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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by tiredguy on April 5, 2005, at 13:56:23
I have been suffering with major depression and anxiety for 1.5 years. I alternate between a day of depression and a day of anxiety. I have tried Lexapro, Prozac and Wellbutrin as the main component and supplemented these with others. I have had the same results with each: Short periods of relief and then the return of the depression. I have also suffered from severe fatigue.
I take 2mg perphenazine and 2mg lorazapam to sleep. I also take 300mg of Provigil to keep me alert during the day.
My pdoc wants me to try Effexor next. I have avoided Effexor “like the plague”. My wife took it for a short period of time and had major withdrawal symptoms. I have read that others have experienced the same thing.
I’m desperate now and I think I am going to try Effexor.
Have any of you tried SSRIs (and had them fail) then had success with Effexor? I read that a possible side-effect is anxiety. I am already extremely anxious; do you think that Effexor will make my anxiety worse? Is Effexor worth the risks? If you have anything positive (or negative) about Effexor, please tell me.
Thanks!
Posted by Racer on April 5, 2005, at 14:07:56
In reply to Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate!, posted by tiredguy on April 5, 2005, at 13:56:23
The only answer to your question is "Maybe."
If Effexor works for you, then it is certainly worth the risk of withdrawal -- especially since withdrawal symptoms can often be controlled with other meds during discontinuation.
I've had mixed results from all the meds I've been on, and have comorbid anxiety issues. I took a combination of Effexor XR and Prozac for about three years, and it was fairly effective. I won't say great things about it, nor bad things about it, because your mileage will vary. What I will say is that I have always had better results with meds that target NE over 5HT, so Effexor was better than the alternatives available at the time.
Have you considered trying Cymbalta? It's a more balanced SNRI...
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2005, at 18:02:25
In reply to Re: Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate!, posted by Racer on April 5, 2005, at 14:07:56
I was going to suggest the same thing. A lot of PBabblers seem to like cymbalta. I tried it and it didn't work for me, but we're all different. I didn't have any W/D symptoms when I stopped it after 3 months at 60mg. I just titrated down. Fondly, phillipa
Posted by mworkman on April 5, 2005, at 19:16:36
In reply to Re: Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate! » Racer, posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2005, at 18:02:25
Effexor did the same thing as the ssri's for me. Made me tired and unmotivated. It made me more tired than any of the ssri's. Not much help with anxiety or depression. Maybe one thing you could do is instead of taking 2mg perphenazine and 2mg lorazapam to sleep you could try ambien or there is another sleep med people are talking about on this board. I don't know what perphenazine is, but I have heard that benzos keep you from getting into deep sleep. So they might make you tired, but you don't get a good nights sleep on them. Then maybe you won't get fatigued and could lower the provigil. It seems like the constant taking of meds to make you sleep and then keep you awake could be contributing to your anxiety and depression.
Posted by jessers11581 on April 5, 2005, at 20:58:07
In reply to Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate!, posted by tiredguy on April 5, 2005, at 13:56:23
I'm just curious how you liked Wellbutrin. You say that you are naturally very anxious. I am also this way and can not tolerate this drug. I'd LIKE to, but it's made me feel crazy every time I've tried. What were your experiences with it?
> I have been suffering with major depression and anxiety for 1.5 years. I alternate between a day of depression and a day of anxiety. I have tried Lexapro, Prozac and Wellbutrin as the main component and supplemented these with others. I have had the same results with each: Short periods of relief and then the return of the depression. I have also suffered from severe fatigue.
>
> I take 2mg perphenazine and 2mg lorazapam to sleep. I also take 300mg of Provigil to keep me alert during the day.
>
> My pdoc wants me to try Effexor next. I have avoided Effexor “like the plague”. My wife took it for a short period of time and had major withdrawal symptoms. I have read that others have experienced the same thing.
>
> I’m desperate now and I think I am going to try Effexor.
>
> Have any of you tried SSRIs (and had them fail) then had success with Effexor? I read that a possible side-effect is anxiety. I am already extremely anxious; do you think that Effexor will make my anxiety worse? Is Effexor worth the risks? If you have anything positive (or negative) about Effexor, please tell me.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
Posted by tiredguy on April 5, 2005, at 21:09:03
In reply to Re: Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate!, posted by jessers11581 on April 5, 2005, at 20:58:07
I thought Wellbutrin was working for me. I felt OK on 300mg for a few weeks. I'm now extremly anxious and I don't know if it's the Welbutrin or just me. I feel crappy enough to try Effexor which really says somthing.
