Effexor

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Effexor
17
Wed, 05-05-2004 - 9:46pm
i just had my first visit with a psychiatrist. He diagnosed me as possibly having either dysthymia or atypical depression with the possibilities of having some low form of some anxiety disorders. vague, right? But honestly, even after reading everything on depression, I can see how my diagnosis might be confusing. Atypical depression seems about right though.

Anyway, he prescribed Effexor for me. I've read all sorts of things such as how terrible it is to get off of it to how it changed people's lives. I was wondering what you guys thought about it?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2004
In reply to: pongo26
Thu, 05-06-2004 - 12:38am

Hi, Pongo!

AcornLeaves
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2004
In reply to: pongo26
Thu, 05-06-2004 - 9:56am
Hi Pongo!

I tried Efexor to no avail as I was allergic, but my aunt has been on it for over three years and she swears by it. She had tried many others before that but said the Efexor just helped her stay at an even level without so many ups and downs constantly. Goodluck and we'll be thinking of you.

Keep us posted,

Chris


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Mom to furangel, Chelse
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
In reply to: pongo26
Thu, 05-06-2004 - 11:24am
Pongo, I tried Effexsor, but it didn't work for me. It didn't even take the edge off, but it might work great for you. Everybody is different. Don't worry about all the fancy labels. Psychiatrists seem to want to lable everyone these days. I think my therapist change my label everytime I see her. It's just a label, only on the outside of you. Doesn't really mean anything. Take care and Good Luck! Hugs, Brenda

Hugs, Brenda 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2004
In reply to: pongo26
Fri, 05-07-2004 - 3:51pm
Hi

I post here occasionally although I've been spending much more time over at the Compulsive Overeating board.

I took Effexor for about 2 1/2 years. The first week I felt a little nauseous but that was it. It was an easy transition getting on it but getting off was a different story. I did not enjoy the experience and it took 2-3 weeks for me to finally get totally off. I was calling the Dr. every other day because of the way I felt. I literally felt like I was going to die. I got physically sick with nausea and felt 'weird'. It was hard to explain but I was thankful when it was finally over.

All drugs have their side effects and if you find one that works for you you should weigh the risk. Effexor worked great while I was on it.

Christine

CL

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2004
In reply to: pongo26
Fri, 05-07-2004 - 9:38pm

Effxor was a horrible experience for me.. at first it worked..

~Kari~

Avatar for tinybuns
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2003
In reply to: pongo26
Fri, 05-07-2004 - 10:55pm
I was on Effexor for over 6 yrs. and it was the best thing that happened to me. I had NO side effects or anything and it worked great. It totally turned my life around. It was the "magic" pill for me. But my body got use to it, and it stopped working. Then I tried Welbutrin, had almost every side effect listed...so that was out.

Next tried Zoloft, helped some, but nothing like the Effexor, so now I am trying Lexapro.

So far so good, and the longer you are on it the better it works cause it has to build up in your body just like all the others. Takes 2-3 weeks for the full effects.

Hated going thru the process of finding another med that would work for me........but hopefully the Lexapro will be it.

Yes, you have to be whined off of it slowly, but then again I had no physical problems, just got very depressed. Now feeling better every day. Althou do have a day now & then that isn't so great. But that's life......Uh???????????

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2004
In reply to: pongo26
Sat, 05-08-2004 - 9:16am

Interesting how different medications react differently for everyone. good or bad.

~Kari~

Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
In reply to: pongo26
Mon, 05-10-2004 - 9:45am
I have been on Effexor for about 3 months now. I have had great luck with this med as it has taken away almost all of the day-to-day symptoms of depression such as anxiety attacks, insomnia or need of more sleep and that general 'down' feeling you get. The only side effect I experienced was when I first went on it and I had really bad dry mouth and some yawning attacks about mid-morning. All of these have gone now though. I am not looking forward to coming off them though as I think all anti-dep meds are hard to come off of. Don't know what anybody else thinks..........
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2004
In reply to: pongo26
Thu, 06-24-2004 - 5:22pm
it's refreshing to hear that you're doing well on this drug. i was prescribed effexor this pm. i was on paxil before but couldn't tolerate the "sweats" !!!!!!!!
Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
In reply to: pongo26
Fri, 06-25-2004 - 6:38am
Yeah I'm still on and going strong. I think the doc will probs take me of next month though. I'm very happy with the results of it and it has definitely helped with the depression. As I said before I'm not looking forward to coming off as I know it will affect me in some way. I only hope that it will not be as bad as some people have experienced. My boss has been great through all of this but I feel like I will be taking the piss if I start freaking out again (like before I went on it) and he has to give me more time off or something.

I feel like now that I have come over 'the hump'. I have moved into a different phase and I'm taking better care of myself and life just seems to generally be improving. I just hope that this feeling doesn't go away along with the meds.........

Take care and let me know how you get on!

XOXOXOXOXO

Angela

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