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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Michele on April 4, 2001, at 14:06:26
Hellllllllo....
I have been taking 150 mg of effexor xr. To be honest, these posts have scared me so much. This is my first AD and looks like I was prescribed the potential for some really bad stuff. My doctor who I saw yesterday said that there are no withdrawal symtoms like that... and won't prescribe me lower doses until i take it longer. I have taken it 6 weeks, and feel no reason to take it any longer. It just hasn't seem to do me any good. I have some prozac on hand.... what do you think? Could I stop this 150 cold turkey and immediately take prozac? My doctor just won't listen... and I want to get off this fast..... seeing as how I'm out of work for a couple of weeks... would be the perfect time. Any help?
Posted by stjames on April 4, 2001, at 14:22:59
In reply to Advice on effexor xr, posted by Michele on April 4, 2001, at 14:06:26
> Hellllllllo....
> I have been taking 150 mg of effexor xr. To be honest, these posts have scared me so much. This is my first AD and looks like I was prescribed the potential for some really bad stuff. My doctor who I saw yesterday said that there are no withdrawal symtoms like that... and won't prescribe me lower doses until i take it longer. I have taken it 6 weeks, and feel no reason to take it any longer. It just hasn't seem to do me any good. I have some prozac on hand.... what do you think? Could I stop this 150 cold turkey and immediately take prozac? My doctor just won't listen... and I want to get off this fast..... seeing as how I'm out of work for a couple of weeks... would be the perfect time. Any help?James here....
Given it takes 6-8 weeks for AD's to start working
unless you are willing to wait this long it does not really matter what AD you take as none of them is going to start working this soon.James
Posted by Michele on April 4, 2001, at 14:43:09
In reply to Advice on effexor xr, posted by Michele on April 4, 2001, at 14:06:26
James,
Thanks for writing. But I am on my 7th week. I am so afraid of this drug that it's causing so much anxiety. I'm glad I found this sight but there is a part of me that wishes I didn't. Okay, IF i do decide to go off... what's your opinion of just stopping the 150 althogether and adding prozack immediately? Again, thanks.
Posted by Kathi on April 4, 2001, at 15:19:49
In reply to Advice on effexor xr, posted by Michele on April 4, 2001, at 14:06:26
> Hellllllllo....
> I have been taking 150 mg of effexor xr. To be honest, these posts have scared me so much. This is my first AD and looks like I was prescribed the potential for some really bad stuff. My doctor who I saw yesterday said that there are no withdrawal symtoms like that... and won't prescribe me lower doses until i take it longer. I have taken it 6 weeks, and feel no reason to take it any longer. It just hasn't seem to do me any good. I have some prozac on hand.... what do you think? Could I stop this 150 cold turkey and immediately take prozac? My doctor just won't listen... and I want to get off this fast..... seeing as how I'm out of work for a couple of weeks... would be the perfect time. Any help?
>
Follow-up from Kathi
Hi Michele, I know it is easier said than done, but if your Dr. will not listen to you or help you, than it's time for a new Dr. Don't forget that he/she is working for you. My own experience in trying to come off this drug cold turkey is not the way! I was only put on 37.5 and have had the severe withdrawal symptoms you have read about. I have now cut them in half, sprinkling it into a glass of water. This has helped a little. My Dr. has now given me a perscription for prozac 10mg for 1 wk. He said to take it without the effexor and it should help. He also told me before getting on effexor that there was no major side effects or withdrawal symptoms..ha! It would really be a good idea to get in touch with a psychiatrist who understands this and is willing to work WITH you to get off effexor and to help you proceed in the right direction. The right medication is trial and error and all have side effects, but effexor has been so scary to try and get off. I'm going to give the prozac 10mg for a week a try. I'll write back and let you know how it works. Good luck to you.
P.S. I am a little unfamiliar on how to use this site, but the only way I found what I wrote or your post was by going under "Current period" not the initial lst of postings...good luck! Karen
Posted by Michele on April 4, 2001, at 16:35:06
In reply to Re: Advice on effexor xr / Michel, posted by Kathi on April 4, 2001, at 15:19:49
Hi Karen,
I hope you find your way back. Yes, current period is where your post will show up. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW THE PROZAC IS WORKING FOR YOU TO WITHDRAWAL FROM XR.Anybody else with advice??????
