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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rmshed on June 13, 2001, at 18:54:35
My doctor wants me to try effexor along with my current medications. I am scared to take it. I am concerned about the side effects, especially the nausea. Any suggestions or comments, would be appreciated, good or bad.
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 13, 2001, at 18:55:51
In reply to Terrified of Effexor, posted by rmshed on June 13, 2001, at 18:54:35
Effexor is a viable option for you because:
*It has the possibility of affecting serotonin, norepinephrine, _and_ dopamine--more chemicals--thus increasing your chances for relief.
*It has no anticholinergic side-effects.
*Sexual disturbances are reported less than with SSRIs.
*It has gained the acceptance of psychiatrists worldwide in less than 8 years of U.S. FDA approval.
*It has few significant interactions with other medications.
*The idea of it being addicting due to withdrawal effects is unfounded; if it had any chance of being addicting, it would have been labeled at least a Schedule IV substance by the U.S. DEA.
Posted by Willow on June 13, 2001, at 20:58:19
In reply to Re: Terrified of Effexor » rmshed, posted by SalArmy4me on June 13, 2001, at 18:55:51
rmshed
There are a lot of people getting remarkable relief from this medication, this is probably one of the reasons it is being prescribed so much. I didn't have any nauseau from it.
Posted by rosalinda on June 14, 2001, at 2:47:25
In reply to Re: Terrified of Effexor » rmshed, posted by SalArmy4me on June 13, 2001, at 18:55:51
> Effexor is a viable option for you because:
> *It has the possibility of affecting serotonin, norepinephrine, _and_ dopamine--more chemicals--thus increasing your chances for relief.
> *It has no anticholinergic side-effects.
> *Sexual disturbances are reported less than with SSRIs.
> *It has gained the acceptance of psychiatrists worldwide in less than 8 years of U.S. FDA approval.
> *It has few significant interactions with other medications.
> *The idea of it being addicting due to withdrawal effects is unfounded; if it had any chance of being addicting, it would have been labeled at least a Schedule IV substance by the U.S. DEA.
>I feel a bit frustrated at this dismissal of the troubles that so many people have discussed on this board! Effexor can be a very helpful medication, but the suffering caused by withdrawal is very real. Denying its existence won't help anybody. Admitting its reality and figuring out ways to deal with it will!
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 14, 2001, at 8:36:38
In reply to Re: Terrified of Effexor, posted by rosalinda on June 14, 2001, at 2:47:25
How else are you going to find a drug that affects serotonin, norepinephrine, _and_ dopamine? Not everyone experiences withdrawal effects. I went cold-turkey from 375 mg of Effexor and had no problems.
Posted by EricJ on June 14, 2001, at 9:05:31
In reply to Re: Terrified of Effexor, posted by rosalinda on June 14, 2001, at 2:47:25
rmshed -
I'll share my experience with Effexor XR and the withdrawal which may or may not calm your fears.
I took Effexor for 9 months. Effexor was somewhat beneficial to me; it brought me up enough to deal with life, but I didn't feel as "good" on it as I had with other antidepressants. The only noticable side effect I had after the 1st month or so was the lack of sex drive and anorgasmia (frustrating at times, but not that big of a deal to me).
I stopped taking Effexor in February. My doctor had told me I could stop cold-turkey whenever I wanted because there were no withdrawal symptoms. Well, he was wrong. I took my last dose on a Wednesday... Friday I was feeling wierd, kind of spacy and out of it. Saturday I was more out of it and nauseous. Sunday I got some news which was mildly disappointing and I WAY OVERREACTED to the point of sobbing, crying, and screaming for about 4 hours. I was finally able to bring myself "down" by drinking a beer. For about a week after I felt emotionally/mentally "out of it", but did not have physical symptoms other than some mild nausea. One thing I found helped was going to the gym and getting on a cardio machine for 45 minutes every day. It released some tension and relaxed me.
