Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 368888

Shown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 9:01:27

Doctor just gave this to deal with my depression, anxiety, anto social behavior, lack of interest in things i loved to do, loss of sexual activity and very weird mood swings. Im very scared being on this considering i just took my first dose today.

Any personal stories on this drug would be greatly appreciated.

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by Bill LL on July 22, 2004, at 9:19:43

In reply to Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 9:01:27

Effexor is great for your symptoms (although it will not necessarily help with sexual response). It's also very safe.

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 9:35:16

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by Bill LL on July 22, 2004, at 9:19:43

Well my libedo was never an issue until i was diagnosed with my depression, i hope as i start to get better that will come back.

My doctor has started me with 37.5 and 75mg next week and so on. Ive read the percentages double on the side affects at 75mg it has me scared.

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by Camille Dumont on July 22, 2004, at 10:16:41

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 9:35:16

Effexor worked for me although only when I reached 300 ... for people who can tolerate the side effects it can be a very very good antidepressant.

However, its also known for being one of the most difficult to get off from. But when the depression is really bad ... when the suicide attempts are very much real and possible, potential addiction to the stuff takes a back seat as in I way I guess its better to be addicted to some little pills than to be dead.

I didn't find the side effects of dosage increase to be that much of a problem ... past the 150 mark, I didn't even feel any difference when I went to 225 and then 300.

But for me it absolutely completely totally killed all of my libido ... hopoefully it will be different for you.

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by pretty_paints on July 22, 2004, at 10:23:01

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 9:35:16

hey sareny,

I'm sorry you're worried. I was too, definately, before I started on Efexor. I was on prozac before when I discovered, and I remembered reading all these freaky posts about venlafaxine and thinking, 'wow, im so glad im not on that'. But then Prozac didnt work too well and the doctor was like "right, lets try venlafaxine" and I was like "is that Efexor..?" and he's like "YEH!" and I totally freaked out! Nooo, cant take that etc etc.

But in the end I did, coz I trusted him I suppose. And also because I felt so so bad that I didnt feel I had much to loose.

I'm on 300mg now. My GP put me up to 150mg and then refered me to a pdoc (im in the UK), who pushed it up a bit higher. I was worried about the higher doses, but my pdoc explained it all really well and how it is totally safe, non-addictive etc. Its also one that's thought to be really very good by a lot of doctors.

Personally, my family did notice some improvement at the lower doses, and I suppose I had to admit that there were some changes. But it was only at the last increase that something suddenly clicked. I've only been on 300mg for about 5 days, but already it seems to be kicking in. Just a big 'good' feeling. Its also very calming. I have big anxiety and panic attacks too, and this has been brill. Actually, up until recently, I hadnt even realised I'd been so totally wired-up and nervous for YEARS. It feels weird to actually RELAX into my body! The depression and anxiety made me feel very...separated from my body. Whats the word for that? Cant remember. Well. Anyway. I also had lots of body jerks and things, but these seem to have actually stopped now! So it is getting a big thumbs up from me!

In terms of symptoms, I basically just had a breakdown, and stopped functioning. All the normal depression stuff. Refusing to go out, see friends, total lack of interest in things I used to like, complete loss of appetite just coz it was too much effort to eat. And sleeping ALL DAY LONG. I dunno, everything because a nothingness. Music just sounded disjointed, like weird sounds all put together, my taste and smell went (like it does when u have a cold), my vision was blurry and narrow.

Um, side effects. To be honest, I didnt have any problematic side effects until 300mg. Maybe a little sexual dysfunction (but the thing was, with the depression I had ZERO/ZILCH/NOWT interest in sex!! So becoming "undepressed" actually meant MORE of an interest in sex! if that makes sense). Maybe agitated and a bit weird for the first week or so. Oh yes, and also my anxiety would be worse for the first few days after an increase, my heart would race and I'd be hyperventilating etc etc. But once that had passed, my anxiety was actually reduced. At 300mg, I did actually feel a bit unwell for a few days. "Brain shivers" they call them, but really for me, I would just get a shiver like you get when you're really cold, and then it would continue to my head, but not ON my scalp, actually IN my head! But woooah, that makes it sound really frankenstinish and weird!! Its not at all. Its just an unusual sensation. Um, and yes, I did feel a bit ill, like when you get a virus or the flu. But I just took it easy, used it to get lots of sympathy and grapes off of everyone, and in a few days I was feeling fine again.

I will keep you posted on how I get on as the time continues. And please keep me posted on how you get on!! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask! Good luck! xxx

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 10:42:11

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by pretty_paints on July 22, 2004, at 10:23:01

Thank you it helps to read that, seems we have similar symptoms exceps where my depression made me eat eat and eat, my weight jumped from 170lb to 210.

