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I have been on Effexor since it first went on the market, whenever that was (10-12yrs?).Before that I was on Zoloft for about 5 yrs. Whereas Zoloft seemed to stifle emotions, Effexor seemed to open a more complete spectrum of emotions (a good thing). Zoloft was like an artesian well, always bubbling up, where Effexor is more like swimming as a fish in an ocean (each analogy: endless). Effexor seems more robust than Zoloft, but closer to fullness than stimulating, as Prozac was for me. Effexor works on two parts of my brain instead of one, which could account for the fuller sensation of support. I have had some trouble staying down to my desired weight, though I exercise well, and eat frugally. I haven't noticed any loss of libido. I have quite a bit of anxiety, but haven't attributed that to taking Effexor. My concentration seems pretty good; good enough to get A's in college classes at 63.
i believe a number of years ago.more than 10? a dr tried me on effexor & it was a knock out drug for me.i couldn't concentrate.heck i couldn't stay awake! there's a number of antidepressants that do that do that to me while others upset my stomach or make me so dang shaky. it's really difficult finding the right combination.i don't think i was on effexor long but i can't remember.i was in a fog a lot trying to get the right medicine.that dr. has since gotten in trouble breaking the law & lost his license.as far as i remember i wasn't a victim of him but i sure as heck could have been! i can't even remember well which years i saw him.
1. What is/was your experience like taking Effexor?
I went on Effexor because Avanza wouldn't work for me. I had some pretty bad side effects (see below) but I was determined to give it a good go so as the side effects settled down the dose was upped. Originally I took 37.5mg (the smallest dose, given to people who suffer from panic attacks), then it went up to 75mg, and then 150mg.
2. How long did it take until it "worked" for you?
I was on it for several months, enough time to give it a good go, but it never worked for me. I just had side effects to deal with.
3. What improvements did you notice?
None that I wrote in my diary - I can't really remember.
4. What were the side effects if any?
The first night I had chills, diarrhoea, heart palpitations, real bad nausea (different feeling to the usual sort of nausea I have), shaking, and fitful sleep. After that the symptoms eased up a bit but continued for quite some time. After the dose was upped I started to sweat so much even I could smell it and I have a very lousy sense of smell. My memory also got a lot worse and I was a bit confused too... (all these things are stuff I noted in my diary - I don't actually remember this time)
5. If you quit taking this drug what was the reason?
I had enough of the side effects and it didn't seem to help me.
And did you suffer from withdrawals? Or maybe the question should be how did you cope with Effexor withdrawals? Tell us how you tapered off the drug and for how long. I think the main thing people want to know about Effexor withdrawals is...how long do they last and what sort of symptoms are we talking about?
Withdrawals uh... yeah that wasn't very pleasant at all.
It went okay until I got completely off of the Efexor (I slowly weaned myself off of it) and then it was like my head had gone for a walk on the moon but left my body behind. Except even worse than that. And if I tried to lie down then I would have this noise going in my head like a ‘jush jush jush' and almost a solid wave going through my brain to coincide with the noise (like a headache of the sort you can't possibly imagine because you can't escape the noise that's making it worse, after all it's in your own head). Thankfully it ‘only' lasted a couple of weeks, but believe me it was more than enough.
Sorry Merely Me, Rose again, because ive been on Antidepressants most of my life, including the older ones. I completely forgot to mention the most awful side effect for me. Having gone into Helpsites for coming off Efexor, this is very very common. Ihad the most dreadful sweating, especially at night. Nope not the Menopause, had the full Hysterectomy for a pre cancerous 10cm Cyst and had everything inc.Cervix removed, and that was 8yrs ago so not Menopausal sweats ! Like others have experienced, it had an obnoxoious smell. At night the sweating was so bad, i had to put a towel on my pillow and where my back rests. It was ruining my pillows as the back of my neck perspires. When Id go out and come back into the Bedroom, Yuck ! I felt is this my odour ! Ive never had B.O. problems before, having titrated now down to a non effective dose just to allow my brain to try and 'Get it togehter' there is absolutely no small whatsoever in my Bedroom. They call it the Efexor Central Heating effect !!
Also I forgot to mention, extremely vivid nightmares. Sorry for hogging the site.
Im glad to see its working for some as it is very good for anxiety and Depression.