If Effexor had been more effective for me, I wouldn't hesitate to take it again, even knowing the withdrawal symptoms. Yes, they were pretty horrible at the time, but didn't last THAT long (in my opinion). If I had to come off it again, I would conciously choose a couple weeks when I knew work wouldn't be demanding and I had a couple of valium on hand to deal with the emotional upheaval.
As of today, I have been on Wellbutrin for 3 weeks. It finally "kicked in" 4 days ago and I'm feeling good. I had REALLY bad anxiety (tight chest, muscle tension) for about a week and a half when I started and I have dry mouth. Sexually, though, in my case the reports that Wellbutrin can enhance your sex life are true!
It seems that these drugs affect people in different ways. I'm definitely not trying to minimize other people's experience with Effexor withdrawal. For me (in hindsight at least), the withdrawal just wasn't THAT bad...
take care!
Posted by stjames on June 14, 2001, at 11:26:24
In reply to Terrified of Effexor, posted by rmshed on June 13, 2001, at 18:54:35
> My doctor wants me to try effexor along with my current medications. I am scared to take it. I am concerned about the side effects, especially the nausea. Any suggestions or comments, would be appreciated, good or bad.
James here....
Effexor XR is much less likely to cause nausea than Effexor.
James
Posted by Judy on June 15, 2001, at 13:13:14
In reply to Re: Terrified of Effexor, posted by stjames on June 14, 2001, at 11:26:24
> My doctor wants me to try effexor along with my current medications. I am scared to take it. I am concerned about the side effects, especially the nausea. Any suggestions or comments, would be appreciated, good or bad.
rmshed -
There seems to be a bit of a paradox about discussing meds/side effects/withdrawal with others. On the one hand, it's very comforting to read that someone is experiencing or has experienced what you're going through; but on the other hand, it's very scary to read someone's horror story and fear the same thing may happen to you.
You have to keep reminding yourself that we are all totally different in our experiences and our ability to deal with them.
I took Effexor and Effexor XR about five years apart. Neither of them made me nauseous. (And I am a 'nausea freak'! It's amazing I allowed myself to become pregnant a second time after the morning sickness I had during my first pregnancy!) Unfortunately, neither type of Effexor turned out to be *my* relief from depression, and I weaned off them very easily both times. No withdrawal horror stories here.
So as you will see here time and again: YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary).
Judy
Posted by Zo on June 16, 2001, at 21:48:05
In reply to Terrified of Effexor, posted by rmshed on June 13, 2001, at 18:54:35
> My doctor wants me to try effexor along with my current medications. I am scared to take it. I am concerned about the side effects, especially the nausea.
The nausea was so light. . and went away within days.
Good luck!
Posted by J3NN1F3R on February 6, 2002, at 19:32:34
In reply to Re: Terrified of Effexor » rmshed, posted by SalArmy4me on June 13, 2001, at 18:55:51
ARe you employed by the pharmacuetical company???????? I stopped taking Effexor XR 6 days ago and I can barely function. I was only on 75mg a day. I am so dizzy I cannot drive, I am so nauseated I can't eat, i get zaps and disorientated when i move my EYES!!
We are this drug companies guinea pigs and I for one do not appreciate it. I was told nothing when i was handed these free samples. And if that is not wrong in so many different ways--then I think I would like to become a doctor so I can give innocent people that are asking for help a drug that will effectively drive them insane.> Effexor is a viable option for you because:
> *It has the possibility of affecting serotonin, norepinephrine, _and_ dopamine--more chemicals--thus increasing your chances for relief.
> *It has no anticholinergic side-effects.
> *Sexual disturbances are reported less than with SSRIs.
> *It has gained the acceptance of psychiatrists worldwide in less than 8 years of U.S. FDA approval.
> *It has few significant interactions with other medications.
> *The idea of it being addicting due to withdrawal effects is unfounded; if it had any chance of being addicting, it would have been labeled at least a Schedule IV substance by the U.S. DEA.
>
This is the end of the thread.
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