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Any experience with Effexor?

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Posted 4/25/2006 2:40 AM (GMT 0)

Hello all,

I'm a 22 year old man, and I first became severely depressed in the summer of last year. My psychiatrist prescribed Lexapro, which did nothing for me. I eventually felt better by December, and I discontinued the drug cold turkey. After a few days of hellish withdrawal symptoms, I felt fine, and felt fine until a few weeks ago, when the severe depression returned. Now, I'm deeply afraid that the 180 degree turn in personality which this depression inflicts on me will cost me my job.

I recently contacted my doctor, and he wants me to go on Effexor. I have some concerns, and I would be very grateful if anyone could address one or more of them:

1. I've heard that Effexor has the worst withdrawal symptoms of any drug. I'm very worried that I won't respond to Effexor the way I didn't respond to Lexapro, and then will have nothing to show for my trouble but weeks of terrible withdrawal.

2. I still hang out with my friends from college, and heavy alcohol consumption has always been a part of our social routine. Is alcohol use completely out of the question with Effexor?

Any information about the drug would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Don

Posted 4/25/2006 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Don,  Welcome to Healing Well forum.  I take Effexor Xr and do very well on it.  This past summer I was deeply depressed and was taking Zoloft that had pretty much quit working for me.  Switching to Effexor was easy and it kicked in really quick.  It has been a miracle drug for me and I just really cant say enuf about it.  I cant really speak to the side effects of going off the Effexor as I still take it.  However, many do state that they are pretty brutal.  But I must point out that if you ween off of them like your supposed to it wont be as bad then just stopping altogether.  So if you do decide to take it please do keep this in mind if it comes time to stop them. As for the drinking part....Well, I am not really much of a drinker so I cant help in this area.  It really isnt a wise choice to mix alcohol with any prescript ion medication anyway.  And I am sure you know this. I would say it isnt out of the question but just to use your best judgement when it comes to this.....Take care and do please let us know how your doing...
Posted 4/25/2006 6:11 PM (GMT 0)

'Hi there,

I was on Effexor XR briefly (2 months) at a dose of 75 mg (apparantly this is quite low) and did quite well with it. However it completely massacred my sex drive to the point that I'd shudder anytime my husband touched me.  I quit cold turkey and the withdrawal IS horrific.  I'd rather kill myself then go back on Effexor only because of the withdrawal. 

As for drinking, my literature says... 'Effexor XR does not interact with alcohol' and 'the manufacturer reccomends avoiding alcohol while taking this medication'  also.... alcohol may increase dizziness' (I could have told you that).  Now that being said, you might want to consider the fact that alcohol is itself a depressant.  Effexor is changing your brain chemistry and the effects of copious amounts of alcohol may be counter productive.  http://www.crazymeds.org/effexor.html (I know, it doesn't sound reputable... I try to read 'em all though) Has the most information I've seen on alcohol. 

Other side effects, Weight gain in some, Weight loss in others.  Drowsiness and sleeplessness, diarrhea and constipation... and the list of counter acting side effects goes on.

Now, Effexor is supposed to be an excellant SSRI will get you out of the blackest deepest depression, however if you intend to come off it at some point... I think you owe it to your body to research the withdrawal side effects thoroughly.

Good luck.

Honey

Posted 4/25/2006 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
I used efexor XR for about 3 years, getting off it was pretty dificult for me, sometimes a dr persrobe something to me that i choose to discontinue and was was off most of the drugs except Efexor the withdrawal symptoms were really bad.

i can say for the first year or two efexsor was good for me, but the 3rd year things started to change and took a downfall, i tried several times with out the help of the doctor ( which i know is wrong ) to stop taking it but i failed., until i saw a new doctor which replaced efexor with feveren+lithium that went prety smooth i didn't feel any withdrawal symtoms except for the first 24 hours , i had sleeping problem which lasted for just 1 day.

my personal opinuin try it, but make sure the doctor also prescribes another drug with it such as serquel or equivilant, as i hear from doctors effexor doesn't work alone.

good luck hope you get better

oh yea i think efexor is also very good for stress, i used to suffer from work related stress but effexor helped with that.
Posted 4/25/2006 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Don25

Be careful with Alcohol, as it is a amjor depressant. I don't drink very much..but even one or two glasses of wine, leaves me a bit depressed the next day. I too drank a lot in my twenties and early thirties and always remember the hangover as well as major depression the next day. Prescripion antidepressants and heavy alcohol don't mix well. Maybe try other ways to fill up your time that doesn't involve bars or alcohol, and you will be feeling better in no time.
Posted 4/26/2006 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hiya. Couldn't resist posting about Effexor. I've been on 75 mg since last November and it has given me my life back. Is it feasible/possible/acceptable to just stay on it for ever? I was on a low dose of a tricyclic antidepressant for ten years before the Effexor and then that stopped working.
Posted 4/26/2006 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jan Marie,

