Effexor
Effexor questions and answers
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Q: effexor............?
my psych doc has me on lithium and is tapering me off of effexor...i have been on effexor 150 mg for a year and now am at 37.5....she is trying to taper me to every 35 hrs but i have 3 kids and i try to make it thhat long i wil start to feel out of it and get very dizzy easily......has anyone else had a problem with that?
A: Withdrawal from Effexor can have some difficult symptoms, including dizziness.
You might be tapering off too quickly.
Talk to your doctor; she may want to increase the dose or decrease the time between doses.
Q: I have been taking 150mg effexor XR for about a year and just switched over to celexa should i taper off?
Taper off the effexor before starting the celexa. My doc says since i am on such a low dose of effexor, 150mg/day, it is my choice, but i really would like to get the celexa started.
A: I was on celexa and switched to effexor. Celexa is horrible. My psychiatrist says it's the worst antidepressant made. He said if you do go that route take the newer version "lexapro" which is a modified version of celexa. He said that to take a dosage large enough to be effective it causes hell on your stomach.
Effexor was a life changer for me. However if you must switch Effexor has horrible side effects when you stop. Crazy dreams, brain zaps, nausea, migraines. Taper off VERY slow or you will be VERY sorry
Q: What are the harmful effects of mixing effexor xr and abilify with marijuana?
I've been so exhausted lately...having day time tiredness and difficulty making it through class and i think it has something to do with the experimentation i tried last weekend. I have been on 7 mg of abilify, 75 mg of effexor xr for about 4 months now and smoked some marijuana. I have also been taking cola syrup (supplement) for anxiety. But now i cant stay awake or focus in class! What's going on...somebody who knows tell me.
A: Abilify can make you tired, pot definitely does.
Don't quit taking you meds, though !
Q: What is the difference between Cymbalta and Effexor XR?
I've taken both and they both seem about the same. Anyone taken both (remember, effexor xr, not the regular effexor)? Not at the same time. Any differences in weight gain? Sexual side effects? Insomnia? Headaches? Energy? Tiredness? Etc?
A: I'm not sure, but I do know that effexor is one of the worst meds to try and get off of so I would suggest stick with the cymbalta.
Q: What are the specific differences between Effexor and Effexor xr?
My psychiatrist told me the only difference is that Effexor XR is made to prevent a GI tract problem that some people have with regular Effexor. Please let me know if there are any other differences. I was moved from XR to regular and I feel different but not sure what it is. Thanks!
A: Your psychiatrist is not telling the whole story! I used to take Effexor and can answer this.
The "XR" stands for "eXtended Release" form of the med and is intended to keep the level of metabolites in your system more or less even over time. Meds of these types are eliminated from your system over time. Doctors use the term "half-life" which means the amount of time it takes your body to eliminate half the amount from Your system. For instance, a med has a half-life of 24 hours and you take 100mg, then 24 horus later there is only 50mg in your system. Then 24 hours later there is 25mg, then 24 hours later 12.5 mg and so on (assuming you take only that one dose and no others the following days.) The standard Effexor has a half-life of 5 hours which is very short. So you take 150mg in the morning, by early afternoon it's 75mg and by the evening it's 37.5mg. This is too sudden a drop and can cause problems both for effectiveness and side effects. So they developed an "eXtended Release" (or "XR") form in which the med is time released into your system over 15 hours. This keeps the med level more or less consist end and you don't suffer drop in effectiveness or certain side effects (the doctor mentioned one.)
HTH,
-- Liam
Q: How to distinguish between leukemia and Effexor XR side effects?
I have several side effects of Effexor XR which coincide with symptoms of leukemia. Namely leukocytosis, lymphadenopathy, headaches every day, fatigue and night sweats. Is there any way to know which is the culprit? I'm 27 and on birth control, so menopause isn't likely to be causing the headaches or night sweats. Serious replies only, please.
A: I am currently on Effexor XR and suffered from headaches and night sweats for the first few months of taking it. I have also suffered from extreme fatigue since i began taking them 6 months ago. Leukocytsis and lymphadenopathy are infrequent side effects to the drug, which means approximately 1 in 100 people will suffer these effects. It is extremely likely that effexor is the cause and not leukemia. Although you should probably go to the doctor if these symptoms continue and try a different anti-depressant.
Q: How long does the severe depression of Effexor withdrawal last?
