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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by E-Lee on March 17, 2004, at 2:49:46
In reply to Re: drinking and weight gain on effexor » jbird, posted by Minh in Vietnam on March 16, 2004, at 9:04:25
> Hello Effexor users-
>
> There are many posts regarding drinking alcohol and taking Effexor.
>
> Q: Why are you taking Effexor?
> A: To treat your depression.
>
> Q: What is alcohol classified as?
> A: A depressant.
>
> Q: Why would a depressed person deliberately consume a depressant?
> A: Because he/she is either stupid or not serious about getting well.
>
> Sorry guys. You can't have your cake and eat it, too. I spent a decade drinking alcohol while taking antidepressants, and I was crazier than a shit-house rat. But once I quit drinking alcohol the medicine was allowed to work, and I got well.
>
> Who would of thought?
>
I agree with you but honestly we all just want to be able to live normal lives and that includes being able to have a drink or two now and then. Anyhow, I haven't had any major problems with drinking on any of my antidepressants, not that I am saying it is smart, but breathing in general these days is bad for your health. Life is too short and I plan to enjoy every minute of it and thanks to my doctor and some very close friends and family - I now can.Lee
Posted by E-Lee on March 17, 2004, at 2:54:58
In reply to Re: drinking and weight gain on effexor, posted by KennyBingo on March 16, 2004, at 16:55:56
Well said KB - couldn't have said it better myself!!!!!!!
Lee
Posted by jbird on March 17, 2004, at 7:07:18
In reply to Re: drinking and weight gain on effexor, posted by muggins on March 17, 2004, at 0:32:48
"Amen" to your comments Muggins and Lee.
Spinxxie I don't feel I was being snippy-just defending myself. I could make alot of smart ass comments about what people post myself, but I thought the whole purpose of this was for support not to judge each another
Posted by KimberlyDi on March 17, 2004, at 13:24:07
In reply to Re: Alternatives to Effexor XR?, posted by DepNYer on March 15, 2004, at 14:08:07
Malka,
I'll vouch for Imipramine. I'm on low doses of it at night. It combined with a mood stabilizer has done wonders. (I'm a rapid-cycler with ADHD/ADD inattentive symptoms) Is your diagnosis correct?KDi in TX
> Malka, if you're looking for a drug that affects both pathways as Effexor does, you may want to consider the older TCA's, such as imipramine.
Posted by semi-conscious on March 17, 2004, at 13:50:40
In reply to Re: drinking and weight gain on effexor, posted by jbird on March 16, 2004, at 19:55:50
> I'm sorry you were "crazier than a shithouse rat" when you were drinking and taking antidepressants. I don't consider myself a "depressed person" and I just wanted to know if anyone else had the same desire for an occasional social drink. Geez. Excuse me for asking.>
(My response) You don't have to apologize to anyone. Everyone handles the symptoms of their depression in their own way. I know they say not to drink with ant-depressants, they say that about all drugs. I'm not saying you should, I'm here to say that I have and do. Not a whole lot. But, sometimes the anxiety can quickly be calmed by a drink. Sometimes the anxiousness is exacerbated by the Effexor, sometimes not. Depends on what I have eaten or how much coffee or how much Iced tea I've drank. I have incredibly little energy and cannot even get off the couch without some kind of stimulant. Sometimes in my effort to accomplish at least ONE THING THAT DAY, I drink too much caffiene. So I have a drink or two. It doesn't get me hammered. In fact I really don't care to drink as much as I used to. Also, some people have a hard time sleeping on EFfexor. I find that I can fall asleep awhile after a couple drinks. I do a lot of thngs I shouldn't do while taking anti-depressants, but I hate to think what I'd be like if I did't take them because I use other chemicals now and then. Trial and error or trial and right, I think I've found MY right combination.
Posted by Shyla on March 17, 2004, at 15:10:41
In reply to Re: Insomnia » sira, posted by PoohBear on March 16, 2004, at 9:31:47
I take 4 mgs of Gabatril, with 5 mgs of Ambien. The Ambien is to get me to sleep, and the Gabatril kicks in to get me into delta sleep, the deep sleep needed in order to feel rested. I sleep like a rock!
Posted by sira on March 17, 2004, at 15:27:47
In reply to Re: Insomnia, posted by Shyla on March 17, 2004, at 15:10:41
Thanks for the suggestions to help sleep. I went to see my dr. and he gave me a sleeping pill that works for about four hours so that I can get up for work at 5 am. I think it is called Starnoc. But even with the sleep I still seem to have a horrid memory and no clarity of thought. But I have only been on Effexor for a week and I up the dose tommorow so hopefully I start to get better.