1) my experience taking this drug had been ok
2) i took effexor for about 2 weeks when it started to work
3) what improvements did it make? its helped with my night sweats, i dont get as many, its helped with my mood swings, not being as sever.
4) no side effects so far , iv been on effexor for 3.5 years
martha
Just wanted to say thank you to all who participate in these medication reviews. I intend to cover...the depression and anxiety meds, supplements, and even therapies. There are so many members who come to hear about the patient experience and I wish to have something on file to give to them. I am so glad we are discussing this here!
Thanks again everyone!
Hi M/M,
I was waiting for this one, so here goes:
1. What is/was your experience like taking Effexor? OK I suppose, however I feel 'numb', little to any emotion and down to ZERO sex drive. Long story short, compared to me Mr. Spock is 'the life of the party'! My Rx is 150mG Effexor XR twice daily; I take it once in the A.M.
2. How long did it take until it "worked" for you? A couple of weeks, maybe? I came off of Prozac & Celexa (which I liked).
3. What improvements did you notice? A more 'even' temperament; unfortunately too much so. Not enough 'improvement' to warrant the side effects & withdrawl issues.
4. What were the side effects if any? Loss of sex drive, inability to concentrate, fitful sleep, loss of appetite. If I'm overtired I'll often experience those 'electrical shocks' in my head as mentioned in an earlier post here. I tried to describe them to my doctor that I felt like that 80's TV character "Max Headroom"; he thought I was crazy (not in those words, though). He also said I should 'stay the course' with Effexor.
5. If you quit taking this drug what was the reason? I wanted to 'feel' again. Also people I've told (including a friend who works filling online Rx for a major supplier) gasped. Another friend went as far as to open the capsule & remove 1 pellet the 1st day, 2 pellets the 2nd & so on. She no longer takes it, but she REALLY needs to be on something...even I can see it!
And did you suffer from withdrawals? Or maybe the question should be how did you cope with Effexor withdrawals? Tell us how you tapered off the drug and for how long. I think the main thing people want to know about Effexor withdrawals is...how long do they last and what sort of symptoms are we talking about? A few times I tried to 'taper off' with NO luck...I always came crawling back like an addict!
The first time was under the care of a holistic doctor using herbals & Acupuncture. The Acupunture worked quite well for me, however the whole regimen was pricey as my insurance would not cover any of it.
The second time I had some samples of lessening dosages, so over a 2-3 month period I slowly lowered my dosages and eventually stayed 'clean' for about 7 months until one day I literally 'crashed & burned'. During my withdrawl I became very irritable, 'teary', either sleepless OR sleeping my life away. Also, my general mood & well-being was unpredictable. Thank goodness I was living alone at the time!
1. What is/was your experience like taking Effexor?
I was on it initially for 18months, now have been on for 6 weeks after a break of 6 months. Dr says now im likely to need to be on it for the rest of my life.
2. How long did it take until it "worked" for you?
1st time, cant remember. this time.. about 3 weeks, I had to start on the lowest dose due to really bad nausia.
3. What improvements did you notice?
less crying, mood swings, less negative. more like my old self..
4. What were the side effects if any?
Nausia, constantly hungry (but I was aware and did my hardest not to eat any extra food for the fear of putty weight on)
5. If you quit taking this drug what was the reason? And did you suffer from withdrawals? Or maybe the question should be how did you cope with Effexor withdrawals?
1st time Life changed for the better, and I weaned myself off... lowering the dose, taking every 2nd day for a week then every 3rd... etc until I came off.. Headaches were a MAJOR though... took about 2 months to come off it.
But after about 6 months not being on medication I realised that I really needed to get back on something... I was crying all the time,,.. not the easiest person to be around, though people didnt realise as I hid things so well. I have since found out that there are many many people on some sort of medication for depression... I dont feel so bad but i am very cautious on who I tell. At this time I am feeling much better than I was 6 weeks ago, I am able to concentrate at work better.
Previously I had tried a different drug (cant remember the name) but it didnt work.
My psychatrist still doesn't belive me because he prescribed Effexor (75mg, upping it from 50 mg, and before that Celexa) and he was unrelenting in his acknowledgement of any side effects . Yet, in my experience, in a 6-hour cycle, however, Effexor made me dizzy and incoherent. My family members very concerned. I experienced insomnia mixed with sleeplesness. It was hell for me. My primary care physician said there's something better so I listened.
