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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by greywolf on March 10, 2004, at 17:09:22
I'm starting Effexor XR 75mg/day tomorrow after about a year of no meds. Over the past 5 yrs I've tried serzone, trazadone, paxil, prozac, lithium, wellbutrin . . . you name it. Each one had side effects that weren't particularly pleasant, and I don't even want to recall the lithium days.
So now I'm starting up again, only this time I thought to seek some thoughts from others concerning what to expect during the first few weeks, and whether there are some practical steps people have found effective in getting through any initial rough patches.
I write all day, so the major negative I've been rather unsuccessful dealing with is fatigue. It seems almost everything I've tried causes me sleepiness or sleep that is not restful. I can handle nausea, but walking around half out of it and nodding off with pen in hand doesn't cut it.
Any thoughts?
Posted by gooses_2 on March 10, 2004, at 17:49:35
In reply to Just starting Effexor tomorrow. Advice?, posted by greywolf on March 10, 2004, at 17:09:22
just make sure that you take it every day at the same time of day. it is soooo important. im on it myself. good luck-let me know how it goes for you :)
Posted by PoohBear on March 10, 2004, at 18:10:25
In reply to Just starting Effexor tomorrow. Advice?, posted by greywolf on March 10, 2004, at 17:09:22
I have been taking Effexor XR since early October, and feel that it's great. However, my pDoc didn't start me at 75mg... I started for about a week on 37.5, then about ten days on 75, then ten days at 150, then ten days at 225mg, before settling back down to 75mg.
I recently upped the doseage with my doc's okay to 150mg as I seemed to have reached a plateau.
There have been many negative posts here regarding Effexor XR, but it's a great medication that has some unique properties.
You can expect to have some side effects for the first several weeks. These tend to go away or moderate with time. Mine were:
- Severe fatigue, yawning during the day
- Insomnia
- Frequent urination
- Brain 'zaps'
- Swimming, dizzy feeling at times
- Dry mouth
As I said, these do tend to go away. I have none of these issues now. I'm very grateful for Effexor. It's been wonderful for helping me feel joy and happiness, as well as helping me control unwanted thoughts, many of which were suicidal and dark.
Talk to you doc about titrating up more slowly.
Good Luck!
Tony
> I'm starting Effexor XR 75mg/day tomorrow after about a year of no meds. Over the past 5 yrs I've tried serzone, trazadone, paxil, prozac, lithium, wellbutrin . . . you name it. Each one had side effects that weren't particularly pleasant, and I don't even want to recall the lithium days.
>
> So now I'm starting up again, only this time I thought to seek some thoughts from others concerning what to expect during the first few weeks, and whether there are some practical steps people have found effective in getting through any initial rough patches.
>
> I write all day, so the major negative I've been rather unsuccessful dealing with is fatigue. It seems almost everything I've tried causes me sleepiness or sleep that is not restful. I can handle nausea, but walking around half out of it and nodding off with pen in hand doesn't cut it.
>
> Any thoughts?
Posted by King Vultan on March 10, 2004, at 19:22:41
In reply to Just starting Effexor tomorrow. Advice?, posted by greywolf on March 10, 2004, at 17:09:22
> I'm starting Effexor XR 75mg/day tomorrow after about a year of no meds. Over the past 5 yrs I've tried serzone, trazadone, paxil, prozac, lithium, wellbutrin . . . you name it. Each one had side effects that weren't particularly pleasant, and I don't even want to recall the lithium days.
>
> So now I'm starting up again, only this time I thought to seek some thoughts from others concerning what to expect during the first few weeks, and whether there are some practical steps people have found effective in getting through any initial rough patches.
>
> I write all day, so the major negative I've been rather unsuccessful dealing with is fatigue. It seems almost everything I've tried causes me sleepiness or sleep that is not restful. I can handle nausea, but walking around half out of it and nodding off with pen in hand doesn't cut it.
>
> Any thoughts?
I took Effexor on and off for years and found the major problem to be insomnia combined with daytime sleepiness. If this is how you've reacted to SSRIs, there is a good chance you will also react to Effexor the same way. If I had to do it over again, I would be more open to using a sleep aid such as trazodone or Ambien. If I were taking the XR, I think taking it at night might lessen the daytime sleepiness problem, based on my limited experience with it just taking it in the morning (made me sleepy into the early afternoon). Most of my experience was in the old days with the standard release version taken twice a day.Todd
Posted by greywolf on March 10, 2004, at 21:01:08
In reply to Re: Just starting Effexor tomorrow. Advice?, posted by King Vultan on March 10, 2004, at 19:22:41
Thank you for the insights folks. I will keep in mind the suggestions concerning timing. Good to know Effexor works well for some people.
