Question about Effexor XR Starter Pack

[JC82]

My doctor has recently diagnosed me with anxiety disorder and gave me effexor XR starter pack.  However, from what I've read here and other sites, it seems the side effects can be high blood pressure and changed heart rates.  It also sounds like getting off the medication can be very difficult and there are weird effects like "shocks in the brain" feeling.

The starter pack contains seven 37.5mg tablets for the first week then seven 75mg tablets for the second week.  For people that have taken or are taking this medication, is this starter pack enough to drastically change my blood pressure as well as make it very difficult to stop the medication, or does it take a much longer period of time of taking the medication and at higher doses to have this effect?

While I would like to get rid of my anxiety, I don't really want to spend the rest of my life taking pills to control it.  

Thanks!

[sparkeler]

I have been Effexor before and it did not raise my blood pressure.  But everyone reacts differently to medications.  Make sure the doctor who is prescribing you this is aware of your concern and will check your blood pressure regularly.

Any anti depressant you take will have that *brain shock* feeling if you stop it suddenly.  You have to be weened off.  It doesn't matter if it's Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil, or whatever.  You have to taper off the medication if you don't want to feel *withdrawl* symptoms.  Good luck.

[tanns]

I recently stopped a seven month run of Lexapro (10mg).  I started with two weeks of 7.5mg, then two weeks of 5mg, then two weeks of 2.5 and finally off.  I didn't have any "brain zaps or shocks".  What I did have was a horrible headache the first 4-5 days of the start of the lower dosage.  Other than that, no other effects.  I have been off it for about 4 weeks and haven't had headaches like that or any brain weirdness.

Good luck to you.

[sparkeler]

You didn't have that because you tapered off the lexapro like your supposed to.  You can't just stop it cold turkey or you most likely would have experienced *brain zaps*.

[Aruba417]

I've been on Effexor for a little over a year, and my blood pressure is still VERY good (My doctor monitors it because of the fact that I'm taking Effexor). But yeah, everyone DOES react differently. I haven't tried to get off of it, but I've also heard it's difficult. But I don't think it will be too bad if you taper off the right way like you're supposed to. Just make sure you don't miss dosages! That makes you really nauseous! Trust me!

[menopause phipps]

My doctor has prescribed Effexor XR for night sweats during menopause.  Is this a good medication for that? Has anyone taken this and had success with it?

[often]

my hot flashes were really helped by the Effexor...I just lowered from 150XR to 75XR and noticed an increase in flashes with the lower dose.  I don't get night sweats so not sure how it will work on those.  But hopefully will lessen them.

Also, Effexor is quite commonly prescribed for breast cancer patients going through treatment and after because it does ease the symptoms.  

[tsnowe123]

My sister used to swear by effexor, and told me to have my doctor put me on it too. But months later she said it wasn't working. I have been taking  20mg propranolol  for a year now, and it works better than anything else I have taken.. I was also on xanex ER 2 mg and that worked, but then after a while, it didn't, but ask your dr about, propranolol.. it is also used for many other things..

[tsnowe123]

If you do not want to be on meds (which I have to agree) my grandmother has suffered with this for 47 years now, and she does breathing excersises. It does work for me too, but sometimes I hyperventalate, and I cant do it, but, hold your breath for 10 seconds,and blow it out, continue to do so until the pain stops...... keep us up to date :)