Chat room now open to talk about Effexor at;

http://hopenhealing.proboards105.com/

Become a member and join us there.    (Mon May 12 20:51 2008)

I tried 10 puny mg of effexor for 3 days. My moods
immediately shot up to happy and anxious. I was near
suicidal before taking the meds. On day 3 I had a major
panic attack. I became shakey, dizzy, couldn't focus, and
became very fearful.

This happened on only 10mg. I stopped after day 3 and
felt horrible when people tried to come up to talk to me
afterwards. I couldn't stand having anyone near me. My dx
is all over the place, and it was thought I was bipolar (but
no one is sure).

My reaction to Lexapro was similar, where it just gave me
feelings of unreality, anxiety, and social phobia. My
moods were not all that great. I felt like I couldn't sit still
on the medication.

I can only tolerate benzos atm.   (Sun May 11 18:52 2008)

The messgae that came before this one recommended taking Tranxene to help with antidepressant withdrawals. HOWEVER, Tranxene is in a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, commonly referred to as "benzos". These types of drugs are often used for anxiety, BUT are *HIGHLY* addictive.

Also you can have JUST AS MANY adverse effects getting on this drug and JUST AS BAD withdrawals as getting off of Effexor, Paxil, Cymbalta, and all the other ADs.

It is in your BEST interest *NOT* to use this drug when tapering off of any antidepressants. It can also be a *LIFE THREATENING* combination.    (Sun May 11 18:00 2008)

I have been on effexor for a little over a year. I lost my sex drive initially but I came back after a few months and I did gain 15 pounds. It really did help with my depression and anxiety, but I just wanted to get off of it because I was gaining too much weight. My Psychiatrist tried to taper me off of it by giving me 37.5mg one day and 75mg the other day, THAT WAS A DISASTER! I was nauseous every evening and I just felt badly. Then I tried cold turkey that was even worse, I got brain zaps like crazy, I felt nauseous and I simply felt like crap. Then (this is the good part) my Dr. tapered me off of it by letting me take a small dosage of Tranxene, which can be used for alcohol withdrawal and anxiety. It worked like a miracle. I had almost no withdrawal symptoms, my emotions were a bit shaky though but I lost 10 pounds. So, maybe you can ask your Dr. if he has information about the benefits of using TRANXENE to help come off of effexor. I help me a lot.    (Sun Apr 13 11:19 2008)

Come visit my site to learn how to safely taper Effexor. I also have a growing library of information about antidepressants both from doctors and news articles.

Here is the link: http://hopenhealing.proboards105.com/index.cgi

Hope to see you there!

Sweettooth   (Thu Dec 27 10:26 2007)

i bought effexor at www.world-rx.com

the price for Effexor xr 150mg x 28 is $58

the drug is dispensed from australia and although it is the same drug from the same manufacturer the spelling only has one f. it is genuine product and a good price
   (Wed Oct 17 1:23 2007)

Hi all,
I am in need of some advice and experience..
My boyfriend is suffering depression and started effexor about 6 months ago. It has helped him a lot and he is very much back to normal nowadays. However, our sexlife is non existent and he does not seem to enjoy even kissing or cuddling. My question is; Will this stay like this forever? I feel selfish thinking this way since he is so much better, but its also hard to live in a relation where all intimacy is gone...    (Thu Jul 19 13:56 2007)

If you are trying to get off of Effexor XR, you MUST check out this page:

http://www.abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/102450/

I have outlined a methods for splitting the capsules with PRECISION (it's easy), as well as a method of tapering off without the painful withdrawl. VERY SUCCESSFUL!

We also have an on-going discussion at:

http://www.abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/1663/82

That's 82 pages of posts from people like you!   (Thu May 3 14:44 2007)

i was diagnosed with severe generalized anxiety disorder in late 2004. i had it for such a long time, but wasn't aware of what it was until then. afraid of medication, fearing that it would make everyday life even more unbearable, i stuck with psychotherapy and exercise for a while, but wasn't feeling much better. the first medication i went on was paxil, which did next to nothing for me (probably because i was afraid to go on a high enough dosage!). after about six months on that, i took a break from meds again. sometime in 06 i started taking zoloft, and once again felt almost no difference. losing hope, i was willing to try anything to help me with this awful disease. every day life was almost unbearable, i woke up every morning with extreme anxiety, and went to bed having not stopped thinking and worrying all day. ugh, awful! so yes. i started on 37.5 mg of the effexor, and almost IMMEDIATELY started feeling better. it was like it was exactly what my brain had been missing! i know that many many people have said that it does not work for them (probably because everyones body is different, and we all do not respond the same), but i must admit that it saved my life. I already had an incredibly fast metabolism, so maybe that is why i did not experience any weight gain. I have yet to have any of the other side effects associated with effexor as well, and i am now on 150 mg. That is not to say that this drug is the 'wonder drug' for everyone, being that, as i stated earlier, we all react differently to certain drugs! all i can say is if anyone is lost in a black hole of anxiety like I was, it is ultimately worth the risk to just give it a chance!

The ONLY con I find while taking effexor, is that if I stop taking effexor for 2 days I start feeling anxious again, although that may just be a mental thing heh because i've read everywhere that it gives you awful withdrawal symptoms. But as all of you have stated previously, cutting cold turkey is not good! but the same goes for many drugs. but yes, that is the only side effect i experienced. i had no sexual side effects, which was and still is awesome, considering paxil made me feel like i had lost my ovaries all together. ANYWAY. there is a success story for you, yay!   (Wed May 2 1:17 2007)

I went on Effexor XR in late September 2006. Personality wise this felt like a personal let down. I neve thought I would end up on an Anti-depression med. 2006 ended up being a little too rough of a year for me.

I was trying to pass my CPA exam. Got into a complicated situation where I got involved with a friend(never make a relationship from a friendship), that ended up too emotionally troubling. Lost that great friendship. :-( Went through a lot more stress. I got the results back on a test that I thought I had passed(just missed). I would go to bed and wake up a few hours later and just lay there most of the night.

I finally said, Ok. I lost about 20 pounds in a month. I made an apointment to see the doctor. He made the proscription of 37.5 mg for one week then 75 mg afterwards. The day I started the 75's, my boss died. Suddenly I am being thrust into this position. We have a brand new program thrown at us, Christmas season is just starting and I am having to piece together the things my boss did.

For about 3-4 weeks starting, I experienced sudden sweating spells, I yawned more, I had dry mouth. Afterwards things seemed to calm more. The highs and lows I was experiencing, weren't as dramatic.

It got me through the tough time. I decided this last week to quit. I took the one week of 37.5's to get off. I have been off for a few days now.

I am experiencing an occasional light headedness, Like getting too much air to the brain or being slightly intoxicated. I feel a slight headache. I have been on the verge of just bawling a few times in public. Part of it I think is the symbolicness that I haven't seen my former friend in six months now. I went somewhere to reminisce, that might have been a bad idea.

