![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 9311 to 9335 of 10407. Go back in thread:
Posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 11:00:20
In reply to Re: Is there an anti-depressnt that WONT make me fat?, posted by tlryan21 on November 10, 2005, at 6:12:43
I was telling my doctor I could tell 2 hours before it was time for my next dose of Affexor. He told me it was all in my head, as it is time-released and you always have the same amount in your system at all times. I just looked at him. I'm 51 yrs. old and I'm getting so tired of being treated like an idiot child. I have an illness. I am not retarded!!!
I try to take mine at the same time, but I'm not good about things like that. I hate pills for one thing. And I abhor being tied to a clock. My way around that, is I have a permanent alarm set on my iPAQ and it chimes to remind me it's "that time again!!!"
Something strange that I'm noticing. I quit smoking 3 years ago. And now I crave cigarettes so bad I can hardly stand it. It will get so bad I have to take a Xanax, and that's a guaranteed wasted five hours sleeping it off. Any suggestions anyone?
Yes, I know, I'm a mess. And I apologize to you all for sounding so needy. This is all new to me, and I feel like I'm just floundering around helplessly and making no headway.
Posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 11:03:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by sanny on November 10, 2005, at 8:06:43
Have you found that dividing the dosage to twice a day helps? I'm on 75mg and I take it at night.
Posted by Graceneeded on November 10, 2005, at 11:10:22
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » sanny, posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 11:03:58
I have been off Effexor a month now. I crashed once all meds got out of my system and just started on Symbyax (Prozac & Zyprexa) last night. Little bit of a hangover but not bad. This after a week of plain Prozac. I now remember what it was like off meds and it were not fun.
Posted by tlryan21 on November 10, 2005, at 11:19:37
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Graceneeded on November 10, 2005, at 11:10:22
> I have been off Effexor a month now. I crashed once all meds got out of my system and just started on Symbyax (Prozac & Zyprexa) last night. Little bit of a hangover but not bad. This after a week of plain Prozac. I now remember what it was like off meds and it were not fun.
I'm curious what you mean by crashed. Did all the previous feelings come back or was it a withdrawal. I tried Paxil after Effexor made me ill the first time, and it didn't help me, so I went back on the Effexor. I feel so much better on it despite some side effects. Why did you stop the Effexor?
Posted by sanny on November 10, 2005, at 11:27:46
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » Graceneeded, posted by tlryan21 on November 10, 2005, at 11:19:37
I haven't started taking 37.5 in the morning and 37.5 in the afternoon....Maybe I should be just taking it every morning...does that guarantee more daytime energy????? I just hate having that downward spiral about mid-day...I feel I just don't have the energy to do anything...NOTHING!!!!
Afternoons are when I usually get out and run errands, volunteer, or go to Barnes & Noble(my favorite place) and now I've gotten to the point where I can't even summon up the energy and then I feel I've wasted the day....then the dizziness, etc kicks in and I start the process all over...take my meds about 5 p.m. ...My dr. seems to prefer that I take in the evening, but my point is if the morning works..do it!!!! Am I correct?????????????/
Posted by tlryan21 on November 10, 2005, at 11:33:14
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by sanny on November 10, 2005, at 11:27:46
I do think that we are all different and need to find the best way to take our meds. There are a lot of other variable factors to be figured in. I think that you're right, whatever works for you, do it!
Just to let you all know, I have been very happy with this message board and feel I am not alone. It's been a big help to me to find other people that are like me.
Posted by haddsl on November 10, 2005, at 11:37:08
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by tlryan21 on November 10, 2005, at 11:33:14
> I do think that we are all different and need to find the best way to take our meds. There are a lot of other variable factors to be figured in. I think that you're right, whatever works for you, do it!
> Just to let you all know, I have been very happy with this message board and feel I am not alone. It's been a big help to me to find other people that are like me.
