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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JESSsMom on December 22, 2002, at 9:16:18
Hi all-
I tried to up my 75 mg/day dosage of XR and all the intial side effects I had when I first started XR came back--the worst being excessive sweating. I am talking about sweat dripping down under my arms and my clammy hands leaving marks on everything I touch. YUCK.
I read the boards about this and someone mentioned a small dose of Cogentin to counteract this sweating as the XR is working for my anxiety and I want to continue it.
Pdoc said "no" to Cogentin, saying it would dry my mouth up, make my lips crack, etc.
He also said to go back down to 75mg and call him on Monday.
I am still sweating like crazy--it starts about an hour after I take XR and lasts for a few hours, going away by late afternoon.
I was thinking that maybe I should start taking the XR before bed so I can sleep through this disgusting side effect but I am afraid to miss a morning dose during the holidays when I have places to go, people to see, etc. I've read bad stories about people missing their dose and feeling like crap all day.
Any advice on what to do about the sweating? I remember it did subside about ten days after I first started XR so I thought it would do the same thing a little while after I upped my dose, but after four days I couldn't take this extreme sweating anymore. I feel gross because of it all the time but the darn med has almost completely put my GAD into remission.
Hasn't done a thing for my depression though.
Any thoughts are welcome.
JM
Posted by JESSsMom on December 22, 2002, at 17:43:10
In reply to Effexor Xr and Excessive Sweating, posted by JESSsMom on December 22, 2002, at 9:16:18
It's *possible* I've found somewhat of a remedy to the sweating. Instead of taking the whole dose of XR at once in the morning and sweating like crazy, I tried spacing it out in three 37.5/mg increments. I also read that taking the herbs garden sage, burdock, boneset, and horsetail might be helpful.
I don't know.....
JM
Posted by JackT on December 22, 2002, at 17:58:17
In reply to Re: Effexor Xr and Excessive Sweating, posted by JESSsMom on December 22, 2002, at 17:43:10
JM,
I would stick with 75 mg a day for a while. I'm glad it has helped your anxiety. It may take some time for the anti-depressant effect to work. If not, you can always increase the dose later. Just a thought.
Jack
Posted by JESSsMom on December 23, 2002, at 7:40:16
In reply to Re: Effexor Xr and Excessive Sweating » JESSsMom, posted by JackT on December 22, 2002, at 17:58:17
Thanks, Jack. Another thing I was thinking is that I was "blasting" myself with the full dosage at one time (which I was told by pdoc to do and the manufacturer advises). Yesterday I tried 75mg in the am and then another 37.5mg in the afternoon. I *think* that helped with the sweating a bit.
I also admit, I drink a big mug of strong coffee in the am after meds which probably doesn't help, but it's the one small joy I have in my life before my daughter wakes up. Regardless, I have always drunk coffee (unless I was in the throws of anxiety) and didn't sweat like this. I still attribute the sweating to the XR.
Thanks again for your thoughts.
JM
Posted by LyndaK on December 23, 2002, at 22:09:42
In reply to Re: Effexor Xr and Excessive Sweating, posted by JESSsMom on December 23, 2002, at 7:40:16
Hi. For what it's worth, I found an antiperspirant in my local drugstore that actually helped with the excessive sweating you're talking about. (I had that side-effect too when I was taking it.) The antiperspirant is called "Certain Dri" by NUMARK laboratories, Inc. It's active ingredient is Aluminum Chloride (which may be a controversial substance itself, I don't know.) But it did seem to help -- not 100% but way better than without. It's different than any other antiperspirant on the shelf. You actually apply it at bedtime. Otherwise, I just carried a spare shirt to change into at lunch time.
Hope you come up with something that helps.
Lynda
Posted by JESSsMom on December 24, 2002, at 5:36:03
In reply to Re: Effexor Xr and Excessive Sweating » JESSsMom, posted by LyndaK on December 23, 2002, at 22:09:42
Thanks, Lynda, this is a real drag. I'm trying to spread my dosages out throughout the day to see if that helps, but then I think about how important it is to keep XR in your bloodstream all the time, at the same time.
I'll keep trying, not having anxiety is worth it.
JM
Posted by LyndaK on December 25, 2002, at 2:24:05
In reply to Re: Effexor Xr and Excessive Sweating, posted by JESSsMom on December 24, 2002, at 5:36:03
This is the end of the thread.
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