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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by anxiety66me on February 13, 2004, at 15:25:09
My doc recently prescribed Effexor XR 150 mg/per day. The doc said it would help my anxiety/social anxiety and ADD (the attention kind, not hyperactive kind). The first day I took it it gave me a very good high. I was able to spend time with friends and was not as self-concious as I used to be. But, that has worn off and I am back to being anti social.
I am terribly constipated and am taking in LOTS of fiber to try to help it. Not to be graphic, but I was so constipated that there was blood in my stool. I assume I burst a blood vesel.
I also have sleeping problems, but they are getting worse. I wake up and cannot go back to sleep.
At first I was not hungry ever, but now I am hungry all the time. Am I going to gain weight on this drug?
My sex drive has been out of this world. It was helped by the Wellbutrin, but when I started the Effexor it got even better. That was a great bonus.
I have had some headaches, but that may have been due to the adjustment of raising the dosage. No headaches lately.
My doc wants to take me off Klonopin, but I think it helps me with my anxiety/social anxiety. I have a new doc, but my old doc wants to send my files and I am afraid thst he will say that Klonopin should not be prescribed to me. Maybe he won't. I don't know.
I also take Wellbutrin and am happy with what it does. It keeps me alert. Anyone have some similar experience/insight to share? Thanx.
Posted by snarley on February 13, 2004, at 17:02:52
In reply to Effexor XR, posted by anxiety66me on February 13, 2004, at 15:29:41
hi anxiety =D
I've been on effexor 150mg/day for about a year for depression/mild anxiety and it's worked great. I also was recently diagnosed with ADD and i can tell you it hasnt helped that one bit at the 150/day dosage. But you said you are also taking wellbutrin which i guess is probably helping with that. Just dont expect the effexor to really do anything in that respect, at least at the current dosage.
I had the constipation thing too, and you've totally got the right idea, eating lots of fiber is what helped me get over that. and drinking a lot of water (i go through a few large water bottles a day during classes, etc). I started out eating lots of veggies and high-fiber wheat bread and whole wheat bagels. But keeping a ton of raw veggies on hand is sort of a pain. Metamucil etc didnt really do it for me.
Now I do mainly two things for fiber: those green "superfood" drinks that also have a lot of fiber in them and are packed with vitamins and nutrients and other healthy stuff. Another tasty food is Seitan (sorta healthfood store stuff, and kinda wierd, but it's really tasty in thai or indian curries or soups). Seitan is a "fake meat" for vegetarians made entirely out of wheat flour. But in the way it's processed it's extremely low carbohydrate despite the fact it's made out of wheat. It has like 10g fiber and 20g protein per serving. In what I consider to be a "serving" however i'm probably getting more like 15 or 20g fiber (i'm about 5'9" 140 lb girl, slightly above-average appetite, hehe). It's usually sold next to tofu in tofu-looking-containers (if you have a whole foods or wild oats near where you live they both carry the good brand-->). I really like White Wave Chicken-Style Seitan (packed in broth which isnt that bad either). And i'm not a vegetarian, i love a good steak as much as the next gal. I hate tofu but this seitan stuff is pretty good.
As for sleep problems, my pdoc gave me trazodone to take before bed while i was getting adjusted to the effexor for the first couple weeks/month or so. The sleep issues should go away, but maybe ask your pdoc about that in the meantime.
As far as my experience on effexor, weight gain/loss is negligible.
Hope all my ramblings helped you out,
Marley
Posted by shadows721 on February 13, 2004, at 18:36:12
In reply to Effexor XR, posted by anxiety66me on February 13, 2004, at 15:25:09
I am guessing that the blood in your stool was due to straining from being constipated. You may have a hemorrhoid from the straining. Stool softners would help this. Use a hemorrhoidal cream and suppository. Keep taking in fiber, exercise, and drink plenty of water. Don't increase the fiber too fast. It can make you more constipated with out drinking enough fluids. Also, you may have terrible gas or diarrhea problems. Fiber has to be increased gradually. The body has to adjust to it.
I am not surprised you are having insomnia. Effexor and wellbutrin have this side effect. You may need a med for sleep like trazodone or sequel (sp?). Other folks like using two 25 mg tablets of benadryl or tylenol PM for insomnia.
The increase in hunger may be due to the effexor, but the wellbutrin may keep the weight normal.
I am glad you don't have headaches now. This may have been due to dosage adjustment. Hopefully, you will not have any more.
Posted by anxiety66me on February 13, 2004, at 19:18:13
In reply to Re: Effexor XR, posted by shadows721 on February 13, 2004, at 18:36:12
I'm sure the blood was from straining. Do you really think a popped blood vessel will cause a hemorrhoid? I have never had them before. My parents both have had bouts with hemorrhoids. I really don't want to use suppositories. Ick. The blood was gross enough.I have some seroquel, but my doc won't give me any more and wants me to try sleeping on my own. He says that it does not mix well with the meds I'm on. If he won't give me another type (such as trazodone) then I may have to buy some OTC ones. Why is it that people like Tylenol and Benadryl and not just a sleeping pill? I was thinking of getting a plain ol sleeping pill.