I noticed last Friday that traffic got me a "little" irate. I have this urger to just do 150 mph, to get this stop and go frustration out of my system.

I have, over the last few months, developed some new friendships, I went to back to church( this is emotionally probably the hardest thing for me to face, hey god always welcomes you back right)I need to get off my butt and start studying for my license again.    (Mon Feb 12 14:45 2007)

Roger, don’t feel bad about the weight gain! Before I started Effexor 7 months ago, I was a 6’ tall 200 pound weightlifter with 12% body fat. My height hasn’t changed, but I’m up to 240 pounds now with 33% body fat!

Where once I shunned refined sugar, I covet it now. Bags of candy and vanilla bean ice cream. If that’s not available, spoons of sugar will do.

My wife says that she prefers me this way as my general temperament is much better and I’m not so angry and difficult to be around. It’s better from my side, too. But it IS discouraging when one took great pride of their body only to see it go down the tubes in such a short time.

So, you’re doing GREAT at 6-7 pounds in three months.

Count your blessings and good luck to you, my friend.
   (Wed Feb 7 16:36 2007)

Effexor XR does not come off-patent until 2008 in the US, when generics will become available.

Non-XR has gone off-patent in the states at this time.

Are you in Europe?
   (Wed Feb 7 16:16 2007)

i have just renewed my perscription for effexor xr and was given a generic version. Has anyone tried the generic? Is there any difference?   (Mon Feb 5 7:18 2007)

Have been taking Effexor now for three months and am feeling much better from a depression point of view, BUT I have gained some 6 or 7 pounds of weight in this period.
Does anybody have similar experiences and is there anything that can be done about it?   (Sun Jan 28 8:04 2007)

I feel so bad for all of you who have had such bad experiences with Effexor because I've had a very good response to it. I've been taking Effexor XR since Spring of 2000 and it changed my life. I was diagnosed with severe depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder at that point and was 20. For as far back to my early teens, I've had depression and anxiety, but didn't know that's what it was. My family was not willing to accept that I had depression and needed to be treated medically. They all said that how I felt was normal; to me though, if that was as good as life got then I was ready to end it. I was miserable. Within 6 months on Effexor, I felt like a new person. I still felt like myself but my mood evened out and it cured my anxiety symptoms of insomnia, contstant worrying, and my depression symptopoms of hopelessess, low self worth, etc. I felt normal and more at peace with myself.

All that said, I would like to see if I am ok off it. I don't want to have to take medication for the rest of my life. But I am really scared to wean off it for several reasons. I am scared I will have really bad withdrawl symptoms. Early on when I was taking the medication I skipped 2 doses not knowing that you build a physical dependency, and I was vomiting, dizzy and extremely week for about 12 hours until I realized it was because I hadn't taken my medication. After 24 hours of the medicine back in my body I started feeling better. You absolutely can not quit this cold turkey if you are taking 150 mg or more. I don't know about the lower doeses, but I would expect others to have the same experience I did. I am also afraid that even if I have mild discomfort while weaning off it will take a year to completely get off it during which time I probably won't be very emotionally stable. Then you have to stay off it for 6 months to a year to know if you are really ok off it. That could be 2 years of hell only to realize that I can't do it on my own. And finally, there is the risk that once I do go back on that it won't work as it does now.

Based on all these risks, I've decided I'll stay on as long as I can - I want to live. I still get depressed at times, but I can understand why I am depressed where as before Effexor, I would be depressed for long periods of time but didn't know why. I think I would need to go off it if I want to have kids. But until then, I'm staying on.

I wish you all peace and happiness. And I hope they can figure out why some people have such a bad reaction while it helps others like me.

   (Thu Dec 21 22:11 2006)

can anyone tell me about how bad the effects of quitting effexor cold turkey are? my boyfriend hates the way the meds make him feel and stopped taking them about three days ago. he was on them for about two and a half months. he already says he has had night sweats and has been dizzy ... beyond that how bad will it get? i have recommended that he talk to his doctor about this decision but he said he isnt going to. any advice?   (Wed Dec 20 17:59 2006)

Does Crystal R. have a boyfriend? If so, damn. If not, might she like to meet me for a soda pop at the Soda Shop?   (Wed Dec 20 15:50 2006)

Thank you for your input and advice, I really appreciate it and I'm sure my boyfriend will too. I just hope that some of these effects subside with time, although I've come to realize from reading other people's posts that this is not always the case. He has a doctor's appointment soon so this will be a good time to talk about the effects with his doctor. In the meantime, I will try to take the pressure off him and just be supportive.

Again, thank you!   (Mon Dec 4 1:25 2006)

It takes a good while usually for the body to get used to effexor. A couple of weeks I think is the minimum. There appears to be a wide variety of experience, so you may not get an accurate answer for your boyfriend's situation.
The negative sexual side effects are both physical and emotional. Physically it can be a difficulty to perform and to climax. I suspect fertility may be also a real problem while on the drug. Emotionally, as you have found, it can be difficult perhaps to get passionate. At least for some these side effects don't go away.
He may be getting angry because he feels the pressure of these things and can't do anything about it.
You may best be able to help by taking the pressure off, and helping him to accept these things for the time being.
Mutual support can generate a closeness with less anxiety. Pick a time when he has done something for you and give him a thank you hug and kiss. Don't try too hard, but this may have the potential for being more intimate.
Eating: He'll have to come to the point where he sits down to eat even if he doesn't feel like it.
Sleeping: I haven't worked this one out.Probably a strict regime (time of day) for taking the meds. Take the last one at least a couple of hours before going to bed.
Exercise is probably good.
Again, these things may not go away.

Last bit of advice: talk to a doctor who has had a lot of experience with effexor.   (Fri Dec 1 15:43 2006)

hey, been on effexor for 6 months now and im about to quit........firstr things first..before you start your main quitting program try and get to know what effexor is doing to your body........the brain zaps are anxiety streaks, you just have to know how to deal with them

tip 1
take a dose every two days ie. 1 day a dose..then skip a day then again......

to conquer your brain zaps try and enjoy them...first.....pretend that you know there is a monster..(or something that makes you feel axious) in the corner of your eye and dart your eyes over to it...now pretend you are getting scared of it.......ask yourself what and how you are feeling...take a break and try again...i tested this too bad one time that i started to feel sick but if you take breaks you should be ok..your body is going back to its natural defence system...ie your past anxious state before you started effexor....
the more you do this the more you will begin to understand how you are becoming anxious and you will be able to combat this while quitting

tip 2
go for a walk twice a day and go for a run for about 10 minutes.....to get rid of that annoying fatique and tiredness...believe me, you will sleep when the day is done

tip3
no matter how tired you become,DO NOT sleep during the day. when you wake up it is like you are starting a new day. you dont want this....you want 1 solid day

tip4
get up when you wake up in the night...after thoughts of strange dreams become dominant so get up and shake your fist at the effexor tablets :)

tip5
about the whole sex drive thing...im not sure about the female side of this as i am male but it might be the same......
for the men....dont think about sex
if you become too annoyed and frustrated just look at a picture of a beautiful ladies face for 2-3 minutes....it will take your mind off the bullshit...admire her face..or her body..its up to you...

