Effexor...anyone taking this med?

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I had been taking Lexapro for a few years. It eventually made me feel that I didn't give a crap about anything and went off of it. Today, I was Rx'ed Effexor. Anyone in the DIS world have experiences with this med?

 

[Nala56]

I have been on Effexor 75mg for about 3 years, it was a life saver for me. Started with peri-menopause symptoms, a lot of anxiety, feeling down and really, really grouchy. After taking meds, I feel better than I have in years. I haven't had any side effects, so hope to take it for a long time!

Good luck.

 

[lizardqueen]

First, I was on 75 mg, then was raised to 150mg. The 75 did not help me at all and the 150, even though it helped me want to get out of bed and do things, it made my anxiety about 10 times worse and also gave me horrendous nightmares. My best friend has been on Effexor for a couple of years now and she said she has never felt better. So, I guess it all depends on the person.

 

[Forevryoung]

I took it for 2ish years- it worked for me!

Good luck... I hate feeling like a guinnea pig

 

[camreesmom]

I hated Effexor......definitely messed with my dreams at night and getting off of it was the absolute worst.

~julie

 

[Chris2597]

My gyn prescribed Effexor 75mg to help with hot flashes and a bit of depression after my hysterectomy. She eventually upped my dosage to 150mg but it made me very anxious...so I went back down to 75mg. The drug helped flashing considerably and took the edge off the depression. After taking the drug for a yr or so I decided to stop. My gyn said to wean very slowly....I was not prepared for the withdrawl from this med. It took me over 2 months to get off of it. I got horrible zingers, felt like my brain was literally floating in my skull, a buzz feeling. I reported this to my dr and she said that my experience was typical.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

I take Effexor, 150 mg. When I was on 75 mg it wasn't enough. 150 mg is giving me anxiety issues, and it's still not enough.

I do have to say, it may work well for you. Each person's experience with medications can be different.

My biggest piece of advice to you about Effexor: DO NOT miss a dose. I miss one dose and I'm a basket case. It's definitely a dependent drug.

Good luck to you. I hope it works wonders for you!

 

[#1MMFan]

At 75mg you really only get the serotonin-reuptake inhibiting properties of Efexor (Effexor USA); at 150mg the nor-adrenaline reuptake inhibiting properties kick-in, hence the previous experience documented above.

I find it scary to think of a gynaecologist prescribing what is essentially a non-gynaecological psychiatric medication. If the Gynaecologist suggested it, or even prescribed an SSRI e.g. citalopram/fluoxetine etc then fair enough, but an SNRI is usually used for more refactory anxiety/depression and I baulk at the idea of a Gynaecologist prescribing it. However, their (the Gyn's)choice, their responsibility.

ETA: I have suggested an SSRI in particular menopausal women, but I just think it a tad irresponsible to Rx a SNRI which is known to be harder to get off at the end of the treatment. Also it technically isn't an "addictive" medication at all, but yes, you do have to wean it very slowly when stopping or you will get side-effects, and yes, a missed dose can result in a headache/feeling irritable etc etc etc... all very individual to the person experiencing!!!

 

[alldiz]

I took it years ago....

It made me feel spacey...when I first started and after i stopped....

Also It made me sweat....hot flashes....so i was surprised to
see it prescribed to stop them
Kerri

 

[Sherrypooh]

taken it for a few years. Much higher doeses then those who have already commented. It saved my life, but like others say, miss a dose and watch out! You can pm me if you have any other questions.

 

[Christine]

At 75mg you really only get the serotonin-reuptake inhibiting properties of Efexor (Effexor USA); at 150mg the nor-adrenaline reuptake inhibiting properties kick-in, hence the previous experience documented above.

I find it scary to think of a gynaecologist prescribing what is essentially a non-gynaecological psychiatric medication. If the Gynaecologist suggested it, or even prescribed an SSRI e.g. citalopram/fluoxetine etc then fair enough, but an SNRI is usually used for more refactory anxiety/depression and I baulk at the idea of a Gynaecologist prescribing it. However, their (the Gyn's)choice, their responsibility.

ETA: I have suggested an SSRI in particular menopausal women, but I just think it a tad irresponsible to Rx a SNRI which is known to be harder to get off at the end of the treatment. Also it technically isn't an "addictive" medication at all, but yes, you do have to wean it very slowly when stopping or you will get side-effects, and yes, a missed dose can result in a headache/feeling irritable etc etc etc... all very individual to the person experiencing!!!

I think you'll find out doctors over here use the SSRIs/SNRIs more liberally and for other uses. In fact, last week when I was at my gastroenterologists office, he wanted to give me some samples for a new proton pump inhibitor. When he unlocked his sample closet, he was chock full of samples for Effexor. I actually asked him about it (knowing it was a psychiatriatric drug and he was a GI specialist). He said that this particular drug has some effect on people with stomach and colon issues (my guess is it is used in IBS).

