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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sanj on October 22, 2002, at 14:49:49
I went to the doctor about 2 months ago complaining of anxiety which has pretty much bothered me for years now. He prescribed me Nexium because I was also feeling nauseaus a lot because of my nervousness, so he wanted to avoid any ulcers and such. He gave me a starter kit of effexor and it has been sitting in my room since. I am kind of afraid of taking it because I am unsure of its side-effects and I do not want to go through all the withdrawal stuff that people have been talking about on this site. I have my good days and my bad ones, I feel like I want to beat this without the meds but I'm not sure yet. Anyone have any advice.
Posted by linkadge on October 22, 2002, at 15:11:24
In reply to thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by Sanj on October 22, 2002, at 14:49:49
I'd say that if you feel resonably in
controll of things then stay where you
are. It is very difficult to achieve
an orgasm while on it. Don't let this
frighten you but if you feel like you
have a handle on it then you probably
do.Linkadge
Posted by Sanj on October 22, 2002, at 15:33:03
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by linkadge on October 22, 2002, at 15:11:24
its weird cus sometimes I feel like I'm in control and sometimes the total opposite. Many times my anxiety is caused because I feel like the anxiety symptoms are doing physical harm to me which scares the hell out of me (if that makes any sense). This is the only reason I consider taking the meds - because I don't want anxiety to do any physical harm to me while I'm trying to conquer it. Also right now I'm not very busy which I think makes a big difference. I am 24 and I've just gone back to school to attain my second bachelors degree - I go to school 2 days a week and I'm not working right now so it leaves me with plenty of time to think which I feel is bad for me. I know I should get a job but its hard when I feel anxious so often. My doctor said I should exercise but I don't feel like it. I also feel like I'm having trouble concentrating in school and I don't want it to effect my grades. I also have a girlfriend and I don't let her know the extent of my problem because maybe I feel like she won't want to be with me anymore if because of it. I know I'm thinking really stupid but I have no confidence when I feel like this.
Posted by Mr Cushing on October 22, 2002, at 15:49:51
In reply to thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by Sanj on October 22, 2002, at 14:49:49
It depends on how long you've been suffering from anxiety for. I'm Bi-Polar II, just been recently diagnosed, and have been suffering from bouts of mania and depression for my life thus far (24 years). Effexor XR is Hellacious to take for "maybe" the first 3 weeks, then poof, your anxiety is gone. I was becoming hypomanic on just Effexor XR by itself, kind of like having waaaaaaaay too much energy in my body and would stay up for a few days on end, but with the help of a mood stabilizer I'm much more balanced.This is one thing that I can definitely attribute to Effexor though... For months I had trouble making up my mind on even little small things, my head was like mush, and my anxiety was constant. After a few weeks on this drug, after going through the whole start up side-effect bullcrap, I'm not worried about anything anymore. For once in my life, I'm actually able to relax and enjoy it.
So it just depends on how badly you need help. If it's lasted in you for years, it might still last for years and might just never go away. Sure, you could learn to live with it, but is that really living or just surviving? With Effexor I'm actually getting to the point where I'm able to live and enjoy living.
Posted by Mr Cushing on October 22, 2002, at 15:51:53
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by linkadge on October 22, 2002, at 15:11:24
In response to Linkadge, I've NEVER had problems achieving an orgasm on Effexor XR. On top of that, I can achieve numerous orgasms in a single setting (I'm male, so you get the picture) and the drug hasn't dimmed them whatsoever. I think it just depends on how you react to the drug. Paxil did that for me, but not Effexor at all.
> I'd say that if you feel resonably in
> controll of things then stay where you
> are. It is very difficult to achieve
> an orgasm while on it. Don't let this
> frighten you but if you feel like you
> have a handle on it then you probably
> do.
>
> Linkadge
>
Posted by Sanj on October 22, 2002, at 16:01:42
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by Mr Cushing on October 22, 2002, at 15:49:51
yeah, I hear what you're saying. I think I just need to do what I'm supposed to do and If I still am feeling anxious I need to get over the fear of taking effexor. Its just that reading everybodys comments on this site - it seems like it is very hard to get off of it due to withdrawal problems. I guess everyone will react differently. My problem is that I have to make a decision as to whether I need it or not. I probably do but I am still in denial.
Posted by Mr Cushing on October 22, 2002, at 17:25:30
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by Sanj on October 22, 2002, at 16:01:42
Yeah, that's the main decision, but like I've realized recently, if you can remember this anxiety being a part of your life for some time now (for me, my entire life) and it seems to be getting worse over time, then you probably do need it and if you let it get too much worse, you'll probably need a few other medications along with it.
Me, I know I'm going to be taking either Effexor or something similar to it, Clonazepam (Klonopin), and a mood stabilizer (currently Depakote) for the rest of my life. The hardest part for me was accepting that I wasn't going to get better by myself. That even if I just decided to forget about the problem, just tried to improve my life by itself, the cause of the anxiety wasn't going to go away. Hell... I even graduated from school, wasn't working, wasn't doing anything but relaxing around the house, and my anxiety was STILL making every day like a living Hell.
