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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by David131 on December 10, 2002, at 13:54:20
I suffer from severe anxiety. My dr. has prescribed effexor. Anyone had any experience with effexor for anxiety. I could really use some help
Posted by utopizen on December 11, 2002, at 8:40:05
In reply to Anxiety AAAHHHHHH, posted by David131 on December 10, 2002, at 13:54:20
> I suffer from severe anxiety. My dr. has prescribed effexor. Anyone had any experience with effexor for anxiety. I could really use some help
>>Yeah, Effexor for anxiety. Geez, that's a cure. Bye-bye, Valium, your time on this Earth is done. s/c.
I'm on 300 mg of XR everyday. I take it in the morning. Even though it does absolutely nothing but makes me impotent (and I unfortunately am too lazy to get some Ginko Biloba from the pharmacy) it doesn't even make me feel different, let alone give me freedom from anxiety.
I keep taking it to avoid vivid nightmares. I learned that lesson when I forgot to take it once. My dog ended up getting caught up in a meth drug ring, having his right brain taken out and face removed, all without anesthesia. Bad dream.
So learn a tip for me- even though it probably won't work (I say probably because the company boasts of having like 30% efficacy, in a study of which like 22% of placebo patients claimed efficacy in) just keep taking it for the rest of your life so you can avoid the nightmares.
Good luck! =)
Posted by daizy on December 11, 2002, at 15:39:58
In reply to Re: Anxiety AAAHHHHHH, posted by utopizen on December 11, 2002, at 8:40:05
> > I suffer from severe anxiety. My dr. has prescribed effexor. Anyone had any experience with effexor for anxiety. I could really use some help
> >>
>
I Was suffering with extremely bad anxiety, when my doctor prescribed effexor, have been on it for four months. It worked almost straight away to get rid of the anxiety, but its left me feeling more depressed now the anxiety's been taken away, and it caused me to get heart palputations, (which can be really scary especially if your anxious anyway) Dont know if this will help as I havnt been on here and given advise before but I guess you'd have to try it youself to see if it helps. hope it goes well!
Posted by highanxiety on December 11, 2002, at 16:01:40
In reply to Anxiety AAAHHHHHH, posted by David131 on December 10, 2002, at 13:54:20
I took effexor for a while a few years ago...at first it seemed to help with my energy, but when I worked up to the full dose i was really freaked out. I even had to leave class I was so panicky. then I tried the long-lasting one...nothing. Thats ONLY my experience! I hope it helps, or that you find something.
Posted by BrittPark on December 11, 2002, at 16:25:41
In reply to Anxiety AAAHHHHHH, posted by David131 on December 10, 2002, at 13:54:20
It's a toss up whether effexor will work for you. A priori the likelihood is about 50% (I think). If the effexor doesn't work you doctor should turn to benzos (In fact he/she should have started with that first). They have an excellent effectiveness record (>70% if adequate dosages are used), and have fewer unpleasant side effects than most ADs.
BTW are you seeing a GP or a psychiatrists. If the former I urge you to find a psychiatrist. They know a lot more about anxiety disorders than a GP does.
Feel Better,
Britt
Posted by worrier on December 11, 2002, at 18:20:51
In reply to Re: Anxiety AAAHHHHHH » David131, posted by BrittPark on December 11, 2002, at 16:25:41
> It's a toss up whether effexor will work for you. A priori the likelihood is about 50% (I think). If the effexor doesn't work you doctor should turn to benzos (In fact he/she should have started with that first). They have an excellent effectiveness record (>70% if adequate dosages are used), and have fewer unpleasant side effects than most ADs.
>
> BTW are you seeing a GP or a psychiatrists. If the former I urge you to find a psychiatrist. They know a lot more about anxiety disorders than a GP does.
>
> Feel Better,
>
> Britt
> Just want to second what Britt said. Please don't let your GP treat your anxiety problem. There is alot they don't understand about the drugs they hand out. Mine gave me samples of 4 antidepressants before sending me over the edge with paxil. My psychiatrist says that people with anxiety/panic disorder need to be a bit careful with SSRIs. Benzos are safe and work more quickly. Anyway, you wouldn't see a GP for open heart surgery...see someone who deals with this stuff every day if you aren't already. Avoid the mess I got myself into. Good Luck!
