Hello, I'm new. I found your forums while searching for information about Effexor and to see if others may be having my experiences and any insight as to what to do. I'm 24, female, and was put on Effexor to help with bulimia/ednos/anorexic tendencies and OCD.

/!\ Disclaimer /!\
This is BY NO MEANS a suicide threat as I read the introductory PM and acknowledge that is strictly not allowed and enforced.

That being said, after 8 weeks on Effexor... Following the hellish first week and a half and the gradual upturn, I suddenly feel more depressed than ever and can't seem to focus on anything but dying. It's frightening. It's not as if it just stopped working, it's as if it is making me worse. I've not messed with any doses, I consistently take it at the same time; I can't fathom why this is happening to me. Things genuinely seemed to get better for a bit; however, at present I keep sinking and though my memory tells me I was happy just weeks ago, I can't imagine what it felt like...

Any thoughts?

Nice to meet you all by the way and thank you sincerely in advance for any help.

Hi Charlie,

Welcome here!
I am wondering if you are in counseling for your eating disorder and your depression? We have a room here also on eating disorders which you might want to check out. I will see you there

SN

Charlie:

Please, please, please call your doc and tell him/her about your worsening depression. You might need a higher dosage, or a new med entirely. Finding the right meds combo and dosages is, unfortunately, trial and error. It may take a while to find just the right mix. It's frustrating, I know, but once you and your doc get it right you'll start to regain control of your life.

Just hang in there, hon, and communicate with your doc.

Please keep us posted.



-Bean

sometimes a med might make us feel worse even to the point of suicide please do call your dr and tell her how you are feeling

Thank you for your warm welcome and concern. I really have no one to talk to about any of this.

SarahN: No, I'm not in counseling. I've tried it twice before and my regular Dr. and I agree that did me more harm than good. I also live in a pretty small town with no one that specializes in ED issues, and the counselors I've seen have been grossly uninformed about it in general.

I really hate to go to my Dr. again. I feel like I just went and said things were fine.

Everything was a little better until I went on vacation with my boyfriend to Las Vegas. I had a great time and really let go of all of my issues, but when I got home 5 lbs heavier, winded on my first trail run (I run half marathons) when I got back, and with snug clothes I started spiraling down. I guess this seems situational, but the agony feels more out of control than it ever has. I sob as if someone told me a family member died. I'm just so tired of fighting.

I either eat and am miserable because I'm fat (and Effexor certainly exacerbates this problem...) or I diet and am miserable because I'm hungry. I'll never win and it's exhausting.

I just can't believe that suddenly I feel as though I'm not taking anything. It seems so abrupt.

Hello, my name is Tyler and I'm 20 years old. For more than ten years, I have carried out a deeply complex existence inside my head but in the face of others have remained quiet, aloof, isolated and basically unproductive. In the clinic, I am recognized as a major depressive with generalized anxiety disorder. To the knowledge of only a few, I am also a schizoid.

These days, I only find myself going to the doctor when I need a new prescription, and have refrained from weekly talk therapy sessions for almost six months. I've become increasingly bitter, cynical and pessimistic about my life, my future, my day-to-day contacts and, most of all, the world en masse. Despite this, I am still positioned quite well in order to fulfill great promises, career-wise. Although, I feel if I continue backsliding at the rate which I have over the past 3-4 months, things may truly begin to fall apart.

About a year ago, I began taking Effexor XR, after bouts of rather short-term alcohol and drug abuse, and a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, leading to my discovery of the worst drug in history, Zyprexa.

To be sitting here typing this today is testament enough to the level of relief Effexor brought me. It helped me put to rest the most difficult part of my life. And fortunately, I have a clear enough head and good enough judgment now to confirm that this remarkable drug has sung its song, and is incapable of containing my problems the way it once did, and the way any drug must in order for me to progress in life. Thus, 15 days ago, I added Wellbutrin XL 150 and Vistaril 25 (several per day) to the Effexor XR 150, which I never increased in mg because of the side effects. Since then, I have felt a slight improvement in mood, a significant boost in mental energy, and the Vistaril has been moderately capable of handling the Wellbutrin anxiety (can't take benzos - addictive personality). The mild vertigo lasted only a brief period. I very well may have the Wellbutrin dosage doubled at my next visit to the doctor, but I'm more interested in attempting a transfer from Effexor to a more potent, mood stabilizing SSRI, with less side effects (if there exists one). After a bit of research, it seems the drug that would best suit a transfer from Effexor may be Lexapro.

So basically, I'm asking those who know from experience, would switching from Effexor/Wellbutrin to Lexapro/Wellbutrin be a worthy thing to do or do you believe it would fail to make a difference?

Hello Tyler!



It's great to have you on board! I'm happy to hear that you've found some relief through meds. I, myself, take Wellbutrin and Effexor, along with 2 others.

Why do you want to change from Effexor to Lexapro? If the Effexor is working, in conjunction with the WB or not, why the change?

Have you considered returning to therapy? I've therapy to be more helpful to me than meds where my anxiety disorder is concerned.

