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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by hemews on August 22, 2002, at 2:42:51
I was just wondering if anyone had any information on negative effects when beginning taking Effexor. I have already begun tapering off the Zoloft, and tomorrow I start taking the effexor, I am starting at 37.5mg for a week and then to 75 for a week and then to 150mg. I was just wondering what I could expect. I remember when I started taking the Zoloft I felt so sick to my stomach that I couldn't move for a day or two, anyone have any info..
Help!!!!!
Posted by Robin.d.j on August 22, 2002, at 15:30:21
In reply to Starting Effexor, posted by hemews on August 22, 2002, at 2:42:51
Hi this is the effect that it had on me...I started effexorXR extended release last Friday 37.7mg , I have never taken psychotropic medication before...Now then I was spaced out for 4 days and then kinded came down over the following days. It is now thursday and the only affect that I feel now is light headed ,metalic taste in my mouth. I was only sleeping between 2 and 3 hours a night and last night I slept 5 hours..To eat I had to force myself to eat just to take the daily dose. I am taking it at 7:15 am and I dont feel so wound up at 11:pm when I go to bed . I don't feel the anxiety that I was feeling, but because of the issues I am working through I am slightly depressed still , which is far better than I was...I am also a little constipated...If you are taking quick realease then I would mention it on your thread.Good luck
Robin
Posted by hemews on August 22, 2002, at 17:24:49
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor » hemews, posted by Robin.d.j on August 22, 2002, at 15:30:21
Well after taking the effexor this morning, I have been nauseated most of the day, but I think that may be because I was stupid enough to take it on an empty stomach. I have also been drowsy all day...
I am taking the extended release. Anyone else had any experience, How long does this last....
> Hi this is the effect that it had on me...I started effexorXR extended release last Friday 37.7mg , I have never taken psychotropic medication before...Now then I was spaced out for 4 days and then kinded came down over the following days. It is now thursday and the only affect that I feel now is light headed ,metalic taste in my mouth. I was only sleeping between 2 and 3 hours a night and last night I slept 5 hours..To eat I had to force myself to eat just to take the daily dose. I am taking it at 7:15 am and I dont feel so wound up at 11:pm when I go to bed . I don't feel the anxiety that I was feeling, but because of the issues I am working through I am slightly depressed still , which is far better than I was...I am also a little constipated...If you are taking quick realease then I would mention it on your thread.
>
> Good luck
> Robin
Posted by Robin.d.j on August 22, 2002, at 19:36:32
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor, posted by hemews on August 22, 2002, at 17:24:49
Hi again I was taking effexor at noon time but I was still so buzzed out the first couple of days I could not get any sleep ..This dang computer was always saying come and play with me...my mind would stop... I was feeling that way with an empty belly or not... The friends on this site gave me a few ideas ..so I tried an idea, I now take my cap in the morning and whalla ..I got some sleep...I work in an office by myself with no pressure so the morning buzz doesn't bother me to much now...
You may feel nausea for a couple of days ..but it does get better. I didn't go out or talk to anyone ... Hope you don't have the same ride I had...take care ...keep in touch..I'll let you know how I'm doing as well ..my dose is going up to 75mg tomorrow...This is a great supportive site ..I am hangin around ..check the archives as wellRobin
Robin
Posted by sleepy lizard on August 22, 2002, at 22:50:36
In reply to Starting Effexor, posted by hemews on August 22, 2002, at 2:42:51
I have been taking Effexor XR for about 12 weeks now. I took 37.5 mg the first week, then 75 mg the second week. I had, constipation, sleeplessness, sleepy during the day at work, but no nausea. (I always take it with breakfast.) The symptoms gradually lifted over a couple of weeks. At 75 mg I got some relief from the depression and anxiety. During the transition from one drug to another you may get withdrawal side effects from the drug you are coming off of. (For me it was Celexa.) Then I progressed up to 112.5, 150, and 225 mg (for 11 days only), and then dropped back down to 75 mg where I am now. I got more and more delayed orgasm and eventually anorgasmia. (Male, age 49.) But the side effects are not bad. I was able to reduce dosage by 75mg at a time without any problem. If you stop taking it for 2 to 3 days you will probably get the electric shock feelings in the arms and head, so they recommend reducing dosage slowly over a month.
Posted by Robin.d.j on August 23, 2002, at 14:50:44
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor » hemews, posted by sleepy lizard on August 22, 2002, at 22:50:36
Hey sleepy how are you ??? not doing so good myself ..still kinda numb
Tell me is ther anything that a person can do to rid of the shocks ..Exstra staingth Tylenol ..advil ..and so on ..or is that the penalty for taking mind altering meds..I would just rather ..oh well not have to go through that kind of withdrawl if I could..even though it is far off ..i would like to gather as much amo ..to take to my Doc..Robin
Posted by hemews on August 23, 2002, at 14:55:12
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor » sleepy lizard, posted by Robin.d.j on August 23, 2002, at 14:50:44
I am better today, but I just took my next pill so we'll see what happens. I was too jumpy last night to get to sleep, so I ended up watching the sunrise yet again.... Haven't had much in the way of electric shocks, but have been light headed.
