too. Any comments??? please
Posted by MKB on December 14, 2004, at 10:57:15
In reply to Effexor XL, posted by Mick3000 on December 14, 2004, at 10:46:25
If you think the Effexor is helping you, great. But do read as much as you can about it. Many have posted on here about troubling side effects such as fatigue, dry skin and eyes, stomach upsets, high blood pressure, and liver problems. The main thing you need to know is that discontinuing can bring on extremely severe symptoms. Many patients have complained that their doctors did not warn them. This has been my experience.
Posted by Mick3000 on December 19, 2004, at 18:07:34
In reply to Re: Effexor XL » Mick3000, posted by MKB on December 14, 2004, at 10:57:15
Thanks for the input. I read almost all of the postings. I cannot take SSRI's because of my history with migraines and I take triptins for relief. I don't think there is any other Antidepressant to take as I have tried Elavil but it wasn't enough to take the depression away but did take away headaches. Anyone else new Effexor. WHAT ARE YOU SYMPTONS???? Need encouragement!!!!! I am cdurrently on 37.5 and don't plan on going up.
mick
Posted by dancingstar on December 19, 2004, at 23:53:41
In reply to Effexor XL, posted by Mick3000 on December 14, 2004, at 10:46:25
Mick,
My God, I'm so sorry for what you have been through. I don't think that there is much of anything that will take your pain away.
Effexor is a pretty powerful drug, and I don't think it is as safe as the doctors that prescribe it think it is. I was taking it for three years but didn't find out about all the damage that it did to my body until after I stopped taking it...and I only found out then because no one told me that you can't stop taking it suddenly; so I had to look online to figure out what was wrong with me. The more research I did, the more I began to realize that my weight gain, my fatigue, my severe pain, what became arthritis, colitis, neurological damage...all because of Effexor.
You've been through so much with your parents, and you will heal from the emotional scars in time. I know because I lost both of my parents, too, not in the same way...but my dad did die when I was 15, and there weren't antidepressants. Please don't take a chance of injuring your body. It is so precious. I'm in so much pain and have lost three whole years cause I've been too tired to work or barely do much of anything and had no idea why. If I can do anything to talk you out of taking that drug if only because I'm not really sure that it will make you any less depressed anyway, and I'm afraid it will also make you sick...and also cause like MKB said, the withdrawal is absolutely disgusting, I would sure like to try to talk you into trying another way of making it through this.
(Deep sigh)I know it's hard, but is there possibly another option?
Bebe
Posted by paulo sham on January 13, 2005, at 7:43:50
In reply to Effexor XL, posted by Mick3000 on December 14, 2004, at 10:46:25
> I am new to Effexor XL. I was currently on Wellbutin SR but I had weight gain, hunger and mostly migraines. I was changed over to Effexor last week. The first couple days I felt drugged, lethargic and depressed. After about 6 days I am feeling much better. Sleeping better too, I take the Effexor is in am so I don't have insomnia. I did notice some water retention in my face but I am not as hunger as I was on Wellbutin and hopefully will lose the 15 pounds I gained. I was put on Wellbutin when my parents were tragically killed in a house gas well explosion. Will the side effect go away as time goes on. I am on 37.5mg and feeling uplighted and not depressed anymore. It did take 6 long, hard days as I felt tired too. Any comments??? please
I've been on effexor xl for over a year now and while at first the side effects seemed a bit much, shaky hands and a feeling of disorientation, they went after a while. I'm sure that the fact that I was feeling really down did somewhat enhance the disorientation, now the3 only side effect that i experience is the lack of libido, and if you can live with that you should be fine. occasionally i do get a bit shaky but thats only in times of stress. One thing I must say is take your medicine at the same time every day and never misss a day , I did once and the feeling was quiet bad, lots of rushes from the tips of my fingers and in my head , not pleasant at all. this time 14 months ago I was at a very low point in my life but now even though i'm not back to my old self,I do feel like i'm getting there. just hang on in there and as they say the world will be your lobster(ha ha )
Posted by dancingstar on January 13, 2005, at 13:10:38
In reply to Re: Effexor XL, posted by paulo sham on January 13, 2005, at 7:43:50
Either you posted this somewhere else, too, under a different name, or there is someone else whose parents also died in a gass well explosion.
