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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jared on March 15, 2000, at 16:20:44
I started taking Effexor xr for anxiety about a 2 months ago. The plan was to make a gradual increase to 225mg. I have not got there yet however, because of hesitation. Since I began taking the drug, I had these strange episodes where I would feel like things were unreal and almost as if I were dreaming. This feeling usually happend towards the end of the day after having takin it in the morning. I would also feel a bloated feeling in my head, kind of like the feeling you get when you stand on your head and you have a rush of blood. I slowly upped the dose to 150mg, thinking that these feeling would eventually go away. I went up and down a couple times, being afraid of the feeling continuing. I finally decided to stop taking it and have been slowly decreasing the dosage weekly. I have not spoken with my psychiatrist about any of this as I feel she would not understand, and would try to just throw in another medication. I really don't feel I can express my fears and feelings to her and every time I
try I just lock up and can't say anything. I'm afraid she'll think I'm crazy or something. I suffer from anxiety, depression, and add. Has anyone had a similiar experience with Effexor. Also, coming on and off drugs can be really taxing, right now I feel as if I am in this fog and I'm not sure if there is a way out. I'm afraid that somehow I have damaged my brain because of my going up and down with medication, unable to find a stable point that I can stick with. Is it possible for ssri's to cause permanent damage. I have heard horror stories, but I'm not so sure I believe them all the much. I just want to find something I can stick with. Any thoughts? You're comments would be appreciated.
Posted by Mark H. on March 15, 2000, at 17:58:48
In reply to weird effexor side effects, posted by jared on March 15, 2000, at 16:20:44
Effexor has been the very best and the very worst drug I've taken. Rather than bore you with my lengthy tale of woe, my advice would be to ask your physician if you could try taking regular (not extended-release) Effexor with breakfast in the morning, and only once a day. You may get a little withdrawal before your next dose -- perhaps some ringing in the ears -- but your evenings might be relatively free of the more discouraging side effects you mention. I'm a big sleeper -- I sleep 11-12 hours a day would like to sleep more -- but Effexor taken after about 2 pm wrecks me for the night.
My advice before you give up on Effexor completely is not to take the extended release version. If this helps, great; if not, you'll be no worse off than you are now and can start planning for another approach.
Not talking to your doctor is a SYMPTOM of depression -- take written notes to your appointments and read from them if necessary, or give your doctor your typewritten impressions. Your doctor WANTS to know, and this is no time to indulge your illness-induced shyness!
Good luck and very best wishes.
Posted by Carolyn on March 15, 2000, at 18:18:43
In reply to Re: weird effexor side effects, posted by Mark H. on March 15, 2000, at 17:58:48
I was so relieved to read your post about being afraid to talk to the doctor as a symptom of the illness of depression...I thought I was the only one with this problem! I have no trouble talking to him when I am feeling well, but become very anxious and tend not to volunteer information when I'm depressed. Also sometimes feel very defensive. Your suggestion about writing things down to hand to the doc was great...I have my next appointment Monday and plan to do just that!
Thanks!
Posted by Cindy W on March 15, 2000, at 19:10:16
In reply to Re: weird effexor side effects, posted by Mark H. on March 15, 2000, at 17:58:48
> Effexor has been the very best and the very worst drug I've taken. Rather than bore you with my lengthy tale of woe, my advice would be to ask your physician if you could try taking regular (not extended-release) Effexor with breakfast in the morning, and only once a day. You may get a little withdrawal before your next dose -- perhaps some ringing in the ears -- but your evenings might be relatively free of the more discouraging side effects you mention. I'm a big sleeper -- I sleep 11-12 hours a day would like to sleep more -- but Effexor taken after about 2 pm wrecks me for the night.
>
> My advice before you give up on Effexor completely is not to take the extended release version. If this helps, great; if not, you'll be no worse off than you are now and can start planning for another approach.
>
> Not talking to your doctor is a SYMPTOM of depression -- take written notes to your appointments and read from them if necessary, or give your doctor your typewritten impressions. Your doctor WANTS to know, and this is no time to indulge your illness-induced shyness!
>
> Good luck and very best wishes.I've been taking Effexor-XR for about three months now (am at 375 mg/day) and understand the slightly spacey feeling you describe (happens about four hours after I take it...maybe some withdrawal or something). It goes away quickly and I can live with it. Effexor has really helped me. I agree with your not taking it after 2 pm if you want to sleep (same thing happens to me). Please talk to your pdocs; this is especially important when you are depressed, because that is when you really need to let him/her know how you're feeling.
Posted by michael on March 16, 2000, at 3:07:35
In reply to Re: weird effexor side effects, posted by Mark H. on March 15, 2000, at 17:58:48
> Effexor has been the very best and the very worst drug I've taken. Rather than bore you with my lengthy tale of woe, my advice would be to ask your physician if you could try taking regular (not extended-release) Effexor with breakfast in the morning, and only once a day. You may get a little withdrawal before your next dose -- perhaps some ringing in the ears -- but your evenings might be relatively free of the more discouraging side effects you mention. I'm a big sleeper -- I sleep 11-12 hours a day would like to sleep more -- but Effexor taken after about 2 pm wrecks me for the night.
>
> My advice before you give up on Effexor completely is not to take the extended release version. If this helps, great; if not, you'll be no worse off than you are now and can start planning for another approach.
>
> Not talking to your doctor is a SYMPTOM of depression -- take written notes to your appointments and read from them if necessary, or give your doctor your typewritten impressions. Your doctor WANTS to know, and this is no time to indulge your illness-induced shyness!
>
> Good luck and very best wishes.
As for writing notes to take to your appt.'s - definitely a good idea. And to make it easier (at least this time) I'd just print out the message you sent here. It sounds pretty comprehensive, and would certainly give you & your doc a good starting point. Good luck!
Posted by saint james on March 16, 2000, at 15:18:50
In reply to weird effexor side effects, posted by jared on March 15, 2000, at 16:20:44
You need to do everything in your power to communicate with your doc. If you go in with an infection a doc can poke and prod and see for him/herself what the problem is. With things mental all the doc has to go on is what you say.
Try writing things out. I fax my doc a week b4 I see him if there is a problem so he has time to mull over things.james
This is the end of the thread.
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