Started Effexor XR 4 days ago for Social anxiety..?

Question

I've just started with 37.5 mg of Effexor and have found my anxiety has just gotten worse. Does anyone else have a similar experience with this type of drug and does it get better?

Answer 1

Effexor helps some with anxiety, more often it exacerbates it.
Is this your first antidepressant for anxiety? If so, see another doctor or a psychiatrist. All antidepressants are not the same. The most common are SSRIs and they play with serotonin. Many of these help anxiety. They are usually effective and not to difficult to stop taking if slowly reduced. Wellbutrin another AD. It block dopamine receptors. It's usually not so good with anxiety.

Effexor is an SNRI. It plays with serotonin and norepinephrine (and dopamine at very high doses). Effexor is the "strongest" of the current generation antidepressants because it blocks receptors of all three neurotransmitters. The AD also is absolutely the most difficult antidepressant to stop.

Seriously, if you have not tried at least two of the SSRIs, your doctor is using the equivalent of a jack hammer to swat a fly.

My experience on Effexor... it pulled me out of a truly horrible depression then sent me manic at which point I was finally diagnosed bipolar. Withdrawals were awful and I gained a bunch of weight on it, too.

Answer 2

You feel like an experiment because that's basically what this is. Doctors can't promise you will be wonderfully helped by such and such medication. All they can do is try different ones on you, hoping that something will work. I love what Zoloft does for me; no more fears/anxiety/depression, etc. Could you possibly need a higher dosage? 1. The teen years are the absolutely worst time of your life. I'm surprised any of us survive it. You are suffering so many issues (no wonder) and from the effects of accumulated stress. Your body and mind are trying to cope but ... it's hard. You probably have a chemical imbalance in your brain which is very common. I hope you can find a therapist who will test you prescribe appropriate medications to help you get better. With the right meds, you will be much better and feel normal. I also take 100mg Trazodone and 1 mg Melatonin before bed (sleep aid). Maybe you could try that. 2. But therapy and meds can do only so much. God is the ONLY one who knows what you’re thinking, how you’ve struggled and what you’re going thru. He loves you passionately and wants to be your BFF. He has a super-deluxe custom-made plan for your life that’s beyond anything you ever dreamed of. BUT He waits for us to ask. Invite Him into your heart, ask Him to take over your life. You will instantly feel better. You are His special masterpiece. He planned for you before He even created the universe. Watch Him ease the stress and give you peace in it's place. He is on YOUR side. He never stops thinking about you. His thoughts toward you are more than the grains of sand on the beach (Psalm 139). He loves you more than you can possibly imagine! Find a big happy church and join some groups. Get a bible that’s easy to read (New King James is good) and read it every day. Find Christian support groups. Watch Christian programs like Joel Osteen, 700 Club, Daystar, TBN TV. Read Christian books, watch Christian DVDs. All the above and churches also have wonderful counselors that can help you. There's so much fascinating information to learn. Jesus loves you more than you can possibly imagine. You’ll have fun and the rest of your life will be the very best of your life. Since the bible is the best-selling book of all time, nobody can claim to have even a basic education without having read and studied it. I hope this helps; it sure made a huge difference for me :) They who seek The Lord shall not lack any good thing. Ps. 34:10 Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. Ps 37:4-6 Pour out your heart to Him (Ps 62:8) Nothing you say will shock or surprise God. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 cor 2:9 WOW!

Answer 3

Do you also get the sensation of falling? It does go away within a few weeks.

I don't recommend taking medications to deal with social problems. You can get psychologically (not physically) addicted to them, and have worse anxiety after you stop taking the stuff. And if your doctor tells you that you need this med more than six, maybe eight weeks... RUN AWAY... and find yourself another doctor. This drug is only supposed to be used for short term help, until you are ready to deal with your problems head-on.

Answer 4

I was on Effexor XR for a few years. It made me gain weight, did very little for my depression, and I'm fairly sure it contributed to my insulin-dependent diabetes.

Are you sure that you need it? I know the quick fix medication cures are rampant these days, "doctors", with whom we trust we our well-being, are using us to get rich. These doctors only care about one thing - our money. They want to sell you drugs to make another payment on the huge house or that new car

Don't rely on medication to heal you - it won't. They just stuff you with meds until you go to your grave, making a lot of money on the way. That's the sad truth of life today. And somehow we are praising these people and rushing to the pharmacies for our latest "fix".

Answer 5

I have read some litterature about panic attacks. But they allways seem to have a more scientific approach and that is nothing I need in my struggle to survive those horrible panic attacks. This is a "hand on" and very practical book. I felt it was written to me. I am sure that you are going to feel the same.

Joe Barry writes exactly how I think. The examples are perfectly described. And the method is genius. I recommend this book and thanks Joe Barry for writing it. It changes your life

Answer 6

i took effexor when i was 20, but i couldn't handle it. it made me feel much much worse than i had already been feeling. i was definitely much more anxious. i then tried zoloft and that was better for me.
i've also heard from others that effexor is really really rough if you ever decide to/have to come off of it.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Cure Social Anxiety Shyness - http://SocialAnxiety.uzaev.com/?Udjv

Answer 9

Yes it gets better with higher doses!! I take 150 mgs. once a day and feel great! I am able to be a social participant! Go out without fear, and able to get things done.

Answer 10

When I was 22 years old the doctor put me on Effexer and I ended up being allergic to it & had to stop taking it. I broke out in big red blotches on my face.