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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Russ on May 13, 2000, at 12:33:36
I have been on Effexor since 1995. Have tried several other anti-depressants, but Effexor works the best with fewer side effects (sleep disruption, some sweating). Recently, my blood pressure went up. I don't really have a family history of high blood pressure. Does anyone know if Effexor can cause high blood pressure? Has anyone had the same experience?
Posted by Andre Allard on May 13, 2000, at 14:29:22
In reply to Effexor and High Blood Pressure, posted by Russ on May 13, 2000, at 12:33:36
Effexor can cause an increase in BP. The thing is you have been on Effexor for 5 years and all of a sudden your BP goes up. Either you just increased your dosage or you are experiencing other physical problems. If high BP does not run in your family, then could it be that you do not eat right, are overweight and do not exercise regularly? High BP is only seen with very high doses of above 300 mg. I would check with your GP to access other possible causes other then Effexor. Good luck!
Posted by Russ on May 13, 2000, at 14:42:14
In reply to Re: Effexor and High Blood Pressure, posted by Andre Allard on May 13, 2000, at 14:29:22
Andre, thanks for the reply. I am an athlete....masters swimmer, biker and weight lifter (not heavy weights). I am not overweight. I eat balanced meals. That's why with no family history and being in fairly good physical shape, this high BP thing is baffling.
Posted by stjames on May 13, 2000, at 15:30:34
In reply to Effexor and High Blood Pressure, posted by Russ on May 13, 2000, at 12:33:36
Recently, my blood pressure went up. I don't really have a family history of high blood pressure. Does anyone know if Effexor can cause high blood pressure? Has anyone had the same experience?
James here....
Effexor can raise BP. I also am having hypertension and plan to go off Effexor for a few days and see if that is what is causing it. I can't stop Effexor, it is the only thing that works, but I would like to know how much it is raising my BP.
james
Posted by medlib on May 13, 2000, at 15:56:06
In reply to Re: Effexor and High Blood Pressure (To Andre), posted by Russ on May 13, 2000, at 14:42:14
> Andre, thanks for the reply. I am an athlete....masters swimmer, biker and weight lifter (not heavy weights). I am not overweight. I eat balanced meals. That's why with no family history and being in fairly good physical shape, this high BP thing is baffling.
----------------------------------------
Russ--Andre is right; it's not likely that Effexor raised your BP only after 5 years. High BP is diagnosed only after 3 readings higher than 140/90. A single, sudden elevation can be caused by dehydration , higher salt intake, anxiety or a host of other causes (many transient) too numerous to mention.
Best wishes--medlib
Posted by medlib on May 13, 2000, at 16:23:25
In reply to Re: Effexor and High Blood Pressure, posted by stjames on May 13, 2000, at 15:30:34
>Effexor can raise BP. I also am having hypertension and plan to go off Effexor for a few days and see if that is what is causing it. I can't stop Effexor, it is the only thing that works, but I would like to know how much it is raising my BP.
>
> james
-----------------------------------James--If you have no plans to d/c Effexor, why put yourself through a world of hurt stopping it temporarily? The effects are supposed to suck big-time. Why not just treat the condition that is, regardless of what you may find out about E.?
Literature suggests that when E. does raise BP, it does so by no more than 20 pts. Unless your BP is significantly high (>150/95), a low-salt diet or low-dose diuretic may be all that's needed.
I had hypertension before Effexor, which E. didn't change. (I'm on Vasotec, an ACE inhibitor.) No probs. with the combo.
BTW, thanks much for the Medscape abstracts--very interesting. How did you sign up for that edition?
Best wishes--medlib
Posted by SLS on May 13, 2000, at 17:45:25
In reply to Re: Effexor and High Blood Pressure/To StJames, posted by medlib on May 13, 2000, at 16:23:25
> >Effexor can raise BP. I also am having hypertension and plan to go off Effexor for a few days and see if that is what is causing it. I can't stop Effexor, it is the only thing that works, but I would like to know how much it is raising my BP.
> >
> > james
> -----------------------------------
>
> James--If you have no plans to d/c Effexor, why put yourself through a world of hurt stopping it temporarily? The effects are supposed to suck big-time. Why not just treat the condition that is, regardless of what you may find out about E.?
>
> Literature suggests that when E. does raise BP, it does so by no more than 20 pts. Unless your BP is significantly high (>150/95), a low-salt diet or low-dose diuretic may be all that's needed.
>
> I had hypertension before Effexor, which E. didn't change. (I'm on Vasotec, an ACE inhibitor.) No probs. with the combo.
