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effexor

17 years ago

Hi all,

I took myself off of Paxil and went through 2 months of hell. Went to the doc today and he put me on Effexor. Anyone have any experience with this?

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Comments (17)

coolmama
17 years ago
Oh man...everyone is different,but effexor is the worst!
My husband and I both took it before.He said he always felt sick on it and never felt any happier.

I just felt like I was having a heart attack on it all the time.

effexor is more for depression then anxiety,if you were on paxil it seems like an odd choice to go to effexor unless anxiety isnt so much your problem.
catherinet
17 years ago
Hi annie,
Did you come off of it slowly, or cold turkey? To be honest with you, I haven't been on any antidepressants because I've heard there is hell to pay when trying to come off of them......effexor especially.
But....on the other hand, my rheumatologist told me once that she has patients who said that med had given them their lives back........so I guess it all depends on your system.
But personally, I would begin a med VERY slowly, and come off ot it VERY slowly. Good luck to you. I know its a really difficult position to be in.......wanting to feel better, yet having to deal with side-effects, etc.
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Jac, You probably don't remember me, but you sent me a butterfly bush last year! I was (and am, but not practicing at this time) a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist for the past 22 years. Every antidepressant has problems that can be associated with it, from sexual dysfunction to life-threatening electrical changes in the heart. I also consider that every time my son had strep throat, the antibiotics I gave him could cause Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis. A tylenol with a viral illness could lead to Reye's Syndrome, or just a plain tylenol with a fever could be "the one" that causes liver failure in a person with a hidden hepatic illness. I totally agree that you should have been told of the potential for Serotonin Withdrawal Syndrome, and the possibility of another associated problem called Serotonergic Syndrome that can be associated with all SSRI's. Thats where having people who are trained specifically in the treatment of depression is invaluable. Primary Care Physicians can spot and begin treatment of depression very well these days (thank goodness for everyone who, like myself, uses a GP), but if I had cancer, I would want to see an Oncologist, not an OB/GYN. The same thinking should be applied to any illness requiring special training, in my opinion. For as many people as I have seen who have had problems with a particular antidepressant, I have seen four times as many do beautifully. My hope is that one day, the science of the mind/emotions will advance to the point that a swab or a blood test will be able to identify the type of depression a person has and tell us, like a culture and sensitivity test does for bacteria, which medication has the best chance of treating the disease. Until that time, even the most well-trained and brilliant minds will continue to do their best and offer medications in the treatment of depression. Not all will be sucessful or pretty, but for those who have truly had a case of Clinical Depression, at least someone is trying. Not to try when a patient is asking for help would be worse. I will take a patient who is suffering side effects from a medication (though never the goal) over a patient who is no longer around to have a side effect, anyday. Do I think medications are over-prescribed? Absolutely! Do I think that people who have no business prescribing them are doing so? Absolutely! Do I think even the most highly trained Mental Health professionals sometimes miss the mark or over-prescribe? Absolutely!! I also know a woman who was told she had the flu and had an Aortic Aneurysm which ruptured on the way home from the hospital. I cared for a woman who convinced herself she had a yeast allergy, treated herself at home with vitamins and dietary restrictions, and all the while had a brain tumor that took her life. Her diagnosis came after she had killed a man and was court commited for evaulation to stand trial. Most people are amazingly resilient. Some are not. I am championing for those who are not and need a little help along the way (myself included at one time). I know my thinking is in direct opposition to many, and I never wish to challenge someone's right to choose treatments that that they deem right for themselves or their families. I just wanted to say, these medications, warts and all, make it possible for many people to work, maintain families and relationships, and in some cases, just survive another day of depression. I just hope that someone who needs treatment sees this and doesn't decide to throw the baby out with the bath water. Lea
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enjoyingspring, I can understand your daughter being fearful of stopping the Effexor. When I googled to see what withdrawal effects might be, it scared me to death. That's why I talked to my doctor about weaning off of it. Would your daughter be willing to let you accompany her to her doctor to discuss getting off of Effexor or changing to something else? My personal battle with depression, hopefully, has been temporary. The past four years, quite a lot happened - husband was critically ill, father diagnosed with cancer, father-in-law put in nursing home, Katrina taking everything we owned, then watching father die the following year. I felt like an antidepressant would help me cope through these episodes, and I guess it did. For the majority of the time, I took Lexapro with no bad side effects. I changed to Effexor late last year, because I felt like I had no energy. When I look back at the situation, I realize it was probably because we were cooped up in a horrible, unsafe apartment, surrounded by memories of Katrina, where I didn't venture outside unless I had to. I took my last pill a few days ago. I'm not planning on going cold turkey, but so far, so good. I was not the best at taking it every day, so maybe that's why the withdrawal hasn't been severe. I do know if I feel out of sorts, I will take either half dosage or full pill immediately. And of course, call my doctor. I wish I could be of more help. Depression has many layers and affects each one of us differently. Good luck to you and your daughter.
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I think people have different levels of different problems, and sometimes you have to try different things. I know when I was on Wellbutrin, I was much more anxious. I'm on Zoloft......a very small dose, combined with a small dose of a beta blocker and it works for me. But I do get more anxious if I add caffeine to it. I'm glad the Effexor is working for you.
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tahoe
17 years ago
annielu,
Effexor SAVED MY LIFE. It is a build up drug and once it gets in your system, under doctors' correct care, you will be a different person.
annielu
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks tahoe,
Nice to hear some positive. I've been having a rough time since I got off Paxil. Today's my first day on Effexor and I check back with my doc in 2 weeks.
coolmama
17 years ago
Let us know how you do on it.
zoezoe
17 years ago
I took Effexor for maybe 4 months, about 8 years ago. I will never take effexor again!!!!!. After months of it not working, I was prescribed the highest dose. It was then I did finally feel something, however it wasn't something good. I was literally jerking off/up everytime I tried to relax and sleep. The jolts were so severe that it prevented me from falling asleep for a very long time + it was extemely scary. I would even twitch in my sleep. When trying to fall asleep, I would spontaniously bolt upright for no apparent reason, (other than I was pharmaceutically maxed out) numerous times a night.

