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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PatriciaP on February 25, 2005, at 14:38:43
I suffer from social anxiety. I started Effexor 37.5 yesterday. I felt extremely bad, vomiting, diarrhea, heart palpatation, shortness of breath. Is this normal? How long does it last. Are there any other social anxiety suffers out there. Please help!!
Posted by Spriggy on February 25, 2005, at 17:06:05
In reply to Please has anybody had good results with Effexor, posted by PatriciaP on February 25, 2005, at 9:58:00
I've never been on Effexor and frankly, just from what I've read on here, I would be scared to even attempt it.
BUT, having said that, I have two good friends on it (who have severe anxiety and depression) that absolutely have done amazing on it.
It depends on the person. It may be just right for you, it may make you worse. Only time will tell.
Posted by Phillipa on February 25, 2005, at 17:54:07
In reply to Re: Please has anybody had good results with Effexor, posted by Spriggy on February 25, 2005, at 17:06:05
Have you tried any other AD's? I tried Effexor, and only made it up to 37.5mg. I stopped because I felt like a zombie. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Jen2 on February 25, 2005, at 18:09:43
In reply to Please has anybody had good results with Effexor, posted by PatriciaP on February 25, 2005, at 9:58:00
I've got GAD. I've been on 75mg Effexor for a little over six weeks. The first week was hell - I felt horrible. No vomiting, but diarrhea, heart palpitations, anxiousness, dissociation, brain fog, panic, felt like I was going to die.... on and on and on. After the first week, those side effects subsided for the most part. At about day 12 I started to get some positive effects - started to feel much more calm and in control and able to handle the world.
It's been a very slow but uphill progression. For a while I felt even but low. Kind of depressed, but still able to function. About two days ago I realized that I felt really good, for the first time in a really really long time. I actually felt happy. Yes, happy. Somebody asked me how I was doing, and I said, "Fantastic. It's a beautiful day." And I was standing outside in minus 15 degree weather. But it was sunny and things felt good.
So since then I've felt even but happy. I'm quite impressed with this result. I don't know how long this will last, and I don't know if I'm going to have to up my dosage, and I don't know what the future will bring.... And I am still experiencing some side effects -- sometimes I get sweaty, I have difficulty with motivation, getting up in the morning is still really hard, I have trouble focusing and concentrating enough to get my work done, and I tend to not care very much - sort of apathetic about whether or not I get things done. But generally I'm feeling really good. I'm hoping that this new happiness will provide some of the motivation and focus that I've been missing. We'll see over the next several days.
While I know many people have had really bad experiences with Effexor, so far so good for me. Granted, it's been an uphill battle, but today things are really good. I'm not saying that this will be the case for you or anybody else, but I am saying that I'm doing pretty well. So there is hope.
As I said, the first week is really bad. This is normal. Stick it out for a little bit, but do talk with your doctor.
As always, YMMV.
Jen
Posted by krybrahaha78 on February 25, 2005, at 23:52:04
In reply to Re: Please has anybody had good results with Effexor, posted by Jen2 on February 25, 2005, at 18:09:43
i took effexor xr once, i think it was 37 mgs and it made my anxiety 100 times worse, i had to get off it.
Posted by cherylann on February 26, 2005, at 0:04:58
In reply to Re: Please has anybody had good results with Effexor, posted by Spriggy on February 25, 2005, at 17:06:05
I was on Effexor for about a year before it stopped working.
It took a couple weeks before it really kicked in, but when it did I had NO anxiety at all.
The side effects, nausea, extremely wired, insomnia passed after a few days to a week. Still had problems sleeping but did ok.
If you continue to have the severe reaction you posted about, then you might want to reevaluate if this is the right med.
Best wishes,
cherylann
Posted by gadman on February 26, 2005, at 7:01:06
In reply to Please has anybody had good results with Effexor, posted by PatriciaP on February 25, 2005, at 9:58:00
I am on Effexor and I think it has done wonders as far as GAD and depression.
The very first month was EXTREMELY difficult though. I felt as if someone plugged me in to the wall outlet.
gadman
Posted by Damos on February 27, 2005, at 0:20:43
In reply to Please has anybody had good results with Effexor, posted by PatriciaP on February 25, 2005, at 9:58:00
Hi PatriciaP,
I was on Effexor-XR for just over 2 years, dosage up to 225mg/day. This came after a bad experience with Zoloft. Regardless of what has happened in terms of the withdrawal, for me the drug was definitely good. It gave me the window I needed to start facing a lot things about myself and a chance to kind of step through the looking glass into a world of living I'd never really known existed. Go a long long way to go. But the drug helped me to at least make a start on the journey and what I've learned in the last 2 1/2 years makes me want to keep trying.
Good luck and best wishes
Posted by curdawg on February 27, 2005, at 7:48:17
In reply to Please has anybody had good results with Effexor, posted by PatriciaP on February 25, 2005, at 9:58:00
> I suffer from social anxiety. I started Effexor 37.5 yesterday. I felt extremely bad, vomiting, diarrhea, heart palpatation, shortness of breath. Is this normal? How long does it last. Are there any other social anxiety suffers out there. Please help!!
I've been taking Effexor XR for about a year started w/ 75mg, i had the same s/e's they went away after about a week. my CD started coming back increase meds to 150mg went through every all over again.after a few months increased meds to max 225mg,i feel really good as far as my CD i enjoy going to work even caught myself sing but new s/e's popped up (check out my post about jaw clinching) Hang in there!
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