Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health (Expert Forum)
A Question about Effexor?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
A Question about Effexor?
by alrdyc, Jun 12, 2001 12:00AM
I started taking Effexor about ten days ago. I started taking just 75mg a day and then the doctor upped it to 75mg twice a day. And then 150mg twice a day. And within about two days I started to feel like myself again. It was like the depression had completely lifted. And I felt like myself for about three days, but then I started feeling bad again. For the past four days I feel like the depression is back. Not as bad as it was. It's just like I am not myself again. I was just wondering with Effexor XR if things like this happen. I mean is it normal to feel good again and then bad again until it reaches a theraputic level. I know it says it can take six to eight weeks to completely get into your system but I was wondering if it is still going to work for me?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jun 14, 2001 12:00AM
, Jun 14, 2001 12:00AM
There is a lot of variability in the syndrome of depression,so you should just keep at it and let it even itself out. Also, remember that depression is a normal, state of mind for all of us and is related to how we see our future and how much hope and passion we have for the life we have constructed. Consider talking to a therapist or started an online dialogue with me through the masteringstress program(above link).
Thank you.
Yes, Effexor is very new and similar to the SSRI'S but it is more for depression and anxiety only. It seems to have slightly less side effects, but the same withdrawal effects as the others.
That's been described and I experienced it as well, head zaps and tingling body sensations like someone zapped you with one of those stun guns or something but not quite so severe. It is quite annoying though.
I have seen others refer to Prozac, Celexa, and Paxil. I found Celexa easy to get off of, I never tried Prozac or Paxil but I hear Paxil is the worst for withdrawal.
alrdyc