How old are you Paulo?
Posted by broken on January 14, 2005, at 7:43:37
In reply to Re: Effexor XL, posted by dancingstar on January 13, 2005, at 13:10:38
> Either you posted this somewhere else, too, under a different name, or there is someone else whose parents also died in a gass well explosion.
>
> How old are you Paulo?I think you are confusing him with the original poster. Mick was the one who lost his parents.
Posted by Mick3000 on January 14, 2005, at 8:51:30
In reply to Re: Effexor XL, posted by paulo sham on January 13, 2005, at 7:43:50
Hi Paubo. Yes it was me (Mick) who lost my parents. I was 45 years old and single and my parents were my best friends so it was so hard. I do have a twin sister (she has a family with kids so she did better than me).
So far Effexor XR (I mistyped XL), I feel great. Alot of dreams tho, do those get better. The doc upped me to 75mg (the therapudic dose so I could sleep).
I am getting better (thank God)!! Thank you for all of your postings to everyone!
mick
Posted by broken on January 14, 2005, at 8:58:23
In reply to Re: Effexor XL, posted by Mick3000 on January 14, 2005, at 8:51:30
Hiya Mick,
I am really sorry about your parents. I lost my father when I was young, and it was a pretty traumatic incident to live through.
The side effects are different for everyone. I am on a much higher dose of Effexor, and I dont experience the dreams at all. Actually Wellbutrin did the dream thing to me. I definitely have night sweats with it, but as of right now, Effexor is the most effective drug I have taken. I wish you the best in the future.
Posted by Mick3000 on January 14, 2005, at 9:06:12
In reply to Re: Effexor XL » Mick3000, posted by broken on January 14, 2005, at 8:58:23
Hi...thanks for the condolences, as you know it takes time. Are you on Effexor for losses in you life or stress related?
Wellbutin made me so hungry for carbs that I gained 20 lbs and have always been thin. I do not have those craving and am exercizing daily 20 minutes and joined weight watchers. Did you have any weight gain that was uncontrollable?
What were your side effects if I can ask?
mick
Posted by broken on January 14, 2005, at 10:09:51
In reply to Re: Effexor XL, posted by Mick3000 on January 14, 2005, at 9:06:12
> Hi...thanks for the condolences, as you know it takes time. Are you on Effexor for losses in you life or stress related?
>
> Wellbutin made me so hungry for carbs that I gained 20 lbs and have always been thin. I do not have those craving and am exercizing daily 20 minutes and joined weight watchers. Did you have any weight gain that was uncontrollable?
>
> What were your side effects if I can ask?
>
> mickSeveral reasons I m on the Effexor, stress being a part, and severe depression another. Lots of things that should've been addressed long ago, that I am trying to address now.
Side effects on the wellbutrin side were vivid dreams and nightmares, weight gain, from 182 to 198, and a higher level of fatigue. I stopped cold turkey 96 hrs ago, from 450mg daily dose.
Dreams and appetite subsided quickly, and the fatigue improved drastically. I had not tought fatigue was from the Wellbutrin, all I can say is it is much much better now that I am on the Effexor only. With Effexor 300mg per day, side effects are night sweats, some fatigue, and some sexual, that I have been able to overcome easily enough. Also, I have had some aches here and there that i didnt notice before the effexor, I suppose I can attribute those to the drug as well. However, they are hardly worth mentioning.
Overall, with all of the drugs I have tried, and had zero success with, I'm happy with the effexor.
Posted by WellaGirl on March 5, 2005, at 0:40:19
In reply to Re: Effexor XL » Mick3000, posted by broken on January 14, 2005, at 10:09:51
I stated on effexorxl at the 35 mg dose for 1 week then went up to the 75mg for a week. My doctor wanted me to come back at the 2 weeks mark to tell her how I was feeling. Well,I am a naturally a high strung person and after 3 years of one tragic thing after another I just thought I was sick. I was always in the gym, ate pretty good and have always been health and happy. When I had a hard time getting to the gym and felt irritable, lack of drive and short tempered my doctor ran every test, thyroid, hormone (to make sure I wasn't going into early menopause), blood sugar, you name it and they tested for it. After a week all tests came back great, but some how I felt sad because I wanted to know what was wrong so I could fix it.
