Anyone been on Effixer?

OuchinOregon

Regular Member

Joined : Sep 2010

Posts : 22

Posted 10/14/2010 5:46 PM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone. I have not yet been diagnosed with Lupus, although all my blood tests have come back positive. Should have final word in the next couple of weeks. I saw the rhuemy for the first time last week and she said I definitely have fibromyalsia and she is pretty sure Lupus. Thankfully my kidneys, liver and thyroid are all normal.

I have been on Paxil for depression and anxiety for 12 years now. I also take Trazadone to sleep. A couple of months ago my PCP put me on Elavil while waiting to get in to see the rhuemy. Well the rhuemy said that she wants me to stop taking the Elavil right away, she has put me on a low dose of Klonopin at night and is gradually going to replace my Paxil with Effixer. I was wondering if anyone had tried this medication and what the result was?

As Im sure you all know, the waiting for the official diagnosis is the pits! My first positive ANA was in 2002 but the last 6 months has been a constant battle physically and emotionally. I just hope this is not the best Im ever going to feel because that would be horrible.

Thanks for reading.

Stephanie

okie

Veteran Member

Joined : Dec 2006

Posts : 2818

Posted 10/15/2010 12:28 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Stephanie, I am on effexor now. I have been on it for 6 years and I don't want to change it for anything. I've tried alot and nothing works as well with less side effects at least in my case. Of course everyone is different. I started out of 75mil. which is like nothing and then a couple years later they changed it to 150mil. This passed month they increased it another 37.5 so that's 187.5. Weird number huh? I really don't know what most people take but I feel pretty good where I am at with it. Also I take it at bed time because it helps me relax and sleep. It doesn't make me tired though. It was my doctor that suggested I take it at night. One doctor told me they were glad I didn't want to change it because it's hard to get off of. I didn't check into why she would say that but it really doesn't seem like it has that huge of an effect on me. I actually went without it once for 3 days and I didn't have a problem. I hope if you take it that you have as much succsess on it as I have had.

hugs and blessings

carol

OuchinOregon

Regular Member

Joined : Sep 2010

Posts : 22

Posted 10/15/2010 11:28 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Carol. I found out this morning that my insurance company will not pay for it. Therefore, my doc is going to have to find something else for me because I cannot afford the $280 for the generic version.

I just hope they find something soon.

:)

Dinosaur

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2010

Posts : 25

Posted 10/16/2010 1:35 AM (GMT 0)

I took Effexor for several months a few years ago. It didn't really help me that much, and when I tried to go off it, it was very hard. I'm glad I didn't take it for any longer than I did. I had migraines if I even missed a dose by a few hours, and when I stopped taking it all together I kept feeling like my brain was getting zapped once a minute or so (not painful, but like a weird jolt). I was dizzy and tired and nauseous and all that fun stuff. The doctor never said anything about it, but I found out when I googled it and saw everyone else had the same problems.

You should ask about Cymbalta. I've heard a lot of good things about it. I hope they find something your insurance will pay for that helps you!

-Misty

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