Effexor

[Ashley]

Anybody know anything about it or been on it? Good, bad?

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=18pt]I was on it for a while about 5 years ago. It made my face feel like a mask.... like I had to concentrate on how I formed my words or my lips wouldnt move.... that went away after about a month and a half. That was my only complaint. It helped me feel brighter durring the day but didnt keep me awake at night. That year my grandmother died and we were very close, I had to return a foster child that we were going to adopt when he tried to kill my daughter and my husband lost his job.... I was a bit depressed! It did help, I took it for about 6 months while in counceling .[/SIZE]

Lyn

 

[wdancer777]

I have been on it for quite a few years now, I have had no bad side effects from it myself. But I can sure tell if I miss a dose. My sister has also just started taking it and is having nothing but favorable results with it. All I know is that I don't have the horrible highs and lows while taking it.

Jo

 

[Ashley]

Well I just started takeing it yesterday. Something has to work, although I will say I have a very hard time swollowing these things. I have so far tried Lexapro and Wellbutrin and neither of them worked.

 

[Robin1]

I am on it and want OFF.. :new_shocked: :new_shocked: It makes it hard to lose weight (I put on a lot because of other meds), but most of all, I have trouble concentrating and my memory is poor.

: These are all normal side effects. It is very addicting and you will go through withdrawls.

Robin

 

[Triggy&Blue&Daisy Too]

Ashley, It may take several trials of medication to find one that works best, it's not at all unusual. However if you are having a general practitioner prescribe your treatment that may be the crux of the problem. Most GPs don't know squat about medication management AND they may be misdiagnosing you as well.

Try to find a psychiatrist. Being specialists, they understand how to mix and match meds becuase that is all they do. They can find the most effective drug or combination of drugs for you as well as fine tune a diagnosis.

Another thought is that you may not be suffering from depression at all. The reason I mention this is that I think you said you live in one of the higher latitudes in the US. It is very common for those of us who do, especially women for some reason, to acquire seasonal affective disorder. After so many years of being affected by this you can become continually depressed and while meds will help a bit they may not be addressing the real issue that you need more exposure to full spectrum light continuously throughout the year.

I also tried the full gamut of antidepressants many years ago and found them to not help much at all bcause depression was not my problem. However, I found a good doctor who could do serious medication managment and he put me on light therapy as well. Ever since I've not had to take any medications. I do come home and read for about an hour or so under my full specturm light and have a sunrise simulator instead of an alarm clock. Hey if light therapy is powerful enough to make chickens lay all though winter, horses not grow a winter coat and mares to cycle all year long, light must be able to have quite a profound affect on us humans too.

 

[LaraP]

I was put on Effexor after Joshua's death. First was put on Paxil, that really cause some stomache pains, and them we went to Lexapro, didn't do a thing and there was one more but can't think of it. I have been on the Effexor for awhile now, but after this post think I will talk to my Dr about getting off of it. I have definitely have memory problems and I thought it was just that i was getting older. At times it kinda scares me that I can't concentrate. I too have put on weight. I would llove to know more about this light therapy.. Could you send me more info on that?

Thanks

Lara

 

[Linda_H]

I have been taking it for a few years & have read some things that are a bit disturbing There are antidepressants that you can stop taking without too much of a taper but Effexor really makes you physically dependent. You need to come off it under careful monitoring by your doctor. if you miss a dose you can feel the effects of the level dropping It causes headache, a foggy feeling lethargy & what we used to call in nursing school "general malaise"

be careful before you begin a new med to ask lotsof questions before swallowing the first one!

 

[Ashley]

Wellbutrin is the same for that factor. You are supposed to gradually come off of it.

 

[runamuk]

paxil is the same....so many drugs...so many side effects....so many addictions

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[Ashley]

Yea well runamuck I dont really care to keep going like I am either. If you want it then go for it, but I want to be reasonably sane as well not destroying every relationship I have.

 

[runamuk]

Yea well runamuck I dont really care to keep going like I am either. If you want it then go for it, but I want to be reasonably sane as well not destroying every relationship I have.

Attitude has alot to do with it.............I just find that most pills have side effects worse than the ailment being treated............not to mention popping a pill alone will not solve problems...you still need therapy or to work on the underlying problem......lets face it if popping a pill alone worked everyone could take a placebo and be instantly cured of all their ills

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[Ashley]

Didnt say a pill alone solves all problems. However its hard to figure out and solves your problems when you are constantly battleing a bigger battle, and while you know what is right and what you need to do to get better, you are also fighting against yourself as well.