What were your experiences in increasing dosage of effexor to higher than 75 mg? My doc may?

Question

be raising my dosage or switching my med. I have been on 75 mg for 10 months and it has helped with some anxiety for a while but I am still depressed and have lately started to get real anxious/ panicky again. I also sleep alot and feel really fatigued. I'm wondering whether an increase in effexor xr would help or make it worse or if I should try to get him to put me on something else. What have been your experiences?

Answer 1

These are questions only your Dr. can answer properly, however, if I were in your shoes, I would do some research on the different meds available for what you're experiencing.

There are mainly 3 neurotransmitters involved in treating depression, where one of the three needs to be regulated about 80% of the time to fix you. They are neuropinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Effexor is a multiple reuptake inhibitor, which effects the reuptake of two neurotransmitters, namely dopamine and neuropinephrine. At this point, if it's not making you feel better after 10 months 1) You're not targeting the right neurotransmitter (you may need to switch to a serotonin reuptake inhibitor like lexepro) or 2) The reuptake in Effexor is not working for you, which is not uncommon and you may need to switch to another MRI like Cymbalta or Wellbutrin.

The constant fatigue is a normal side effect for Effexor, however, you should get past it in 2 weeks to a month. If it's come back 10 months into taking it, chances are it stopped working. Again, this is common for reuptake inhibitors.

From what I've researched, Effexor is the hardest antidpressant to get off of. 75mg is a very small dosage, where you can take up to 375mg/day. It may be a good idea to quit now and try something else. The discontinuation dosage is 35mg per week; so if you increase the dosage and it still doesn't work, it will take you longer to get off of it. However, you may need a stronger dose, based on what you discussed, but that is for you and your Dr. to decide.

These are just all theories, based on some research I've done on antidepressants - I always research drugs before I take them, based on my diagnosis. At this point, you haven't described your diagnosis, aside from depression and anxiety. In most cases a simple SSRI combined with a theraputic does of a benzodiazepine (Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin) usually do the trick. If you have Unipolar/Bipolar, schitzoafective, BPD, it's a whole nother ball game.

I hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 2

unfortunately, no one can really answer this question, but you. I have been there with depression for about 6 years now. You may have to just try to see. also with these types of medications some people habituate (build tolerance) very quickly. I have been on the effexor xr myself for about a year, I also have been increased, but I found that with me it worked very very well maintaining my moods and panic attacks. Do you drink alcohol? It is not advisable that you do with these medications. The last 2 panic attacks that I had were after I had a couple drinks. Hope this helps, good luck to you and I'll keep you in my prayers

Answer 3

I do not recommend Effexor at all!! I was on it and the higher the dosage got the more numb I got and soon wasnt able to cry laugh I couldnt feel!! And then trying to come off of it was pure Hell!! I got so sick, withdrawls,nausea,headaches, I will never touch that drug again!! I would ask for something else and slowly come off of the Effexor,,

Answer 4

Yes. Effexor stressed out me for sound. I actually heard humming in my ears like electrical power that slowly bought louder, then I'd have a muscle spasm and the humming could quit till the following circular. I could not sleep or take a seat nonetheless, I felt like a one hundred ten equipment plugged right into a 220 outlet. I opted to difference medicines, however I understand of others who rode it out and the consequences steadily subsided. Good good fortune!