I really appreciate your insight. You have helped me to consider some things I was not aware of. Nice to know someone cares. Thankx!=)
Posted by anxiety66me on February 13, 2004, at 20:05:31
In reply to Re: Effexor XR » anxiety66me, posted by snarley on February 13, 2004, at 17:02:52
Hey Marley,
I'm glad to hear Effexor has worked for you! =) I assume the constipation is still one of your side effects and wasn't just a transition thing. Do you have GAD? I am hoping it will help me with my social anxiety- which is really bad. Is your doc going to raise your dosage to help with the ADD? I have read on here that 225 mg/day can really help the ADD.
I am using Benefiber. But, your healthfood store ideas are something I will definitely try out. I'll pretty much do anything at this point. It sux being backed up.
I am definitely asking about trazodone at my next appointment. Thnanx for your advice. =)
Posted by thunder on February 13, 2004, at 20:08:06
In reply to Re: Effexor XR » anxiety66me, posted by snarley on February 13, 2004, at 17:02:52
Can you tell me more about your response to Effexor xr? That is, was it all up hill or did you go up some then down some before you got to top (no longer depressed)?
Thanks
Posted by shadows721 on February 13, 2004, at 20:29:22
In reply to Re: Effexor XR, posted by anxiety66me on February 13, 2004, at 19:18:13
In theory, what probably caused your hemorrohoid was the straining. During the actual process of defecation, the blood vessel of the hemorrhoid ruptured. This results in a small amount of bright blood on a tissue or a small amount in the toilet. Continuous bleeding is a whole other matter and results in an ER visit. Try the suggestions I mentioned and see if you get some relief. (By the way, some folks get hemorrhoids from excessive sitting on the toilet, diet low in fiber, picking up heavy material, or pregnancy.)
Some folks like benadryl or tylenol PM, because they don't interfere with their medications and are not habit forming like the benzos. They are also inexpensive. If you do take them, take them early so you can get a good nights sleep and not feel so groggy in the am. Also, to be safe, always check with a pharmacist to see if you can take an over the counter med with your prescription.
Posted by snarley on February 13, 2004, at 20:40:12
In reply to Re: Effexor XR, posted by anxiety66me on February 13, 2004, at 20:05:31
Anxiety66--
yeah, the constipation deal is something that never went away. that and i had to switch to single use contact lenses and use a ton of eyedrops because the effexor seems to dry out my eyes. that + contacts is murder w/o the eyedrops.
a few years back i was dx'd by another doc as having both depression and a GAD but my current diagnosis (with my current pdoc of a year) is just the depression and now also the ADD. but back when he first put me on it, he specifically prescribed the effexor with the thought of helping out any anxiety issues in mind. And it's helped with both nicely.
And yes, right now the doc is upping my effexor as a first shot at getting the ADD thing worked out.
Marley
Posted by snarley on February 13, 2004, at 20:44:07
In reply to Re: Effexor XR, posted by thunder on February 13, 2004, at 20:08:06
Thunder--
I started out at 75mg a day (i was a little gunshy about wanting to stick to a low dose, i'd been overmedicated heavily by a crummy psychiatrist a few years before) and saw marked improvement but after a month or so i moved up to 150 to maintain the initial effect. Since then it's all been pretty stable.
Anytime i've had a dosage increase i tend to be dizzy/sweaty/twitchy for a few days, but that goes away within a couple of days.
Marley
Posted by Stryker88 on February 14, 2004, at 0:15:17
In reply to Re: Effexor XR, posted by shadows721 on February 13, 2004, at 20:29:22
You might have an Anal Fissure a crack in the anus. I had the same probem and it turned out to be an Anal Fissure. It was very painful and very, very, very, very uncomfortable, it required a surgery to repair it, but it cannot be healed without surgery. good luck
Posted by anxiety66me on February 14, 2004, at 18:15:19
In reply to Re: Effexor XR, posted by Stryker88 on February 14, 2004, at 0:15:17
I haven't had any pain at all. Not even when I saw the blood.
Posted by rainyday on February 16, 2004, at 13:29:34
In reply to Effexor XR, posted by anxiety66me on February 13, 2004, at 15:25:09
I was switched to effexor after having disasterous results with paxil and celexa. I found the side effects getting used to effexor xr quite disturbing! Hard time getting to sleep, weight gain, headaches, and excessive sweating. All symptoms are gradually subsiding with time, but now I have these extra pounds to deal with. I am also on buspar which helps in getting to sleep.
I am bipolar II and also have GAD.
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 16, 2004, at 22:17:53
In reply to Effexor XR, posted by anxiety66me on February 13, 2004, at 15:25:09
Posted by anxiety66me on February 13, 2004, at 18:56:51
In reply to Re: Effexor XR » anxiety66me, posted by terrics on February 13, 2004, at 16:19:23
It has been about 2 weeks and 5 days. Don't you LOVE Wellbutrin? It has made me sex life awesome! Thnax for the h2o tip, I'll try to drink more.=)
Are you off meds completely? I went off for 6 months and went bonkers. It took a while to get in to see a doctor and I had to wait a long time.
This is the end of the thread.
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