Keep posting. Keep us updated.



-Bean

Over the past several months I began steadily slipping into a relapse of depression. The Effexor could no longer keep it at bay, so I scheduled an emergency meeting one morning and got an Rx for Wellbutrin and Vistaril, which have worked positively so far. But given that the Effexor was no longer capable of holding off the depression (and anxiety) on its own, I began to wonder whether there was an SSRI that would produce better results. Effexor XR 150 only does serotonin, and when you go above that it begins working on norepinephrine and dopamine, which are being addressed by the Wellbutrin. It has lost its "zing" with regards to anxiety, and in a more moderate sense, depression as well. Also, I've always hated the side effects. So maybe a potent SSRI like Lexapro with reportedly less side effects would be worth trying in conjunction with Wellbutrin, which I will probably choose to increase in dosage to 300mg/day. Decisions, decisions (I really want to TKO this illness).

Tyler:
I have had long term success with Effexor, but if it's lost its zing, perhaps it is time to speak with your doc. I have no experience with Lexapro, but I do know that it has worked well for many DF members. Check out the Lexapro room.



I hear ya! You and me both. I think this last year has been the healthiest I've been in 7 years.

Please keep us posted.



-Bean

Hello,

I've been on about every anti-depressant one can name, starting in the late 1990s. I have fibromyalgia, so the first step was to put me on nortriptylan to help with my sleep. After a while i got on Prozac with good results. Then was switched to Zoloft, and then to Paxil. I started not doing good on Paxil after 1-1/2 years so I tried tapering off. That did not work, so I ended up on Effexor. Tried the same thing, and could not take the withdrawals. They tried me on Wellbutrin, but I had withdrawals from the Effexor, so went back on it. Same thing with Lexapro. Weird that I had no problems stopping cold turkey Prozac and Zoloft to switch, but Effexor is definitely another thing. Anyway, just wanted to give a little history. To get to the point, I'm on 75mg of the generic because it's $100 cheaper than the name brand. I was on the extended release but then insurance changed and it got too expensive. I've noticed I'm slipping back into not really a depression, but just have no motivation, difficulty concentrating, etc. I know that I'll have to be on SOMETHING forever, unless I quit work, whole up in my house for months, and start tapering because I cannot do it and work. I'd get crying spells, really boo hoo ones and would have to leave my desk. So, I'm wondering if I should up my dose. I've heard of adding "mood stabilizers". I did try Zyprexa and it worked great, but after 3 weeks I had gained a lot of weight and was dehydrated to the point that I felt as if I'd been in the desert. Even my brain felt like I'd been in the sun all day. So I got off of it. Don't really want to up the Effexor is there is something that could be added, but without the side affects of Zyprexa (the two that affected me the most was the weight gain and inability to control my body temperature).

Thank you for any advice.

Momerella:

I take Effexor along with Wellbutrin, Lithium, Risperdal, Xanax and Halcion. So, yes there are meds you can take with Effexor. I suggest you talk to your doc, explain how you've been feeling, and ask what he/she thinks.

Hang in there. Things do get better.

Please keep us posted.



-Bean

Hi, all. I've been taking Effexor for a long time now after a 75 mg dose was added to my 20 mg dose of Paxil about two years ago. I really don't think I have any bad side effects from it. I've now stopped the Paxil and have increased the Effexor to 225 mg a day. My depression is more on the order of dysthymia with anxiety overtones as opposed to being bipolor or having the more serious forms of depression that many people have.

I guess my question is this. Although I can say that I'm not depressed to any disabling degree, I don't usually experience a lot of up feelings and I'm not very motivated most of the time. After doing some reading about depression and the various brain chemicals that are affected by different kinds of antidepressants, I ordered some reboxetine on the internet and started taking 8 mg a day of that. I know it's not an approved med in this country but it is easy to obtain through very reputable overseas pharmacies.

However, reboxetine is strictly a norephinephrine reuptake inhibitor and doesn't affect either serotonin or dopamine. I know that Effexor affects all three of these chemicals to some degree depending on the dosage involved. At the 225 mg dose it probably is affecting serotonin to the largest degree but is also nor affecting norephinephrine levels. This combination tends to give me more energy but it also makes me more anxious than I want to be and I'm not sure my motivation has improved to any great degree. Perhaps I'm increasing my norephinephrine levels more than they should be and am ending up defeating the purpose I'm seeking, which is more upbeat mood and a motivation to do what I have to do on a daily basis.

So that's probably not a major problem compared to some of the problems that many depressives are experiencing, but it's one that I would really like to hear any opinons that anyone has. Any comments would be welcomed and very appreciated.

Terry

Hello Terry!



Glad you decided to join us!

I must caution you about ordering meds online, taking meds that aren't approved in your country, and taking meds without a doc's Rx. What you're doing is really dangerous. Please, please get yourself to a doc to discuss treatment options.

