That's It!!! It's over! I've had it with Effexor.

[derbstyron]

I hate some of the other meds in my cocktail (namely, Lithium
and Lamictal) but I know that at least they work a little.

But Effexor? Screw it!

It's not worth it. Among the side effects this fucking med
gives me:

nauseous (frequently)
headache (often)
Dizzy
Anxious
Bathroom Issues

And God help you if you miss a dose. God will reign a
hell down on you that will make you beg in tears never to
cross paths with it again.

Ive been on just about every damn anti-depressant that
you can think off. And at my next appt. I'm adding Effexor
to the junk pile.

Maybe I'll try Symbax, a new combo of Prozac and Zyprexa
(I am in loooooove with Zypexa).

Wednesday I'm getting a new anti-depressant or I'm
firing my shrink and getting a new one.

Keep your fingers crossed for something good.

[bling bling]

1. Couldn't agree more

I don't know if it's right to use my own experience with it to judge how it works for others, but I have recommended to other people NOT to use this drug if they have other options available.

It was helpful for awhile, and then it stopped being helpful and almost ruined my life. Coming off of that drug after two years was the single worst experience of my life. It took about 4 weeks for the physical withdrawal symptoms to subside. I still don't think I'm back to normal mentally and it's been about 8 months now.

My side effects on it included night-sweats (bad), weight gain (about 35 pounds), feeling emotionally numb, and never getting restful sleep -- was always tired.

The physical withdrawal symptoms I went through after coming off it were virtigo, brain "shivers", dizziness, naseau, inner shocking/jolt sensations, audio-hallucinations (echo's, cracking sounds), bathroom issues, nightmares, inability to concentrate, feeling angry/enraged, and just feeling overall sicky all of the time.

I read that a lot of people choose to stay on Effexor after experiencing the withdrawal because it's horrible. I can understand why but I'm very glad I stuck through it. I would never go back on that drug, ever.

[derbstyron]

4. Actually, I forgot that one.

I've always been concerned that I don't sweat. I mean at all.

But on this thing I swear, I'm not joking, I wake up in a
pool of water. It's disgusting!

It's going away come Wednesday (I'll titrate it down to
be careful). God, how I hate this thing.

[Droopy]

2. Come off it the right way, derbstyron

I hear that you have to come off that drug slowly so the side affects aren't too bad. It might take you a couple of months, but it will be better than experiencing what could happen to you if you go cold turkey.

I take Wellbutrin as my anti-depressant and it has worked well for me and I've gone off it before with no side affects. I've heard other people complain about it, though, but I've heard some who feel the same way as me. I think everyone responds differently to psychiatric drugs. Of the three drugs that I take that work well for me I've heard bad stories about them from other people. I guess you have to just keep trying until you find something that works. I take Geodon (anti-psychotic), Lithium (moood stabilizer), and Wellbutrin (anti-depressant).

[ernstbass]

3. Careful with the Zyprexa

it causes significant weight gain(average 60 lbs) and diabetes.

[derbstyron]

5. That's why I'm on it!

I'm anorexic.

I've gone from 104 to 117 in a month.

Bring on those 60 pounds baby!!!

:hi:

[FuzzySlippers]

9. You've gained 13 pounds?!!!!

That's fantastic!!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[mdmc]

6. another satisfied "side-effexor" user

[no name no slogan]

7. I've been on one form of it for seven years....

...and quite truthfully it has saved my life.

I'm currently on Effexor XR, and take 300mg/daily-- which is about the max most people can take. I also take Lithium (to boost the Effexor) and Trazodone to sleep.

The side effects can be a pain in the @$$ (although I notice that I don't sweat as much now as I did a couple years ago), but I have yet to be on any brain med that didn't have at least one bad side effect.

While on Paxil for 18 months, I put 80+ lbs on my 140lb frame, and have yet to entirely lose the weight, seven years later. When I took Wellbutrin for six weeks, I tried to kill myself and was temporarily disabled for two months.

However, I have to admit that I've had better luck w/ the XL version-- the side effects are MUCH worse if you miss a non-XL dose, I've discovered.

Different meds react differently depending on your brain chemistry. I know several people who swear by Wellbutrin, and I won't go near it ever again. I also know several who LOST weight on Paxil, even though my weight increased 50%+.

Unfortunately brain chemistry isn't an exact science. Maybe someday, but not today.

[derbstyron]

8. Strange, isn't it?

I was on Depakote once. We had to stop it because of
the potential for conflict of something that was being
added. I loved it and had no side effects.

But, apparently, like Effexor, its known for many
side effects and lots of people hate it.

It's amazing how each person never knows what side
effect they will get, if any, and which drug will
work for them.

I swear, if a drug company could figure these things
out they would have it made (more so than they do now).

[Moloch]

10. Effexor is crap....

It doesn't work.

I took it for panic attacks and if I would be off it for just a few hours they would come back much worse than I had ever had them before.

[no name no slogan]

11. Is Effexor an approved anti-anxiety drug?

I wasn't aware that it was. I guess it really depends on the Dr. and the patient, in the end.

[Moloch]

12. I'm not sure....

I wanted xanax but dammit if my doctor wouldn't give me any. She put me on effexor instead.

[derbstyron]

13. Yes, it is

It's approved for both Social and Generalized Anxiety disorders.