Effexor does work remarkably well for anxiety (I'm not too sure about depression) if you give it time and allow it to work. The first month on it will be relatively tough. You'll feel like you have the flue for about 2 weeks, then you'll have almost no energy for about another 2-3 weeks in which you'll need to exercise regularly to get your stamina back. But for the withdrawal, for me honestly, I'm not worried about it because I know that I'll probably never come off of it.
Right now I'm starting to feel better than I've felt in years. I've still got quite some ways to come before I'm 100%, but it has done wonders for me. For a while I was living in Hell but now every day seems to get a little bit easier.
As for people in your life that won't accept you having to take the medication, I've gone through a lot of that myself. I've basically just decided that these people have no idea what it's like to actually be me. They have no idea what I'm feeling. You can't see the pain that an anxiety disorder can cause, therefore, they really have no right to judge. If people still couldn't accept it, then well, I've just decided that i'm better without them in my life period.
Once you're able to decide though on whether or not you actually have a problem that needs to be dealt with, and you're just not going through a rough stage in your life, and you actually accept the fact that you do have a problem, then at that point you're on the road to recovery and things will start getting a LOT easier pretty fast.
Hope this helps
> yeah, I hear what you're saying. I think I just need to do what I'm supposed to do and If I still am feeling anxious I need to get over the fear of taking effexor. Its just that reading everybodys comments on this site - it seems like it is very hard to get off of it due to withdrawal problems. I guess everyone will react differently. My problem is that I have to make a decision as to whether I need it or not. I probably do but I am still in denial.
Posted by jyl on October 22, 2002, at 17:30:28
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by Mr Cushing on October 22, 2002, at 15:51:53
mr,
just had to say"you go boy!"
effexor makes me a bit randy too...
what are you doing tonight?
just kidding hun
jyl
Posted by jyl on October 22, 2002, at 17:35:21
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by Sanj on October 22, 2002, at 16:01:42
i really think you should talk to your doctor some more....
effexor seems to be really turning me around from my descent into hell.
post to us what you descide!
jyl
Posted by Sanj on October 23, 2002, at 0:57:49
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure » Sanj, posted by jyl on October 22, 2002, at 17:35:21
well, my doctor probably thinks I'm taking the meds cus after he gave me the effexor I haven't spoken to him since. Actually, I wouldn't even call him "my" doctor cus I only went to him once. I asked him about the side-effects and he said maybe a little drowsiness which I can't understand cus of all the stuff I've seen on this site. Either he is lying to me or I don't know. Maybe cus I have a very low dose (37.5 to 75) one months supply. Anyway, I'm not quite ready to decide - I think it will be a last resort. I'm still confused. Maybe I need more positive feedback to make my decision. I know what you're thinking - I know I sound like a p..ssy but I can't help it.
Posted by lilsis on October 23, 2002, at 9:50:47
In reply to thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by Sanj on October 22, 2002, at 14:49:49
please no effexors. trust me. they messed me up royally in the head. now too scared to take anypills. try and go without
Posted by Sanj on October 24, 2002, at 0:03:06
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by lilsis on October 23, 2002, at 9:50:47
lilsis, how did it effect you? What was wrong with it? Did you take it for anxiety? How long were you taking it?
Posted by JSS on October 24, 2002, at 13:43:35
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by Sanj on October 22, 2002, at 15:33:03
I just started taking effexor for depression, and so far no side effects. (This is my 3rd day, and my 1st AD) The Dr. suggested I take one capsule a night for a week, then 2 a night, then see him again. He suggested taking at night, because I already have sleep problems, and it's supposed to help.
I'm posting this message because something you, Sanj, said struck me.
I'm 30 yrs. old, and have been living with depression the entire time. It's finally gotten to the point where I can't live with it anymore.
I had a girlfriend, and it was because I didn't acknowledge my depression that I lost her.
Posted by Fenny3 on October 24, 2002, at 16:20:56
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by Mr Cushing on October 22, 2002, at 15:49:51
I still can't make up my mind about anything, and it's been a year! Not that it bothers me much, but I'm useless at shopping, it's actually a joke in our house. So, it's probably a personality trait and not a side effect eh? hee hee. I need a bottomless bank account.
Anyway, I think if you're not planning on coming off the effexor, withdrawal is not a concern. I find it to be effective and easy to take (after the first couple of weeks that is).
Fenny
Posted by Sanj on October 25, 2002, at 3:49:23
In reply to Re: thinking about taking effexor but not sure, posted by JSS on October 24, 2002, at 13:43:35
I must say that I feel pretty damn good today and its days like this when I feel like I don't need the meds. I know what everyone is thinking; that one or two good days doesn't mean anything but I feel that I can build off of the good days and keep it up. Anyway, we'll see how that goes. Oh and my girlfriend knows about my problem but I don't tell the extent of it all the time cus I don't want it to be the topic of conversation, plus I am the type of person to hold things in rather than talk about them. Also, if I tell her that I'm not feeling good, she tells me to take the effexor but she doesn't realize that its not such an easy decision for me; so rather than go through that I'd prefer not to tell her how I feel all the time.
This is the end of the thread.
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