tip6
for those of you who are hearing voices or creating conversations in your head with people you know..( i know it sounds weird but this happened to me) get to a private area where noone is around...i chose a forest..and shout your head off hehe...it worked for me....you guys probobly think im crazy lol.

tip7
watch comedy movies
listen to stanley black - os quindins de yaya

well,thats it from me for now....ill let you all know how my quitting ends up...im almost there...cyas!
   (Thu Nov 30 5:42 2006)

rebecca ... this sounds exactly like what is happening with my boyfriend, who has been on effexor for about 2 and a half weeks. he doesnt even want to kiss me anymore, and of course its hard for me too because i feel like hes not attracted to me or something. its good to know that this is just a side effect tho, because he doesnt talk about it with me and gets angry when i bring it up. i hope this goes away because if its this hard for me to deal with, i can only imagine what it must be like for him! he has also lost about 10 pounds in the last couple of weeks without trying to, and thats a lot for that little bit of time. im worried about him. can someone tell me, do these side effects go away after some more time? i dont think its worth taking this if hes going to be devoid of emotion (which he is lately, he told me himself). this is why he started taking it, and its only making it worse. all he does is sleep all day. please someone give me some feedback on what i can do for him! thanks.   (Tue Nov 28 17:42 2006)

to Rebecca (Nov 24) second part of post.
(please read the post below first! I went over post limit)

Well I've rambled a fair bit about some of my experiences. to be more concise with some suggestions:
1. I'm no expert so these suggestions are just one personal opinion with limited facts - OK?
2. You are faced with choices between the side effects and the original problem and perhaps more - see my final comment.
3. The sex thing. I have no answer. It will test your relationship and your commitment. It may not improve for you. If possible, talk frankly with your partner about your emotions and try to let go of the concerns about your own response and focus on your partners needs, but only as far as you remain comfortable about it. The rest is up to him.
4. Find a good healthy meal that is easy and you can prepare quickly. Eat that afro breakfast (break-fast, that is when you've gone a while without food). If you think your wight loss is dangerous for your health, get good advice from a professional (dietician?)
5. The sweating? If you think that the medication is helping, be prepared to accept "the sweats". They will pobably ease over time. Don't go to bed with wet hair (like another poster, I found this made it worse).
6. If (like me) your "calmness" is affecting positive emotions as well as negative then be conscious of this and make an effort to react more in positive situations. Consciouslybe proactive here. e.g. Give and take hugs even if you don't really feel motivated. If you are doning something that yuo would enjoy in the past, look for the things you like and really try to "savour" them. If something tends to make you laugh, let it out and let it become infectious. Talk to and hug any children in your life. Care for and enjoy any pets that you or your family has.

(I'm going well here. You might guess that I'm writing some of this for me. I hope to take my own advice.:) )

Finally. In deciding about the future of your treatment, be aware of the possible effects of withdrawal or "discontinuation syndrome". You'll see many posts here or elsewhere that the symptoms can be severe and may arrive long after you're off medication. Also, the original problem may return. About the only thing I would be prepared to say not to accept what your doctor/psychiatrist advises if they want to pull you off effexor quickly. Go slowly off it, read widely about it and discuss with trusted friends and professionals.

That's enough from me. I hope it's been some help!   (Fri Nov 24 12:51 2006)

to Rebecca (Nov 24) first post.
You're not wrong about these side effects being confusing! I'll tell you a little about my experiences and it may hopefully help somewhat. I'm anolder guy in 50's soo different to yourself. The loss of sex drive is almost a given with many of these type of meds. It certainly has been for me. ..and my wife doesn't like that either. BTW I'm on 450mg XR/day, supposedly with breakfast ad have been on this dose for 2 years with the previous 9 months working up to that.
If you've read a good sample of posts here as well as info elsewhere you'll see that the side effects of venlafaxine apparently vary widely from patient to patient (or is that victim to victim? lol).
The sweats.
I had these for the first 18 months or so. Theyve just about gone now. Most uncomfortable but no so hard to handle as other things.
About sleep. I've been a "night owl" for a very long time. That got worse as I slowly got depressed, but now on the meds, it's a lot worse. I usually stay up all night (it's 2:25am now) and sleep during the day , occasionally I'll sleep 14 hrs into the evening, or maybe only 1/2 hour for the day.
i put this down to starting out with an erratic sleep pattern and so I take the pills at odd times. My psych is against taking the pills before bedtime due to sleep pattern disruption. I think one problem with this is, if you are on a high dose, because the 1/2 life (a measure of how quickly the drug leaves your system) is so short, I believe that you can start to get some withdrawl symptoms - and this can be really upsetting!!!
About appetite.
This is my very own experience, I haven't read much about others in this regard. Firstly, I've always been on the thin side of average. Another of the recognised side effects (along with very many other drugs) is nausea. I've had this from the start. I haven't had nausea severe enough to throw up, but it has been a constant now over the last few years. The nausea suppresses my appetite so generally I don't feel like eating - especially I don't feel like preparing a meal. This has been a problem in my situation as, in the past, I've done my share of the cooking, now I rarely do. The odd thing is, once I sit down and start to eat, I usually eat well. It's just no motivation - a little like the lack of sex drive I guess.
More on food.
I also will eat an apple late at night - sometimes a few if they are nice and crisp. In fact I tend to eat similar things lke that, strawberries, pears, mandarins, kiwifruit etc. or crackers, on the occasions that the hunger pangs win through. One thing that I've found important is to eat a good breakfast - when ever it is that I wake up from a decent sleep. My personal preference tends to be a double or more portion of a grain flake and fruit cereal type of breakfast with plenty of milk. I guess its that this is easier due to the level of effexor being down at that time and I'm more inclined to eat well?

About calm feelings etc.
I'm sure there is a wide variation to the degree of social phobia that people experience. I think mine is/was relatively mild. I'd get really "fidgety", anxious when for instance, I've been grocery shoppping and am about half way through the store (around 1/2 hour). I'd want to just leave the trolley and go home! Well the meds have helped this a fair bit along with helping depression.
What I want to say about this is that I think it is more than just "a calm". It seems to me to be a supression of emotion that can be quite broad. I can enjoy some things and I can get a little angry over some things, but I really feel that my "normal" range of emotions has been very limited. I'm not making a value judgementabout this. It can be a very positive thing. It has enabled me to cope with some quite traumatic situations in the last couple of years, but I also feel that it has been a little "de-humanising".