I was shocked when she said the test I took said I was depressed, I hadn't had time to be depressed and thought depressed meant in bed all the time. I have everything I have ever wanted a great husband, great parents, great career, financially secure, thin in shape, and I was the one people wanted to be like so how could I be depressed?
So anyway, after the two weeks I felt kind of like a zombie-not as sad, but not really happy, almost numb. I went back into the Dr. and she said I should try Wellbutrin XL, but she did not want me to stop the effexor cold turkey so I took 1-150mg wellbutrin with 1 effexor 35mg for 1 week and for the first time I felt great, my sex drive was back (my husband liked that part ha ha), I was in the gym two times a day, my drive was back and I thought wow! I forgot what it was like to feel good. But then when it was time for me to be on only wellbutrin 150mg for 1 week I felt more anxious, aggressive, short tempered. She said to go 1 more week on just the wellbutrin and see how I felt because she want to make sure I wasn't having a withdrawal from the effexor. She said they can bump up the wellbutrin to 300mg which is the standard but I am afraid I would become a raving lunatic. There has been no change in the way I feel just taking the 150 mg of wellbutrin. My doctor said that it is perfectly normal to be on wellbutrin xl and effexor xl at the same time but I do not see anything about mixing these two drugs on any websites. All I know is I felt great, lost 2 pounds (I only weigh 107 lbs. so I don't want to loss weight) I am not as hungry, and I seem so much calmer.
Sorry this is so long but I wanted to see if anyone else has gone through something like this. I am only 4 weeks into this and I am supposed to tell her on Tuesday if I want to add the effexor back in with the wellbutrin, and I feel I do. Are there any thoughts or advice?
Thank for reading this
WellaGirl
Posted by SLS on March 5, 2005, at 7:23:55
In reply to Re: Effexor XL » broken, posted by WellaGirl on March 5, 2005, at 0:40:19
Are you seeing a psychiatric specialist?
It takes 3-8 weeks to respond to these drugs. It is invalid to evaluate their effectiveness after 2 weeks.
Your "zombie" state is a common side effect early in treatment and tends to disappear. I think you increased the dosage to quickly for your system, especially if this the first time you are taking an antidepressant.
Anyone serving as your physician should know these things. Go see a specialist. You have so far wasted 4 weeks of your life.
- Scott
Posted by Mick3000 on March 5, 2005, at 8:32:07
In reply to Re: Effexor XL, posted by SLS on March 5, 2005, at 7:23:55
Hi. Actually I am under doctors care. With 75 mg I can sleep. The zomie did go away in 1 week. I tried to get up to 115mg and then 150mg but I got anxiety and panic attachs so I am back at 75mg.
Antidepressents work really fast on me for some reason. When I took Wellbutin, I noticed the diff in 2 days.
So I didn't waste any time. 75mg I am still crying a little but so many new things are happending in my life and my mom's not there, but I am accepting that. I have other family suppport, twin sister and older sister & brother in law.
Thank you for the post.
Only other side effect-sex drive-orgamism. It still is good but sex drive not as strong as it once was. Will that get bettter? hope so
Posted by Mick3000 on March 5, 2005, at 8:59:42
In reply to Re: Effexor XL » broken, posted by WellaGirl on March 5, 2005, at 0:40:19
I clalled the pharmacist and she said I couldn't go on both at the same time but your doc knows better. I am now on 75 mg and feel better pretty good. If I go higher I have anxiety. The side effects all went away in one week. Call a couple of phamacies and see what they say. Good luck. Sometimes depression just happens, and there is nothing to be ashamed. I too now have a great house, husband and "dog" but I still miss my parents and its been 3 years. We were really close and they were my foundation. Let me know how you do at the docs, ok. My e-mail address is mick3000@msn.com.