He weaned me off Effexor, during which I was for 6 weeks very irritable, short-fused, and downright ill-tempered. Fortunately I have a very understanding spouse with whom I share these details. This morning took 10mg paroxetine (generic paxil) this morning (it is now 12 hrs later later). Any response to this would be appreciated!
Am I on another collission course?
1. What is/was your experience like taking Effexor? It was fine. Not great,not awful. 2. How long did it take until it "worked" for you? I think about 4 weeks. 3. What improvements did you notice? I could live again. I wasn't stuck in bed all day crying my eyes out. 4. What were the side effects if any? I no longer had any interest in sex. (which actually ended up making me depressed again) 5. If you quit taking this drug what was the reason? And did you suffer from withdrawals? I wanted to try Wellbutrin to rid myself of the side effects. The withdrawal was awful. My doctor gave me 3 days to ween off and i became a crazy person. Crying, screaming....I slept in the bath tub at times, stabbed my bed with a knife, punched walls.... Even though I've started the Wellbutrin I still haven't felt the same since that episode. I don't remember who I was and can't figure out who I am now.
1. What is/was your experience like taking Effexor? I've had nothing but good things to say about this med. I've never had any side effects and I've never had to come off it so I couldn't tell you what that's like. I take 150 mg a day and have been taking it for a long time. 2. How long did it take until it "worked" for you? a couple of weeks 3. What improvements did you notice? Depression under control 4. What were the side effects if any? None for me 5. If you quit taking this drug what was the reason? And did you suffer from withdrawals? Or maybe the question should be how did you cope with Effexor withdrawals? Tell us how you tapered off the drug and for how long. I think the main thing people want to know about Effexor withdrawals is...how long do they last and what sort of symptoms are we talking about? No withdrawals because I never have gone off this medication.
I've been on Effexor for over 3 yrs for depression and anxiety. I've decided that I'm at a point in my life where I no longer need to take this medication, so I went to see my PCP to slowly taper off. I went from 150mg to 75mg for one month, and then 13.5 mg for another month. I had brain shivers for maybe the second or third day each time I took the new dosage and some mild anxiety/irritation, but that went away. Effexor has worked great for me, as I've tried other anti-anxiety medications.
I highly recommend following up with your PCP if you are thinking about stopping this and/or all medications. Hope this information helps.
I can tell you now coming off this stuff is not worth the emotional damage it causes I have to quit because I cant afford it ...my insurance wont cover it anymore and I cant pay 260.00 a month for it..Ive tried stopping before and had a choice to go back on it because of the brain zapping. Not this time.. so day three now and I feel like CRAP....My brain is sparking...... I hope This does'nt go on forever..........
I HAVE BEEN ON EFFEXOR XR 75MG FOR SO MANY YEARS NOW I LOST COUNT. I CALL IT MY HAPPY PILL AND GENERALLY FEEL UP AS FAR AS MY MOOD GOES. I SELDOM CRY ALTHOUGH I HAVE A MILLION PROBLEMS, FINANCIAL, ETC. I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT COMING OFF OF IT THOUGH BECAUSE OF SEVERE PAIN THROUGH MY BODY. YES ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO THEY SAID I HAVE FYBROMYALGIA BUT I AM BEGINNING TO THINK IT IS THE EFFEXOR AND I THINK MY DR. IS WONDERING ALSO. MY PAIN IS SO BAD IN MY LEGS, FEET, SHOULDERS AND AFTER X RAYS THERE IS NO REASON FOR ANY OF THIS PAIN. I DO NOT KNOW HOW I WILL DO OFF OF IT MENTALLY, BUT I AM ONLY 49 AND HAVE NOTHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IF I HAVE PAIN LIKE THIS. MY FAMILY
IS SCARED FOR ME TO COME OFF BUT I HAVE TO TRY!!!