I hope you have better luck with it than I did.

I personally Hate Effexor.
catherinet
17 years ago
zoezoe,
That is the same symptom I have heard alot of people talk about......many would describe it as an electric shock in their brains.
I am very sensitive to medications, and coming off them is very difficult. I guess when we rearrange our brain chemicals, we have to accept that there might be some problems. And to come off them after being on them for awhile, can cause even more problems.

But....I guess we mostly hear from people who have had negative reactions to things. The people who are doing well on them don't usually get on forums to talk about how well their doing......so maybe that's why we hear mostly negative stuff about them.
I do think its important to slowly build up the dosage when starting, and slowly come down on it when coming off.
But unfortunately, most docs are impatient and tell you to take the full dose now, or to stop it suddenly. I wish they would become more sensitive.
annielu
Original Author
17 years ago
Just an update on the Effexor. It has done wonders for me!
I feel SO much better now. The only side effect I noticed was nausea the first couple days, but it went away. It has been a positive for me.
catherinet
17 years ago
annie........so glad to hear that! How soon do you think you started feeling better, after you started the medicine?
annielu
Original Author
17 years ago
I noticed a big difference after 2 weeks and it just keeps getting better!!!
tahoe
17 years ago
annielu, I'm so happy for you. Like I said in previous post, it actually saved my life.
annielu
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks tahoe. I am feeling so much better now and it's nice to hear that it does work for some people.
coolmama
17 years ago
I'm glad it worked for you! Everyone is different...I'am one of those people who are exspecially sensitive to side effects though,so I had a hard time on it. I think if I started on a smaller dose it wouldnt have been so bad.
I had good expriences with Prozac.I was always happy and nothing got me down!
tahoe
17 years ago
You are right when you say everyone is different; however, sometimes the doctor is to blame. Not all doctors understand depression, anxiety, etc. They are good doctors but they did not specialize in this field. My doctor only deals with depression, addictions, anxiety (fear,etc.) I had a friend dealing with "snuff" and her doctor started her on 75 mg. Effexor is a build up drug and she had problems whereas I started on 25mg. for so many days, then "upped" the milligrams gradually - that works!
catherinet
17 years ago
In the past, I saw a "psychopharmacologist"...he was a psychiatrist who only dealt in those drugs. It was so nice to talk to someone who believed that not all of us are created equal, in terms of our tolerance, side-effects etc.
He always went up very slowly on meds, and it avoided alot of problems. He said that if you start to get side-effects, go down on the med for awhile, and then try to go up again, slowly. It was so refreshing!!

Annielu........just don't get TOO happy. hahahahaha Just kidding! Get as happy as you can, and enjoy yourself!
annielu
Original Author
17 years ago
Still doing real well on the Effexor. My whole family has noticed a change. I feel like myself again!!!
Catherinet, I am SO happy----I have a new grandson!!! He was born the 12th of February!!!!
katben
17 years ago
Hi Annielu,

That's a really good news. Congratulations on your new grandson.

Very nice to hear Effexor works for you.

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