Husband on effexor xr for depression anyone had experience with this medication?

Question

He started on 75mg aday then 150gms hasjust been increased to 225gms and this has made a big diff,was wondering if meds can lose effect after awhile this seems to be what happened before?

Answer 1

Hi,
There have been no reported/documented events of increasing tolerance with efexor use.

It is important to note, that efexor, like most antidepressants (namely SSRI & SNARIs) have a discontinuation syndrome. Hence, when it comes time to stop the drug, the dosage is gently tapered off, so as to prevent discontinuation syndrome.

The symptoms of discontinuation syndrome are: hypomania, anxiety, agitation, nervousness, confusion, insomnia or other sleep disturbances, fatigue, somnolence, paraesthesia, dizziness, convulsion, vertigo, headache, tinnitus, sweating, dry mouth, anorexia, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.

The majority of discontinuation reactions are mild and resolve without treatment.

Generally, for depression antidepressants are recommended to be continued for at least 6 months, but 12 months is highly preferrable. After this period, the dose is slowly tapered off, all the time watching for any re-emerging signs and symptoms of depression.

Remember, Depression is not really curable, it is managable, and a great majority of patients have to be on antidepressants for quite a significant part of their lives.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

I have been taking effexor for 8 years and I also take Lithium. I have major depression and this is the only combo that works for me. The most I have taken is 300mg but if you feel it is not helping your husband get his doctor to do a blood test and check the levels of effexor in his system, some peoples bodies are just better at processing medications than others so they need more.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I tried it for a while, but I had severe side effects and it didn't help my depression at all. My body doesn't react well to that class of medications (SNRIs) or SSRIs, but it varies a lot from person to person. I know a couple people who effexor really helped. It's a b!tch to come off, from what I've heard, though. Serious withdrawl symptoms.

Meds that work initally can lose their effectiveness once the body adjusts to them, but that normally takes a few years.

Answer 4

I went from 37.5 to 75 to 150 to 225 mgs. I told my Psyciatrist (at the time) that it did no good, and made me feel worse, but he did not listen... turns out Effexor XR and Celexa can make your anxiety jump, so I was suffering more panic attacks than ever, and that was why. So, it never really worked for me, only increased my anxiety, and is hell to come off. That is my experiance.

Answer 5

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 6

My dad takes Effexor XR. It doesn't work real well so the doctor added Welbutrin. I see no point in adding Welbutrin. I think if the Effexor doesn't work then try something else. I take Cymbalta which is like Effexor in that it isn't and SSRI, and have great results.

Good luck and G-d bless !!

Answer 7

yes, that is one medication that did seem to work for me, and to this day i do not know why they changed my med's. Cause when i was taking that, i was not depressed anymore. But you have to remember too that these medications do not work the same on all people. Some people could get worse, or it just will not work for them. But yes i found it to be a very good medication.

Answer 8

Didn't work 4 me.

combination of seroquel, depakote, wellbrutin worked for me

Answer 9

Sorry I have not. I am taking Zoloft and Buspar, both seem to be working well.

Answer 10

I've had it but it didn't make me feel any better.