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Effexor XR 37.5mg Schedule Switching

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Posted 12/15/2011 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all!

I am currently being treated for GAD/Panic/Hypochondria. My GP recommended that I start therapy and medicine treatments starting a week ago. I saw my psychologist and we're getting along pretty well, have massage therapy (structural integration) once a week to look forward to, and my GP prescribed Effexor XR 37.5 once a day, moving up to 75 mg starting this week.

I had a couple of questions on this that I wanted to see if anyone had any experience with this drug and the situations.

I used to be on night shift (10pm to 6am), so I started a week ago to take my pill at 7:30pm as my panic attacks would usually come on around 6 or 7 pm. However, I recently switched back to a second shift schedule (2pm to 10pm) at the insistence of my doctors. Now that I actually try and sleep during the night, I'm finding that the Effexor at 7:30pm is preventing me from sleeping (heart palpitations, fuzzy head, tingling in legs and head, and just plain being wired). I would like to switch the dose to the morning or early afternoon (so as to still catch the panic at 6 or 7). Have any of you gone through this before? Have you found the best way to be missing a dose and then take it when you want, or taking the normal dose at 7:30pm and then again when I want to switch the dose too?

My second question: did any of you find the 37.5 mg of Effexor XR to be enough? I'm nervous about switch on to the higher dose because the side effects of just getting on to this dose were so horrible (and I've heard how tough it is to get off of it). I lost 20 lbs in 2 weeks from not eating, or eating and vomiting, diarrhea, tingling head, insomnia, heart racing... you name it! I'd like to suggest to my GP (or to a new psychiatrist that my psych department recommends) that I stay at the 37.5 dose for a bit.

Thanks very much for sharing your stories with me! These past couple days have been made bearable by knowing that other people out there were going through the same things. :-)
Posted 12/15/2011 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi PB13 and welcome!

I am glad that you have found us, and hope that we can be of support and help to you. It sounds like you are doing a lot to manage your anxiety, so well done on that! I especially like the idea of massage therapy...sign me up too!:)

I don't use medication, so I can't offer much advice on your dosing/schedule question, but I am sure that someone with experience with this will answer soon. I did however want to say hi... good job on reaching out here, and invite you to stay on with us and post anytime!

Take care and talk to you soon,
Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/15/2011 8:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hi PB13

Welcome it is always good to meet new members this is a great forum. I also have GAD so can relate on that one it was good to read that you have seen medical professionals regarding your anxiety and you will be doing some therapy I am sure you will find that useful.

A few years ago I was taking Effexor xr 225mg and did find that it helped with my anxiety but I decided to stop taking it and switch to something else as I put a lot of weight on. 37.5mg is the lowest dose and I would say if you feel you would like to stay at that dosage for a while longer to get used to the medication then that is a good idea.

I always took mine in the morning and at the same time, With this medication you should not miss a dose as there is possibility of withdrawal effects. You can get withdrawal effects when discontinuing so you need to wean of off very slowly over a couple of months and always under supervision of a doctor. Do chat things through with your GP if you have any concerns. Usually side effects should pass after a couple of weeks but every on is different when it comes to AD.

A good therapy is CBT which is a talking therapy it helps you identify your triggers to your anxiety and then teaches you coping techniques and along side medication is very successful.

Keep posting and let us know how you are getting on we are here to support you.

Hibee
Posted 12/20/2011 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Hibee and Scaredy Cat for the warm welcome!
My GP was not thrilled to hear that I didn't want to increase my dosage yet (something about it "not being a medically effective dosage"), but I managed to stand firm. I think I'll talk to my psychologist about putting me in touch with a psychiatrist in his office. That way they can both work more closely together and hopefully I'll have a doctor who will be more patient with me as I work back on to medications.
I switched from the night time dosing to the morning dosing as well about three days ago, and have been feeling a bit more rested in the morning, which I hope means that the nighttime dosing was causing the insomnia. We'll know in a few days, I suppose!
I have my second CBT session two days from now, so that'll definitely give me a chance to work on some more things before the holiday.
I'll start a new thread about this soon, but the massage has been working wonders! I've only had two sessions so far, but my chest pain has been reduced and the tingling on my head and in the back of my legs is almost gone too. I'd highly recommend it!

Have a happy holidays, and I'll keep you all updated soon!
Posted 12/21/2011 11:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

You do need to stand your ground sometimes so well done on that I would say yes do get in contact with a psychiatrist as they are the experts when it comes to medication. Glad the CBT is helping a lot of members myself included have had great success with CBT.

Hibee
Posted 12/21/2011 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning,

I used the Effexor XR, started at 37.5mg and then after a couple of weeks I bit the bullet and went up to the 75mg.  Like you, I get stuck when it comes to increasing these meds as I over think the "what ifs?". 

As this is an extended release medication, I always took my dose in the morning however I do have a med to help with sleep.  I weaned off this med last summer and I had no major issues weaning off other then the fear factor of "will I get horrible withdrawal symptoms?".

I am happy to hear CBT is helping you and massage therapy, now I am jealous  :-)

Happy Holidays to you,

Kitt

Posted 12/25/2011 6:10 AM (GMT 0)
oh God I HATED Effexor. They tried to put me on that, I didn't sleep for 3 days and lost 4 lbs. I was miserable. The doctor told me that's just a case of that medication not being right for you. Ask him to switch you to something else?
Posted 12/25/2011 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
by the way if you want to ween off of the 37.5 mg dose you can actually unscrew the caplet and take half of it for a week, then take a half every other day, then stop...I know I was very weary of side effects and found that was the best way to do it.
Posted 12/27/2011 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
I`m on 112.5mg of Effexor and it really worked for me. Again, I have heard other people say they hated it, and some it worked really well for. Talk to your doc, if you don`t like the way it makes you feel, try a different med.

Drugs are like water wings. They help you float, but you still have to do the swimming :)
Posted 7/14/2013 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
I have suffered from panic attacks and social anxiety all my life

I have been taking Xanax since it came out in 1981..and it was a godsend for me..have not had a panic attack since

Serzone helped with social anxiety/PTSD..was rear ended at a red light at 50 mph..saw my brother after he shot himself in the mouth through his head..but after many years..it lost effectiveness

When I told my shrink this..he is more of a pharmacology type of shrink than "Did you hate your mother" shrink..he prescribed Effexor for me..said take 75mg xr  daily for a week..then up it to 150mg..After two days at 75mg  called him and told him it made me a nervous wreck..and asked for and he prescribed 37.5mg xr daily..took that for two monthes..affected my driving..stopped it

He asked me if I wanted to try Celexa or Lexapro..I said no..wanted buspar

With the buspar, was able to continue taking the Effexor..buspar took the edge off of it..and there is research that buspar and melantonin taken together increase neuro genesis in the hippocampus...lie SSRis and SSNRis  but also acts as an antidepressant

So I guess my point is..if you are high strung..or as my shrink says..suffering from an anxiety disorder  Lexicomps Drug Book said more than 75 mg of Effexor was ineffective for social anxiety disorder..do what my pharmacist told me  If a low dose works for you  take a low dose

 

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