Well I've rambled a fair bit about some of my experiences. To be more concise with some suggestions:

Ooops went over the post limit .. see post no 2.
   (Fri Nov 24 12:46 2006)

I won't say much because the effexor has actually started to help my social anxiety issues. I am curious of side effects though. I wanted to know more about the sexual side effects and what the heck to do. I love my fiance with all my heart and I know sex isn't all there is, but what if there is none? This is making things difficult for me to cope with because on one hand the meds are working on another hand they are making other things horrible. I have no sexual desire at all, I barely want to kiss him or have him kiss me, let alone a simple hug. I have tried to convince myself I want to have sex, but it doesn't turn out that way. I feel like some dumb mute just laying there, not enjoying it at all. I just can't get in the mood nor the mind set. It is hurting him and me. He has thought that maybe i have been cheating or i just am not attracted to him, but I am I love him. I'm not sure how to figure this out. I know I have to tell my psychiatrist, but how do you explain that one. I don't want to be a lab rat on fifty different types of medications just to figure out which one effects me the least, like what will that do to my friggin brain after awhile. It's a lil bit of a concern. On the other hand I have also been losing my appetite massively, I feel as if i'm starving my body. I go all day without eating, and then eat some dinner, but barely because I get so full so quick, then I feel sick from eating too much. Sometimes I go all day without eating anything. Today I ate nothing, but at 10:30 at night I ate an apple and drank some water, what the heck is that. How is my body functioning on such lil food. It doesn't bother me though or at least I don't feel it. I've lost a ton of weight since this medication. In one way I'm happy cause I wanted to lose weight, but this is insanely not healthy. Has anyone experienced similiar situations with the medication, if so please mention it. I need more research on this medication.

Side effects
- awake more ( I don't sleep until 12 or 1 in the morning, then i'm up at like 7 and awake all damn day)
- had one night recently where I woke up drenched from sweating, very unusual experience. (bad dream or is it something else)
- massive over kill of my sex drive and physical interaction with fiance.
-massive weight loss and loss of appetite
-I am calm with everything now, somewhat, social problems are decreasing and im improving in that sense, although everything is fallin to shit.   (Fri Nov 24 0:50 2006)

My boyfriend of six years just started taking Effexor last week for anxiety, and at first I noticed a difference in him right away. He started acting more like himself and not so irritable and cranky like he has been for the last several months. He was not so tired anymore and was more interested in hearing how MY day was instead of how he has been for a while, only worrying about his own stresses (which I understand was caused by his anxiety and depression). However, after about 5 days, he went back to being cranky and tired all the time, because he told me he hadn't slept since he started the medication. Does this side affect go away? I have read all of the posts from others about the negative effects of this drug, but I don't know what else he can do for himself. He's tried vitamins and excercise, and they aren't enough. Also, he works strange hours, usually he starts at about 2 am and works til about noon, and then some evenings he also works for a couple hours (about 6pm to 9pm). He naps in the afternoon when he gets home from work for a couple hours, then goes to bed at about 9 pm. His doctor told him to take one pill at night when he goes to bed (9pm) and the other one when he gets up in the morning (2am). But could this be causing him to not sleep? Please someone let me know if you have any experience with shift work and taking Effexor. Also, what kind of sexual side effects should be expected?    (Tue Nov 21 12:38 2006)

An immense number of patients get worse from new antidepressant drugs, says Vice President of The Swedish Psychiatric Association.


Speaking on antidepressants the Vice President of The Swedish Psychiatric Association, Dr. Christina Spjut, said Sunday that "an immense number of persons get worse from this". She said that many persons take these drugs for years "where the antidepressant drugs make them continue to be depressed".

/24-7PressRelease/ - HAGERSTEN, SWEDEN, November 16, 2006 - This announcement on Swedish national television, coming from one of the top psychiatric authorities in the country, is sensational.

Millions and millions of persons take new antidepressant drugs - in the belief that they are "safe and effective" - as psychiatrists, pharmaceutical companies and medical agencies, like the FDA, have told them.

But now a top psychiatric authority tells them that they in an immense number of cases "get worse from this" and that the antidepressant drugs themselves in many cases "make them continue to be depressed". The VP of The Swedish Psychiatric Association - the national member organisation of the World Federation of Mental Health - further said about the harmful effects of antidepressant drugs and the fact that doctors don't believe what the patients tell them, that there is "a considerable lack of knowledge about these side effects" and that the patients must tell their doctors "that this exists, and then this doctor has to find out about it".

It is a little known fact that pharmaceutical companies have had to work hard to show any positive effect of new antidepressants (SSRIs and SNRIs) to get approval of the drugs. Even if they are experts in asking the right questions and getting the answers they want from their clinical trials, it has been almost impossible to complete two studies where the drug is more "effective" than placebo (which is the requirement for approval of the drug from a medical agency, like the FDA). From deep within the archives of clinical trials the hidden harmful effects of antidepressant drugs have emerged the last two years. But the fact that these drugs cause suicidality and violence is not what psychiatrists and pharmaceutical companies have told the public.

Instead the public and doctors have for many years heard that these drugs are "safe and effective" and if some bad effect showed up it was explained away with the "underlying disease". The problem was said to be compliance - the patients had to continue to take the drugs long enough for the depression to go away.

But the Vice President of The Swedish Psychiatric Association has now announced that this was false: For many persons "the antidepressant drugs make them continue to be depressed".

Patients should repeat the words of this psychiatric authority when speaking to their doctors: Tell the doctors about the harmful effects of antidepressants, "that this exists, and then this doctor has to find out about it". They should tell the doctors that the cause of their bad feelings very likely is that "the antidepressant drugs make them continue to be depressed". They should get their doctors to gradually reduce the antidepressant drug under careful supervision.

Patients should also be aware of the new deceitful campaign of biological psychiatry. As with all earlier psychiatric drugs the catastrophic effects can be announced first when a campaign for a new drug or drug cocktail is about to start. The coming campaign, (well-known for the VP Dr. Spjut), in Sweden and the rest of the Western world is the sale of "Bipolar Disorder" (Manic-Depression). Patients are to be told their "old" diagnosis of depression was a bit wrong and that the "correct" diagnosis was "Bipolar" (both these diagnoses are of course completely subjective, there is no objective confirmable evidence for any form of "chemical imbalance" in the brain). And then the treating doctor is supposed to add even more toxic substances - antipsychotic drugs like Zyprexa and Risperdal - to the antidepressants.

The antidepressant era is about to end - it should be replaced by real solutions to personal problems, not by more false diagnoses and more toxic psychiatric drugs.