After a 2 week tapering off program (by my doctor) I was able to stop taking Effexor. I have been off of it fully for about 10 days now. I have taken antidepressants for 8 years and am finally taking nothing. While I am glad to be finished with them, the depression is killing me. I hope that this is just a withdrawal effect that is going to get better. Has anyone else gone through this. If so, how long does it last? Thanks so much for any information!
A: Effexor is one of the most difficult drugs to come off, things will slowly get better.
Q: What effects are there while taking Effexor XR when you actually don't have any depression or anxiety?
I'm in the process of weaning off Effexor XR with the help of my doctor. I'm suspicious that I never needed to be on the AD in the first place. I feel like I've been terribly depressed for the past two years, and now that I'm coming off the AD I'm starting to feel better than ever. I'm wondering if taking Effexor when you don't need it could cause depression.
A: I think the Effexor stopped working for me after a couple of years. I had been addicted to it for 7 years and unable to quit until a doctor helped me. I came off Effexor XR and I feel a lot better.
The drug made me tired most of the time. Lots of people report feeling like a zombie while on anti-depressants. I wasn't able to cry or feel guilt like a normal person would. I would say things that would hurt people and not care. Effexor made me lethargic.
Now that I'm off, I really don't feel any difference from when I was on it depression-wise. I do have more energy, I can cry again and I'm angrier and want to succeed more than before.
When I was down to 37.5 mg and it was time for me to quit, my Dr. put me on a low dose of Wellbutrin and some Ativan.
The 3rd day without Effexor was HELL but please don't give up. You will get the head flashes/jolts about once every 10 seconds for 2 or 3 days. It's awful! After the 3rd day, it goes away steadily. I stayed in bed for 3 days and didn't move. On the 4th day, the sick feeling reduced by half. On the 5th day, it reduces by half from the day before, and kept reducing by half from the previous day until it completely stopped. It took about a week but only 3 or 4 days were extremely bad.
It's a hard few weeks but being able to not be addicted to Effexor is priceless. You will feel better. I haven't taken Effexor or had a head flash in months. :) It's awesome.
I only take Ativan now when my anxiety is bad. The depression comes and goes but I find that the best solution is to FORCE myself to make small, positive changes in my life to keep my spirits up.
Best of Luck!
Q: How long should the discontinuation symptoms of suddenly stopping Effexor XR last?
I started taking Effexor XR a while ago, and was on 75 for a couple week. Then, about a week ago, I suddenly stopped taking it. I know it wasn't the best way, and that I should have gone off slowly, but now I feel that I'm too far into being off of it to do that. Any-way, I've bee having 'discontinuation symptoms', mainly horrible dizziness and headaches. I was just wondering how much longer the discontinuation symptoms will last?
A: 75mg is quite a low dose, and a 2 week course is EXTREMELY short (it's not even enough time to notice any therapeutic effect). You need to consider the possibility that your "discontinuation symptoms" are actually due to something else (e.g., ear infection, migraine, flu). If your headaches and dizziness are due to the flu (or some other illness), you will want to be treated for it, instead of mistakenly attributing the symptoms to the effexor.
Hang in there,
~M~
Q: Is it okay to go from taking zoloft to effexor without seeing a doctor first?
I've been on Zoloft for about 6 months now and in the beginning the med helped me tremendously but now I feel like I'm back at square one with my depression. Secondly, I've taken effexor in the past.
Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated!
I still have 3 months of presription of effexor that I haven't filled yet..Just so you will know...They are not old meds.
A: Research has shown time and time again that medication and therapy in combination offers the best chance for improvements. You didn't mention if you are in therapy and that may be something to look into. DO NOT change medication without working with the doctor. Clients who do this put themselves at risk for medicine interactions and worsening of depressive symptoms, not to mention the risk of becoming psychotic.
Q: What side effects of effexor are most common?
Has anyone experienced more than one side effect while taking effexor? If so what happened? Were the side effects too much and you stopped taking the medication?
A: I haven't taken effexor but I have friends who have and they did have more than one side effect although everybody will experience it differently depending on dose. weight, age other medications etc. BUt there is a list here of side effects and their frequency.
If at any point you have side effects that are intolerable for you then go back to your doctor and discuss it. The medication shouldnt make your daily life worse at the cost of trying to improve your mental health. I hope you get on ok with it.
