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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blu on April 15, 2004, at 21:56:24
hi..
i just joined this thread, and i have a few questions.i have not started taking Effexor XR yet, but i have a percription sitting here with me on my desk that says:
- -
1 tab po 9d x 7d
then 2 tabs po 9d x 7d
then 3 tabs po 9d x 7d
then 4 tabs po 9d x 14 days
Do not refill
- -
i have taken other medicaiton before, {Celexa}, which did nothing...and have tried Valium for anxiety, which worked for a bit, but not very well, and i had to get it through other means, since my doctor is not into perscribing these types of drugs. {yes i am looking for another doctor}i have been diagnosist with major untreated depression (over 10 yrs){and all the other wonderful thing shtat go along with this :( } and experienc moderate anxiety, with extreme feelings of paranoyia over a period of 5+ years.
i was wondering if others have had a similar situation, and have had benefits from Effexor XR, or if they found something else that worked for them.
i have been reading about Effexor XR here, and other places on the web, and getting some information from my pD, however, i am still slightly reluctant to fill the perscription for fear of it having no affect on my symptoms, and then having to deal with the withdrawl affects, though i am quite whiling to try anything.
any insight?
thank you for taking the time to read my post,
-blu
Posted by awatts on April 15, 2004, at 23:29:25
In reply to Effexor XR first time user and have some questions, posted by blu on April 15, 2004, at 21:56:24
> hi..
> i just joined this thread, and i have a few questions.
>
> i have not started taking Effexor XR yet, but i have a percription sitting here with me on my desk that says:
> - -
> 1 tab po 9d x 7d
> then 2 tabs po 9d x 7d
> then 3 tabs po 9d x 7d
> then 4 tabs po 9d x 14 days
> Do not refill
> - -
> i have taken other medicaiton before, {Celexa}, which did nothing...and have tried Valium for anxiety, which worked for a bit, but not very well, and i had to get it through other means, since my doctor is not into perscribing these types of drugs. {yes i am looking for another doctor}
>
> i have been diagnosist with major untreated depression (over 10 yrs){and all the other wonderful thing shtat go along with this :( } and experienc moderate anxiety, with extreme feelings of paranoyia over a period of 5+ years.
>
> i was wondering if others have had a similar situation, and have had benefits from Effexor XR, or if they found something else that worked for them.
>
> i have been reading about Effexor XR here, and other places on the web, and getting some information from my pD, however, i am still slightly reluctant to fill the perscription for fear of it having no affect on my symptoms, and then having to deal with the withdrawl affects, though i am quite whiling to try anything.
>
> any insight?
> thank you for taking the time to read my post,
> -bluI would try the Effexor. It's the only AD that has worked for me, and I've tried many. Titrate up in dosage slowly, and don't expect results until you have been on at least 150mg for at least 3 or 4 weeks.
Ask your doc for Klonopin 0.5mg twice a day, and ask for specific reasons why he rejects the request. Please let us know.
Effexor is a hell of a lot more dangerous than benzos, but if you don't go too fast or too high in dosage, it can work for refractory depression.
Posted by collegeguy on April 16, 2004, at 23:06:59
In reply to Re: Effexor XR first time user and have some questions, posted by awatts on April 15, 2004, at 23:29:25
I've had experience with Effexor XR, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, and Lexapro, and I personally think Effexor should be more of a last recourse type drug than a first shot because of the sometimes awful withdrawal effects (though that is not to say you'll experience any--everyone is different and some people come off of it without trouble); regardless, it is something to be mindful of though.
On to your prescription:
It looks as if you are reading it wrong, because it makes no sense at is---however, if you replace all the 9's with q's (your doc could just be very sloppy), here's what it says:
-1 tablet by mouth (p.o. = per orum) once a day (qd) for seven days ( x 7 d)
-then 2 tablets by mouth once a day for seven days
-then 3 tablets by mouth once a day for seven days
-then 4 tablets by mouth once a day for fourteen daysYou negelected to indicate a dosage though. Effexor XR comes in 3 sizes: 37.5 mg, 75 mg, and 150 mg. All of the doses are in the form of extended (24 hour) release capsules, not tablets as your doctor wrote on the prescription. Because each Effexor XR capsule must release medication steadily over the course of a day, each cap contains 100s of tiny beads of the active ingredient of Effexor (venlafaxine) that are all specially coated to release their contents at different times after taking. As such, there is virtually no way to accurately divide these capsules and should not be toyed with (preventing yourself from getting the full 24 hours of effexor is probably the worst thing you can do while on it, because that can induce withdrawal). Just a warning about the capsules though...some people often cut or divide their meds up and don't realize you simply can't do it with Effexor XR.
Also, more about your script: assuming your doctor prescriped you the 37.5 mg capsules, as is the standard starting dose for Effexor XR, you would end up being on 150 mg by the end up the "ramping up" phase. 150 mg is a relatively standard dose of Effexor XR for the treatment of depression. You may find you need either more or less once you get up to 150 mg, but you should talk to your doctor about that.
Good luck!
Posted by thinkfast on April 17, 2004, at 0:16:21
In reply to Effexor XR first time user and have some questions, posted by blu on April 15, 2004, at 21:56:24
hey blu, i agree with awatts..give it a try..it's the only med that has worked on my anxiety...failing with paxil, trozadone, and remeron. And if it actually works, there's no need to worry about withdrawl. I've had no bad side effects on this med besides feeling a little loopy when I first take it in the morning. All of the other effects have been simply amazing. It's nice to be closer to my old self again. FYI.i'm on 45mg of Remeron + 75mg effexor xr
Posted by blu on April 17, 2004, at 0:28:29
In reply to Effexor XR first time user and have some questions, posted by blu on April 15, 2004, at 21:56:24
thanks for the words, and encouragement....
i guess i did read the script wrong, and yes my doc has crazy messy handwriting, seems to be the norm ;)but any-how....i filed the script today, and took my first pill at dinner time. So far, light nausea, and very slight dizziness.
i am taking 37.5mg once a day for 7 days. and then up-ing the dose....
What is interesting so far, is the allertness i am feeling,...though almost in this tired kind of way....strange...
well see, i am going to give this one a chance, cause quite honestly i am sick of living with this illness.:)
blu
Posted by poppi on April 19, 2004, at 0:10:33
In reply to Re: Effexor XR first time user **semi-update.**, posted by blu on April 17, 2004, at 0:28:29
Please do not expect any immediacy of relief with effexor, but it will come. It took about three weeks in my case. Sick that you may be the relief is worth the wait. At least it was for me. Was sick of being sick and not knowing why. Tests after tests showed nothing wrong physically yet I felt like crap. Couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, didn't want to do anything work or fun. Lost 50 pounds in 2 months. It's been almost a year and I still do not feel normal but feel a heck of a lot better than I did before effexor!!
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