>
> BTW, thanks much for the Medscape abstracts--very interesting. How did you sign up for that edition?
>
> Best wishes--medlib
I think this is real good advice, especially in view of the fact that you don't seem to respond well to any other drug. I just wanted to add another caveat when contemplating the discontinuation of an effective drug. Sometimes when an antidepressant that has worked well for many years is withdrawn, it will not work again once it is restarted to treat a relapse. I don't know the statistics regarding this phenomenon. As medlib has suggested, perhaps it would be better to address the hypertension with additional medication. It's probably a good idea to be evaluated by a cardiologist (or other blood-pressure doctor) so as to rule out any other causes.Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by stjames on May 13, 2000, at 18:03:42
In reply to Re: Effexor and High Blood Pressure/To StJames, posted by medlib on May 13, 2000, at 16:23:25
> >Effexor can raise BP. I also am having hypertension and plan to go off Effexor for a few days and see if that is what is causing it. I can't stop Effexor, it is the only thing that works, but I would like to know how much it is raising my BP.
> >
> > james
> -----------------------------------
>
> James--If you have no plans to d/c Effexor, why put yourself through a world of hurt stopping it temporarily? The effects are supposed to suck big-time. Why not just treat the condition that is, regardless of what you may find out about E.?
>
> Literature suggests that when E. does raise BP, it does so by no more than 20 pts. Unless your BP is significantly high (>150/95), a low-salt diet or low-dose diuretic may be all that's needed.
>
> I had hypertension before Effexor, which E. didn't change. (I'm on Vasotec, an ACE inhibitor.) No probs. with the combo.
>
> BTW, thanks much for the Medscape abstracts--very interesting. How did you sign up for that edition?
>
> Best wishes--medlibJames here....
My BP is higher than 150/95 and I am intrested to see what my baseline is. When I first went on Effexor in 1995 the top BP number went up 3-5 points but I was still in the good range. Now with the lower number going above 100 I would just like to know if I "just " have hypertension or is it med related. I don't have problems going off Effexor, just a few shocks, which my funny ADD nervious system does anyway. No big deal.
I think there are directions on how the subscribe
at the botton of the post.james
Posted by stjames on May 13, 2000, at 18:26:10
In reply to Re: Effexor and High Blood Pressure/To StJames, posted by SLS on May 13, 2000, at 17:45:25
> > >Effexor can raise BP. I also am having hypertension and plan to go off Effexor for a few days and see if that is what is causing it. I can't stop Effexor, it is the only thing that works, but I would like to know how much it is raising my BP.
> > >
> > > james
> > -----------------------------------
> >
> > James--If you have no plans to d/c Effexor, why put yourself through a world of hurt stopping it temporarily? The effects are supposed to suck big-time. Why not just treat the condition that is, regardless of what you may find out about E.?
> >
> > Literature suggests that when E. does raise BP, it does so by no more than 20 pts. Unless your BP is significantly high (>150/95), a low-salt diet or low-dose diuretic may be all that's needed.
> >
> > I had hypertension before Effexor, which E. didn't change. (I'm on Vasotec, an ACE inhibitor.) No probs. with the combo.
> >
> > BTW, thanks much for the Medscape abstracts--very interesting. How did you sign up for that edition?
> >
> > Best wishes--medlib
>
>
> I think this is real good advice, especially in view of the fact that you don't seem to respond well to any other drug. I just wanted to add another caveat when contemplating the discontinuation of an effective drug. Sometimes when an antidepressant that has worked well for many years is withdrawn, it will not work again once it is restarted to treat a relapse. I don't know the statistics regarding this phenomenon. As medlib has suggested, perhaps it would be better to address the hypertension with additional medication. It's probably a good idea to be evaluated by a cardiologist (or other blood-pressure doctor) so as to rule out any other causes.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> - ScottJames here....
I am on BP meds. I also have a complex cardiac case and possible ayurisim of the aorta ( a genetic condition runs in the family) I consult with the heart man shortly and will do an echo. As my BP shot up from 130/80-90 to 158/105 in 6 months I and my doc whould like to know why. Blood tests are normal. Primary doc says he can better prescribe if he knows the cause, i.e. countering a drug effect.
I will only have to stop Effexor for a few days as it is short acting and have done this many times b4, due to %$##$^ HMO sometimes not paying for it. Pdoc gives nod of approval and I will take Atavin to avoid breaking out in tears (the first day or so I will cry if lassie gets hurt ! So funny)
I do think that it is going to be common to all meds that effect nor-e that BP will go up. Primary and Pdoc agree that I can't stop taking Effexor or something like it so we really want to know how much this is effecting my BP.
