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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 10:06:31
I am on Effexor Xr 225 mg a day. I have read terrible things about it. It did take a long time of uncomfortable side effects, but it is working great for me. I hear that withdrawal is terrible also. But, the way I think about it, it take awhile to get up to the peak dose, so I am sure it takes just as long to get off of it. Anyway...
I have also heard a few times from the posts I have read, that it has caused liver problems. That really bothers me. I am a healthy 31 year old female, and I do not need to take a drug that impairs liver funtion. I am going to talk to my pdoc about this. I have also been reading about people gaining weight, I personally have not had that problem. How does this happen?? I wouldn"t think it would be chemical.
Getting back to the subject...I am wondering how Effexor Xr continues to be prescribed. It is a fairly new medication. I don't understand why so many people have so many problems on this med. Don't get me wrong, this really concerns me. What do I have to look forward to in the future. I am a nursing student, working on my masters degree, with 2 healthy boys. I am looking forward to a wonderful future with my degree, I do not want to become sick or impaired by this med. Does anyone have any others experiences with Effexor XR GOOD OR BAD? (It works great for me).
I wonder if they will ever pull this drug, since it produces so many bad effects.
Worried - Debbie
Posted by SalArmy4me on June 1, 2001, at 10:38:10
In reply to Effexor Xr and liver function????????????????, posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 10:06:31
The possibility of liver disease caused by venlafaxine alone is still rare, despite the many insufficient case-studies that implicate venlafaxine in every illness since the Great Plague.
Kent, Justine M. SNaRIs, NaSSAs, and NaRIs: new agents for the treatment of depression. Lancet. 355(9207):911-918, March 11, 2000.
Because of mirtazapine's unique pharmacology, antihistaminergic effects predominate at lower doses (drowsiness, sedation), whilst noradrenergic neurotransmission increases with increasing doses, counteracting some of the antihistaminergic effects. Therefore, to avoid excessive sedation, doses below 15 mg are not recommended. Clearance of mirtazapine is reduced in patients with liver (up to 30%) or kidney (30-50%) disease, and in the elderly. Dose reductions should be considered in these populations.
Horsmans, Yves MD. De Clercq, Michel MD. Sempoux, Christine MD. Venlaxafine-Associated Hepatitis. Annals of Internal Medicine. 130(11):944, June 1, 1999.
"We believe that there was a causal association between venlafaxine and hepatitis because the histologic findings supported drug-related hepatotoxicity, other causes of hepatitis were excluded, discontinuation of venlafaxine therapy led to recovery, and venlafaxine can increase liver aminotransferase levels. Liver function test results should therefore be regularly monitored in patients receiving venlafaxine."
Posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 10:59:32
In reply to Re: Effexor Xr and liver function???????????????? » DebbieLynn, posted by SalArmy4me on June 1, 2001, at 10:38:10
> The possibility of liver disease caused by venlafaxine alone is still rare, despite the many insufficient case-studies that implicate venlafaxine in every illness since the Great Plague.
>
> Kent, Justine M. SNaRIs, NaSSAs, and NaRIs: new agents for the treatment of depression. Lancet. 355(9207):911-918, March 11, 2000.
>
> Because of mirtazapine's unique pharmacology, antihistaminergic effects predominate at lower doses (drowsiness, sedation), whilst noradrenergic neurotransmission increases with increasing doses, counteracting some of the antihistaminergic effects. Therefore, to avoid excessive sedation, doses below 15 mg are not recommended. Clearance of mirtazapine is reduced in patients with liver (up to 30%) or kidney (30-50%) disease, and in the elderly. Dose reductions should be considered in these populations.
>
> Horsmans, Yves MD. De Clercq, Michel MD. Sempoux, Christine MD. Venlaxafine-Associated Hepatitis. Annals of Internal Medicine. 130(11):944, June 1, 1999.
> "We believe that there was a causal association between venlafaxine and hepatitis because the histologic findings supported drug-related hepatotoxicity, other causes of hepatitis were excluded, discontinuation of venlafaxine therapy led to recovery, and venlafaxine can increase liver aminotransferase levels. Liver function test results should therefore be regularly monitored in patients receiving venlafaxine."Hmmmmm, I guess that is something to think about. Maybe I will suggest a liver function test to my doc. I have been on it for about 6 months.
Thanks for the info!
Debbie
Posted by stjames on June 1, 2001, at 17:50:33
In reply to Effexor Xr and liver function????????????????, posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 10:06:31
Been on Effexor 6 yrs, have liver function tests every 6 mo, there has been no changes since starting Effexor.
James
Posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 18:04:33
In reply to Re: Effexor Xr and liver function????????????????, posted by stjames on June 1, 2001, at 17:50:33
> Been on Effexor 6 yrs, have liver function tests every 6 mo, there has been no changes since starting Effexor.
>
> JamesThanks for your reply. Should a liver function test be done on this med??
Debbie
Posted by stjames on June 3, 2001, at 12:20:24
In reply to Re: Effexor Xr and liver function????????????????, posted by DebbieLynn on June 1, 2001, at 18:04:33
> > Been on Effexor 6 yrs, have liver function tests every 6 mo, there has been no changes since starting Effexor.
> >
> > James
>
> Thanks for your reply. Should a liver function test be done on this med??
>
> DebbieJames here....
No, unless you have a special reason, like existing liver problems. I do liver function tests
because of another non-psyco med I take; not because I take Effexor.James
Posted by Joann W. Tillberg on February 25, 2004, at 12:20:27
In reply to Re: Effexor Xr and liver function????????????????, posted by stjames on June 1, 2001, at 17:50:33
After taking EffexorXR for 3 months, my doctor became alarmed because my liver enzymes were almost double what they should have been. I immediately shifted from 75mg to half that dosage and weaned myself off Effexor totally.
Then, after another visit to my doctor after having been off EffexorXR totally for 2 weeks, my liver enzymes returned to normal.
Be careful. Not everyone responds the same to this drug. I liked what it did for me, but had I not been to the doctor for a physical, I might never have known what was happening to my liver functions and could have caused serious damage.
This is the end of the thread.
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