Sira
Posted by Shyla on March 17, 2004, at 15:35:29
In reply to Re: Insomnia, posted by sira on March 17, 2004, at 15:27:47
It takes 2-4 weeks for Effexor to really take effect. When it does, you'll know and hopefully feel better. I was on Remeron, and felt quite dopey. I feel more like my healty-self on Effexor. I have more energy, and my sense of humor has returned. Yay. Please keep me posted. I'd like to hear how you feel in a couple of weeks. I wish the best for you. S
Posted by Salty_Dog on March 17, 2004, at 17:16:32
In reply to For Pain Relief?, posted by heart centered on March 16, 2004, at 12:09:50
> Prescribed effexor for pain relief. (had cervical fusion/shoulder sx-need replacement) At 37mg felt great as far as feeling anxiety/depression about inactive status. Doc's increased to 225mg and wants to go higher for pain relief. After reading your messages petrified. Help?
I did notice a significant improvement in pain reduction when taking higher dosage Effexor XR and also noticed to reverse when I reduced the dosage. I was taking dosages as high as 600 mg for extended periods ( > 6 months ) but not for pain. It just was a pleasant surprise to be able to discontinue opiate pain relievers and not have the terible backlash.
It didn't make sense to take opiates and anti-depresants but there are circumstances where that sort of mixture works out at lower dosages than would have been otherwise posible.BTW opiates are much more difficult to withdrawl from than Effexor XR. You may want to consider the trade off. Opiates will cause depression eventually (Beyond your wildest dreams), so, if you can I would take any other avenue posible.
Good luck
Posted by Spinxxie on March 17, 2004, at 17:18:20
In reply to Re: Insomnia » sira, posted by Shyla on March 17, 2004, at 15:35:29
I have had sleep issues for most of my life.. ughs.. i have REM behavior disorder (not sure if that is the exact name) but I miss a step and go right into rem, without my body paralyzing, so I have been known to sleep eat/walk/talk/play guitar/move things around.. yadda yadda. So I would get really exhausted as well. With a combo of anti-depressants and imovane if it gets bad has helped.. though.. i find these new drugs help more then the imovane did.. I rarely did an nocturnal activities on zoloft, nor so far on Effexor.. but.. I do sometimes have a hard time falling asleep..but since I am new to effexor, I tend to find myself napping a lot anyways..
sorry.. if I was harsh earlier.. On zoloft, I could have the odd drink, got tipsy once, and omg the hangover was hell.. never never again.
Good luck.. tc..Spinxxie
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 17, 2004, at 22:58:27
In reply to Re: drinking and weight gain on effexor » jbird, posted by Minh in Vietnam on March 16, 2004, at 9:04:25
> I was crazier than a sh[*]t-house rat.
Sorry to be such a prude, but please don't use language that could offend others.
If you have any questions or comments about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
or redirect a follow-up to Psycho-Babble Administration.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 17, 2004, at 23:03:22
In reply to Re: drinking and weight gain on effexor, posted by jbird on March 17, 2004, at 7:07:18
> I could make alot of smart [*]ss comments
Sorry to be such a prude, but please don't use language that could offend others.
If you have any questions or comments about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
or redirect a follow-up to Psycho-Babble Administration.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by cpallen79 on March 18, 2004, at 14:58:11
In reply to Re: My tapering off update!!, posted by realblonde48 on March 11, 2004, at 12:10:54
Are you on the XR? Can you try opening the capsules and SLOWLY tapering that way? (i.e dump 5 to 10 pellets every 3 to 4 weeks...yes, THAT slow, I'm NOT kidding). Put the capsule back together, and then be sure to wipe the capsule with a dry cloth (something I didn't do but probably should have.) You need to do this VERY VERY VERY VERY slowly. If you went from 300 down to 37.5, that is way too fast in my opinion. Also, don't crush the pellets in the effexor capsule or anything. I'm not a doctor, but I tihnk this may help. Double chekc on this with your doc to see what he or she thinks. best of luck to you.
Posted by Clayton on March 18, 2004, at 16:26:39
In reply to Re: Alternatives to Effexor XR?, posted by Malka on March 14, 2004, at 3:25:47
REMARON works on both the neurotransmitters you mentioned. It is not an RI inhibibtor, though. Rather, it auguments the supply of both seratonin and norepinephrine.
I use Remarom in comination with Paxil. The combination has worked absolute wonders without sise-effects of any kind. Remaron and Paxil are synergististic with respect to seratonin as Remaron enhanched the supply and Paxil blocks its reuptake. I was on Paxil alone for two years and it did very little for me. Within 3 or 4 days of adding the Remaron, however, I felt better than I had in years.
I am diagnosed with depression (mood disorsder) and SAD. The depression has abated about 90% since starting this combination and I have not had a single SAD attack...not one... not even close.