> I'm just curious how you liked Wellbutrin. You say that you are naturally very anxious. I am also this way and can not tolerate this drug. I'd LIKE to, but it's made me feel crazy every time I've tried. What were your experiences with it?
>
>
>
> > I have been suffering with major depression and anxiety for 1.5 years. I alternate between a day of depression and a day of anxiety. I have tried Lexapro, Prozac and Wellbutrin as the main component and supplemented these with others. I have had the same results with each: Short periods of relief and then the return of the depression. I have also suffered from severe fatigue.
> >
> > I take 2mg perphenazine and 2mg lorazapam to sleep. I also take 300mg of Provigil to keep me alert during the day.
> >
> > My pdoc wants me to try Effexor next. I have avoided Effexor “like the plague”. My wife took it for a short period of time and had major withdrawal symptoms. I have read that others have experienced the same thing.
> >
> > I’m desperate now and I think I am going to try Effexor.
> >
> > Have any of you tried SSRIs (and had them fail) then had success with Effexor? I read that a possible side-effect is anxiety. I am already extremely anxious; do you think that Effexor will make my anxiety worse? Is Effexor worth the risks? If you have anything positive (or negative) about Effexor, please tell me.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by Maxime on April 5, 2005, at 22:19:07
In reply to Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate!, posted by tiredguy on April 5, 2005, at 13:56:23
Hi - every medication comes with risks. And the same medication has different risks for different people. And I am finding out first that a medication can change even when you are taking. Something that was suppose to keep me alert and lessen the apathy now puts me to sleep.
When you are suffering so badly from depression/anxiety I think you should give the med a fair trial. Otherwise you will never know. We only hear the bad things about meds on this board (well more bad than good). I know two people who are taking it now and it's been the best med they have ever been on.
Just my 2 cents!
Maxime
> I have been suffering with major depression and anxiety for 1.5 years. I alternate between a day of depression and a day of anxiety. I have tried Lexapro, Prozac and Wellbutrin as the main component and supplemented these with others. I have had the same results with each: Short periods of relief and then the return of the depression. I have also suffered from severe fatigue.
>
> I take 2mg perphenazine and 2mg lorazapam to sleep. I also take 300mg of Provigil to keep me alert during the day.
>
> My pdoc wants me to try Effexor next. I have avoided Effexor “like the plague”. My wife took it for a short period of time and had major withdrawal symptoms. I have read that others have experienced the same thing.
>
> I’m desperate now and I think I am going to try Effexor.
>
> Have any of you tried SSRIs (and had them fail) then had success with Effexor? I read that a possible side-effect is anxiety. I am already extremely anxious; do you think that Effexor will make my anxiety worse? Is Effexor worth the risks? If you have anything positive (or negative) about Effexor, please tell me.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
Posted by JKL on April 6, 2005, at 5:55:34
In reply to Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate!, posted by tiredguy on April 5, 2005, at 13:56:23
My own personal opinion is that the risks and withdrawals of effexor are not worth the risk.
Paxil or effexor were both horrible to withdraw from, for me.
My pdoc told me he will not prescribe effexor any more unless a patient demands it. He's had too many problems with it, where it actually added on more problems than there were to begin with. I guess this has happened often enough and is more troublesome than other meds that he avoids it.
Pdoc also prefers antipsychotics over antidepressants as either monotherapy or combination therapy for depression, anxiety, and general psychiatric weirdness stuff or personality issues. He says he has many more patients doing well on APs than ADs, for depressive or anxiety symptoms.
Everyone will have a different opinion. Mine is similar to my pdoc...avoid effexor.
For me, what works nice for depression and anxiety that have been in place for decades, is low dose 5mg zyprexa and 900mg Kira brand st johns wort(LI160 formula, the one used in many clinical studies). Kira has worked so well that I have been able to eliminate my prozac without any problems at all. My pdoc supports this combo of AP plus sjw. He does not support effexor.
Posted by gadman on April 6, 2005, at 10:41:17
In reply to Re: Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate!, posted by JKL on April 6, 2005, at 5:55:34
I think it is worth the risk.