Janne Larsson
writer from Sweden - investigating psychiatry

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/view_press_release.php?rID=20858




   (Sat Nov 18 13:32 2006)

What garbage this Effexor is (for me). I have never felt so horrible as I do after taking this for a month. I don't even feel like I'm living in reality anymore...life feels more like some strange dream bordering on a nightmare. I cry so much. I have to sleep to get away from it. I spend as much time in bed as I possibly can just to avoid this "reality". I've been depressed for a million years, but this is not depression...this is something so strange I can't even describe it properly.
Needless to say I am through with Effexor...now to get it out of my system, and get over the withdrawal...and then...I don't know. Try something else. If I make it through this.
   (Fri Nov 17 20:40 2006)

I've been on Effexor for 2 months now; in the beginning, I thought it had saved my life. I was finally able to feel normal again. Now at over 2 months, I feel "crazy" and I am normally a very stable person. My whole family describes me as "being all over the place." I agree. I change my mind and moods from one minute to the next. On Monday I tell my boyfriend I love him and want to be with him, then by Tuesday, I'm asking him to leave. My drinking has gotten so bad that once I start, I cannot stop. I simply can't and I will hurt anyone in my way who trys to come between me and alcohol. Similar story to anyone else? Just curious, maybe i need a different med..   (Thu Nov 16 13:45 2006)

Thanks for the input. I believe my depression is more on the mild side. I first was given medication (zoloft) when I was pregnant with my second son and would say I was more on the severe (but not suicidal or anything) but crying spells difficulty getting out of bed etc. I got the effexor this time from my obgyn and there wasn't much discussion on why I wanted it. I wonder how informed she is on it. I have always just trusted that the doctors knew what they were doing. Anyway, I'm going to try to wean myself off. I'm just not comfortable with the long term--there are tons of people on the web who have not been happy with it. I took 1/2 the dose last night and have felt ok today. Anyway, enough rambling. Thank you for your time.   (Mon Nov 13 22:23 2006)

Anya, I’m curious as to what prompted you to initially start Effexor? Did you tell your physician that you were a “little blue” at times and this is what he suggested?

I ask because Effexor is not a drug that should be prescribed for mild depression. I consider it the last drug a person should take and only for severe depression. If you believe that your depression could be corrected with diet and exercise, Effexor is not the drug for you.

Night sweats are common. I get day sweats, morning sweats, evening sweats and night sweats but it is worth it for me as I’ve struggled with severe depression for years and this drug helps me a great deal.

Try taking it in the morning instead of at night, that helped me to sweat a little less.

If you’ve taken Effexor for over a month now and all you have are night sweats, that’s probably all you’ll get. The weight loss is good, too. But your purgatory will be when you decide to stop this drug. It is one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult drugs to stop. That is why I say if you only needed it “a little” and you only feel “a little better”, perhaps it’s time to cut your losses early and quit.

Ask your doctor, or get a second opinion. You do not want to be on this drug for the rest of your life if you don’t need to be.

Best of luck to you.
   (Mon Nov 13 15:45 2006)

I'm a little freaked out right now reading all this. I have just been on effexor for a little over a month and feel very "normal" except that I have been having horrible night sweats. Where I am soaking the sheets. I decided to google night sweats and effexor and found this site. I think I should stop taking it before I have any other symptoms. Although I have been forgetful lately---but I think I have been forgetful since I have had children!! I have two small children and my husband is deployed right now. So I can't call him to talk about this. I haven't gained any weight. Infact I have lost a few pounds, but i work out regularly and contributed the loss to that. I am taking 75mg at night and I think I am going to take 1/2 starting tonight. I would rather try to correct any depression with exercise and diet than having to worry about long term problems. Any suggestions or advice to this post would be appreciated.   (Sun Nov 12 19:52 2006)

I have been taking effexor for 9 months now for depression and mild anxiety. effexor changed my life. i feel amazing,however,the weight gain was unbearable for me. i have gained 25 pounds so far. today was my first day on cymbalta my dr says it will not cause wegiht gain, but everyone on this sight has been saying it will.i'll have to give it a chance. as for the withdrawl symptoms. they are common when you go off the pill, the reason being is that your body needs the medication and when you stop taking it you will get sick that is a for sure sign that you should definitly be taking a antidepressent so if effexor is not the right one you need to speak with your doctor about trying another. the battle with depression is hard. you can not expect a perfect medication match the first time, it sucks but it because a matching game so that you can find the medication that will work the best for you.you should never stop taking a antidepressant cold turkey, it could cause you to seizure and is very dangerous. if you have brain zaps which are hell or any of the other bad withdrawl symptoms take as your body telling you that you should be on some sort of med. so if you are currently taking effexor and expierencing these awful side effects you should know that this means you should not be on an antidepressent. good luck to everyone depression is a hard thing but finding the right med may be just as hard!   (Sat Nov 11 22:12 2006)

I've been on Effexor for 10 years and it's now seemingly impossible for me, and many, many others to stop it, though some can with little difficulty. I thought it was just great for a couple of years, but then it began to lose effectiveness. But I felt awful without it - MUCH worse than what led me to it initially. In retrospect, I was much better off before medication. Over time, my doctor (who earns cash and trips from drug companies) has added Lamictal and Seroquel, both of which also cause me to feel much worse if I stop them. I'm stuck, and not the same productive person I used to be. I've done a tremendous amount of reading of scientific studies lately, and it's alarming. Many non-drug company studies - by the US Fed governmebt, independent researchers, foreign studies - point to a consistent worsening of health after treatment of depression, and worse ills, with psychiatric meds. They seem like a Godsend in the short term; they make us feel better in challenging episodes. But the research data increasingly indicates that longer term they convert what would have been short term bouts of mental illness, if left untreated ny drugs, into lifelong chronic disease. Take the time to find this controversial research, by a scholar at Harvard, and Pulitzer nominated for his medical research/writing in the press. The US drug-centered medical establishment hates this research, but for me, given my experience, it is very convincing, and personally troubling.

Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, Volume 7, Number I , Spring 2005
Anatomy of an Epidemic: Psychiatric Drugs and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America
Robert Whitaker
Cambridge, MA
Abstract: "Over the past 50 years, there has been an astonishing increase in severe mental illness in the United States . The percentage of Americans disabled by mental illness has increased fivefold since 1955, when Thorazine - remembered today as psychiatry's first "wonder" drug-was introduced into the market. The number of Americans disabled by mental illness has nearly doubled since 1987, when Prozac - the first in a second generation of
wonder drugs for mental illness - was introduced . There are now nearly 6 million Americans disabled by mental illness, and this number increases by more than 400 people each day. A review of the scientific literature reveals that it is our drug-based paradigm of care that is fueling this epidemic. The drugs increase the likelihood that a person will become chronically ill, and induce new and mote severe psychiatric symptoms in a significant percentage of patients."   (Mon Nov 6 0:09 2006)

