Effexor???

Question

I've been asking a lot of questions on here about anti-depressants, trying to figure out which one to go on9i have a very sensitive stomach and most meds make me really sick). Finally, my doctor consulted with a couple psychologists and prescribed effexor for me, which I had never heard of. He said it would be great for me, and I trust my doctor. But after taking my first dose, i did some research and found scary stuff about strange side effects and withdrawl symptoms. Now I'm terrified that this is going to be a horrible experience. If anyone else has taken this, I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks!

I'm also bi-polar, which was one of the main reasons I'm so scared of a drug that can aggrivate that. Before I have taken wellbutrin and zoloft, both of which made me very sick.

Answer 1

I'll tell you something--the ONLY reason they include the side-effects of the drug on or with the package is a litigious reason! Drug companies are like anyone else, only more alert--they don't want to be sued for even the SLIGHTEST possibility of a complication, so they HAVE TO have every single side-effect on the package! The percentage of incidents is usually SO negligible that it's nearly non-existent.

Now, to the Effexor, the great news!! I take Effexor-XR, and it saved my life! I cannot even begin to tell you the benefits of this particular drug for my emotional and physical well-being! To be completely honest, it may not be the drug you end up with, but I just had to let you know the good that it has meant to my life! My depression was for a particular reason, and fortunately my psychologist and psychiatrist, both AMAZING professionals, were in total agreement that I would be helped by it. In the span of six days on it, I resumed a life that I was SURE would never return again!

In short, please don't torture yourself with the nearly less-than-zero chance that the "side-effects" are ANYTHING to be afraid of!! Your peace of mind has SO MUCH to do with the effectivity of chemical reactions, so try your best to be positive about the potential WONDERFUL life you can have if you give it half a chance! And coming from experience, I wish you all the best!!

Answer 2

That would be me. I love this med. It has brought normalcy back to my life. My head is clear, my energy level is up, I like living again. I strongly advise that you always eat something when you take it, and drink lots of water. I too have a sensitive stomach, but have not had much trouble with this drug.

Don't let the potential side effects scare you too much. ALL drugs have side effects, including all anti-depressants. All drugs also affect different ppl differently. The odds of you being the 1 in a1000 to experience a serious side effect is pretty slim.

You may want to consider a few additional things. The first is seeing a psychiatrist. These guys are MDs that specialize in mental health issues and related medicines. The second is to see a therapist or psychologist. These folks are specifically trained to help ppl work out their feelings and issues. Most research indicates the combination of drug and talking therapy is the most effective. Also keep in mind, different anti-depressants are more effective for some than others. If the first you tried doesn't help much, then talk to your doc about trying another. Just remember, it may be a few weeks to a couple of months before you can determine effectiveness.

Good luck

Answer 3

First of all, as has been said in here many times, medications have different effects on different people. I've been on Effexor XR for 9 years now and I haven't had any problems with it. My dosage has gone up and down between 75 and 150 mostly depending on what's going on in my life. I always make sure I have something in my stomach when I take it. Sometimes if I miss a dose I'll feel a bit 'off' the next day but no biggie. If you have trouble weaning off of it eventually sometimes your doctor will put you on something else at the same time, ie: wellbutrin, that is easier to wean off of, you stay on the wellbutrin while you wean off the effexor and then wean off the wellbutrin. I guess it depends on how bad your depression or anxiety is but for me I didn't care about the 'weaning', I just wanted something to make me feel better! Deal with the weaning when the time is right.

Answer 4

I've taken Effexor for a couple of years now and it's the most helpful medication I've been on. Remember that all side effects listed for a medication are "potential" side effects. You don't have to get them.

You have to try an anti-depressant and see what it's
effects and side effects are. also, a lot of side effects go away after you've been on it for 2 to 4 weeks. The only side effect I have is that it is a little irritating to my stomach so that I take it with food.

Answer 5

Not to scare you. I was put on effexor after the death of my 23 yr.old daughter. I have been on it for 8 months. I also have problems with my stomach with certain drugs, but not with Effixor. I feel that docs just like the drug. I have found that if I miss a dose I have panic attacks which are horrible. I can't even go out of my house. I can even have suicidal thoughts at times if I get stressed out. I want off this drug so badly, but if you do your research they all have about the same side effects. I don't need to take it anymore, but the thought of the withdrawals scares me more than being on it. Good luck.

Answer 6

Been taking Effexor for a couple years or more. No bad side effects. If I miss a day, I get a little light headed, but nothing I can't handle. I tried Prozac and Wellbutrin, they just didn't work for me.

Answer 7

I've heard good and bad things about it, but haven't tried it yet. I'd say you should just give it a try and you should know pretty early on whether it is right for you.

I would suggest Wellbutrin. It seems to have the least side-effects according to all the people I've spoken to and works great for most (though not really for me).

Answer 8

been there - done that...was like a miracle after 5 days of Effexor. After approx 2.5 years the nightmares began. these went on for about 9 months...couldn't sleep and when i did fall asleep i was running for my life in the nightmares and constantly injured myself, my husband and cat during the night. I had to move onto the couch. after 6 months the nightmares got worse. No sleep at all then..as soon as i closed my eyes my body would bolt upright as blood-curdling screams ripped out of my body. months of little to no sleep made me crazier than i was before! Eventually detoxified and began eating 80% live food every day. No Effexor or any other anti-depressent again in this life. I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress syndrome, obsessive/compulsive disorder and suicidal depression after 4 decades of suffering.
my advice? buy the book titled PH Miracle and heal all your mental, physical and emotional problems through the miracle of proper nutrition. What a shock to discover that it is all related to nutrition in the end. Been on this regime for 3 months and am feeling the best I have since a young teen, before the anxiety and depression began. Am 56 now. While you balance your body health your mental health balances too. is great journey. Believe in your abiity to regenerate yourself on all levels.
i was quite upset with my Medical doctor for not recognising that the nightmare horrors were side effects of Effexor. stay away from the drugs at all costs.

Answer 9

All drugs have horrible and scary side effects - they have to list every possible thing that could happen for legal reasons. For the stomach part, taking with food often helps. Also, your body often adjusts to minor side effects after a week or two.

Answer 10

Effexor was no good for me, first night i took it I got the 1 out of like 10,000 people to have a serious side effect. It gave me mouth ulcers so of course i haven't took it since. I took Zoloft, wellburtin, lamictal, cymbalta, celexa and a bunch more so if you have any question about any of them then get a hold of me.