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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jackt on December 17, 2002, at 14:58:14
Larry and anyone else who wants to comment,
I suffer from severe GAD and possibly mild ADD. I would like to know your theory on why Effexor would work for anxiety.
I think I read that the down regulation of serotonin and norepinephine could be the action that makes it work. Of course we know that it is a SSRI and SNRI ... but one theory is that once you have extra S and N floating around in your brain that you will tend to produce less of it. Thereby, taking Effexor over time would actually reduce S and N in your brain.
My mind is always in a "fight or flight" mode. Extra N would only increase the anxiety rather than reduce it, right? Maybe the brain goes through a stage of increased N before it is decreased.
I've tried Effexor about 7 years ago, but I probably only stayed on it for 4 weeks. Maybe I didn't give it enough time.
Bottom line is that it will take a while for the brain to adapt and ultimately reduce the production of N and possibly S to alleviate the anxiety. Is this a valid assumption, or am I way off?
Posted by Thygrrr on December 17, 2002, at 17:21:45
In reply to LHoover and others: Down regulation from Effexor, posted by jackt on December 17, 2002, at 14:58:14
Doc Thygrrr is not a professional, but has a good deal of common sense ;) Read on...
I think, your theory not too 'way off', though less likely to be true, after all. See, with drugs such as Cocaine, you have an EXTREME blockage of catecholamines (i.e. Dopamine here), and after the drug wears off, you have a SEVERE deficiency and everything just sucks and is dull and such...
However, medical drugs such as SSRIs and SNRIs work in much smaller doses and in much more subtle ways. I think your generalization doesn't apply, here.
However, as for increased Noradrenaline levels with regard to your anxiety - I think that's something you may want to avoid; though with increased Serotonin levels I suspect it'd make you 'bolder' (It's how I feel with Trevilor (Effexor) - though I don't suffer from Anxiety - I THINK!)
Edronax (Reboxetine, a pure Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor) gave me SERIOUS anxiety and stress problems, in fact, I was cowering under the shower, hiding my head under my arms when bathing ... very odd reflex. Now, on Effexor, I have found myself touching my chin as if in thought much more frequently; and generally, I have less inhibitions to do things. I might actually be able to flirt with that nice girl at the Heavy Metal place tomorrow for the first time...
This is the end of the thread.
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