Effexor Xr...how long should i wait???????

Hi all,

Am a newbie here and find this site very informative. I just wondered if anyone had any experience with this med and how long it taked to work? I am going into week 6 on 150mg and still feel like I am up and down like a yoyo. Is this normal and should i wait it out a bit longer or give up and move onto something else. Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated.


Cheers
Rosie

[Hensley258]

Usually by 6 weeks the medication is working to full effect.
If your still not feeling any better I would call your doctor.

[SeanBC]

I was on effexor for 5 years and it sounds like your not on the right medication. I had the same effects and came off of effexor XR becuase of it. There lies another problem. Coming off of effexor XR is pretty rough. I have posted on it in the forums. Effexor is one drug that I would really look into before staying on it. I am not a Dr and not telling you what to do but if it were me and I were feeling like you are  I would goto my DR. immediately and tell him how it was making me feel.

[abitodd]

You're getting the best of the effects by six weeks, if you are definitely taking it regularly.  You may need a higher or lower dosage to work neurotransmitters differently, Effexor works on Serotonin and Norepinephrine and different doses make it play differently with chemicals.  

TALK TO YOU DOCTOR!!!  

If you have a good doctor, he or she will help you fix the drugs by this point.  

[whodunnit]

I took a full 6 weeks and possibly a bit longer to even start to feel a response. It is the best one I've used though as it brought me back from the brink.

My feeling is your dose may be too low but without knowing more about you that's a wild guess. I needed to go to 550 mgs eventually before it stopped working but I responded at 300 mgs initially. I was pretty far gone though.

[tweekie]

I've been on and off effexor since 2001. Now I take 150 mg. I started on 75mg and slowly went to 150mg.  I would have to say at 150mg I have the fewest bouts of depression and more energy and motivation to go out and do things.  You may need a higher dose, maybe go up another 75mg to 225mg. Do you mean up and down like mood swings? If this is true you might need a mood stabilizer in addition to an antidepressant. Hang in there.

[Hensley258]

I used to take Effexor for about 4 years. It took 300Mgs a day to give me any relief from my depression and anxiety.

Maybe your on too low of a dosage. Then again maybe Effexor just isn't the right medication for you.

[nirac]

I also have tried getting off effexor, it is sooo hard . Try to avoid starting it if possible.
Ask Dr. to try something else.  Good luck.