Are there any statistics regarding how many people out of one thousand, as an example, are hit with side effects of Effexor XR? I read through these posts and notice a wide range of opinions and side effects. I am a 50 year old man. I have had depression all my life, but have managed it through exercise, diet and suppliments, but never have I felt cured and ocassionally slump into my chair for days watching TV. When in that state I know I am depressed but it does not really bother me that much. I don't have to work though I would love to be more spontaneous, active and giving. Any advice from this community? Email me with Effexor in the subject line so I can "despam" you. monogram1@cox.net

Bill   (Sun Nov 5 15:22 2006)

i just started effexor on saturday...anyone have any good experiences? do the side effects go away? email me if u wanna talk
christadawn_98@yahoo.com i need positive info to keep me strong...thanks   (Mon Oct 30 9:09 2006)

OK. I've been taking Effexor XR 37.5 for a few days now...and reading about the withdrawal is starting to scare me. I know about withdrawal because I came off of Celexa over the summer...Am I looking at an even worse time when I need to come off of the Effexor?
   (Sat Oct 28 3:19 2006)

Hi everyone. I am new here and I am very glad to have found this site. Effexor has been pretty good to me so far. I used to be irritable and would worry needlessly about global issues and far off dangers to my family. Effexor has corrected this, but I just can't see being on a medication forever. I want to learn to do it on my own. I was worried about weight gain and sexual side effects, so I tried Wellbutrin 150mg in conjunction with the Effexor. I thought it wasn't really helping, but now, I think maybe it was. After dropping the Wellbutrin, I have been steadily adding weight. Recently, I started really dieting, and so far, I have only managed to maintain. I CAN NOT GAIN ANOTHER POUND. THis is so important to me that I am willing to wean off the effexor and try it on my own despite the horror stories. I may try the low dose of Wellbutrin again and see if that helps first though. Any suggestions?   (Mon Oct 23 8:01 2006)

Varying Symptons of Adverse Effects & Withdrawal of Effexor and all antidpressants


PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS:

That Mimic Depression
Crying spells, Worsened mood, Low energy (fatigue, lethargy, malaise); Trouble concentrating, Insomnia or trouble sleeping, Change in appetite, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempts


That Mimic Anxiety Disorders
Anxious, nervous, tense; Panic attacks (racing heart, breathless); Chest pain; Trembling, jittery, or shaking


Irritability and Aggression
Irritability, Agitation (restlessness, hyperactivity); Impulsivity, Aggressiveness, Self-harm, Homicidal thoughts or urges


Confusion and Memory Problems
Confusion or cognitive difficulties; Memory problems or forgetfulness


Mood Swings
Elevated mood (feeling high), Mood swings, Manic-like reactions


Hallucinations
Auditory hallucinations, Visual hallucinations


Dissociation
Feeling detached or unreal


Other
Excessive or intense dreaming, Nightmares





MEDICAL SYMPTOMS:

That Mimic the Flu
Flu-like aches and pains, Fever, Sweats, Chills, Runny nose, Sore eyes


That Mimic Gastroenteritis
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Abdominal pain or cramps, Stomach bloating


Dizziness
Disequilibrium; Spinning, swaying, lightheaded; Hung over or waterlogged feeling, Unsteady gait, poor coordination, Motion sickness


Headache
Headache


Tremor
Tremor


Sensory Abnormalities
Numbness, burning, or tingling; Electric zap-like sensations in the brain; Electric shock-like sensations in the body, Abnormal visual sensations, Ringing or other noises in the ears, Abnormal smells or tastes


Other
Drooling or excessive saliva, Slurred speech, Blurred vision; Muscle cramps, stiffness, twitches; Feeling of restless legs, Uncontrollable twitching of mouth


   (Fri Oct 20 13:50 2006)

METHOD 1:

Instead of counting out granules (which really isn't accurate as granule capsule contents vary anywhere from 105 - 124 granules per capsule), use Effexor immediate release tablets (don't worry you won't feel any different than using the capsules. The only difference is that you will take one half of your tablet dose in the morning and twelve hours later take the second half of your dose.

THE GOOD NEWS: Effexor comes in tablets: 100mg, 75mg, 50mg, 37.50mg, and 25mg. You can purchase a "pill splitter" from any pharmacy--the cost about $4.00 (american money) and split your pills in half, quarters, and even eigths--(with a little practice for the 1/8s). Splitting tablets will enable you to have more control stepping done your medication. When I got to a dose that is in between one of the tablet sizes listed above, I respectfully requested from my doctor a prescription of two different amounts of tablets (for example 37.50mg tablet and 25mg tablet). When I step down in doses I do NOT want to make big leaps.

Here is a partial record of my tapering; it starts at the 37.50mg doseage.

---I cut a 37.50mg tablet into eights = 4.68mg/per eight and then cut a 25mg tablet in half = 12.50 mg. I would then take: one 4.68mg plus one 12.50 mg = 17.18mg (morning dose) and then do the same thing 12 hours later. 17.18mg + 17.18mg = 34.36mg for the day. (Stayed at this new dose for 1 month.)

Next cut: 37.50mg in quarters = 9.37mg and cutting a 25mg into quarters = 6.25mg. I then took 9.37mg + 6.25mg = 15.62mg in the morning and then same thing 12 hours later. 15.62mg + 15.62mg = 31.24mg for the day. (Stayed at this dose for 1 month.)

Next cut: 1/8 of a 37.50mg tablet = 4.68mg plus 1/4 of a 37.50mg tablet = 9.37mg. 4.68mg + 9.37mg = 14.05mg. 14.05mg + 14.05mg = 28.10 mg for the day. (Stayed at this dose for 1 month)

Next cut: 12.50mg (1/2 of a 25mg tablet) in the morning and 12.50mg twelve hour later = 25mg for the day. (Stayed at this dose for 7 weeks)

Next cut: 12.50mg in the morning and 9.37mg in the evening = 21.87mg for the day. (Stayed at this dose for 1 month)

Next cut: 6.25mg (1/4 of a 25mg tablet) + 4.68mg (1/8 of a 37.50mg tablet) = 10.93mg (morning dose) and 9.37mg (1/4 of a 37.50mg tablet) twelve hours later.

10.93mg + 9.37mg = 20.30mg for the day (Stayed at this dose for 2 months)

Next cut: 9.375mg (1/4 of a 37.50mg tablet) in the morning and 9.375mg in the evening = 18.75 mg for the day Current Dose (Staying at this dose for 4 months - I don't think I would have had too stay this long except I over exercised and it caused the medication to metabolize out of my system very quickly causing me to have to restablize my system.)

This is much easier on your system than making big cuts in the doses.

You can use any combination of the tablet doseages, using the pill splitter, to get the approx. dose you need. The above is just an example of where I am at.

*5%-10% CUTS* -- I think some folks may be taking 5% or 10% of their highest dose and then they keep using that number to subtract for all their cuts--that is not the way to do it.