Posted by utopizen on December 11, 2002, at 20:34:56
In reply to Re: Anxiety AAAHHHHHH, posted by worrier on December 11, 2002, at 18:20:51
People on this board claim barbs are extinct for anxiety, but that can't be true if benzos only work 70% of the time. That must mean the normal, rational doctors (the ones not willing to give a simple anxiety patient an antipsychotic just because they heard it was "novel" or "second-generation" from a sales rep) would give barbs 30% of the time, in cases of benzo non-responders.
Of course, many of the so-called "treatment resistant" PATIENTS are actually ones who are treatable with benzos. It's their DOCTORS who are simply resistant to treating them.
Posted by viridis on December 12, 2002, at 0:18:51
In reply to Anxiety AAAHHHHHH, posted by David131 on December 10, 2002, at 13:54:20
I'll second (or third) the recommendation that you see a psychiatrist who knows about anxiety disorders, if you haven't already. In my experience, many GPs don't have a clue about anxiety or other mental problems. The ones I've seen insist on SSRIs and related drugs (such as Effexor), which have to be used very cautiously in anxiety patients (and many others too). I've had very bad reactions to antidepressants such as SSRIs, but many GPs simply refuse to prescribe benzodiazepines because they're supposedly "addictive".
This whole issue has been covered in excruciating detail on this board recently, but the bottom line is that:
1) Benzos are very safe and have a long track record of effectiveness for anxiety disorders, used both short- and long-term;
2) They are very rarely "addictive" for anxiety patients, although they often produce tolerance (just as ADs such as Effexor can). This means that if you've been using them for a while and need to discontinue them, it should be done gradually. This is standard for many drugs (especially Effexor!).
Klonopin (clonazepam) is an extremely effective benzo for anxiety for many (like me), and a well-informed doctor or psychiatrist should be comfortable with letting you try it. Xanax (alprazolam) is also very effective, although doctors are more cautious with it. There are lots of other benzos; these are just two of the best-known, and the ones that work best for me.
Again, you're most likely to get appropriate treatment from a psychiatrist. If Effexor or another antidepressant works, great -- but don't be afraid to ask for a trial with a benzo, especially if you need fast relief. Many ADs take weeks to work, and if the anxiety is overwhelming, you shouldn't have to wait that long.
Posted by teri on December 12, 2002, at 10:06:26
In reply to Re: Anxiety AAAHHHHHH » David131, posted by BrittPark on December 11, 2002, at 16:25:41
Hi. I took Effexor XR for anxiety and it made it so much worse I thought sometimes I would have to go to the hospital. Some days I just had this fear hanging around for no reason. It was awful. I had to take 3 .5mg of Xanax a day if I was going to go out and function. Also couldn't sleep on it. The only good thing was I lost some weight. I went to another doctor who took me off of it immediately and put me on a combo of Celexa and Klonopin and that has been the best thing I've tried and I've been at this for about 12 years. I've read on this board that Effexor XR really did help some people with anxiety so I guess it's a toss up. Good luck, Teri
Posted by comftnumb on December 14, 2002, at 1:31:44
In reply to Anxiety AAAHHHHHH, posted by David131 on December 10, 2002, at 13:54:20
I agree with Utopizen and some of the other guys here. Effexor generally sucks for anxiety. It's a decent antidepressant, i'll give it that much.
Don't know about the sexual side effects cause I don't have a gf, but I think the main difficulty is attaining orgasm. That can be a bonus for your gf cause you'll last a hell of a lot longer. But if you can't orgasm at all, then it's definitely not worth it.
Klonopin works great for anxiety. I take 2mg a day and it's magical. I've even forgotten what it's like to suffer from a lot of anxiety. Only trouble with Klonopin is that it works so well you might not have the good anxiety, like the anxiety that tells you that you need to do important stuff. I literally stopped studying a whole month at University, a very very bad thing. I think I just have to learn how to motivate myself differently. In any event, anxiety is a bad motivator. It means you're a slave to your anxiety. It would be better to be motivated by a desire for success.
I'm going on Nardil for social anxiety. I've heard mixed reviews, but I'm hoping for the best. It'll be a month before I'm on it. I'll keep you posted.
This is the end of the thread.
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