Gadman
Posted by ants on April 6, 2005, at 14:05:11
In reply to Re: Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate! » JKL, posted by gadman on April 6, 2005, at 10:41:17
yes. try it. I had anxiety along with depression and effexor really made it better.
you never know :-)
Posted by Colleen D. on April 6, 2005, at 20:19:40
In reply to Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate!, posted by tiredguy on April 5, 2005, at 13:56:23
My dx is OCD, GAD, SP and major depression. My anxiety feels bigger than my depression.
I tried Zoloft and found it too sedating. I then tried Effexor and found it very activating. My best dosage on it alone was 150mg but I still had some anxiety and sexual side effects. I switched to Cymbalta with no discontinuation symptoms and added clonazepam to help more with my anxiety. I felt more depressed on this combo, so I went back to the Effexor at only 75mg along with 300mg Wellbutrin and 1mg clonazepam daily. This has worked the best for me so far.
This is probably way more than you wanted to know, but I was not afraid to go back to Effexor after discontinuing it. I think it's worth a try. Perhaps you can add it to your Wellbutrin like I have.
All the best,
Colleen
Posted by tiredguy on April 6, 2005, at 21:24:13
In reply to Re: Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate! » tiredguy, posted by Colleen D. on April 6, 2005, at 20:19:40
My pdoc has suggested zoloft but I can't risk being more sedated. When you say Effexor is "activating" do you mean that it made you more anxious? I toggle back and forth between severe depression and severe anxiety.
The event that triggered all this was 18 months ago and I thought for sure that I would be way past this point. 18 months of therapy and three pshrinks later I feel almost as bad as I did in the beginning. You are the first person (who has posted) that did not have problems stopping Effexor. Maybe I will give it a shot.
> My dx is OCD, GAD, SP and major depression. My anxiety feels bigger than my depression.
>
> I tried Zoloft and found it too sedating. I then tried Effexor and found it very activating. My best dosage on it alone was 150mg but I still had some anxiety and sexual side effects. I switched to Cymbalta with no discontinuation symptoms and added clonazepam to help more with my anxiety. I felt more depressed on this combo, so I went back to the Effexor at only 75mg along with 300mg Wellbutrin and 1mg clonazepam daily. This has worked the best for me so far.
>
> This is probably way more than you wanted to know, but I was not afraid to go back to Effexor after discontinuing it. I think it's worth a try. Perhaps you can add it to your Wellbutrin like I have.
>
> All the best,
> Colleen
Posted by Justbegun on April 6, 2005, at 22:40:43
In reply to Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate!, posted by tiredguy on April 5, 2005, at 13:56:23
I have read, and experienced, that after many tries of different meds combinations, if they initially work but then "poop-out".... that is an indicator that you do NOT have depression but rather are probably bipolar. There are lots of different gradations of bipolar depression these days, so if you are brave you might want to raise this possibility with your doc. Then you can supplement your anti-depressants with a little mood-stabilizer.
Good luck.
Posted by Colleen D. on April 7, 2005, at 5:01:52
In reply to Thanks Colleen, posted by tiredguy on April 6, 2005, at 21:24:13
Hi!
By activating, I mean it makes me feel energized. I need less sleep than normal and feel good even when I get less than 8 hours. Without meds, I am a wreck if I don't get 8 to 10 hours of sleep. My house has not been this clean and organized in years! My husband also tried Effexor for a short time and had no problems discontinuing it. If you don't stop it abruptly you may not have go through the dreaded "withdrawal" that so many here talk about. Your pdoc or GP can give you a couple of start-up packs if you should decide it's not for you and titrate down slowly. Good luck!
Colleen
Posted by Colleen D. on April 7, 2005, at 5:10:43
In reply to Re: Thanks Colleen » tiredguy, posted by Colleen D. on April 7, 2005, at 5:01:52
I still have to take a sleep-aid to get a good solid night's sleep. My GP prescribed doxepin (a TCA good for depression and anxiety) at 25mg and I take it an hour before bedtime. It has no risk for tolerance, it's cheap and it works like a charm for me. I don't feel a bit groggy when I wake up.
Again, best of luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.
Colleen
Posted by tiredguy on April 7, 2005, at 11:25:40
In reply to Re: Thanks Colleen » tiredguy, posted by Colleen D. on April 7, 2005, at 5:01:52
Colleen,
I'm glad that it worked for you. I look at boards like http://www.rxlist.com/rxboard/effexor.pl?noframes;#2827
and read nothiing but horror stories. Worse things that I have read about any other anti depressant. Does Effexor kill your emotions? I have three kids and are concerned that I will become an emotionless robot.
