EFFEXOR XR

derfy · Post by **derfy** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:47 am

Debbie..just read your post and would not reccommend to just quit after 150...If you have never done it, I would be careful and even the higher doses are hard to get off of!!! Is that what your doc recc??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:10 am

Yea.........I have been on it I guess for so long......that my body isn't responding to it anymore. I hope I can get off of it.......I get a little excited just thinking about not having to take it anymore. I have to contact my doctor if I start feeling any withdrawals. Thank you so much for your reply.......I don't know what I would do without everyone on here.
God Bless You!

R.T.E. · Post by **R.T.E.** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:11 am

Hello everyone! I've been taking Effexor XR since 2001. I haven't had any problems with it. I take 150mg. a day. I tried to wean off under a doctors care and was doing great as I went down to 75mg., to finally 37.5mg. I noticed about 2 wks. after I was completely off, that I started to feel the old symptoms returning. I went back to the doctor and she felt I should get back on it since I was slowly getting to where I couldn't function well and because the panic attacks were returning. I tried with 75mg. but eventually had to go back to 150mg. At first I felt defeated, but my doctor put it this way, some people have high blood pressure, or other ailments that need to be corrected with medication. She said, you just happen to have anxiety. If the medication improves your quality of life and those around you, so be it! Don't beat yourself up about it. I just lost my mother a little over a year ago, and she was also my best friend. Existing without her everyday has been the hardest thing I've endured. She was the only parent I had in my life and she was a big support to me. So I may have to stay on the medication the rest of my life so I can continue to be happy in my life even though she's gone. Thanks to this program and Lucinda, I won't beat myself up about it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:20 am

By the way, I haven't had any loss of interest in sex. I think it just depends on your individual system. That goes for other side effects listed as well. I personally haven't noticed any side effects, so if I have had any, they haven't been bothersome enough to stop taking it. The only problem has been the cost, and it keeps going up! I don't have insurance so I have to pay for it myself. The generic from what I was told, is only good for up to 75mg. Other than that, I know of no other problems with it, but I haven't used it personally. I wish the Wyeth would address the issue of the cost of Effexor XR compared to other medications. I'm afraid to try anything else in case it doesn't work. I've heard, stick with what works, so I guess I'll have to bite the bullet on the cost.

kyeric · Post by **kyeric** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:56 pm

I STARTED THE EFFEXOR XR AND I HATTED IT, IT MADE ME FEEL WIRED OUT OF MY MIND I WILL NEVER TAKE THAT STUFF AGAIN. I COULDN'T SLEEP, IT WAS AWFUL....

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:32 pm

been p to 225mg. it was a son of a gun to get off, esp. the last 37.5mg ...work the program, it will take over..really! i know i finally started to stop obsessing about medication amongst other stuff..this program works if you really put in the effort!

derfy · Post by **derfy** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:46 pm

I can say that I have been on Effexor XR for about 7 years now and it was the worse thing that I could have ever done in my life. When I miss 1 pill I have severe side effects. I get really sick in the stomach, headaches, feel really depressed including just crying for no reason etc... I can say in the beginning the pill worked great! I have had lots of weight gain and it also causes me to have nightmares if I forget to take it! I hate it!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 7:25 am

My doctor put me on Effexor before I began the Anxiety and Depression program in early August. I took it for about a week and had a very dry mouth and felt kind of wired. I also did some research and was concerned about getting addicted to it, so I shared my concerns with my doctor. He suggested I try Lucinda's program (which I had just ordered) and continue to see my therapist and discontinue the Effexor. So that's what I've been doing for the past 3 months and I'm doing ok. I've also been taking SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine) which has been helpful for my arthritis in addition to supporting emotional well-being. You can purchase SAM-e over the counter.