Of course, this may all be due to the Remaron alone...who knows? But I don't want to mess with success.
Best of luck to you!
Posted by ljfordrbob on March 18, 2004, at 17:16:25
In reply to Effexor Newbie (nm), posted by ljfordrbob on March 18, 2004, at 17:13:03
Hello all, I had some pretty severe depression in my teens but came out of it in my mid-20's. I'm now officially 'middle-aged'. A few life-changing incidents in my life seemed to trigger some serious anxiety. My dr. originally prescribed prozac but that sent me off into a depression - my head felt like it was balancing an anvil.
I'm now just starting up on Effexor XR. I just completed week 2 (75mg/day). Today I took my dosage in the morning without breakfast, then had a kind of rotten setback at work, and BAM I went spiraling into kind of a depression. I had this overwhelming feeling that I wished I would just disappear, evaporate. I have a wonderful wife and super kids. I'm usually a go-getter and have always felt kind of lucky. The feeling that I've had today is reminiscent of my teenage depression - deep sorrow, serious suicidal thoughts. I hope you'll all be patient with my meandering here, this is the first time in my life I've taken meds for anxiety or depression. I'm just hoping that this is a bridge to getting back on track. Could the Effexor XR have caused such a problem?
Posted by effexed on March 18, 2004, at 18:04:45
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
I started takeing effexor I guess around 3 months ago lost all kinds of weight now that I have started takeing my med at night not in the morning like at first I am putting on the FAT I had lost and then some dose this make sence to anyone I have not added any more food to my diet if any thing I starve my self NOT ON PERPOSE got 2 kids 1 job and full time student not much time to eat anyway if anyone has some info on why this might start hapening feel free to comment
Thanks Cindy TX
Posted by realblonde48 on March 18, 2004, at 20:39:40
In reply to Re: My tapering off update!!, posted by cpallen79 on March 18, 2004, at 14:58:11
I know that it has been a fast cycle for me. I can't believe that I have been going through this "coming off" nightmare for a month already. I have been splitting the dosage, trying to get through this. After being on 18 mg. with spltting the 37 1/2 mg. capsule in half, I thought maybe I was getting there. Today was the third day off completely and I gave in around noon and took 9 mg. I know, I am rushing it. I had the brain shocks and headaches all day yesterday just the same as a month ago and spent the evening crying. I know I have said it before, but this has to be one of the most difficult things I have ever done. I can also say I am rushing things because of the weight gain. The extra 25 pounds I have aquired are driving me mad. The other thing that really bothers me is the fact that I want to snack all of the time now. Where does the roller coster stop? Has anyone else been through this kind of thing and how did you get through it? What's really sad is that this is spring break and 80 degrees outside. I can't move off of the couch because if I move too fast, my head starts spinning.
Posted by steinbd on March 18, 2004, at 20:56:15
In reply to Re: Effexor Long term usage, posted by dee pop on May 31, 2001, at 16:28:31
Has anyone had any problems with excessive acne while on effexor? I've been on and off effexor and have had all of the above symptoms that are listed in the other posts, but this acne is horrible. When I go off the pill, the acne goes away. I haven't heard of anyone else having this problem and would like it if someone would respond with the same problem.
Posted by E-Lee on March 18, 2004, at 22:10:57
In reply to Effexor Newbie, posted by ljfordrbob on March 18, 2004, at 17:16:25
Depression is such a horrible and debilitatating disease. I too have suffered from depression throughout my teens and the first half of my twenties until I discovered that there is help and that having to take medicine doesn't make me a weak person. Anyway, maybe the effexor hasn't kicked in yet. It took a few weeks for it to begin to work for me. I take 150mg/day, but I am a small person only weighing 115 lbs. 75mg seems like such a low dose. Everyone is different. Perhaps you may even need a combination of two drugs. Have you thought about talking to a therapist while you are going through this trying time? Also, try and surround yourself with positive people. Maybe try working out - that always seemed to help with my depression. Please just always remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that these feelings of despair are temporary. You will get better!
Good Luck!
Lee
Posted by Draisy on March 19, 2004, at 3:36:16
In reply to Re: Effexor XR » kellie323, posted by KimberlyDi on September 23, 2003, at 8:37:57
I love Wellbutrin but had a seizure on it, on 400 mg a day SR (another friend of a friend had aseizure on it too). my psychiatrist wants to change me to effexor but i'm freaking out about the possibility of weight gain and sexual dysfunction. I am going off wellbutrin rapidly (my doctor is scared of another seizure) and i am sinking into a colossal depression. can someone please give me advice about what to do?