Your post interested me, because I have been looking at the Tricyclic antidepressants. I am currently on Remeron, but feel it might be giving out on me. One of them is Elavil (Amitryptiline). Can you tell me which one you were on? Ten years is a long time for a drug to work..and if they last that long, I would love to talk to my Psychiatrist about it.
Posted 4/27/2006 9:04 AM (GMT 0)
I was on Dothiepin (which has been renamed Dosulepin). For me it was the perfect pill. I just felt "normal" and had no side effects. I don't think it is available in the US. It is actually quite an old fashioned antidepressant. My doctor described it as a "cousin" of Amitryptiline.

Is it inevitable that medication stops working after a long time do you think?
Posted 4/27/2006 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
my father uses remeron, seems to be working for him and helps him sleep at night as well.
Posted 4/27/2006 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
I think that eventually these medications will end up being less effective or just stop working all together the longer that we take them.  I was on Zoloft for 4 yrs and it pooped out on me.  Really that was the first antidepressant that my doctor was able to find that worked well for me.  It happen with Luvox too.  Also, there are studies coming out proving that we as women our body chemicals are different than that of men's so we absorb medications differently and at a faster rate.  Showing that a lot of pain medications and such weren't as effective on women because of this difference.  I wonder if they will show the same to be true with antidepressants and psychotropics....Something to think about .....
Posted 4/27/2006 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
hmm that is interesting. I guess I must really appreciate this improvement in symptoms while they last! I must not start worrying about when it stops working, I must not, I must not....!
Posted 4/27/2006 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Jan,  I tell myself that same thing everyday I wake up feeling good on the Effexor "thank god it didnt quit overnight..." lol! 
Posted 4/28/2006 10:37 AM (GMT 0)
Isn't it great to share these feelings that we both totally understand?! yeah
Posted 10/18/2009 11:02 PM (GMT 0)

Hi

I have been on effexor for a couple of years now and have still felt moments of depression but I am sure it is because I have drunk quite heavily since I have been on the drug.  It does not make me sick or anything.  I do not experience anxiety as much being on effexor.  If you choose to drink I am sure it will be ok but we must remember that alcohol is a drepressant.  It is just a shame that it tastes so good.  I am still trying to work it all out.

eyes
Posted 10/19/2009 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi sooze1958,

This is an older thread. But I take effexor too. I would not recommend drinking when you are depressed. Though I can't say that I didn't. Because for a while I did. But I eventually lost my desire for alcohol. I may drink an an occasional beer myself. But I really don't think you can expect not to be depressed when drinking, because like you said, it is a depressant. So you are taking that risk. And you never know what is going to happen when mixing alcohol with effexor, or any antidepressant for that matter. So be careful and expect to feel depressed as long as you are drinking. Even if you don't catch a buzz.

I hope that you feel better.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/19/2009 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
effexor xr, over 3 years massive dose, highest. pooped as all meds do in time. now pristiq, less sedating as effexor does have a sedative value. yes weight gain and gastro. good for some, great, and not for others. wishing you well. jamie

dx, mdd, severe borderline personality disorder

 

Posted 10/19/2009 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Jamie,

weight gain for effexor or pristiq? I am going off effexor because of weight gain. Hope that pristiq doesn't cause this too.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/21/2009 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
sorry karen. definately effexor!!! weight and regularity much better with pristiq. i do not have the munchies as i once did, and alot with effexor. cheers, jamie. all the best. :-)
Posted 10/21/2009 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Effexor did absolutely nothing for my depression and the withdrawal was horrific.

Yankee girl
Posted 10/22/2009 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I've been taking effexor XR for several years for Seasonal Affective Disorder. I would go on it at the end of September and back off it in the spring. Never had a problem coming off it. this year, I couldn't come off it because I was still depressed when spring rolled around. So they upped my dose and added some other things. I need my dose titrated up more and a mood stabilizer like Abilify or something else to kick me in the butt and get me moving the way I used to be able to go. Good luck every body! BTW, effexor XR didn't make me gain weight.  

Posted 10/22/2009 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
I take the abilify too. Love it.

Best wishes to you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 10/22/2009 6:31 AM (GMT 0)
yes to abilify as well. jamie.
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