It really helps to read this in hopes of calming my fears.

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by Camille Dumont on July 22, 2004, at 11:39:01

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 10:42:11

The meds made me lose weight ... especially when I was on Effexor 225 + Seroquel 50. No matter what I did, I would lose a pound a week ... without trying. And I'm not the type of person who changes weight easily ... so it really freaked me out a bit ... but it was still a passable BMI. In the end it stabilized after I stopped the antipsychotics but before the depression I used to be 115 or so ... and now I'm usually around 105 ... but it really depends on how you react ... me I think its basically because I just couldn't stop moving my legs and the Seroquel made me soooooo hot at night ... and I would toss and turn and then wake up shivering and cold because my clothes and bed were soaked in sweat .. sort of like running a marathon while you sleep.

One thing I guess I should mention about teh Effexor is the dreams. You will most likely have nightmares ... really vivid ones for the first week or so ... but don't worry ... it goes away ... in fact afterwards most people state that they're having more vivid dreams ... for me they are usuall fun and a bit wacky but no nightmares ... and you remember them more.

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 11:51:43

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by Camille Dumont on July 22, 2004, at 11:39:01

Will i have these dreams considireng i dont dream to begin with?

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by pretty_paints on July 22, 2004, at 12:15:27

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 11:51:43

Ohmigod yeh, my DREAMS!! If I could capture them somehow, Id make a million making them into films!! They totally stick with me throughout the day too. I had one where people kept trying to steal my Nan to make her into clothes and purses! Like they do with foxes or whatever. And she, being a bit ditzy anyway, kept going off with these young boys and Id have to chase her like NAAAANNN, COME BACK!! THEY'RE GONNA TURN YOU INTO A PURSE!!! It took me ages to go back to normality when I saw her the next day and was really freaked out!

haha :)

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr » sareny

Posted by Colleen D. on July 22, 2004, at 14:35:02

In reply to Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 9:01:27

> Doctor just gave this to deal with my depression, anxiety, anto social behavior, lack of interest in things i loved to do, loss of sexual activity and very weird mood swings. Im very scared being on this considering i just took my first dose today.
>
> Any personal stories on this drug would be greatly appreciated.


I'm taking Effexor for the same problems as you on top of post-partum depression. I have been on it since May 18 and the only real side effects I've had are sweats and insomnia (which I had before I started it). I like it MUCH better than Zoloft which I was on before for PPD; Zoloft made me a walking zoombie! Anyway, I'm doing great at 150mg a day but will be undergoing a formal evaluation by a psychiatrist soon and he/she may adjust the dosage as I'm still having a bit of nighttime anxiety.

As for the dreams, I used to dream vividly, but they stopped when I started Effexor. Now they're back but not nightmarish at all.

Good luck!

Colleen
PPD, GAD and OCD

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by Camille Dumont on July 22, 2004, at 16:17:48

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 11:51:43

> Will i have these dreams considireng i dont dream to begin with?

Well, its not that you don't dream right now ... its most likely that you don't remember them ... I don't think someone can survive for very long without the sleep in which you dream.

I guess its not a universal thing but I've heard lots and lots of people mentionning the dreams. For me it was only really bad once when I was on 75mg I think and I forgot my pills ... MY GOD the nightmares were SOOOOO vivid. First I dreamed that I was being burned alive ... and I didn't faint "before" the flames got to me. then I was being eaten by a shark ... again without the mercifulll fainting ... then I dreamed that my father was trying to kill me .... and last but not least, I was dreaming that I was dreaming and I knew I was dreaming and I was sort of "stuck" in it and I couldn't "wake up" ... very scary. I went for the rest of the weekend without sleeping because I was too afraid ... but again, this was by going cold turkey.

I tend to dream very elaborate "stories" that don't make any sense but they are quite entertaining ... who knows, maybe they were like that before and I just didn't remember them.

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr » sareny

Posted by partlycloudy on July 22, 2004, at 19:12:57

In reply to Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by sareny on July 22, 2004, at 9:01:27

Hello, and welcome to our very exclusive club. I've been on Effexor XR since last October and now at 150mg. I know that it saved my sanity and life. I also take Wellbutrin XR (300mg), Ambien and Xanax. The Effexor gave me loads of side effects: made me jittery, sweating, vivid dreams, increased blood pressure (though that was resolved when we went up again, SLOWLY). It helped me hugely with the depression and anxiety. I had to add the Wellbutrin to stop crying and it's made me constipated! what a joy! and I must take the Ambien to be able to sleep. The Xanax is for panic attacks. I did extensive reading and asking of questions when I started on effexor. Everybody reacts differently, but I honestly have to say that the benefits have outweighed the drawbacks compared to other AD I had been on.