I took Effexor for about 2 years--I loved it! It kicked in right away, and I felt great. Then I went to my regular doctor, who took my blood pressure reading and went pale. He had me call my psychiatrist immediately to take me off Effexor and put me on something else (Lexapro). The switch-over was the most brutal med switch I've ever gone through--6 weeks of absolute hell until the Lexapro kicked in. I've been on the Lexapro now for about 4 years, and I'm doing fine on it, although the blood pressure's still a bit high, and now I've got yet another drug to pay for because of it. Given that I have no medical insurance, I think I'd be better off today, at least financially, if I'd never taken Effexor to begin with.
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Dear Merely Me.
1.What was my experience like taking Efexor?
I had titrated off [paxil] usa Seroxat [eu] and had been on same for close on 20years. IT was difficult but manageable..
I was put on Efexor, after a rebound Depression 5months later. I found it had a few side effects whilst getting into the system. nausea, headache, agitation, dizziness. But nothing as bad as the Depression I was feeling.
2. What improvements did I notice?
Well after they kicked in [the Efexor Xl] and I was titrated up to the full Dose, I was aware of a great relief from Anxiety, phobia and Depression. I was quite without emotion really and nothing fazed me.
Side effects? the first one I noticed very quickly was that my libido/Sex drive dissapeared. I was 'dead from the waist down' in that area. Shortly after taking Efexor XL, I notice I was putting on weight, even though I was eating small portions of food, exercising. This worsened. As the months went by i found my concentration at times was bad. Weight gain became bad, I became v depressed about being 'porky' so it was a viscious cycle.
Doctors were aware id suffered a T.I.A. Ive never suffered from Blood pressure or high Cholestrol or fatty liver disease [stateohepatitis] and being 2stone overweight with all these rising.. I looked up scholarly articles and self help sites and its not unusual, so I was told my my GP that I was a walking timebomb with a Cholestrol of 9 a BP that could go as high as 160/90 and exaustion due to the above and the weight.
The Reason I quit?
Because the side effects were life threatening. I also noted that I had become more brittle and could be tetch and irritable with people, something even during depression I never was. Concentration and short term memory loss worried me too. The awful problems people had coming off the Drug didnt help.
AS I answer this, I am titrating off. My professor wasnt keen as he said 'I was doing very well on 150mg] I titrated down to 75mg myself for 2 whole months. Went into him yesterday with all guns blazing and demanded help to get me off as ID failed last year thats how bad the withdrawals were. So I asked if I could go on the lowest dose [sustained release] and am doing that for 10 days, after which IVe ashed to be switched over slowly to Lexapro. After 10 days I keep taking the Efexor low dose for some time, but start a v small dose 5mg of Lexapro and then go up slowly so that the bump may be not as hard this time.
Im experiencing today, head jolts [electric] eyes like dusts in them, anxiety panic palpitations agoraphobia but thats ok, It will be worth it to come off one of the worst tablets side effect wise and addiction wise. I am in for a very rough 10days and maynot be on the site, i hope that you will all understand.
Sorry Merely Me this is so long. Have gotten in food incase I do become Agoraphobic, I did the last time . Im angry that my shrink was so blase about my health concerns and that my GP said hed never prescribe that drug except in cases where no other ssri had worked for a patient, this seems to be the general consensus. Research has recently proven that long periods on the drug [over 3 years ] Im 5 years apporx on Efexor, can cause irreparable eye damage, I wont go any furthr... Rosemarie Determined to come off !!!
I have been on Effexor for about 7 years. Tried going off once and it made me very sensitive to every sad song, sad senerio I was a huge cry baby. I have no said effects that I am aware of and I have asked on several occassions and they tell me if it works, they do not want to change me. So I am a pro I suppose for the use of Effexor.
Dear Anonymous, its Weds morning here in Ireland, Im so glad that you have had a good reaction. I have said to MM that the tablet itself is extremely effective for Anxiety, social phobia, agoraphobia, its helped with that immensely, unfortunately were all different and the general concensus seems to be [ive gone into so many sites, that its a 'bitch' to come off. I wouldnt have come off but for the side effects in My Personal case. Glad its working well for you and best ofluck. Rose
I was on Effexor ER for along time at a dose of 450mg a day. It worked with helping my depression and anxiety. Then it quit working and I got off of it trying for years numerous different meds. None which worked as well as Effexor did. So now I'm back on it at 150mg a day and it's starting to work again after 4 to 6 weeks. I can't remember when the Dr took me off it how he weaned me off but it was gradual. I never had any side effects or withdrawal and still don't.