Posted by stjames on April 4, 2001, at 16:37:51
In reply to Re: Advice on effexor xr, posted by Michele on April 4, 2001, at 14:43:09
> James,
> Thanks for writing. But I am on my 7th week. I am so afraid of this drug that it's causing so much anxiety. I'm glad I found this sight but there is a part of me that wishes I didn't. Okay, IF i do decide to go off... what's your opinion of just stopping the 150 althogether and adding prozack immediately? Again, thanks.James here.....
7 weeks is not 8 weeks. It has in the past taken 8 weeks for me to feel anything. It was worth the wait.
Posted by pandora on April 5, 2001, at 5:03:21
In reply to Advice on effexor xr, posted by Michele on April 4, 2001, at 14:06:26
Michele - I've been on Effexor XR for over 3 yrs, so the posts here haven't scared me the way they might have if I were just starting the med, and I sympathize with your concerns. However, don't let others' experiences keep you from trying and/or staying on certain meds... you didn't report any negative side effects from the dose you're on, so that's a good sign already. Yes, as with Celexa, Paxil, and just about every other short-acting SSRI, there is the chance of withdrawal symptoms, especially if you go cold turkey, and this is where other people's experiences and advice can come in handy, especially since so many docs don't understand these effects.
I agree that if your doctor won't listen to you and work with you, it's time to find a new doc... but I wouldn't want you to give up on a potentially helpful drug simply because there MIGHT be side effects later!
I hope you feel better soon...
Erin
Posted by Canuck on April 5, 2001, at 5:34:37
In reply to Advice on effexor xr, posted by Michele on April 4, 2001, at 14:06:26
> Hellllllllo....
> I have been taking 150 mg of effexor xr. To be honest, these posts have scared me so much. This is my first AD and looks like I was prescribed the potential for some really bad stuff. My doctor who I saw yesterday said that there are no withdrawal symtoms like that... and won't prescribe me lower doses until i take it longer. I have taken it 6 weeks, and feel no reason to take it any longer. It just hasn't seem to do me any good. I have some prozac on hand.... what do you think? Could I stop this 150 cold turkey and immediately take prozac? My doctor just won't listen... and I want to get off this fast..... seeing as how I'm out of work for a couple of weeks... would be the perfect time. Any help?Hi Michele,
I am a little confused, on March 27th you said you had taken Effexor for three weeks. On April 4th you said you had been on it for six weeks and then again on April 4th you said you were on your seventh week. I think you should go back to your calendar and count how many weeks you have been on the med. As James has said, it can take up to eight weeks to take full effect. You need to find out when the end of that eight week period is to gauge whether you are seeing results. Also, if you truly don't think you will be able to afford taking this med when you have to pay for it yourself, then speak to your doctor. Maybe that will convince him/her to give you the lower dose that you want, if you plan to taper off the drug. If you aren't seeing the response from your physician that you want or need, you should start looking for a doctor with your well being in mind. Good luck to you in whatever you choose.
Canuck
Posted by Michele on April 5, 2001, at 14:18:03
In reply to Re: Advice on effexor xr » Michele, posted by Canuck on April 5, 2001, at 5:34:37
Hi..... there are 2 different Michele's on here. I know, because I've only posted twice. But I can see your confusion. But yeah... the 6th and 7th week confusion was mine. I am 2 days into the second week. Just wannted to clarify that. ha ha. Thanks for your advice. I'm not actually worried about being able to afford it.... I'm ok financial wise.... just curious. Do you happen to know how much it is?