Common side effects
NOTE: The percentage of occurrences for each side effect listed comes from clinical trial data provided by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc. The percentages indicate the percentage of people that experienced the side effect in clinical trials.[2]
Headache (34%)
Nausea (21-35%)
Insomnia (15-23%)
Sexual dysfunction (14-34%)
Dry mouth (12-16%)
Dizziness (11-20%)
Sweating (10-14%)
Decreased Appetite (8-20%)
Abnormal ejaculation (8-16%)
Hypertension (4-5%)
Vivid/Abnormal dreams (3-7%)
Akathisia (Agitation) (3-4%)
Decreased libido (3-9%)
Increased yawning (3-5%)
Apathy
Constipation
Ongoing Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Fatigue
Vertigo
Orthostatic hypotension (postural drop in blood pressure)
Impulsive Actions
Electric shock-like sensations also called "Brain zaps"
Increased anxiety at the start of treatment
Memory Loss
Restless Legs Syndrome
[edit] Less common to rare side-effects
Note 'Rare' adverse effects occur in fewer than 1 in 1000 patients.
Cardiac arrhythmia
Increased serum cholesterol
Gas or stomach pain
Abnormal vision
Nervousness, agitation or increased anxiety
Panic Attacks
Depressed feelings
Suicidal thoughts
Confusion
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Loss of appetite
Tremor
Drowsiness
Allergic skin reactions
External bleeding
Serious bone marrow damage (thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis)
Hepatitis
Pancreatitis
Seizure
Tardive dyskinesia
Difficulty swallowing
Psychosis
Hair Loss
Hostility
Activation of mania/hypomania.
Weight Loss (of concern when treating patients suffering from anorexia nervosa)
Weight gain (effect not clear, but of concern when treating people who may have Body Dysmorphic Disorder).
Homicidal Thoughts
Aggression
Depersonalization
Visual Hallucinations
Swollen and/or bleeding gums
Frequent urination
Q: How long will I have withdrawls with 75 mg of effexor xr?
I am currently on 75 mg of effexor xr and .5 of xanax for anxiety. The effexor is terrible..I am having dizzy spells and the dr wants me off of it. He said he would have to taper me off of it slowly. I have been on it for a year. I am hoping since I have the xanax that the withdrawls will not be so bad if I take the xanax as needed! I am so scared to get off this effexor!
A: Don't be scared. I know it's a frightening feeling, but you will get through this. You're not in any serious danger of major withdrawls, if you were, the Dr. would have you in the hospital being observed. The best thing to do is just to try to relax. Drink lots of fluids (will help rid it out of your system quicker), eat properly, and rest when you feel the need. When I was coming off Zoloft, my Dr. did a two week taper, every two weeks I would reduce my dosage. It took about six months, but after the first taper, I didn't really notice at all. If you feel nervous or jittery, take the Xanax, but make sure not to use more than prescribed. Call your doctor if you have any questions, they are there to help!
Q: How long do body aches last when coming off of Effexor?
My daughter is coming off of Effexor and took her last mini-dose on Friday of last week. For the last two days she's had terrible body aches (comparable to flu - but she isn't sick). I have read that body aches are a side effect of coming off of this drug, but haven't found any data on how long this lasts. Anyone out there have any recent experience with this? Thanks in advance for your answers.
A: I know the pain of stopping drugs like that, it's horrible. From my experience and also what I've read in the past, after the final dose is taken, it should take around 7 days for her body to readjust. She may not feel perfect after 7 days, but she should notice a marked improvement.
I found this article that may help give her some relief...
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_long_do_the_withdrawal_symptoms_from_getting_off_effexor_last
I've heard the same thing from other people... it won't completely ameliorate the withdrawal symptoms, but the b12 and omega fatty acids should help lessen the severity of the aches.
Q: How do others deal with the sexual side effects of Effexor (anorgasmia)?
I'm male, 30s, and been on Effexor XR for over a year and a half. I haven't been able to "get it up" or have orgasms for those one and a half years. The doctor put me on Wellbutrin to counteract the anorgasmia, to no avail. Is anyone else experiencing this? How are you coping?
A: I tried it and seemed to work pretty good.
Q: What is the difference between Effexor tablets and Effexor XR?
Effexor tablets or Effexor XR - Which is better?
A: basically one is slow release (xr) and one isn't