Effexor

shortstuff
shortstuff Member Posts: 79
edited March 2014 in Emotional Support #1
I'm wondering if anyone out there has had any experience with the antidepressant Effexor. My Dr. prescribed it and I've heard horror stories about it and am afraid to take it. If anyone has any info on it I'd appreciate it. Thank You

Comments

  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #2
    I have not, shortstuff (sorry) but I would strongly advise that if you have ANY issue with ANY medication prescribed for you, please bring those issues to your doctor's attention.

    There is no need for you to be worrying about this when there are probably viable alternatives (if it is 'just' an anti-depressant, I KNOW that there are viable alternatives).

    Good luck with this, and remember that you are paying your doctor, not the other way around.

    Take care.
  • terato
    terato Member Posts: 375
    #3
    shortstuff,

    My cousin was on Effexor and he believed it was better than the Paxil he was taking previously. Anti-depressants working well for some may not work as well for others. Only you and your doctor can arrive at which drug works best for you.

    Good luck!

    Rick
  • TereB
    TereB Member Posts: 286 Member
    #4
    terato said:

    shortstuff,

    My cousin was on Effexor and he believed it was better than the Paxil he was taking previously. Anti-depressants working well for some may not work as well for others. Only you and your doctor can arrive at which drug works best for you.

    Good luck!

    Rick

    How old are you shortstuff? Antidepressants affect teens in different ways than adults. I was on Prozac for a while and it worked fine for me. The thing is that after a while Prozac sort of stops working and then you are switched to another antidepressant for a while and then you go back to Prozac. In my case, I was on Paxil for a little while and I didn't like it.

    Some antidepressants work for some people. If one doesn't work, another one can be tried. Also, the amount of the dose is important. I react badly to a big dose so they usually give me the smallest dose which works well for me.

    In my opinion, it is best when a psychiatrist prescribes the antidepressant because he is more aware of the possible side effects and can either adjust the dose or change to another antidepressant.

    My psychistrist prescribed Prozac while I was in therapy. I know regular doctors prescribe it too if you ask for an antidepressant, not checking if you need it or not. Anyway, if you are taking any antidepressant, you need to have monthly checkups with your therapist to see how the medicine is working.

    Take care and good luck.
  • jculbertson
    jculbertson Member Posts: 1
    #5
    Shortstuff - I just started on 75 mg/day of Effexor about a week ago to treat the symptoms of surgical menopause from my recent hysterectomy due to uterine cancer. So far, I have had no side effects other than a bit more energy. My doctor told me it would take about 2-3 weeks for the drug to reach therapeutic levels. I have a friend that takes 300mg/day for anxiety and depression and has found no side-effects.

    I started to take it primarily because I am also taking Tamoxifen due to a breast biopsy that came back with atypical hyperplasia cells. The tamoxifen magnified the menopausal symptoms I'm dealing with.

    I hope that helps.
  • hidee
    hidee Member Posts: 3
    #6
    Shortstuff:
    I have been on Effexor now for over 6 years and find that it has really helped me with my anxiety and panic attacks.
    The only problem with this drug is that you must always take it. Don't ever skip a dose. If you do, you will find that you get something which I can only describe as "short circuit" in your brain. It's a very strange feeling and many people on this drug have complained about the same thing.
    My doctor never told me about this when I was put on it and I also didn't know how hard it is to come off of this drug either. You have to go on it very slowly and come off of it the same way.
    But I will say, it has helped me a great deal and I always make sure I don't miss a dose. Good Luck
  • shortstuff
    shortstuff Member Posts: 79
    #7
    hidee said:

    Shortstuff:
    I have been on Effexor now for over 6 years and find that it has really helped me with my anxiety and panic attacks.
    The only problem with this drug is that you must always take it. Don't ever skip a dose. If you do, you will find that you get something which I can only describe as "short circuit" in your brain. It's a very strange feeling and many people on this drug have complained about the same thing.
    My doctor never told me about this when I was put on it and I also didn't know how hard it is to come off of this drug either. You have to go on it very slowly and come off of it the same way.
    But I will say, it has helped me a great deal and I always make sure I don't miss a dose. Good Luck

    Thank you all for your help. I will consider your information in making my decision as to whether or not to take it. I'm still thinking about it. But thanks to all who replied. You are a great group of people on this network.
  • MissGina
    MissGina Member Posts: 2
    edited July 2019 #8
    Effexor for hot flashes/ sleeping

    I too was perscribed Effexor to help w/ my hot flashes ansd sleeping. My dose is 37.5mg a day. Anyone else taking this lower dose and has it helped? I am also afraid to begin taking it. I am just NOT a pill taker...and now I am having to take Arimidex daily as well. 

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