Thanks again!
> Hi!
>
> By activating, I mean it makes me feel energized. I need less sleep than normal and feel good even when I get less than 8 hours. Without meds, I am a wreck if I don't get 8 to 10 hours of sleep. My house has not been this clean and organized in years! My husband also tried Effexor for a short time and had no problems discontinuing it. If you don't stop it abruptly you may not have go through the dreaded "withdrawal" that so many here talk about. Your pdoc or GP can give you a couple of start-up packs if you should decide it's not for you and titrate down slowly. Good luck!
>
> Colleen
Posted by Colleen D. on April 7, 2005, at 21:43:04
In reply to Re: Thanks Colleen, posted by tiredguy on April 7, 2005, at 11:25:40
I also have three children, ages 1.5, 3 and 5 and I'm 43 (late bloomer!). I feel like my taking the Effexor has very much been a benefit for them. I am happier and my emotions are so much more appropriate for situations than they were before meds. I cry when I need to and laugh so much more now. I am really enjoying them rather than being short tempered or over-emotional all the time. Zoloft made me feel somewhat flat emotion-wise so that's why I tired the Effexor. It also helps me socially as I'm more outgoing and talkative while taking it. When it was first prescribed for me I scoured the internet for information and found lots of the negatives too and I almost didn't take it because of what I read. I called my GP before taking the first dose and talked to her nurse about what I was reading and she said my doc would help me through discontinuing it by titrating down and that most complaints have come from patients who have stopped it abruptly. It's important to be on a strict dosing schedule as Effexor has a short half-life. In order for it to be effective, you need to take it at the same time every day and NOT skip a dose so that you can maintain a steady level of it in your system. I began by taking it at night, but had to switch to taking it in the morning because of the energy it gives me. Nighttime dosing gave me insomnia that was worse than before I started taking it.
Anyway, I hope this helps. Try to get 2 start-up packs. Each one contains seven 37.5 and seven 75mg caps. If you're anxious about how it will affect you, take the 37.5 for two weeks and see how it goes. Then decide if you want to go up. I felt the effects of this med within a day or two unlike when I took the Zoloft. It seemed like weeks passed before I felt anything that resembled "better."
:-) Colleen
> Colleen,
>
> I'm glad that it worked for you. I look at boards like http://www.rxlist.com/rxboard/effexor.pl?noframes;#2827
>
> and read nothiing but horror stories. Worse things that I have read about any other anti depressant. Does Effexor kill your emotions? I have three kids and are concerned that I will become an emotionless robot.
>
> Thanks again!
>
>
>
> > Hi!
> >
> > By activating, I mean it makes me feel energized. I need less sleep than normal and feel good even when I get less than 8 hours. Without meds, I am a wreck if I don't get 8 to 10 hours of sleep. My house has not been this clean and organized in years! My husband also tried Effexor for a short time and had no problems discontinuing it. If you don't stop it abruptly you may not have go through the dreaded "withdrawal" that so many here talk about. Your pdoc or GP can give you a couple of start-up packs if you should decide it's not for you and titrate down slowly. Good luck!
> >
> > Colleen
>
>
Posted by tiredguy on April 8, 2005, at 11:35:59
In reply to Re: Thanks Colleen » tiredguy, posted by Colleen D. on April 7, 2005, at 21:43:04
I’m 47 and have three kids 10, 14, 17. Aside from feeling horrible, the worst part of this depression is that I really have not been able to enjoy them. My daughter is getting ready for college and will only be in the house another year. I don’t want to waste the year by being “like this”. I’ve been in this state for about 1.5 years (since a family tragedy). My wife is almost as bad as I am. Effexor did nothing for her and her withdrawal was particularly bad. That’s why I refused to try it until now. Tomorrow I take my first pill. I am skeptical but I hope this works out.
How long have you been taking Effexor?
Posted by JaneB on April 8, 2005, at 12:57:07
In reply to p.s. Tired guy..., posted by Colleen D. on April 7, 2005, at 5:10:43
Do you take Doxepin and Clonazepam?
> I still have to take a sleep-aid to get a good solid night's sleep. My GP prescribed doxepin (a TCA good for depression and anxiety) at 25mg and I take it an hour before bedtime. It has no risk for tolerance, it's cheap and it works like a charm for me. I don't feel a bit groggy when I wake up.