Posted by Sad Panda on March 11, 2004, at 2:09:57
In reply to Just starting Effexor tomorrow. Advice?, posted by greywolf on March 10, 2004, at 17:09:22
> I'm starting Effexor XR 75mg/day tomorrow after about a year of no meds. Over the past 5 yrs I've tried serzone, trazadone, paxil, prozac, lithium, wellbutrin . . . you name it. Each one had side effects that weren't particularly pleasant, and I don't even want to recall the lithium days.
>
> So now I'm starting up again, only this time I thought to seek some thoughts from others concerning what to expect during the first few weeks, and whether there are some practical steps people have found effective in getting through any initial rough patches.
>
> I write all day, so the major negative I've been rather unsuccessful dealing with is fatigue. It seems almost everything I've tried causes me sleepiness or sleep that is not restful. I can handle nausea, but walking around half out of it and nodding off with pen in hand doesn't cut it.
>
> Any thoughts?
>Hi,
When I started Effexor after a failed trial of Prozac it improved my mood in the first few days, but this isn't normal. Effexor is a good med but amongst Psychopharmacologist it is known as 'side-Effexor' I started on 75mg, initial side effects for me where, mild headaches, nausea, stiff neck, nausea, tirdness, nausea, diarrhea, mild anorgasmia, numb forearms, nausea & insomnia. I increased to 150mg & was happier, but I got total anorgasmia, worse insomnia & nausea so bad it became near impossible to brush my teeth due to dry wretching. After scouring this board it looked like Remeron would be a good option for sleep & was a popular combo with effexor. Initially Remeron knocked me out for 12 hours, but after a month my sleep dropped to 8 hours of the best sleep I ever had. Other things Remeron does for me is it returns my orgasm back to normal, slows my bowels down to normal & eliminated my nausea.
If Effexor is a good AD for you, Remeron can fix it's side effects.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by greywolf on March 11, 2004, at 11:26:09
In reply to Re: Just starting Effexor tomorrow. Advice? » greywolf, posted by Sad Panda on March 11, 2004, at 2:09:57
Panda:
So, did you have any nausea? :) I've learned to deal with nausea, dry heaves, etc. Seems to be something you have to just accept with many of these meds. And that's too bad.
Thank you for the heads up on Remeron. I'll consult with my doc if the discomfort gets to be too much.
Posted by PoohBear on March 11, 2004, at 11:49:14
In reply to Re: Just starting Effexor tomorrow. Advice?, posted by greywolf on March 11, 2004, at 11:26:09
I personally didn't have nausea YMMV...
Tony
> Panda:
>
> So, did you have any nausea? :) I've learned to deal with nausea, dry heaves, etc. Seems to be something you have to just accept with many of these meds. And that's too bad.
>
> Thank you for the heads up on Remeron. I'll consult with my doc if the discomfort gets to be too much.
Posted by Bill LL on March 11, 2004, at 12:52:28
In reply to Just starting Effexor tomorrow. Advice?, posted by greywolf on March 10, 2004, at 17:09:22
For fatigue, ask your doctor about Provigil (Modafinil). It works very well for many people and has a good side effect profile.
Posted by rainyday on March 11, 2004, at 15:13:42
In reply to Just starting Effexor tomorrow. Advice?, posted by greywolf on March 10, 2004, at 17:09:22
My side effects were
dry mouth
dry eyes (couldn't wear contact lenses for 8 weeks)
trembling
excessive sweating
vivid dreams
high blood pressure when dosage increased to 150mg/day - it returned to high normal when dosage reduced to 75mg/dayI am on buspar to help with the sleep, and xanax for generalized anxiety.
For me, the side effects were pretty awful, but I feel, overall, the best I have in years. The side effects took as long to subside as the med did to have its full effect.
Good luck - rainyday.
Posted by jack9999 on March 11, 2004, at 18:44:15
In reply to Just starting Effexor tomorrow. Advice?, posted by greywolf on March 10, 2004, at 17:09:22
Hello,
My wife has been trying to get off of Effexor XR for months. It has been a horrible drug for her - both starting and coming off. Nausea, vomiting, big emotional swings, headache, etc...
If you don't really need it, please don't start it!
We have been going after a natural approach with great results. Fish oil (DHA & EPA) in big doses is great for mood and mania (she's BP). Get the high quality stuff. Please look into "Orthomolecular Psy" It looks at what is actually going wrong in your body and tries to fix it - rather than covering over the symptoms like most of the pharmacology does.
Good luck and God willing.
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