Effexor XR-Question

  To all of my friends here at HW.       Tho i'm BP2- i often post here on depression (I'm depressed more than hypomanic--& "major depression")---I have a question about Effexor XR.       I've been on a very low dose 37.5 mg for about 2 months now & it has helped me a bit (i also take 50 mg of Seroquel at nite)- but here is my question.

  My dear wife says I read to many "horror stories" on the computer by people who ---as she put it---probably had bad experiences---saying there are probably millions who have "good experiences".  (She's probably right here---but, aside from my present illness-I've always been hypochondriac!)

     OK-- here goes---I'd like to hear some experiences of people here who have been on Effexor XR (or just plain Effexor)--for an extended period of time (a year or more)---& who got off it without any terrible side effects. (Or people who are on it presently for a lengthy time.---please, i'd feel much better if i heard from some of you about this----dosage---length of treatment, etc)-----My wife & my pdoc...& pharmacist (a really nice guy, works  at hospital where my wife works--)---all say---"take the med--let it do its work & help you."                  

   Looking forward---to some reassuring words(that's what we're here for, right????     I always like when i can help others----it feels nice---hope you can do the same for me)----Blessings---Robert    

Hi Robert
I have been on Effexor w/ no side effects for years. If I didn't go around in a state of brain fog, and if I had the energy to keep a medical journal, I could tell you exactly how long. I'd say at least 5 years.

I have had CFS for about 25 years. All the various antedepressants I've tried have worked. That is, they have helped lessen the depression, but have not cured me. The only one that caused side effects was Prozac which put my sex drive in park.

One of my drs. told me that finding he right antedepressant for the patient was largely trial and error.

Got a new dr. Y-day. I told him I take one or two 75 mg. pills a day. He said you should maintain a steady does. He wants to see the blood tests and then review the matter.

Don't know anybody else who's taking Effexor. Good luck.

Wotan

I've been on Effexor for about 5 years. 75mg daily. No side effects that I can think of. I was on 150mg daily and went down to 75 with no change to my mental state. I still have bouts of depression from time to time which last from 1 to 3 months. I can still function though.

I have recently started taking Wellbutrin (150mg)along with the effexor and it seems to be making me more enthusiastic about life and I seem to have much more energy.

Hope this helps

Hi there -- I was on Effexor XR for a couple of years & went off of it stone cold without any problems whatsoever -- it wasn't working too well anymore, so my doc switched me to Lexapro at that point. I had no side effects or adverse reactions whatsoever when I quit taking the Effexor. Not that I could say the same would be the case of everyone stopping a medication; I know it is recommended any med that you've been taking for any length of time you should wean down, but I'm not the most compliant person with advice like that! :) Good luck and hope this helps a little.