Mick
> I stated on effexorxl at the 35 mg dose for 1 week then went up to the 75mg for a week. My doctor wanted me to come back at the 2 weeks mark to tell her how I was feeling. Well,I am a naturally a high strung person and after 3 years of one tragic thing after another I just thought I was sick. I was always in the gym, ate pretty good and have always been health and happy. When I had a hard time getting to the gym and felt irritable, lack of drive and short tempered my doctor ran every test, thyroid, hormone (to make sure I wasn't going into early menopause), blood sugar, you name it and they tested for it. After a week all tests came back great, but some how I felt sad because I wanted to know what was wrong so I could fix it.
>
> I was shocked when she said the test I took said I was depressed, I hadn't had time to be depressed and thought depressed meant in bed all the time. I have everything I have ever wanted a great husband, great parents, great career, financially secure, thin in shape, and I was the one people wanted to be like so how could I be depressed?
>
> So anyway, after the two weeks I felt kind of like a zombie-not as sad, but not really happy, almost numb. I went back into the Dr. and she said I should try Wellbutrin XL, but she did not want me to stop the effexor cold turkey so I took 1-150mg wellbutrin with 1 effexor 35mg for 1 week and for the first time I felt great, my sex drive was back (my husband liked that part ha ha), I was in the gym two times a day, my drive was back and I thought wow! I forgot what it was like to feel good. But then when it was time for me to be on only wellbutrin 150mg for 1 week I felt more anxious, aggressive, short tempered. She said to go 1 more week on just the wellbutrin and see how I felt because she want to make sure I wasn't having a withdrawal from the effexor. She said they can bump up the wellbutrin to 300mg which is the standard but I am afraid I would become a raving lunatic. There has been no change in the way I feel just taking the 150 mg of wellbutrin. My doctor said that it is perfectly normal to be on wellbutrin xl and effexor xl at the same time but I do not see anything about mixing these two drugs on any websites. All I know is I felt great, lost 2 pounds (I only weigh 107 lbs. so I don't want to loss weight) I am not as hungry, and I seem so much calmer.
>
> Sorry this is so long but I wanted to see if anyone else has gone through something like this. I am only 4 weeks into this and I am supposed to tell her on Tuesday if I want to add the effexor back in with the wellbutrin, and I feel I do. Are there any thoughts or advice?
> Thank for reading this
> WellaGirl
Posted by SLS on March 5, 2005, at 9:39:59
In reply to Re: Effexor XL, posted by Mick3000 on March 5, 2005, at 8:32:07
> So I didn't waste any time.
That's good. I'm glad you are seeing a psychiatrist.
I apologize for being so curt, but I get frustrated sometimes when I see people being treated by a GP who isn't sufficiently trained in psychiatry.
> 75mg I am still crying a little but so many new things are happending in my life and my mom's not there, but I am accepting that. I have other family suppport, twin sister and older sister & brother in law.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Sometimes crying is a sign that an antidepressant is beginning to work. Some people are emotionless when they are so severely depressed.
> Only other side effect-sex drive-orgamism. It still is good but sex drive not as strong as it once was. Will that get bettter? hope so
I wouldn't want to try to predict. Think positive!
- Scott
Posted by jodigirl on March 5, 2005, at 12:05:44
In reply to Re: Effexor XL » broken, posted by WellaGirl on March 5, 2005, at 0:40:19
> I stated on effexorxl at the 35 mg dose for 1 week then went up to the 75mg for a week. My doctor wanted me to come back at the 2 weeks mark to tell her how I was feeling. Well,I am a naturally a high strung person and after 3 years of one tragic thing after another I just thought I was sick. I was always in the gym, ate pretty good and have always been health and happy. When I had a hard time getting to the gym and felt irritable, lack of drive and short tempered my doctor ran every test, thyroid, hormone (to make sure I wasn't going into early menopause), blood sugar, you name it and they tested for it. After a week all tests came back great, but some how I felt sad because I wanted to know what was wrong so I could fix it.
>
> I was shocked when she said the test I took said I was depressed, I hadn't had time to be depressed and thought depressed meant in bed all the time. I have everything I have ever wanted a great husband, great parents, great career, financially secure, thin in shape, and I was the one people wanted to be like so how could I be depressed?
