Effexor

[BonnieH]

   Allmost Three weeks ago, I had elective cosmetic surgery. About 4-5 weeks prior I had  to gradually go off my 75mg.of Effexor because the surgeon said it could cause bleeding. I started back on the Effexor Jan. 19, and I was on 37.5 for a couple of days, and then just went back to 75mg. until February 3rd. because my doctor said I was raising up too fast, because I am very anxious,adjitated, and depressed. I feel horrible. He also has me take .o5 xanax am and pm ( I also take ambien ) Is there anything that would help me better. A friend told me to check to see if Klonapin would help me  instead of the xanax. How long does it take before the effexor starts to help again ? The xanax is only tempoary until the effexor kicks in, but can't xanax cause more depression ? I feel very alone even around people, and I don't even want to go anywhere, but i also don't want to be alone because I feel so scared. Is the normally the way this medication works, I been on it for about 7 years, after breast cancer. Please let me know, I need words of encouragement. When will I feel good again ?   Thank you for your quick response. Bonnie

[JamesR79]

I was on anti depressants for 8 years but I felt like I got more mood swings, weight gain, and loss of sex drive on everyone of them. Finally I was on effexor for 3 years and I decided to come off because I felt like they were doing worse than better for me. I've been off of effexor for 23 days now and I wake up EVERY morning at the same exact time, sweating, nautious, anxious, and I run to the bathroom with loose bowels. I've been starting every morning like this every day since I came off. Is there any hope that things will get better? I feel like I'm stuck like this because I've been working on an anxiety/depression program, but I feel like something is physically wrong. I've learned how to prevent panic for the most part. I just don't know how to stop the mornings. I've been to 3 different hospitals in the past 6 months and I feel like the whole doctor thing just made me feel so much more under pressure. I can definitely feel the relief in that area of stress but I'm still sick physically every day. I could even talk to myself positively and keep myself occupied but I'm so anxious and I don't want to want to go back on this medicine. This is where all of my panic is coming from now. I can't stop crying and I'm not exercising. I don't know what to do. I've learned a lot about separating psychological and physiological and how they work in unison, but I feel like the only reason why this is so mentally stressful is because I don't know where it's coming from this time and I'm scared and stuck. Please, someone help me

[Aruba417]

I've been taking Effexor and Xanax together for about a year. I take the Effexor every day and the Xanax only when needed (most of the time it's only maybe twice a week). I've been doing fine on this combination, and although everyone is different, I think with the stress of the surgery and the anxiety of just getting off the Effexor in the first place might be why you're feeling the way you are. Just keep doing as the doctor has instructed and hopefully you should be feeling good again soon. And yes, it will probably take the Effexor a good 2 weeks before you start feeling better again. Good luck.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

If you did well before surgery, you should do just as well after surgery on Effexor. You might ask your doctor about klonopin because it is longer acting and less problematic than xanax.  The combination of klonopin and Effexor should do the job quickly, given the timetable you mentioned, you should be feeling much better within days going forward.

[AlexF]

Xanax is a type of benzodiazepine, I've never tried it though. It is an anti-anxiety. My doctor gave me Klonopin (also a benzo) when I switched antidepressants, I had to wait 2 weeks before starting the new antidepressant. Klonopin is also useful when starting Paxil, which causes really bad anxiety for the first 2 weeks. I remember asking the doctor about the merits of taking a tranquiliser (a downer!) when depressed, but he said it reduced the occurance of the depressive thoughts. I wasn't put on a high taking the tranquiliser, but I wasn't sad either. I'm sure your Effexor will kick in soon. (it does take a few weeks,  the SSRIs can take 3 months to reach there full effect)

[BonnieH]

Thanks, I know I have to push myself through this as well, it's just very tough. I guess being patient, and trying to work through this is the hardest part. It's such an alone feeling when you go through this, and you just wat to feel better fast .   Tahanks again, Bonnie