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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by twiggy on August 8, 2002, at 10:58:45
I'm re-posting this because I only got one response and I was hoping more people would have an opinioin.
Just to let everyone here know: I had problems last year with blisters after I had started taking Effexor XR, all of my doctors told me that there was no way that they were related. They sent me for tests, thought I had a liver disease, etc. Well, I went off it for four months, my blisters went away, went back on it two weeks ago and guess what?... bisters are back. They are on the tops of my feet and hands. Why isn't this documented anywhere? Other than that nasty side-effect, I loved the way that Effexor worked for my depression and anxiety. So, I'm looking into other drugs that hopefully have the same positive effects without the blisters. Any ideas? I'm thinking Zoloft or Paxil.
Posted by morgan26 on August 9, 2002, at 14:24:50
In reply to Effexor XR to???, posted by twiggy on August 8, 2002, at 10:58:45
Wow! That's certainly a new one. I have access to some of the non-public medical databases (for my job) and checked the literature out of curiosity. Could not find anything about Effexor and blisters, which just means it is not documented - not that it cannot happen.
Any chance that you have herpes zoster (caused by the chicken pox virus, not sexually transmitted like herpes simplex)? It's very atypical for it to occur on the hands and feet, but could be an outside possibility. Do the blisters itch or burn, or are they just there? Classic "allergic" reactions to meds usually cause the itchy kind.
As for other drugs, Effexor is sort of unique in its mechanism of activity, but there are plenty of other options. Prozac and Zoloft might work well. Paxil is also good, but more so if you have anxiety problems. You can also consider Celexa or Wellbutrin which are a little atypical in their activity, but work very well for some people.
Hope this helps!
Posted by twiggy on August 9, 2002, at 15:03:09
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to???, posted by morgan26 on August 9, 2002, at 14:24:50
Hi Morgan. It only happens when I'm on the Effexor, and even my dermatologist is stumped. Now, I just went to my fam doc yesterday and his theory is: A common side effect is sweating, he thinks that my hands and feet are reacting to the extra sweat, which may or may not be occuring. I notice my feet are sweaty, but not my hands. Herpes would appear even if I were not on this drug, correct? I went off Effexor for threee months and they went away, then they came right back w/in a week when I stared back on. They itch like crazy, then when the skin is gone, they burn and take forever to heal. I will look into the herpes zoster. My doc gave me a prescription for an antihistamine and a cream (It was just yesterday, didn't get the drugs yet). Thanks for your help.
Posted by huck326 on August 13, 2002, at 5:22:49
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to???, posted by twiggy on August 9, 2002, at 15:03:09
Not sure if this will help but here goes..
After going off Effexor XR for three weeks and getting back on it I noticed that my hands, feet , and ankles itched like mad I tried calamine lotion which helps when i have allergic reactions to plants and such (being that it was only hands and feet and was in the midst of summer I thought I must have gotten into something) the Lotion didn't help and scratching just made the itch worse. I stopped having the itching after approx a month back on the effexor XR 225mg daily. so Like I said not sure that this is any help but the only thing that I was able to correlate with the itch was going back on the Effexor.
Let me know if this helps
Thanks
Posted by Douglas on October 26, 2003, at 21:43:17
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to???, posted by twiggy on August 9, 2002, at 15:03:09
I was on 25 mg of Effexor, then 75 mg.
I had itching on the outer skin of vagina, rectum, and my forearms at 75 mg. I also had
short-term memory loss (which really f*cked with
me at work), and severe heart palpatations
(but no sig increase in blood pressure).
I think the Effexor definitely is related to the itching. When I reduced back down to 37.5 RX, the itching slowed in intensity.
Posted by T_R_D on October 27, 2003, at 10:47:20
In reply to Itching and Effexor Re: Effexor XR to???, posted by Douglas on October 26, 2003, at 21:43:17
> I was on 25 mg of Effexor, then 75 mg.
> I had itching on the outer skin of vagina, rectum, and my forearms at 75 mg. I also had
> short-term memory loss (which really f*cked with
> me at work), and severe heart palpatations
> (but no sig increase in blood pressure).
> I think the Effexor definitely is related to the itching. When I reduced back down to 37.5 RX, the itching slowed in intensity.I had strange vaginal itchiness too! My doc almost refused to believe that it could be the Effexor. Now that I'm off it, everything seems more or less back to normal? These drugs can do crazy things...
This is the end of the thread.
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