Your right! It has sure helped me and I have even referred friends here for support. It really does help you to know that you are not just crazy! Which is what I thought of me before this posting board. Now I know that it is not just me... and all of you must know how refreshing and hopeful that is!
Posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 11:56:38
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by sanny on November 10, 2005, at 11:27:46
It seems to work different for everyone. I take 75mg at night. However, about an hour after getting up in the morning, I start climbing the walls. I just took a half an Rx of 37.5mg to see how I feel today. If I feel better, then I'll halve my Rx and take 37.5 a night and again in the morning.
He gave me Xanax for the extreme anxiety that leads to panic attacks. They give me a hangover headache, and end up making me feel worse than I did before I took them. So I pretty much save them for acute nights of non-sleepiness. And I found out it's highly addictive. That's scarey for me, as I have what's called an "addictive personality" or some such nonsense (I may not have the term exactly correct.) Well, it's not nonsense, it's the truth.
The fun part is, after you figure out what works for you, then you have to go convince your doctor, who will chew you out for having the audacity to "self-medicate". It's my opinion that they don't have to live with us everyday, so please take pity on the person who does have to live with us. (Or in my case, when my boyfriend comes down to visit.) However, at the same time, I do not condone self-medicating and don't advise it.
Posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 12:04:55
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by tlryan21 on November 10, 2005, at 11:33:14
AMEN!!!!
Posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 12:09:40
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » tlryan21, posted by haddsl on November 10, 2005, at 11:37:08
When I told my doctor about this wonderful site, he was quite pleased that I wasn't just lying around feeling sorry for myself, that I was being pro-active in my own healing and recovery. Instead of acting impatient and put-out with me, he now listens to me and is much kinder and more patient and actually agrees with some of my suggestions or requests. (We'll see how it goes when I make my very first suggestion on my meds.) I can't guarantee every doctor will be that way, but it doesn't hurt to try to develop an open communication with your doctor, no matter how put off he makes you feel. He can't help you if he doesn't know.
Posted by sanny on November 10, 2005, at 12:19:37
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » tlryan21, posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 12:04:55
I found this site this morning and I've learned more today than I've learned in the past 3 years...y'all rock! I think I'm going to start taking the meds in the mornings and see if it changes the way I feel and my general attitude by the end of the day....I just want to feel normal (whatever that is!!!) ...have enough energy to get through the day and find joy doing so...
Posted by cablegirl on November 10, 2005, at 12:29:39
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » tlryan21, posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 12:04:55
Sanny,
That's right!!! Everyone is sooo different, you need to take your meds at a time that works best for you! I take my Effexor in the morning, but when I was on Lexapro, I had to take it at night, cuz it made me sooo sleepy!!! My doctor told me to take it at the time THAT WORKS FOR ME!!! So hang in there, and do WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU!!!!!
Take Care
Posted by Graceneeded on November 10, 2005, at 12:34:43
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » Graceneeded, posted by tlryan21 on November 10, 2005, at 11:19:37
I was on 225mg of Effexor and was starting to notice some side effects. Constipation, low sex drive, really bad headaches and anxious feelings in my chest. I was feeling good emmotionally so we decided to see how I would do off meds. Big mistake. It took about a month of seasickness from Effexor withdrawels to get to a point of really fealing good. I was great for about a month but had alot of RAGE. Then one day a lot of stressful things happened and it felt like a tent was thrown over my head.
Finnally I started on Lexapro but did not care for it so I went back to Prozac, which I had been off of for about 4-5 years. Within a week I could tell a small difference with the depression and anxiety. Now I am on Symbyax. Danny
Posted by nana on November 10, 2005, at 12:42:21
In reply to Re: Is there an anti-depressnt that WONT make me fat?, posted by tlryan21 on November 10, 2005, at 6:12:43
Thank you!! I thought I was going crazy. I just switched my dose to nighttime to see if that helps. I started last night and today I feel wonderful. So far anyway. I didn't realize until I found this wonderful site that so many people say the med has to be taken at exactly the same time of day. Before I would take it whenever now I have it on a timer to let me know when the dose is due. Hang in there!! If we all keep talking we can help each other thru anything.
