Has Anyone Tried Effexor EX ?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Has Anyone Tried Effexor EX ?
5
Fri, 02-13-2004 - 10:22pm
Hello All...I am 'new' to this board, but you can find me on the Atkin's posts sometimes...

I have recently been (re)diagnosed with mild depression and GAD (General Anxiety Disorder). Back in 1991 I was diagnosed with depression and Impulse Control Disorder (hey, I was 18 !!LOL), and I took Prozac for a while, got better and stopped. In 1998 I was having 'issues' again and took more Prozac for depression and Borderline Personality Disorder.(It just keeps getting better, doesn't it?)the Prozac wasn't helping and I had gained over 100 pounds since '91. I stopped the Prozac and the Birth Control Pill in 2000 and recovered very nicely, and I have been fine up until about December '03. I felt the old things creeping back but I chalked it up to dieting (Atkins) being sick for six weeks, and the increasing stress of my job (EMS/Fire/Police Dispatcher). The fact that two guys at my PD got engaged and two got married all within three months of each other did not help either! I am 'pre' engaged and being very patient. Except when the boyfriend cathes me looking at dresses online.

So, last Tuesday I went to see my all-knowing nurse practitioner and she agreed with me - that I had mild depression and GAD. I am trying Effexor EX and apparently it will help with weight loss, which may brighten my mood. If there is anyone out there who has tried it, is just getting on it, getting off, like it, hate it, got fat, got thin, side effects, whatever, if you could give your input, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks for your time !

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2004
Sat, 02-14-2004 - 12:16am

Hi, Amy!!!!!


Welcome to our board.

AcornLeaves
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2003
Sat, 02-14-2004 - 12:54am
Hi and welcome!

I have been on Effexor XR for about nine months, it has worked really well for me. I had been on Prozac for years, then on Celexa for a couple of years, didn't seem to be working any more so doc changed me to the Effexor. It helped me a lot with problems sleeping. I don't notice it affecting my appetite, I have gained weight but I attibute that to terrible eating habits and very sedentery lifestyle! LOL. Overall I like it, the only thing I have noticed, but I noticed this with other meds also, is that I sometimes seem to feel "numb", I have a hard time with any emotions at all, I very rarely cry, even if I am sad. Kind of like, I just have a general mood, not happy not sad just there!! But I have also had a lot of health issues, family isuses, you name it, going on in my life, so I figure as long as I am able to get out of bed and function at all it is a good day for me! I also have panic disorder and take Xanax also.

Wendy

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Sat, 02-14-2004 - 4:39pm
Hi Barbara !!!

Thanks for responding...I meant to write Effexor ER (Extended Release) but my brain was not cooperating...having a 'duh' moment! It's nice to be welcomed so warmly. I have been on Effexor ER since Tuesday the 10th. I seem to be adjusting ok and haven't had any negative side effects yet except the loss of appetite abouttwo hours after I take it. It's somewhere between nausea and the sensation of being grossed out at the idea of food. As someone who adores food, this was a COMPLETELY foreign sensation !LOL

I, too have heard that it takes a bit of effort to get off Effexor and it is not one of those SNRI's you can stop cold turkey. I was especially interested in this drug because it's an SNRI as opposed to an SSRI like Prozac, and apparently the difference is, Effexor is a serotonin AND norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor as opposed to just serotonin.

I go back on the 24th for a check-in and maybe by then it will have 'kicked in' and I'll have something to tell my NP (who is the only person in that practice I will let near me because the internist is a TOTAL IDIOT - and I'm not the only person who goes there who feels this way. Gotta be comfortable with you healthcare provider !

Thanks Again,

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Sat, 02-14-2004 - 4:42pm
GOOD GOD! Will I ever get it right ?

EFFEXOR XR !

NOT ER ! Or ED !

AAACK! LOL

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-03-2003
Sat, 02-14-2004 - 5:02pm
Hi Wendy !

Prozac stopped working for you, too? I haven't tried Celexa but I have a very positive feeling about the Effexor XR (There! I typed it right!) and I suppose time will tell. I wouldn't mind having my appetite curbed for a while because I can be the human equivalent of a Hoover LOL! Hopefully I won't get the 'numb' feeling, although I had a bit of that with Prozac, but if it's a mild numb I would welcome a bit of it because I am SO over sensitive lately..and PMS doesn't count !

Take care, and let me know how you are doing!

Amy