It's funny, y'all are giving the same advice I would give "why worry if you have to take it" but there are things I am willing to do that I would never advise others to do. I can make this choice based on knowlage and a good primary and Pdoc's advice.
I'll let you know who it goes,
james
Posted by Andre Allard on May 14, 2000, at 2:22:34
In reply to Re: Effexor and High Blood Pressure/To StJames, posted by stjames on May 13, 2000, at 18:26:10
I was just wondering about your repeated use of the word "ya'll" and its having anything to do with being a cowboy from New Orleans that listens to country music. I'm sorry, it is just that I am from a few thousand miles away up north. I am not a polar bear, or a fur trader and I do not live in an igloo. I have a prime minister, not a president. I pronounce it "about", not "a boot". I think a toque is a hat and the last letter of the alphabet is ZED, not ZEE... ZED! But most importantly Canada is the best country in North America - we even have beavers. I have never seen one, but I hear we have them.
Posted by Cam W. on May 14, 2000, at 11:50:54
In reply to Re: Effexor and High Blood Pressure - StJames, posted by Andre Allard on May 14, 2000, at 2:22:34
> I was just wondering about your repeated use of the word "ya'll" and its having anything to do with being a cowboy from New Orleans that listens to country music. I'm sorry, it is just that I am from a few thousand miles away up north. I am not a polar bear, or a fur trader and I do not live in an igloo. I have a prime minister, not a president. I pronounce it "about", not "a boot". I think a toque is a hat and the last letter of the alphabet is ZED, not ZEE... ZED! But most importantly Canada is the best country in North America - we even have beavers. I have never seen one, but I hear we have them.
Andre - Where you from, eh? Sounds like you are an Easterner (eg closer than me to the centre of the universe - Toronto). Quebecois, maize amy (..er mes ami)? Never seen a beaver? We used to kick holes in the dams, just to watch them rebuild them (boys will be boys). - Cam
P.S. - It's not that we're better, it's just that we're less worse. - C.
Posted by Sara T on May 14, 2000, at 23:41:26
In reply to Effexor and High Blood Pressure, posted by Russ on May 13, 2000, at 12:33:36
I started on Effexor and was only onit for about a month and a half when my blood pressure went up too. I stopped the Effexor, and it was hell. But I also take ritalin, had stopped that too, and was on birth control pills. None of that lowered my BP. I stopped the BC pills and still I couldn't tell the difference. So I went to see my GP and instead of 140/92 or better, it read 110/80. But, none of the other readings I take here with my home BP reader are anywhere near that one. Maybe it was the BC pills.
Posted by Rick on May 15, 2000, at 16:49:57
In reply to Re: Effexor and High Blood Pressure, posted by Sara T on May 14, 2000, at 23:41:26
The question no one seem to address is whether you can be pretty certain that Effexor-driven BP increases will go away after the med is stopped. For that matter, I have the same question about med-induced hair loss).
I remember seeing a post a few months back from someone who had been taking Effexor awhile (3 years?) at a *low dose*, and his BP went up considerably and stayed there after he stopped taking Effexor.
Of course, the copmplicating factor here, as a previous poster to this thread mentioned, is that average BP can suddenly increase for a variety of reasons (including simply aging); and it can also vary markedly from day-to-day. I a have a hypertensive friend on 5 (!) BP meds who can get a reading of 115/75 for three mornings in a row, and then wake up with 170/110 the next...with no changes in diet, medication, or anxiety level. This doesn't seem to alarm his doctor, who is a hypertension specialist, even though my friend once had what was likely a fleeting mini-stroke in his 40's (transient blindness in one eye first thing in the morning).
Anyways, back to my original question: Does anyone know if BP increases that were truly caused by Effexor can be counted on to be reversible following discontinuance, especially after long-term usage?
Thanks in advance.
RickP.S. I forgot who said it, but someone stated that they were already on BP meds, and Effexor did NOT raise their BP. Along these lines, I once read a Medline study that said people who already have baseline hypertension do not seem prone to BP increases from Effexor.
Posted by stjames on May 16, 2000, at 12:44:41
In reply to Re: Effexor and High Blood Pressure - StJames, posted by Andre Allard on May 14, 2000, at 2:22:34
> I was just wondering about your repeated use of the word "ya'll" and its having anything to do with being a cowboy from New Orleans that listens to country music.
James here....
1 out of 3 right ! I am from Louisiana
james
This is the end of the thread.
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