Keep in touch, and good luck!

 

Re: eek. 300mg question?!

Posted by pretty_paints on July 23, 2004, at 5:23:36

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr » sareny, posted by partlycloudy on July 22, 2004, at 19:12:57

Don't mean to hijack your post sareny but just thought I'd ask a question here since this seems to be where all the Efexor dudes are hanging out :)

Right guys, can any of you shed some light on this? Basically Iv been on 300mg for 6 days now. Now this morning, I forgot to take my tablets, I was about 3 hours late. As I sat there, I realised I felt different so I tried to note the differences before and after taking the tablets. Okay, here goes...

BEFORE taking them, I felt much worse. Had this big black hole type terror that Iv had for ages. BUT (here's the weird bit) I actually found it easier to get out of bed, get downstairs, make some breakfast etc. I even felt a little clearer, and maybe even a bit more 'normal'?

AFTER taking them, I felt GOOD. But it was a kind of fuzzy good-ness. Like, more a feeling of well-being, but much less clear and much slower. I sat for ages on the floor before getting up, and took ages to get myself to do anything. It wasnt like how it was before I started on any medication where the reason I couldnt function coz I was overanalysing everything - it was more just like a BLANK. Just a blank. Its difficult to describe it. I found it more difficult to get myself around and do stuff, a bit on-another-planet!

Okay. So the only things I can think of are

1) Iv only been on this dose for 6 days and you're supposed to give yourself at least 2 weeks arnt you. So maybe its just an initial side-effect that I feel sleepy and a bit out-of-it! (even tho I do feel some of the 'good' stuff).

or

2) Maybe its too sedating. So I dont feel motivated to DO stuff. I just lie on the floor "feeling good". Hmm. I'll just carry on for now since I'm not seeing my pdoc for AGES. I could go see my GP but he wouldnt have a clue about details (his words!). He'd just be like "ah look up at the sky! look at the birds!". Hehe. No, he's okay really, he just doesnt understand the ins and outs of particular AD's.

Its very weird. I kinda just thought, without tablets I'd feel bad and be unmotivated and lethargic, and then WITH them, Id feel GOOD and motivated and clearer!! But obviously that is not the case. Oh its never black and white is it... :(

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr

Posted by sareny on July 23, 2004, at 9:00:16

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr » sareny, posted by partlycloudy on July 22, 2004, at 19:12:57

I just started 2 days ago at 37.5mg, im actually thinking about stoping with the pills until i get back from vacation with the wife and kids. I would feel terrible if i suffered any side effects next week with my children. (sezures, headaches etc.)considering next week will be my first week at 75mg.

Any thoughs?

 

Re: eek. 300mg question?! » pretty_paints

Posted by partlycloudy on July 23, 2004, at 10:04:41

In reply to Re: eek. 300mg question?!, posted by pretty_paints on July 23, 2004, at 5:23:36

Well, it took me 12 weeks to adjust to effexor and feel the full benefits. I knew I was a slow learner, but apparently my whole body is. Everyone is different, but I did feel better immediately, and as I titrated up to my present dose of 150mg of the XR, it kept improving. When I got to the point where I could be motivated enough to exercise, the improvement took a quantum leap.

 

Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr » sareny

Posted by partlycloudy on July 23, 2004, at 10:07:24

In reply to Re: Starting out on Effexor-xr, posted by sareny on July 23, 2004, at 9:00:16

Hard to say - I felt so much better as soon as I started taking it. Even though the side effects threw me for a loop, I think it was worse because I didn't know what to expect.

So, you can start to feel better now (hopefully), or you can start to feel better after your vacation.

 

Re: eek. 300mg question?!

Posted by Camille Dumont on July 23, 2004, at 13:20:34

In reply to Re: eek. 300mg question?!, posted by pretty_paints on July 23, 2004, at 5:23:36

Well, Effexor is a strange sort of drugs as in you go through stages and it affects your brain differently as you increase the dose ... it is quite possible that feel different.

I don't find it sedating ... or I should say "didn't" find it sedating as I've been off my 300mg for close to a week now.

It did give me energy but only sporadically. I'd get those days where I felt like climbing a mountain ... but most of the time it made me feel numb ... it numbed the sadness and the depression but also the happiness and joy.

The dependence on the pills can grow quite strong. I used to be all grumpy in the morning until I took my meds ... my s.o. knew not to appoach me before I popped my meds in the morning so its quite normal that you might feel a bit more tired in the morning as your body craves your next dose and what not.


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