 

[Nette]

I've been on Effexor for years. I was at 75 mg for about 18 months before my pregnancy. I discontinued it during the pregnancy and nursing, so I was off it for approximately 27 months. After I weaned DD, I needed to go back on something for depression/anxiety/irritability I tried the Effexor at the same dose and it didn't work for me. Then we tried Celexa, no dice, then Lexapro, Horrible diarrhea. Zoloft for about a year, but it doesn't really work for me. Hasn't since I was a teen. In the end we decided to give Effexor another go, this time bumped up to 150 mg. It seems to control the depression/irritability well enough, but the anxiety is much worse. I'm now taking Buspar for that as well as the occasional Xanax.

Anyway. I like the Effexor ok, but it does have some side effects (in me) that I really hate. One is constipation (hence the use for IBS)... The other really bothersome one is the hot flashes and sweating and night sweats. I've been considering having the meds changed again, but I hesitate to do that, cuz I'm a horrible person to be around when I'm not medicated (very moody and snappy), I've almost lost a job because of it.

Good luck. Remember that it works differently for everyone, and if it doesn't work for you, you can always try something else. (oh, and if I miss a dose I definitely feel funky... the electric shock thing... YUCK!)

 

[#1MMFan]

I think you'll find out doctors over here use the SSRIs/SNRIs more liberally and for other uses. In fact, last week when I was at my gastroenterologists office, he wanted to give me some samples for a new proton pump inhibitor. When he unlocked his sample closet, he was chock full of samples for Effexor. I actually asked him about it (knowing it was a psychiatriatric drug and he was a GI specialist). He said that this particular drug has some effect on people with stomach and colon issues (my guess is it is used in IBS).

Christine, absolutely, there are other uses for them, but IMHO I don't equate an SNRI with an SSRI given the problems they can create. We do use SSRIs for IBS - occasionally - etc etc. I'm very aware of the other uses for these medications. I'm still very cynical about some of the issues of Rx in the US - as you say, your Gastroenterologist unlocked his sample case .... samples which he has received from the pharmaceutical industry along with other incentives to prescribe!!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

Oh my, this will be an interesting few weeks. It certainly sounds like this is a completely different animal than what I have taken in the past. I have had one 75 mg. dose last night and feel rather blonde today. We will see. Thanks so much, everyone.

 

[Aisling]

I was on Effexor for 2 years, and it worked wonders for my depression and anxiety. I felt better than I had in years, and I can honestly say it saved me. But it caused my blood pressure to go up, and my pdoc put me on Cymbalta.

Getting off Effexor has to be done slowly, and even then you mayh have the brain zaps and general crappy feeling. For me it lasted two solid weeks, and then everything was ok. If you miss a does of Effexor, you can get the brain zaps, so if you go on it, make sure you take it at the same time each day.

It really is a very helpful medication, even though the horror stories of withdrawal are scary. Your doctor can help you with that, by weaning you slowly, and by starting you on another med right away if you need it.

Good luck!

 

[lsyorke]

Hubby has been on it for years....it doesn't do much for him anymore(life has gotten alot better in general, job change made the biggest difference) but he is completely unable to wean, even at the smallest dose(gets massively suicidal, never suicidal before). So he is now tied to a drug that he doesn't want to be on.
Withdrawal from Effexor can be hell, and there are more and more reports of GI tract motility problems that result in constant nausea and the inability to hold down food. Effexor is used for IBS since it slows the GI tract, hence the long term problems now showing up.
Some are having to count the spheres in the capsule to wean off at an extremely slow rate.

 

[Amity 3]

I've been on it for three years, and my BP is near stroke levels. it's now a question of taking BP meds or quitting Effexxor.

 

[#1MMFan]

I've been on it for three years, and my BP is near stroke levels. it's now a question of taking BP meds or quitting Effexxor.

IMHO that's just incompetence on the part of your doctors. It used to be we had to do an ECG (or what you call an EKG) prior to starting venlafaxine plus monitor BP while on it. Then the guidance became that it could ONLY be initiated by a Psychiatrist, not by any other type of doctor; this changed and they dropped the ECG requirement but the BP monitoring remains the same, and they should have changed your medication/stopped the venlafaxine long before you got to "stroke level".

Also you don't need to wean when going between venlafaxine (efexor) and duloxetine (cymbalta). I have this from the mouths of Psychiatrists. They are the same group of medication (SNRIs). The difference is that a lower dose of cymbalta has nor-adrenaline effects that you don't get at the lower dose of efexor. Just a FYI.

 

[Ms Lucy]

I have been taking Effexor for three years, on the whole it has made me feel a lot better. I do suffer from slight indegestion and I feel really down if I forget a dose but the benefits far outway the small side effects for me personally.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've taken Effexor for many years. During that time, I've been up to 300 mg for a while, gradually down to 75 for a while, skipped days, pretty much everything, I guess. But thankfully, I've never had any difficulties, no weight or "sex interest" issues they sometimes talk about. I'm just very happy the doctors found the right meds for me. Oh-and my blood pressure's fine.