Effexor Questions

 Hi Jeff, I am not from this forum specifically but happened to see effexor. I am Bipolar, and in my early days was treated with Effexor XR. I thought it was great at the beginning also. Sometimes you have to get the right dosage or maybe add another med to it. I think when I started it , I tried to use it as monotherapy but it didn't work so my GP, added prozac or paxil ( it's been awhile) to it and that helped. I started out on 75mg of Effexor XR and went up, if I recallthat right. If you are just having some mild cases of feelings of depression occur maybee it just needs increased, everyone is different. Hope that helps!

Hello Jeff,

I took Effexor for 6 months. The best way to describe its effect on me would be to say "I felt like I didn't care" while on it. Normally, I would become very emotional over the tiniest things, but with Effexor, that didn't happen. In fact, it was difficult for me to feel much of anything. So there was a "trade-off" in my case. I didn't feel as sad (which was great)....but I also didn't feel anything else either. Not happy or excited....just sort of "flat."

For awhile, I welcomed the numbness and feeling unemotional. Hey, it was better than feeling awful! But, with time, it bothered me that I couldn't laugh, couldn't cry watching a sappy movie, etc. My pdoc adjusted my meds, lowered the dose, but the result? Well, I became depressed again. Now I've moved on to another medication, Cymbalta.

I hope the new meds help you. On a brighter note, Effexor was the first thing I'd ever taken to actually "work" at lifting me out of a depression. I just wish it would've allowed me to feel the "good stuff" too, so to speak.

Smiles,

Jenna

Welcome to the newest members at HealingWell!! :) I'm glad that ya'll were able to help each other out here-I'm not familiar with those drugs, I take Lexapro and have for a couple of years...

I just wanted to say Welcome and wish you all a great weekend!

Hugs, Teri :)

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"I Hope You Dance".............LeeAnn Womack

 

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Jeff,

I am currently taking EffexorXR and switched from Paxil. They are in completely different classifications of anti-d meds and so work on the mind totally differently. There has been some good advice given here concerning all anti-d meds but I thought I would reiterate a couple of points. It can take up to 3 months before these types of meds reach their full effectiveness. You may need to be on it for a bit longer to determine it's effectiveness for you. Also try and remember how the meds affect each of us can be totally different. That is why there are so many different meds in each classification. Give the Effexor a little bit more time to see how it is doing. My Dr. reminds me that there will still be ups and downs even while on these meds. They are there to help me cope in a more healthy way than I have in the past. Good luck, welcome and I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

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We can respond to irritation with a smile instead of scowl, or by giving warm praise instead of icy indifference. By our being understanding instead of abrupt, others, in turn, may decide to hold on a little longer rather than to give way. Love, patience, and meekness can be just as contagious as rudeness and crudeness.