I DON'T WANT TO GO OFF WELLBUTRIN! It has made such a difference in my life - isn't it possible for me to go on a lower dose and not have to deal with further possible seizures? (I woke up in a pool of blood on my floor after the seizure and I still don't want to go off wellbutrin - that's what a god-send this drug has been.)
Posted by Spinxxie on March 19, 2004, at 9:06:54
In reply to Wellbutrin to Effexor, posted by Draisy on March 19, 2004, at 3:36:16
If you are having seizures on wellbutrin.. it will only get worse... I have been on Effexor for about 2 weeks now, and no weight gain. Remember you are in control of what goes in your mouth. Seizures can be life threatening, I had 2 while being on Lithium(long gory story) and stopped the day after my second. Now that my depression is lifting, I am getting my libido back, so there is hope.. your life is more important then a few pounds. Hugs go out to you, sincerely
Spinxxie
Posted by newgirl on March 19, 2004, at 9:50:00
In reply to beginning to wean hopefully losing weight, posted by vanroni on March 21, 2001, at 20:37:32
I've been off of Effexor XR for 2 weeks now. The withdraw seems to be over - but I'm wondering if I'll be able to loose the 20 lbs I gained while on effexor.
I'd appreciate any success stories or words of encouragement!!!!!!!!
Posted by Dirtylowdown4 on March 19, 2004, at 12:43:39
In reply to Effexor Newbie, posted by ljfordrbob on March 18, 2004, at 17:16:25
I'm not sure it's the Effexor. Most people say this med works wonders for their depression. This is the first AD I have tried also although I have suffered from depression and anxiety since I was a child. I am now 49 years old. It took about 8 weeks for the Effexor to start to work for me. That is consistant with what the Company says about their drug. During that time my physician upped the dosage from 75 to 150 mg. Not every day has been a good day for me. I have days when the medication seems to do nothing for me and other days when I'm on top of the world. You might want to try taking it at different times during the day and find out what's best for you. Everyone seems to have their own preference. And you should try to always take with food. I take mine at dinner because I feel it zaps my energy and I work during the day and can't afford to fall asleep at my desk. Good luck with this med!
> Hello all, I had some pretty severe depression in my teens but came out of it in my mid-20's. I'm now officially 'middle-aged'. A few life-changing incidents in my life seemed to trigger some serious anxiety. My dr. originally prescribed prozac but that sent me off into a depression - my head felt like it was balancing an anvil.
>
> I'm now just starting up on Effexor XR. I just completed week 2 (75mg/day). Today I took my dosage in the morning without breakfast, then had a kind of rotten setback at work, and BAM I went spiraling into kind of a depression. I had this overwhelming feeling that I wished I would just disappear, evaporate. I have a wonderful wife and super kids. I'm usually a go-getter and have always felt kind of lucky. The feeling that I've had today is reminiscent of my teenage depression - deep sorrow, serious suicidal thoughts. I hope you'll all be patient with my meandering here, this is the first time in my life I've taken meds for anxiety or depression. I'm just hoping that this is a bridge to getting back on track. Could the Effexor XR have caused such a problem?
Posted by Dirtylowdown4 on March 19, 2004, at 12:55:51
In reply to got FAT?, posted by effexed on March 18, 2004, at 18:04:45
I have tried taking Effexor at all different times of day. I am currently taking my 150 mg dosage at dinner time. When my appetite increased tremendously I changed my snacking habits from higher to lower calorie snacks because I was afraid I'd gain weight based on comments I have read on this bulletin board. So far I have successfully maintained my weight within one or two pounds either way. I personally believe my calorie intake is about the same as before I started taking the Effexor so I don't believe my metabolism has changed at all. I eat more snacks to handle the increase in appetite but the individual snacks are lower in calores than before. Good luck with controlling your weight.
> I started takeing effexor I guess around 3 months ago lost all kinds of weight now that I have started takeing my med at night not in the morning like at first I am putting on the FAT I had lost and then some dose this make sence to anyone I have not added any more food to my diet if any thing I starve my self NOT ON PERPOSE got 2 kids 1 job and full time student not much time to eat anyway if anyone has some info on why this might start hapening feel free to comment
>
> Thanks Cindy TX
Posted by Dirtylowdown4 on March 19, 2004, at 12:59:47
In reply to Re: Effexor Long term usage, posted by steinbd on March 18, 2004, at 20:56:15
Yes, I too have experienced excessive acne plus terribly itchy skin since taking this medication and I am 49 years old and thought my acne days were over!
> Has anyone had any problems with excessive acne while on effexor? I've been on and off effexor and have had all of the above symptoms that are listed in the other posts, but this acne is horrible. When I go off the pill, the acne goes away. I haven't heard of anyone else having this problem and would like it if someone would respond with the same problem.
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