Shanlin,

-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-•*Welcome to MyMigraineConnection!*•-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-

It's really difficult to say whether any medication is "well tolerated" because we all react so differently to them. Overall, from what people have said, I'd say that Effexor XR is as well tolerated as most of the antidepressants, perhaps even a bit better.

Not everyone has side effects from medications, but quite a few people have had the side effect of weight gain with antidepressants, especially the older ones. Effexor XR tends to be weight neurtral.

My own experience with Effexor XR was excellent. For 10 years, I took it both to treat depression and as part of my Migraine preventive regimen. After 10 years, though, it was less and less effective for depression, so my doctor prescribed a different antidepressant. This is, by the way, not an unusual occurrence after taking a medication for such a long period of time.

New medications can be frightening. The best we can do for ourselves is to read the patient information so we know what the side effects might be, BUT take them assuming we will not have the side effects. If we begin medications certain that we'll experience side effects, we probably will. That's proof of how strong our minds are and is called self-fulfilling prophecy or the nocebo effect.

I hope this helps. If you're still very frightened, call your doctor and discuss it.

Welcome again,

Teri