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[charlie84]

Well Hello Effexor community!!!

So after trying Wellbutrin, Buspar, Zoloft and Remeron here I am on the Effexor.

Now It has been 6 days and I'm feeling more anxious and a little depressed, hoping that it's

just the start up of the med and that I will feel better soon.

What can I say, I just hope that this is finally the med for me, my main symptom is anxiety, Gad.

Do you find Effexor to be effective for Gad?

[Zissou]

That's exactly how I feel right now. Today is my day 6 on 37.5mg Effexor XR and my anxiety and mood seems to be a lot worse. I have had minimal side effects until now. How are you feeling now? Can anyone else relate to this?

[Tim 52]

One of the largest challenges with an anti-depressant (used for depression or anxiety or other purposes) is that our brains and bodies tend to react negatively to them at first.

For many of us, the initial side effects are very unpleasant. It's like "I feel worse!"

I have no medical expertise. But from my experience the negative side effects, if you can make it through them, tend to wear off in 2-4 weeks (I know that sounds long). But after the 2-4 weeks or so, the positive effects kick in, and often offer dramatic positive improvement.

Things will get better.

[Zissou]

Ok thank you Tim for your advice. Knowing others have gone through the same thing helps put my mind at ease. It just sucks because yesterday I felt really good and to change so drastically, is very disturbing.

[ATucker]

I started effexor (twice a day) about three weeks ago, and it took almost two weeks for it to kick in. Now that it has kicked in, I feel great - and have consistently ever since.
I was very frustrated prior to it kicking in, though. Thought it was taking too long, and the headaches (I still get them) and the nausea (has gone away) was horrible.

I would give it a couple of weeks before throwing in the towel.

(I was on Lexapro and Wellbutrin for months before the effects wore off.)

Hope this helps.

[Zissou]

Thanks ATucker. Yeah I'm going to stick with it and give it a chance. I felt really good today and aside from some derealization, I think the side effects have diminished. I hope it's working...