Posted by Michele on April 5, 2001, at 15:55:42
In reply to Re: Advice on effexor xr » Michele, posted by pandora on April 5, 2001, at 5:03:21
Erin,
Thank you so much for your response. You hit the nail on the head. This is probably going to sound so bizarre... and I can't believe I'm going to admit this even.. but before effexor I tried prozac for 3 days. Had some major side effects. That evening I asked God to give me a sign if I should not take this(how stupid this sounds).. the next morning I had my first panic attack. Took that as a sign and stopped. Well.. yesterday morning I did the same thing. Asked for a sign.... about a half hour later... I had so much energy and was in a wonderful mood. Today also. Could be my sign. He ha. Anyway, I wouldn't have even given this a second thought if it wasn't for all the bad posts I see.... but your last line was perfect. Don't stop it just because your afraid of size effects when you come off. A good sign is that I haven't had any side effects(exepts shakiness)..... anyway sorry to run on and on. Thanks so much for your advice! Michele
Posted by Michele on April 5, 2001, at 18:56:23
In reply to Re: Advice on effexor xr » Canuck, posted by Michele on April 5, 2001, at 14:18:03
P.s. I meant seventh week, not second. I think I need some sleep. :-)
Posted by canuck on April 6, 2001, at 1:29:15
In reply to Re: Advice on effexor xr-canuck p.s., posted by Michele on April 5, 2001, at 18:56:23
> P.s. I meant seventh week, not second. I think I need some sleep. :-)
Hi Michele,
This makes far more sense to me now! I live in Canada, I'm not sure where you are from. I am pretty sure that prescriptions are far cheaper in Canada than the U.S. My month of sixty 75mg pills were $106. Now in your dollars, that is about a nickel (ha, ha). The bonus for me is that I have extended health benefits as well, so I will get 80% back of what I paid. It's a sweet deal. Take care.
Canuck
Posted by Kathi on April 6, 2001, at 10:45:03
In reply to Re: Advice on effexor xr / Michel, posted by Michele on April 4, 2001, at 16:35:06
> Hi Karen,
> I hope you find your way back. Yes, current period is where your post will show up. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW THE PROZAC IS WORKING FOR YOU TO WITHDRAWAL FROM XR.
>
> Anybody else with advice??????>Hi Michele
>Found my way back!I know I signed my name Karen which is my name but to look me up it is under "Kathi"...and by accident, I did a response to someone with cancer and effexor withdrawl and it came back with my name and her post...?? Anyways I am on my 3rd day now with the prozac 10 mg. It has lessened some of the side effects but they are ALL still there. I still don't understand the pain in the joints and relationship to withdrawl. I have 4 young children and it has been so difficult to manage. I came accross a site from the FDA regarding effexor withdrawl. Search under effexor side effects and you will find SIDE EFFECTS (also another site EFFEXORFX is realy imformative).The FDA wants people with the withdrawl symptoms to do a quick entry. Like I said before, I have done many trial and error with diff meds and sometimes you have to ween off....but nothing like this has EVER happened. I hope none of these symptoms stay on or reoccur. How are you going with it??
Posted by blazer on April 9, 2001, at 7:45:33
In reply to Re: Advice on effexor xr, posted by stjames on April 4, 2001, at 14:22:59
> > Hellllllllo....
> > I have been taking 150 mg of effexor xr. To be honest, these posts have scared me so much. This is my first AD and looks like I was prescribed the potential for some really bad stuff. My doctor who I saw yesterday said that there are no withdrawal symtoms like that... and won't prescribe me lower doses until i take it longer. I have taken it 6 weeks, and feel no reason to take it any longer. It just hasn't seem to do me any good. I have some prozac on hand.... what do you think? Could I stop this 150 cold turkey and immediately take prozac? My doctor just won't listen... and I want to get off this fast..... seeing as how I'm out of work for a couple of weeks... would be the perfect time. Any help?
>
> James here....
>
> Given it takes 6-8 weeks for AD's to start working
> unless you are willing to wait this long it does not really matter what AD you take as none of them is going to start working this soon.
>
> JamesJames.... Read this article my PDOC wrote for a study.
This artice was provided by my PDOC the other day. It is quite interesting.
The recent article by Schatzberg et al! helps physicians increase their awareness on the discontinuation syndrome
that may occur when patients stop taking their antidepressants. It is now clear that many physicians are unaware
of the existance of antidepressant withdrawal symptons and that education is needed for both psychiatrists and
family practice physicians. I n order to improve recognition of the sympton clusters that constitute the
discontinuation syndrome, I have introduced the mnemonic FINISH, indicating the symptoms that may occur
when patients "finish" their course of antidepressants.Flu- like symptons, Insomnia, Nausea, Imbalance, Sensory disturbances, and Hyperarousal(anxiety/agitation are
the 6 core symptons that sometimes developeafter discontinuation of antidepressant therapy. Awareness of this
mnemonic should increase recognition of the syndrome and improve the advice given to patients with respect to
discontinuation of their medications.Mark J. Berber M.B,M.R.C.Psych.,F.R.C.P.C.
This is the end of the thread.
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