Posted by bengi68 on November 10, 2005, at 15:49:38
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by spierson1253 on November 8, 2005, at 20:40:13
> Okay, I got my come-uppance yesterday. I've been reading what all of you have been writing, and I've been horried at times, of all the other drugs you have to take because of and/or in conjuction with, the Affexor. I was telling the doctor how I could tell when I was close to the next does because anxiety would start to set it. He harrumphed and told me it was time-released, and that the anxiety was not from the that. And he wrote me an additional Rx for Xanax. Which he then informs me is very addictive. I am feeling better on the Effexor, as it doesn't turn me into a veritable zombie by damping all of my emotions. It still allows me to think and feel, but without all the emotional "acting out" (screaming at inanimate objects, crying for hours and hours and hours, feeling under attacke if someone tried to question me about something trifling, etc etc etc). But I still cannot quell the particular anxiety that leads to panic attacks.
>
> I saw an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) person the other day, although I was fired. I wanted to strangle this woman. She was only a trained counselor. I heard things like "now you know, we must live in the now, as yesterday no longer has a hold on us." I finally had to tell me that if she didn't stop talking to me like a pre-school teacher, I'd get up and leave. She complied. It was still a colossal waste of time. There's not anything she can do to assist me. I'm already fired.
>
> They are weaning me off medical marijuana for sleeping. I have such a hard time sleeping, that this really scares me. Chemical sleep aids either work two hours and I'm awake the rest of the night, or the side-effects are worse than the lack of sleep. Marijuana isn't addictive, has no side affects, you can't overdose on it, and I get 4-6 uninterrupted hours of sleep. Pure heaven. But I want to get better, I despise me this way, so I'll do what I have to to get there. If I find that the sleep thing isn't resolving, I'll be going back to the marijuana. You cannot heal emotionally, mentally, or spiritually if your mind is too exhausted all the time.
>
> I went to a psychologist for a psychological evaluation this morning (four exhausting hours!!). As the guys in the little white coats didn't show up to take me away, I'm assuming I'm not totally insane and a danger to others??? I wish they weren't the bubble fill-in types because some of those questions just begged a response. ("Do you consider Hitler to be a hero of the people?") I kid you not. I laughed out loud. There was a guy in there taking his test for the police dept., and he said quietly over his shoulder "I don't blame you."
>
> For right now, I'm trying to figure out a way to keep from sucking my cheeks in and clenching my teeth (this can cause me to chew the inside of my mouth into bleeding sores.) We aren't sure yet what's causing it, as it was really bad before the Affexor. I don't clench them until they lock shut, but I hold my jaw so rigid the muscles will start to spasm and I have to hold my jaw closed to keep from being embarrassed if I'm in public. Any suggestions on that one?
>
let me tell you something. ive self medicated with weed for years and yes it does make you relaxed but it also made me want more and more until i was anxious all the time without it. i needed it day in and day out. i thought it wasnt addicting too until i tried to stop. anything that alters your mind is addicting. once i started the effexor and stopped the drugs things got much better. Their is no magic pill that you can take that will make you 100 percent better. we are broken people to some extent and we will be that way untill we die. Life does get better but you will always have bad days. i think we are wired differently then others. anyway stay on the effexor and maybe a little klonopin at night and lots of old fashioned therapy.just my opinion
Posted by jeminiwmn on November 10, 2005, at 18:44:05
In reply to Re: Effexor XR vs. Paxil and weight gain, posted by Bets43 on November 3, 2005, at 7:58:37
You may have a yucky taste in your mouth I agree. Effexor did tend to energize me from what I remember, but darn if I didn't start "puffing" up like crazy after only about a month. EVERYONE'S CHEMISTRY IS DIFFERNT. I suddenly ended up w/ high cholesterol. I still exercised but couldn't get the weight off. It was obvious to me as well that this and ALL anti-depressants seem to have a negative effect ON ME-especially where weight gain is concerned.
