Effexor..Question

[Amity 3]

I'm on the 150mg dose and don't think it does anything for me anymore. the only reason I don't stop taking it is because the withdrawal is supposed to be pretty harsh.

 

[kami2199]

Effexor is one of the worst, if not the worst, for withdrawal. DH has been on it for years for what started out as a "situational depression". Sadly he is completely unable to get off it, regardless of how slow we wean. We have tried everything, taking out spheres was our last resort. Even a small decrease in dosage leaves him psychotic and suicidal. He started on Effexor for "mild depression". I would NEVER encourage anyone to take this drug, unless they are prepared to stay on it forever.

I second this, my dh went through pure hell trying to discontinue. I am not a doctor but it seems to be a pretty potent starter drug. He switched to wellbutrin and that seems to be good with no side effects when he misses a dose. There is something about the short half life of effexor that makes some people have terrible side effects when they miss a dose.

 

[Amity 3]

I second this, my dh went through pure hell trying to discontinue. I am not a doctor but it seems to be a pretty potent starter drug. He switched to wellbutrin and that seems to be good with no side effects when he misses a dose. There is something about the short half life of effexor that makes some people have terrible side effects when they miss a dose.

missing a dose feels like crabs crawling on your brain. it makes you extremely violent and frustrated.

 

[barkley]

i was on effexor xr for several years and had absoluly no issues with weaning off. it was a slow process but none of the issues people have posted. dh was on it (and is now again)-but again no issues with weaning off on it. now when we were on it full time/full bore (225 mg per day) if we missed a days dose it def. was not plesant. but lowering the dosage the way our doctor advised was'nt a problem.

i had way more problems with paxil (horrendous insomnia-lost about 30 pounds in 2 months)-and weaning off was much worse.

you might inquire with your doctor about the differences between effexor and effexor xr-dh found a huge difference between the 2, and found the xr a much better fit for him.

 

[FergieTCat]

I went on and came off of Effexor with no problems. I didn't even have any side effects when I was on it except for a weight gain.

 

[#1MMFan]

Yeah, Efexor XL (Venlafaxine MR) once daily dosage is probably easier for most people in the sense that less to remember to take each day (d'oh!). But regarding duloxetine (cymbalta) it is an SNRI, but according to my consultant psychiatrist colleagues, its effects on the noradrenaline side are expressed at lower dosages - as opposed to venlafaxine which requires the higher doses before affecting noradrenaline. At the lowest doses, venlafaxine acts as an SSRI.

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

missing a dose feels like crabs crawling on your brain. it makes you extremely violent and frustrated.

Yes, Yes it does.

you might inquire with your doctor about the differences between effexor and effexor xr-dh found a huge difference between the 2, and found the xr a much better fit for him.

I found the XR works better for me, too, but it's mainly because I'm bad about remembering to take pills. Once a day makes me much happier!

I went on and came off of Effexor with no problems. I didn't even have any side effects when I was on it except for a weight gain.

Yeah... I'm having that problem, too.

 

[barkley]

Yes, Yes it does.



I found the XR works better for me, too, but it's mainly because I'm bad about remembering to take pills. Once a day makes me much happier!

man, my dh would kill for one dose a day-i can't understand why when the max (and not that uncommon) dosage is 225 mgs the pharmaceutical company can't make one in that strength (it would save me from having to get two strengths with 2 separate co-pays every month!).

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've been on Effexor for 6 1/2 years now. I have had no problems with it. It was the first medication my doctor tried because my mother, who'd also had depression, had tried many different medications unsuccessfully before they found Effexor to be the right one. I haven't ever gone off it-the doctor said that since depression problems run in my family (Mom's had issues for many years), my chances of relapse would be high. But I've gone up to 300 mg. per day and slowly weaned back to 75 mg. per day at present. I 'm so grateful for how it's helped.

 

[Amity 3]

I don't eat breakfast, have a decent lunch, and a moderate dinner and I gained weight.

 

[ILUVMYBRIT]

man, my dh would kill for one dose a day-i can't understand why when the max (and not that uncommon) dosage is 225 mgs the pharmaceutical company can't make one in that strength (it would save me from having to get two strengths with 2 separate co-pays every month!).

I had this same problem. It was such a pain and my copays werent that low either.