Always use the *CURRENT* doseage amount you are at to multiply by 5% or 10% (not the highest dose you ever took) inorder to see how much you need to come down.

For example:

If you are at 50mg and are ready to make a cut.

5% Cut:
50mg x 5% = 2.50
50mg - 2.50mg = 48.50mg--this would be your new dose

OR

10% Cut:
50mg x 10% = 5mg
50mg - 5mg = 45mg--this would be your new dose

Let's say your new dose is now 45mg. The next time you make a cut you will take 5% or 10% of 45mg to figure out the next doseage amount.

WHEN CUTTING YOUR PILLS of differing milligrams, have some empty, clean, prescription bottles that are labeled (for example 4.68mg on one, 9.37mg on another, 6.25 mg on another, etc.) so that you don't get them mixed up. As you cut smaller amounts it gets harder to distinguish what is what--the labeled bottles will keep you straight. Just be sure to put the correct amounts in the correct bottles!

BE SURE once you step down on a doseage that you remain at that amount for at least 3 weeks, preferably 4 weeks. It will give your brain chemistry time to adjust to the returning natural levels of serotonin.

DON'T BE SUPRISED as you get lower and lower on your dose that you may need more than 3-4 weeks to stablize; remember your brain is going through a HUGE change--give it the chance to even out. It's not important how long it takes to taper from dose to dose, it matters that you take your time!

ALWAYS take Effexor with food in your stomach and drink plenty of water.

Do NOT eat or drink anything containing GRAPFRUIT, it can create a serious toxic reaction.

NEVER, EVER take St. John's Wort or 5-HTP--they have serotonin in them. Mixing them with an anti-depressant or taking then after you've been off of an anti-depressant for only a year or less    (Fri Oct 20 13:47 2006)

The information posted to this list is for support purposes only and is not intended to replace the examination, diagnosis and treatment of a licensed physician and no such claims are inferred. You should always consult with your doctor before tapering off or stopping any medication--either of these decisions are between you and your doctor.


After reading so many posts, both old and new, I feel it is important to say:

--- You may have taken only a small dose of an anti-depressant or benzo, or you may have not been on them for a long time, or you may not have had any trouble getting on them, *but* getting off of these medications is a whole different story.

--- You *cannot* just stop taking these types of medications (also known as going "cold turkey".) Abrupt discontinuation will cause withdrawal to set in within hours. Click here for a list of withdrawal symptons that are possible to experience: http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/focussober/vpost?id=627185 Severe withdrawal can be life threatning.

--- As badly as you want to get off of any anti-depressant or benzo it is *so* important that you make small cuts in your dose amounts and stay at the new amount until you feel completely stable.

--- Taking these medications every other day, every two days, etc. is a HUGE no, no!

--- Going back up on a dose after tapering too fast or going cold turkey is *not* a bad thing; allowing your body and mind to be exposed to excessive and prolonged withdrawal is. You may "get over it" (the horrible withdrawals), but withdrawal symptons can occur or resurface months *after* you've finished taking these medications and there can be long lasting and permanent damage because of going cold turkey or tapering too fast. These meds. do not only effect your blood chemistry in the area of your moods, they effect all your systems.

--- If you are taking more than one medication, then taper only one at a time.


12/05/05

My story: Given Effexor for panic attacks; my highest dose was 150mg XR/once a day (extended release capsules) for 1 1/2 years. My doctor decided it was time to come off the medication. He dropped my dose from 150mg to 75mg--I felt dizzy, impatient, had a hard time concentrating, and had diarrehea--I thought it was just me. About 5 days later I felt better. Stayed at 75mg for 6 months, then the doctor cut my dose to 37.50mg. Had all the previous problems only much more severe; I never got stablized at 37.50mg. Then after a month he cut my dose to 37.50mg every other day--what a mess I was. Then after about 5 days I couldn't take it anymore and just stopped the medication--all hell broke loose! I thought it was just me, that I couldn't handle life and of course my doctor said it was just my original problem returning---NOT! He put me back up to 75mg and I stayed there for several months before I could even think of tapering again. My doctor said that Effexor didn't come in tablet form, but I knew this was wrong. I went to a different doctor and I have been tapering ever since at my own rate. I have had minimal withdrawal to this point and I attribute that to the very slow tapering and cutting doseage's at a rate between 5-10% each time.

   (Fri Oct 20 13:43 2006)

Here is a list my wife and I put together of all the side effects of using Effexor 150mg.

Effexor 150mg problems
Rating: 1=Minor 5=Serious

Tremor = 2
Restless Legs = 4
Constipation = 4
Night Sweats = 3
Texture Problems =3
Sexual Dysfunction = 5
Intimacy problems
Fatigue= 5
Lacking Self Awareness = 4
“Ticks” or other uncontrollable actions = 5
· Finger Nail clicking =5
· Scratching = 5
· Eyebrow pulling = 5
· Face touching = 4
· Nail biting = 5
· Picking at nails = 4
Weight gain = 3
Lack of emotion = 4
Inappropriate behavior = 3
Poor decision making = 4
Inability to prioritize = 4
Dry Mouth = 2
Startled Easily = 4
Warming sensation of the head = 2
Overwhelming Fear of missing a dosage = 5
Alcohol Related Problems = 5
· Memory loss = 4
· Blackouts or Pass outs = 2
· Poor judgment or decision making = 5
· Decrease in Tolerance = 5
· Constant stroking of hair = 4

   (Thu Oct 12 9:59 2006)

Nuss: Thanks fvor the insight. Spoke to the Doctor last night and we are all meeting ASAP. I have read dozens of sites and it seems 50% or the people really benefited and 50% have minor or very seripous side effects. I guess we are in the unlucky group. My wife and I made a list last night of at least 8 to 10 problems we can document. It was very enlightening. Thanks again for your insight.   (Thu Oct 12 9:20 2006)

Rick, I’m so sorry to hear of your troubles.

I am on 225mg of Effexor XR and it has done me a world of good for my depression. My wife says that I am at least 50% better, but I do feel the apathy that you describe your wife as having and the short-term memory loss, too. It is a strange feeling, indeed.

However, compared to the depression it is a good trade for me.

Now, I can tell you that people in treatment don’t always remember how bad, or good, things were prior to popping that first pill. I don’t, but my wife does. And you do about the way your wife used to feel, yes? But she doesn’t. The way she feels now is the way she has always felt. It is normal. It is the way she is supposed to be; you are the one that has changed. A difficult thing to understand from the outside looking in.

I would copy and paste your post and address it to her doctor. I would also state that you would like to make an appointment with him to discuss your wife.

I would do this as soon as possible. Do not wait! This is serious stuff, Rick; you have to become an insider in this threesome.

If her doctor refuses to see you, which I seriously doubt, I would make an appointment for yourself with a psychiatrist to discuss this problem. With the hope that you can persuade her to switch doctors and hopefully switch medicines.