My issue is when the Dr.s deny this and I have know so many people that told me and have seen w/ my own eyes. I easily put on 30+ pounds when on anti-depressants. I don't know what to do anymore-as I'm more depressed w/ the weight on me-I don't want to go out/ let alone get dressed. I'm used to being in shape and pretty thin/not skinny, but thin and this to me, is messed up how it messes w/ your body chemistry to the degree that it affects your libido and your weight among other problems. I know in the beginning I had gastro intestenal problems as well. I think they need to give you a little something to help w/ the weight issue in addition to this drug among manyyyyy others.
Posted by TinMan on November 10, 2005, at 18:48:00
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by Graceneeded on November 10, 2005, at 12:34:43
> I was on 225mg of Effexor and was starting to notice some side effects. Constipation, low sex drive, really bad headaches and anxious feelings in my chest. I was feeling good emmotionally so we decided to see how I would do off meds. Big mistake. It took about a month of seasickness from Effexor withdrawels to get to a point of really fealing good. I was great for about a month but had alot of RAGE. Then one day a lot of stressful things happened and it felt like a tent was thrown over my head.
> Finnally I started on Lexapro but did not care for it so I went back to Prozac, which I had been off of for about 4-5 years. Within a week I could tell a small difference with the depression and anxiety. Now I am on Symbyax. DannyHey Danny ~
Thanks for keeping us posted on how it was to get off of the Effexor. It is good to know how it went for you.Let us know how the combo that you are on now goes for you.
I went off the Wellbutrin as I was getting irritable and edgy. So now I take 150 mg Effexor in the a.m. and 75 mg at night. That seems to help with the lethargy.
Also, if I stand up too fast, move too quickly, I get the woozy, blacking out feeling, too. Weird...
~TinMan
Posted by jeminiwmn on November 10, 2005, at 18:58:22
In reply to Re: Is there an anti-depressnt that WONT make me fat?, posted by nana on November 9, 2005, at 17:37:40
Now that I'm reading this-I'm starting to wonder if I should be BACK on the Effexor-It did give me energy I must say. I went on welbutrin about ahhh a year ago and my energy is sapped=and I didn't loose weight from it either. I hear all this about welbutrin making you loose weight. Now I realize that the only reason I really went off the Effexor was because of the libido problems-I was able to get up in the morning though and have a productive day. Yes the beginning side effects are ugghgh-stomach prblms etc... but they do subside. I think if it's possible-to add a dietary suppliment and I'm sorry but I wish I could post what worked well for me in conjunction w/ the Effexor. FDA took it off the market and has now allowed for some to go back on in certain doses-pending final outcome. I never abused it though-only needed like 1 a day. I never took 6 or 8 thinking I was going to loose more weight that way. I wonder now. I know I can't be on nothing. I'm sorry to say, but MOST anti depressants DO cause weight gain and I'm glad that I'm reading it here to-because my dr. is a little sarcastic when I tell her how upset I am about the 30t+ pounds that I can't get off for the life of me. I wish they would get on some of these boards and just READ-there's an obvious problem here.
Posted by jeminiwmn on November 10, 2005, at 19:05:29
In reply to Re: Is there an anti-depressnt that WONT make me fat?, posted by Gertrude on November 8, 2005, at 19:10:51
Well-I have said my piece on a lot of this. I know it ALL causes weight gain. I don't have a problem w/ overeating for the most part. It seems I have to work out and eat like a diet pro to get this right. I didn't have a weight prblm until I started the anti=depressant cycle. I only gained a lot during my pregnancy a thousand years ago-got it off and stayed thin-until i went on the roller coaster ride. I only know that eventually you do get more energy from the effexor. I know dr.s are doing a lot of "coctail" mixes w/ a little of this and that. Tompomax is supposed to aid in weightloss-NOT FOR ME. It helped mess up my memory though-LOL. I feel like a human guinea pig and my doc is frustrated w/ me because I can't stand the weight issues and I don't know where to turn next.