-Bean

hey all- i'm considering going on effexor- but i am in nursing school and details are of the utmost importance. i've noticed that folks who've taken wellbutrin have experienced short term memory loss- and i was wondering if anyone else might have experienced memory loss with effexor- being that it too works as an snri. anyone in school and noticed your ability to concentrate on school work or ability to take tests effected in a positive or negative way? i'm a bit anxious to know- feedback would be great!

Mei:

I've been taking both Effexor and Wellbutrin for 7 years now. I have not suffered any memory loss, short term or otherwise.

I've found Effexor to be a very effective AD. There were several SEs early on, but all of those disappeared after just a couple of weeks. I will say that if I forget to take Effexor, even for a day, I get all jittery and this creepy-crawly feeling under my skin. Don't let that scare you away from Effexor, though. It is a very effective AD that I have had much success with.



-Bean

that's hopefull bean! and i appreciate the measured account of what happens when you miss a dose- being prepared makes me willing to stick out the difficulties to reap the rewards.
mei

Mei:

Glad I could help. Let us know what you decide.



-Bean

I can't seem to motivate myself to go to bed at nite. I don't want to get up in the morning. I don't even want to take a shower cause I'm not going out anyway. I'm satisfied wherever I am and it seems to take too much energy to do something else, such as going to bed or getting up. I've been on meds for depression for at least 15 years. What's going on? Do I need to change meds? Have they stopped working?

Hello rclady!

I've felt exactly the way you're feeling. In fact, I still experience those feelings from time to time. For me, it passes on its own. You may want to talk to your doc, see if a med change is in order. The solution may be something as simple as adding in a new med or increasing the dosage on a preexisting med. Definitely talk to you doc.

Please keep us posted.



-Bean

I'm new here so this is my first time posting. I've taken Effexior XR 150mg for about 1 1/2 yr. It was working but doesn't seem to be any longer. I just wanted to mention that I to find myself "chewing" on the inside of my mounth. Mostly all around inside the lip area. Don't know why. Thought it was just me.

Hello Sinking!



I'm sorry to hear that Effexor is no longer working for you. Have you discussed this with your doc? Does he/she plan on switching you to another med?



-Bean

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Hey all-
I have been on Effexor XL, 450 mg, for about 9 months now. No problems, no side affects. Once, when I was on vacation, we got stuck due to weather, and I ran out. After three days, I was close to going to a hospital for help. It was like a bad trip, ( Im an old hippie type). DOnt anyone ever stop cold turkey; it isnt worth it.

I too have the chewing thing, but I always thought it was from my partial not fitting that well.

One thing I do like about the Effexor above some of the other SSRIs, and I have been on many, is that it doesnt quash my emotions, which is something new for to get used to.

Good luck all

This post has been edited by Beanchop99: Aug 7 2007, 09:32 PM

Hello Daddoo!



Good to have you with us! I'm happy to hear that Effexor is working well for you. It's good to hear from those that are reaping the full benefits from meds.



-Bean

hi I'm a newbie here. Cant figure how to do a post witout replying to someone elses. I just started effexor 3 days ago, i kinda shaky and get these kinda rushes, also hot flushes and shivers. Is this normal? I'm taking 75mgs, would this be to much for me maybe? Suggestions really appreciated-starting to freak out a bit here.

rubytap!

I can't advise you about Effexor, but I can help you with posting. If you want to make a post without quoting someone else, click the "ADDREPLY" button (it's lower on the screen). Or, what I sometimes do if I want to reference someone elses post while I reply, but not quote them, I'll click "REPLY", compose my response, then highlight and delete their quote before posting. That has the same effect.

Hang in there! I'm sure someone will come along soon to advise you about Effexor. If it gets worse, please call a doctor.

Hello rubytap!



I started out with 150 mgs and now take 450 mgs of Effexor. I have experienced just about every side effect there is and can honestly say that Effexor has more than a few nasty little SEs, including the hot flashes and "rushes" that you mentioned. Sweating - major sweating - is another common side effect that shouldn't alarm you. These will go away in time, usually a couple of weeks. I'm not sure about the chills. That's a new one for me. Could you be feeling a chill after the hot flashes recede? Ask you doc about these chills. Maybe you're coming down with something.

I can't say it 75 mgs is too much for you, but I can say that the initial effects of Effexor are very strong. This "boom" feeling will diminish over time as the Effexor gets settled into your system. Discuss these feelings with your doc, as only he/she can say for sure if your dosage needs to be adjusted.

Please keep us posted.

-Bean

PS Are you having an easier time posting and navigating the site? Need more help? Just ask.

I just stopped taking effexor after a week on it, i was getting palpatations and really bad rushes off it, but it actually stopped me thinking about stuff so much. going back to my doc in 2 days to try to find sonething else, i hope i do i can fell this coming back, it maks me feel really sad. wILL I EVER FEEL NORMAL LIKE EVERYONE ELSE??? :(

rubytap
yes you will feel 'normal' again, whatever 'normal' is. There will be a med out there for you or therapy may help.

Take care.
Eileen

Hello rubytap!



Rest assured, you will feel normal again. It'll just take some time, that's all.



-Bean