>
> Again, best of luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.
>
> Colleen
Posted by Colleen D. on April 8, 2005, at 19:25:15
In reply to Re: RE: Thanks Colleen, posted by tiredguy on April 8, 2005, at 11:35:59
It will be a year next month. During that time just recently I switched over to Cymbalta for 2 months but it just wasn't helping me the way Effexor did. I'm not worried about the length of time I've been on it. I feel like I could be a lifer! My husband and I lost our first child; she was stillborn in July of 98; his father was killed by electrocution near our home when he crashed his ultra-lite plane; and then we had Matthew, who has a chromosome abnormality and is legally blind, so we have experienced some tragedy/grief too. My family also has a history of depression and anxiety. I can relate to your situation quite well I think.
Colleen
Posted by Colleen D. on April 8, 2005, at 19:26:43
In reply to Re: Doxepin » Colleen D., posted by JaneB on April 8, 2005, at 12:57:07
just 25mg of doxepin before bedtime.
Posted by meds4life on April 9, 2005, at 12:05:23
In reply to Re: Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate! » tiredguy, posted by Colleen D. on April 6, 2005, at 20:19:40
I am currently on Lexapro/Wellbutrin combo and if it doesn't work, I will go back on Effexor with Wellbutrin. Effexor completely eliminated depression/anxiety. I was able to wean off it in about a month. I really should have stayed on it, but was gaining lots of weight. When depression returned, I regretted my decision. Lexapro/Wellbutrin is kind of working I am giving it about 4 weeks more (2 weeks so far) Long story short-Effexor worked for me!
Posted by greenhornet on April 9, 2005, at 16:16:16
In reply to Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate!, posted by tiredguy on April 5, 2005, at 13:56:23
> I have been suffering with major depression and anxiety for 1.5 years. I alternate between a day of depression and a day of anxiety. I have tried Lexapro, Prozac and Wellbutrin as the main component and supplemented these with others. I have had the same results with each: Short periods of relief and then the return of the depression. I have also suffered from severe fatigue.
>
> I take 2mg perphenazine and 2mg lorazapam to sleep. I also take 300mg of Provigil to keep me alert during the day.
>
> My pdoc wants me to try Effexor next. I have avoided Effexor “like the plague”. My wife took it for a short period of time and had major withdrawal symptoms. I have read that others have experienced the same thing.
>
> I’m desperate now and I think I am going to try Effexor.
>
> Have any of you tried SSRIs (and had them fail) then had success with Effexor? I read that a possible side-effect is anxiety. I am already extremely anxious; do you think that Effexor will make my anxiety worse? Is Effexor worth the risks? If you have anything positive (or negative) about Effexor, please tell me.
>
> Thanks!
>
>Tired guy et al:
My opinion and experience are a bit different. If I knew then what I know now (emotional blunting, actually killing the emotions, massive weight gain, horrid nightmares, lousy sleep patterns) I wouldn't touch Effexor with a ten foot pole!!
I took just about all AD's, MAO's etc
(Imipramine, Desaryl. Pamelor, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Nardil, Parnate, Amyitryptline, blah, blah and etc). And without a doubt Effexor was the worst! They were all bad, I hated evey minute of it and will not do the "Chemical game" again,,,,In a one word to answer your question, "Is it worth it"? NO! GHPS For the first time in fifteen years I weigh what I should, having lost the "chemical obesity".
I gained fifty pounds over the years. I had the slowest metabolism on earth and I craved carbohydrates so badly that today I will not TOUCH sweets! My physical health was at risk, and the weight gain only added to my "depression"
Posted by Colleen D. on April 10, 2005, at 15:29:20
In reply to Re: Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate! » tiredguy, posted by greenhornet on April 9, 2005, at 16:16:16
Sorry to hear about your bad experience with ADs including Effexor. It's interesting how we all can have different levels of success with different drugs. I actually lost 30 lbs. while on Effexor and I really need to lose about 20 more so maybe going back on it will help me with that again. Good luck!
Colleen
Posted by tiredguy on April 11, 2005, at 9:18:31
In reply to Re: Is Effexor worth the risks? Im desperate! » greenhornet, posted by Colleen D. on April 10, 2005, at 15:29:20
Colleen, It seems like you had great success with Effexor. Why did you stop taking it?
BTW, I’m on my third day. No stomach aches or side effects as of yet.
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