Also, the drinking with Effexor is extremely dangerous. Some people can drink copious amounts of alcohol while on Effexor with no side effects. Others suffer blackouts, tremors, memory loss, etc. Effexor and alcohol are detoxed through the liver. With the double strain put on it many first see fatty livers, then cirrhosis. With the liver only working partially, you have toxic blood going to the brain causing the blackouts, but literally killing massive amounts of brain cells.

I am an engineer, not a doctor and the above is my understanding of the workings of Effexor and alcohol. A doctor may not agree.

What is important is that you do not give up. Please do all that you can to be a party to the success of your wife’s treatment. It didn’t happen in a day, and it won’t go away in a day.

God bless you Rick and keep us posted.
   (Wed Oct 11 20:39 2006)

For 10 years, my wife and I have enjoyed a wonderful life togther. I LOVE MY WIFE SO MUCH IT MAKES ME CRY AS I WRITE THIS. We were always having fun, incredible sex, a true passion for each other mentally and physically. She was a gift from God. People often commented what a great relationship we had. We would complete each others sentences and at parties would often catch each others eye from across the room and we hated to be apart even for a few minutes. Then after a really bad two years at her new job, she went into depression and had to quit her job. About ten monhts ago, she went on Effexor. Then started a new job. I supported her every step of the way. Then it all started. First the night sweats. Then the weight gain and constipation. Quit the gym. Working rediculous hours. Then the blackouts when she drank alcohol, even in front of friends. FYI, we are both in our 40's, a little old to have drunken blackouts. Then she just seemed to drift away mentally and physically. The only time she will have sex that she enjoys is when she is drunk. If she is sober and I initiate sex, she just looks into space and looks empty inside. The passion in our marriage is almost gone. I have pleaded with her, tried to buy back her sanity with gifts and surprise gestures, tried anything anyone would recommend to get her to see what this drug is doing to her and our marriage. I even stopped drinking to set an example. I tried being harsh, I tried threats, I tried showing more love, doing more around the house, but it has all failed. I even asked her to chose between me and the Effexor and Alcohol...she did not pick me. That hurt. Nothing is working. She can't even shed a tear anymore. Her memory is so bad she forgot the two years of depression and how I was there every day for her. When she tried to defend herself, she makes no sense at all, but feels she is making sense. She just looks at me and says I am the problem. I think her doctor made a huge mistake and it may cost me the women of my dreams. I am so depressed now that I may need to try one of these drugs....definately not Effexor. I just want my wife back. I would give up everything to get her back. Does anyone have any suggestions or similar expeiences? Please!!!! Time is running out for us. I miss my wife.   (Wed Oct 11 13:07 2006)

I've been on 225 mg of effexor for about 3 years. Last night I had some wine with a friend...2 bottles...and today I have the worst withdrawl symptoms. I'm dizzy, short of breath, feel like I can't stand up and have the famous brain zaps. I know it's not a hangover...much diffrent symptoms. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Any advice about drinking (a few per week) while on effexor?    (Tue Oct 3 11:47 2006)

I just finished weaning last week, I feel good. But am curious to what a brain zap is.
   (Tue Sep 26 12:52 2006)

It started in 93, the day after dad died. major panic attacks, followed by depression. was on paxil for 6 years till it pooped out, effexor since then. last year i decided to get off the meds, took 37.5's for a month then one every other day then quit all togeteher, after about 2 weeks of brain zaps i felt great.....untill 2 months later and it all hit again with a vengance. went back on effexor, was a month of hell till it kicked in again. a few months ago i decided i would try again, again i felt good untill... bam,, they hit again, depression, panic, major anxiety, my whole bory hurt. i've been back on effexor for 2 weeks and am starting to feel better? i say better because at least i can half way function. i would and have told folks, dont start meds unless its a last effort!!!   (Mon Sep 25 14:06 2006)

Hi there,

I was put on effexor 75 mg last year for post-partum depression. So I have been on it for almost a year. I just finished weaning last week and I can honestly say that it has been Smooth sailing. The only thing that I can possibly attribute to the weaning is I have been eating as though I've got a bad case of pms. Snacking, chocolate, and a whole lot of crap. Hopefully this hormone induced eating frenzy will ease off as my pants are getting tight :-). But other than that things are good.
Effexor really helped me thru a very rough period so I would have no troubles recommending it for post partum. Also, After going on effexor i lost my remaining baby weight. It was overall a good experience for me. Hope this helps some of you who are on the fence with regards to this anti-depressant.   (Mon Sep 25 13:35 2006)

I have been on 300 mg of Effexor for 4 years....I have been sober for 6 yeras. It has been amazing treating my anxiety. I no longer have social anxiety, mood swing. I have not been able to get meds the last 2 days and have experienced cold sweats , chills, and lethargy. However, I plan on getting back on today . It is frusrurating becasye he says , I might as well be using drugs. Effexor is not addictive. If someone weans themself of by a Dr. it will probably not be so bad...I tried explaining to him that I have a chemical imbalance and that meds are needed to stabilize the brain. Is anyone else having troubles with explaining the need for meds to a person close to them?    (Mon Sep 25 13:20 2006)

I have major treatment resistant depression. I was put on 150 mg of Effexor in May of 2004 because of anxiety it seemed to work and I finally stopped needing it in September of 2004. I had no withdrawl symptoms.

Then in February 2005 I went back on it due to a hospitalization for major depression. I was taking 150 mg a day again and it just did not seem to do anything even when combined with other drugs. My doctor, in typical psychiatrist fashion, kept telling me that the next med combo would work.

In May of 2005 one day I started vomiting and could not stop. I got dehydrated and had to be hospitalized. I was released still unable to keep solid foods down. THen the abdominal pain kicked in. I would be doubled over in pain and still vomiting. I was given phenergan, compazine and zofran to combat the naseua and was readmitted to the hospital and put on a morphine pump for the pain. Interestingly, narcotic pain relievers do not work for me at all. The only thing they do is make me drowsy- I am wondering if other patients with treatment resistant depression have similar problems and if it could be linked to dopamine, norepinephrine ect receptors in the brain.

Anyway, $35K later I was still in pain and all test results showed no gallstones ulcers or any other GI problems. In addition to physically feeling so horrible my depression was spiraling out of control. Finally, at the end of my rope after a final visit to the Gastroenterologist who polietly told me it was all in my head I just couldn't deal anymore and attempted suicide.
Obviously, I was not sucessful and I spent about 3 weeks in an inpatient setting where the Effexor was stopped cold turkey, no side effects. Within 3 days of the Effexor being stopped the GI problems completley disappeared and have never returned.

While I have not had problems with Effexor withdrawls I do know that I have been on cymbalta for about a year (not working either we just keep trying other combinations) and I have had none of the same problems though I have had night sweats.   (Sun Sep 24 2:53 2006)