I hope it works for you-good luck.
Posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 19:10:34
In reply to Re: Effexor XR vs. Paxil and weight gain, posted by jeminiwmn on November 10, 2005, at 18:44:05
My doctor went ballistic when I told him I knew when it was 2 hours before the next dose. He says that's impossible because it's time-released. I wasn't in the mood to argue with him. I'm going to take the link and some prints of things users have said on this site and show them to him. I think we, as patients, sometimes need to educate our doctors.
Posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 19:15:46
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by TinMan on November 10, 2005, at 18:48:00
I was taking 75mg at night, and feeling horrible all the next day. So, I had some 37.5mg leftover, and started taking one of those in the morning. It was great. Today was the first time in 3-1/2 weeks that I actually got up and started task AND finished it. I was so proud of myself. I flushed my Xanax down the toilet a little while ago. I hate it. I hate the way I feel when it wears off. He prescribed it for panic attacks, like when I have to drive somewhere. Now you tell me, why would he prescribe something that knocks me out for four hours to take before I drive?
Posted by sanny on November 10, 2005, at 19:31:27
In reply to Re: Effexor XR vs. Paxil and weight gain » jeminiwmn, posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 19:10:34
Darn tootin' you know your own body....I always know when it's near time to take the Effexor...I have those dizzy, weird buzzing feelings in my brain....feel lightheaded, etc...I cannot believe that an "educated dr." would not be able to believe reactions vary from person to person. Is this part of the "too many patients, too little time" syndrome? Do they not want to take the time to listen and do what's best for their patients? I've been lucky that my dr. does listen to me although there are times when I feel like I'm going to feel a giant automated hand push me out of the room because my time is up!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 19:40:35
In reply to Re: Effexor XR vs. Paxil and weight gain, posted by sanny on November 10, 2005, at 19:31:27
Thank you for that mental picture of the big metal hand pushing you out of the exam room. That was a good analogy.
Posted by 4wd on November 10, 2005, at 21:32:38
In reply to Re: Is there an anti-depressnt that WONT make me fat? » tlryan21, posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 11:00:20
>
>
> Something strange that I'm noticing. I quit smoking 3 years ago. And now I crave cigarettes so bad I can hardly stand it. It will get so bad I have to take a Xanax, and that's a guaranteed wasted five hours sleeping it off. Any suggestions anyone?
>No suggestions, but I just wanted to let you know that Effexor turned me from a pack a day smoker to almost two packs a day. Don't let anyone tell you it's all in your head. I smoked a pack a day for 20 years and it was definitely the Effexor that upped the desire for nicotine.
Marsha
> Yes, I know, I'm a mess. And I apologize to you all for sounding so needy. This is all new to me, and I feel like I'm just floundering around helplessly and making no headway.
Posted by spierson1253 on November 10, 2005, at 22:17:01
In reply to Re: Is there an anti-depressnt that WONT make me fat? » spierson1253, posted by 4wd on November 10, 2005, at 21:32:38
Okay, this may sound strange or completely off the wall to some of you, but please bear with me.
A long time ago, I was addicted to methamphetimines. I am noticing some of the same side effects from Effexor that I had while on meth. Most noticably, as I've already mentioned, is the intense need to smoke. There is also, the jaw clenching and sucking in the sides of my mouth, and even though my heartrate doesn't increase, sometimes I swear it feels like my heart is going to beat itself to death. If I take a Xanax to calm this effect, I have to sleep it off. Is this from too high a dose of Effexor, or will it go away as the dr. ups the dosage (which he did not do my last visit).
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.