> Hey sleepy how are you ??? not doing so good myself ..still kinda numb
> Tell me is ther anything that a person can do to rid of the shocks ..Exstra staingth Tylenol ..advil ..and so on ..or is that the penalty for taking mind altering meds..I would just rather ..oh well not have to go through that kind of withdrawl if I could..even though it is far off ..i would like to gather as much amo ..to take to my Doc..
>
> Robin
Posted by Robin.d.j on August 23, 2002, at 16:35:29
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor, posted by hemews on August 23, 2002, at 14:55:12
Hi .well today I took 75mgs and I just finished a bootle of wine .....I feel the same as yesterday...but have been obsessing more about the loss of my girlfriend...sorry about the sleep loss....
Posted by sleepy lizard on August 23, 2002, at 23:18:23
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor » sleepy lizard, posted by Robin.d.j on August 23, 2002, at 14:50:44
I'm ok, not great, but physically good and I've been able to sleep. I am still sad and disappointed...relationship things. I guess everyone goes down that road. Thanks for asking.
To avoid the shocks, just taper the dose down slowly over a month. I've been taking Wellbutrin SR 100 mg/day now along with the Effexor XR 75 mg/day. If I take a drug holiday for 2-3 days I get wierd dreams. But when I reduced dosage from 225 mg to 150 mg, and from 150 mg to 75 mg, I was ok. I allowed a week to adjust at each point.
Posted by Robin.d.j on August 24, 2002, at 5:32:06
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor » Robin.d.j, posted by sleepy lizard on August 23, 2002, at 23:18:23
do you know why the shocks happen ...I had them when I came off codine for my back injury and I went and got a MRI done they were really bad ..thought I had a brain tumor
Robin
Posted by sleepy lizard on August 24, 2002, at 19:41:26
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor » sleepy lizard, posted by Robin.d.j on August 24, 2002, at 5:32:06
Whoa. You went through a lot. I had a back injury and was using codeine too. It worked great but made me so dizzy I fell off the toilet and cut my head. I didn't get shocks coming off of it though. I think I just felt prickling sensations over the body, and wanting more codeine.
The theory, mentioned at the second link below (www.algy.com) is that the shocks are caused by "a temporary relative deficiency in serotonin with lower sensitivity of the 5-HT receptors in the brain" .
http://www.ubcpharmacy.org/cpe/resources/highlights/winter%201998.pdf and http://www.algy.com/pdi/FAQ/discontin.html have some information on discontinuation syndrome with SSRIs. I'm wondering if codeine works on the same synapses that the SSRIs do. Both serotonin and codeine are allosterically potentiating ligands (APLs).
Posted by Robin.d.j on August 25, 2002, at 11:55:16
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor » hemews, posted by Robin.d.j on August 22, 2002, at 15:30:21
How Are you feeing???Hope things are ok
Posted by cybercafe on August 26, 2002, at 1:54:02
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor » Robin.d.j, posted by Robin.d.j on August 25, 2002, at 11:55:16
hey did you guys get tremors on effexor?
what's up with that?
Posted by sleepy lizard on August 26, 2002, at 13:33:51
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor, posted by cybercafe on August 26, 2002, at 1:54:02
Yes. My hands sometime shake a little and I seem to have less fine motor control, a little clumbsy. The shaking is similar to when I used to drink 10 cups of coffee. But I was not that way before the Effexor.
Are you getting tremor?
Posted by Kai on August 26, 2002, at 13:50:31
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor » hemews, posted by Robin.d.j on August 23, 2002, at 16:35:29
I have been taking effexorxr for a year and a half. It has helped me a lot; I have no plans to go off it. I am now able to manage my depression.
It can take up to 6 weeks for your depression to lift. Give the med time to work in your body. Take it at the same time every day with food. I had trouble sleeping for the first month. I took ambien; sleep is very important.
Absolutely do not drink alcohol. You will be impairing the meds work. You are not supposed to drink while taking effexor. I would also not recommend drinking while depressed. You will make yourself much worse. I am not trying to lecture you, I am talking from experience.
You need to be very honest with your doctor. Tell him (or her) that you are not sleeping and that you have been drinking.
After my body had adjusted to effexor I switched to taking it at night- I was getting too sleepy in the daytime. Don't do that now,it won't help your sleeping problem.
I really do feel for you; I know how painful depression is. Be good to yourself. Try to get outside and take a walk in the sunshine.
Posted by cybercafe on August 26, 2002, at 22:50:14
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor » cybercafe, posted by sleepy lizard on August 26, 2002, at 13:33:51
> Yes. My hands sometime shake a little and I seem to have less fine motor control, a little clumbsy. The shaking is similar to when I used to drink 10 cups of coffee. But I was not that way before the Effexor.
>
> Are you getting tremor?actually i stopped taking effexor a while ago ... but i was wondering if the tremor was caused by dopamine antagonism or increased blood pressure or what
Posted by sleepy lizard on August 27, 2002, at 23:06:08
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor, posted by cybercafe on August 26, 2002, at 22:50:14
Parkinsons disease is accompanied with low levels of dopamine and there are medications that will increase domapine that are use for Parkinsons. One sympton of Parkinsons disease is tremor.
This is the end of the thread.
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