>
> So anyway, after the two weeks I felt kind of like a zombie-not as sad, but not really happy, almost numb. I went back into the Dr. and she said I should try Wellbutrin XL, but she did not want me to stop the effexor cold turkey so I took 1-150mg wellbutrin with 1 effexor 35mg for 1 week and for the first time I felt great, my sex drive was back (my husband liked that part ha ha), I was in the gym two times a day, my drive was back and I thought wow! I forgot what it was like to feel good. But then when it was time for me to be on only wellbutrin 150mg for 1 week I felt more anxious, aggressive, short tempered. She said to go 1 more week on just the wellbutrin and see how I felt because she want to make sure I wasn't having a withdrawal from the effexor. She said they can bump up the wellbutrin to 300mg which is the standard but I am afraid I would become a raving lunatic. There has been no change in the way I feel just taking the 150 mg of wellbutrin. My doctor said that it is perfectly normal to be on wellbutrin xl and effexor xl at the same time but I do not see anything about mixing these two drugs on any websites. All I know is I felt great, lost 2 pounds (I only weigh 107 lbs. so I don't want to loss weight) I am not as hungry, and I seem so much calmer.
>
> Sorry this is so long but I wanted to see if anyone else has gone through something like this. I am only 4 weeks into this and I am supposed to tell her on Tuesday if I want to add the effexor back in with the wellbutrin, and I feel I do. Are there any thoughts or advice?
> Thank for reading this
> WellaGirl
Wella Girl - I just want to let you know that the meds *alone* are not gonna bring you completely back to yourself. (And that it is completely normal to be on a "cocktail" of meds.) I was where you are and that there was a lot of trial and error before a correct combination of meds was found to get the correct mix for me that brought me to remission. But girlie -- it was worth the ride. Statistics will tell you that people with depression give up and walk away because they are tired of the "trial and error" of meds. PLEASE do not give up, WellaGirl. Hang in there. For me and those who succeed at this and enjoy a life of remission from depression, it was a complete "team effort" with the patient, psychiatrist and a therapist. Notice I put the patient (you) FIRST!! PLEASE do not expect a quick miracle with a pill. The pharma companies are a God send for those of us who struggle. But believe it or not they did not do their drug trials on "Wella Girl"!! (LOL) I suggest you keep notes of side effects and how you feel every day. Be communicative with your docs. Remember you are a part of the "team" to make yourself better. Please do not feel like a white lab rat right now. (I know the temptation is there.) Effexor XR is *the* drug that helped me. It was amazing. (And I did not have the horrible withdrawal side effects) I suffer from "treatment resistant unipolar major depression" and it worked for about 5 years when combined with topamax. Hang in there sweetie. Stay tough. Stay active in your own recovery and remember that things *will* get better. Please be kind and gentle and patient with yourself. ;-)BTW, I posted yesterday about a new med I was supposed to try - cymbalta (because effexor xr stopped working after 5 years (that is typical for some people). I was starting to feel a little depressed when coming off effexor xr. I started the new med and I feel better already. I guess my body likes the feeling of not being depressed and strives in that direction now. Hang in there girl!
Posted by Mick3000 on March 5, 2005, at 14:52:45
In reply to Re: Effexor XL » Mick3000, posted by SLS on March 5, 2005, at 9:39:59
Scott, thanks for your concern. I am one of the lucky ones that have a great family doc and he has been wonderful in treatment of my migraines and depression over the years.
Thanks for the info about the crying. I was on wellbutin for awhile and made me not feel much grief, so now after all this time I am ready (on the Effexor) to remember, grief, love, and be happy. I am glad you are ok too.
Posted by empty inside on March 7, 2005, at 1:01:22
In reply to Re: Effexor XL, posted by Mick3000 on March 5, 2005, at 14:52:45
just wanted to say that you shouldn't worry about combining wellbutrin and effexor. i was put on this combination as well. my doc wanted to try me on this combo as well. i declined, however, due to my past negative experience on effexor (without wellbutrin) - but anyway my doc said the combo is safe. it's true tho, that effexor has horrible withdrawl. but i was on a huge amount - 450mg - so if you are on a small dose like 37.5 then you won't experience anywhere near as bad withdrawl i'd imagine. good luck with everything, i hope you feel better soon.
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