effexor, high BP, questions Want anyone's replies

If I should be prescribed Effexor, I know that there's a possibility of high blood pressure and it could be discontinued...so I was wondering...what if it was helping the GAD and depression, but made the BP high? Couldn't BP medications deal with the BP problems?? And if it couldn't, what would be done to replace the effexor if nothing else had helped?? Is Cymbalta similar? How would they wean a person off of effexor as I hear it's he** getting off of! I want to know as much as possible about potential problems in case my pdoc says he wants to try it. I am still dealing with GAD and depression, but the taurine has been a real help! So I don't know what will be the next step...any info anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated!

thanks,

janet

**I will email you and explain the edit of thread title dont want you to get wrong idea

Luvs ya

Lyn 

Post Edited By Moderator (Howlyncat) : 1/8/2007 6:21:01 AM (GMT-7)

I have been taking effexor 225mg for the last 4 months and although high BP is a side effect, I have had no problems.  High BP is just one of the side effects of this med and it doesn't mean that you will suffer from it.

I also read that there is only a risk of raised BP in people who take more than 200mg a day.  The starting dose is 75mg so you may not need to increase to over 200mg.

I did not worry about this side effect too much as there was a liswt of them and I tried not to think about them all as I always worry too much when it comes to side effects from meds.

I have found that effexor has helped me more than any other antidepressant I have tried.

Take care

I was on Effexor for awhile and never had any BP problems. The problem I had with it is that it stopped working and if I remember correctly, I was on at least 200mg twice a day. I was on 120mg of Cymbalta until about a month 1/2 or so ago. I liked it at first but then it quit working too. Now I'm on Prozac. So far so good. I think Cymbalta is in the same category as Effexor but I'm not positive. I know that I liked the Cymbalta better that the Effexor though. I wish I could still take it. It does help with aches and pains that go along with my fibromyalgia.

Hope that helps a little.

I can't seem to help but wonder about all the "what ifs"...it's a GAD symptom afterall!!!   I', going for my first CBT appt. tomorrow and am dreading that too...everything lately seems to be such a major undertaking, no matter how small it actually is! I just feel blah, somewhat anxy on and off and depressive too. Yes, I don't think the paxil is the answer for me. I'll likely have to try some other type of AD. I wish the Cymbalta was covered by medicaid! But it's too new a drug, so the gov't. won't cover it while there's other ADs out there to try instead! Phooey!

Thanks again all!

janet

 ***HUN I edited some of your thread title will email you and explain k

Luvs ya

Lyn

Post Edited By Moderator (Howlyncat) : 1/8/2007 6:19:42 AM (GMT-7)