Hi... I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the drug "effexor"? Good? Bad? Nothing? Side effects?

Any advice is greatly welcomed.

Thank you,

Isleepwithacat
Isleepwithacat@yahoo.com

I am goin on 5 weeks now with Effexor. My doctor prescribed it to deal with my depression specifically because it would help with anxiety as well. It took about 3 weeks to start working, but has been working like a charm. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (<-see)

Side effects? A little upset stomach from time to time in the evenings. Nothing major.

Last week my doctor diagnosed me with ADD and has switched me over to another AD (can't remember which, have to check my prescription) so I won't be on it much longer. I'm supposed to take increasingly small doses over the next 2 weeks to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

I did like the Effexor. Particularily the name. (I just think it's a really cool name.... EFFEX-OR!!!.... sounds so effective and powerful)

Paxil made me irritable and impatient, Celexa seemed pretty useless. Effexor took more time to kick in but I've been absolutely great since.

dewt

I was on regular Effexor when it first came out about 11 or so years ago. I took it for depression. I had frequent migrane headaches from it and terrible withdrawl coming off from it. (High anxiety, skin crawling,mood swings,irritability, etc.) Should have gone off it slower, but they weren't aware of that fact when the med was so new.

I tried the slow release Effexor one year ago. Within 3 or 4 days I was plunged into even deeper depression. I've known people, however, who have had good results and few side effects with Effexor. There's just so much we don't know about our brain chemistry!

I have been on Effexor for a year. It has worked VERY well. I believe it kept me from going off the deep end. I went to 2 different doctors and both said the drug works vwey well and is one of the safest AD's there is. Iam also mildly ADD and it has actually helped that to a minute degree. It took about 3 or 4 weeks to fully take affect. My FWW is on welbutrin and she said it started working in a few days.

TMW

My Husband is on effexor. He says it makes him tired and sluggish, but it definitely helps him with some of his anger problems which they say comes from his depression. It does not come in a generic and the co pay for us is 40 dollars every month.

Sorry, I thought he was on effexor. I just reallized I was wrong his AD is cymbalta.

This was a great question and I am excited about seeing the replies we might get. I myself have been on Prozac for years but feel that it is not working as well as it could be for me at this time; perhaps I am dealing with more "anxiety" issues lately? A friend recommended I ask about Lexapro so I was wondering if anyone had any insight into this med as well.

Will say that Wellbutrin didn't too very much for me, beyond some very frusturating sexual side affects. It increased my libido substantially, but then I was never able to "finish" (was that delicate but pointed enough?) whereas before Wellbutrin I have always had a very easy time gaining SF. Initially, H loved that I was more ardent, but as time went by and I was increasingly unable to get fulfillment, I became more and more frusturated and finally opted to not bother with sex at all. Got off that stuff pretty fast after that!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I have heard this side effect (inability to gain SF) is somewhat common for females.

Of course, this was about 3 years ago, perhaps they have worked on the kinks a bit?

Any insight would be appreciated here, too.

~ StillLovingHim

While being no expert on psychiatric medications, I have tried numerous anti-depressants (and I do mean NUMEROUS), trying to find one that works well with minimal side effects. In addition, I am a psychiatric social worker, so I have worked with many different psychotropic meds with clients.

What is obvious to me is that a medication may work well for one person, and can be neutral or make things worse for another person. Sometimes the med does its job, but the side effects are negative. The medications access different receptor sites in the brain to try and increase or decrease an aspect of brain chemistry. Unfortunately, we don't have enough knowledge about the brain to be able to have it down to a fine science. We know what the medication is supposed to do generally (for example: increase serotonin levels to decrease depression), but we don't always know what other aspects of a specific person's brain may be impacted.

I have been on Prozac. It worked great for several months....and then nothing! Don't know why. Others have noticed this happening too...all of a sudden doesn't seem as effective. Inability to climax is a frequent side-effect of Prozac.

I have been on regular Wellbutrin. Definately known to increase libido! I never had the side effect of not being able to complete sex. But an increased libido isn't always comfortable or practical!! lol I am now on Wellbutrin SR (slow release). Have had no problems with it. Moderate improvement in depression.

Lexapro is one of the newer anti-depressants. It's very similar to Celexa, but has fewer side effects. I take a low dose of Lexapro. I think I was tired initially, but it soon wore off. I'm not familiar with its impact on anxiety, but I'm sure your doctor would know. In the past, Paxil was used to treat anxiety as well as depression. But, I know that they've used a more recent anti-depressant to treat depression with anxiety. It might be Lexapro.


Cymbalta is the newest anti-depressant, released within the past year. I tired that. It had a neutral impact on my depression, and strongly inhibited the ability to sexually climax. I have not heard about this side effect being true for others.

Anti-depressants typically take 4 to 6 weeks to work. Not what you want to hear when you're suffering! Years ago when I started Prozac, however, I noticed a change within the first week.

What can be a miracle drug for one person, may do nothing, or be a nightmare for another person. Please bring your questions and concerns to your doctor's attention. With some psychiatrists you barely get a few minutes with them, and they minimize your concerns. I have changed psychiatrists in the past for this very reason. I have experienced med side effects before that my doctor has said "that doesn't happen with this med). In exploring it further, however, it was found that while listed as a "rare" side effect, it could occur.

In my book, no question is too dumb to ask! (although my ego does get in the way sometimes because of my professional background! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />) Our brains and mental health are way too important to take unnecessary risks!

I took effexor for over a year. It was wonderful, except when I forgot to take it. I just wanted to let anyone who is trying to go off it to take it V-E-R-Y slowly. You are supposed to literally break the pill open and count the granules that you take.
The best method recommended is to open the capsule and gradually decrease the number of granules by putting it in orange juice every day and drinking it. This is the only thing that worked for me. I tried to stop taking it gradually many times but ended up with this "shocked brain" feeling. Like you are spinning or something. Brain zaps are probably a better description.
I cut back to the lowest dose and then opened the capsule and literally counted the granules and cut back a little bit daily to get off this medication.
My co-worker experienced the same side effect when trying to go off it.

I have to say that it worked wonderfully for my anxiety attacks but it also made me very tired. I would wake up with night sweats and have to change jammies a couple times per night. Very strange. That side effect was supposed to go away after awhile!!
No SF while taking this medication either. I just didn't want to.
After all is said and done though, the medication works very well for the anxiety and probably slight depression I was suffering fromat the time.

I have been on Effexor for about 7 years now. It honestly saved my life. Effexor, like any other antidepressant, is a very powerful medication and you should not take it unless you are under a PSYCHIATRIST's care (not your internist, OB/GYN or family physician). Also, you need to be sure that your psychiatrist is in touch with the planet. You need to be monitored carefully, especially at first. It caused me a great deal of perspiration and occasionally leaves a metallic taste in the mouth (better than the taste of the barrel of a handgun, however). It can cause some "sexual side effects", but I think this is hard to determine, since depressed individuals generally have a low sex drive to begin with and may be unable to achieve orgasm. I don't have a problem with libido (wish I did, since my husband has NO libido). You may need to try a number of different meds until you come up with the right one. Also, no self medicating -- no alcohol, pot, cocaine, etc. Good luck!!