Effexor XR

[goodhealth100]

I've been taking Effexor for about 2 years and am weaning off the medication right now. Actually I should just say I am stoping the medication cold turkey, since I am just not taking any pills at all each day. Yes, there are side effects. Are the side effects so severe that a person cannot tolerate them? Absolutely not. You need to tough it out, get this drug out of your system, and start exercising 5 times a week, especially cardiovascular exercise. Don't listen to all these doctors who tell you Effexor is the answer to your problems. It absolutely is not the answer. Regular cardio exercise 4-5 times a week is a better way of healing yourself than taking these ******** medications for the rest of your life. And Effexor will raise your blood pressure. You need to ask yourself do you want to take these medications forever, or do you want to live a happy lifestyle without using these overrated antidepressants. Just do the best you can when you get off this drug. Each week that passes will get better and better without this medication in your system. Definitely exercise while you are going through the withdrawal. You can handle it. Do not think these doctors know it all. They absolutely do not. They don't even take the medications themselves but write out prescriptions like they are some sort of expert in feeling the effects of them. In my opinion I would just stay away from antidepressants and stay close to healthy eating and exercise, especially running. Take multi-vitamins, drink lots of water, eat fruits, vegetables and exercise at least 4 times a week with at least 30 minutes of cardio, 3 times a week. You do not need Effexor in your life.

[goodhealth100]

Here's a great piece of advice for you. Drink a half ounce of water per pound of your bodyweight, every single day. Yes, you will urinate often in the beginning, but eventually less after your body becomes used to the extra consumption.

Critical part of living a healthy life is drinking the CORRECT amount of water each day to keep yourself hydrated. You will not hear this from most people because more than 99 percent of people have no idea what they are talking about.

If you weigh 150 pounds, you should be drinking 75 ounces of water, every single day. Your urine should be very light yellow or clear. You will definitely feel the difference after a week in how your body feels. A nice positive difference. Take Multi-Vitamins every single day and take a 500 mg capsule of vitamin C every day along with your Multi-Vitamin.

You should definitely be doing some type of cardio exercise, at least 3 times per week for a minimum of 30 minutes per session. Eat more berries and vegetables in your diet. Eat only wheat bread and no white bread. Eat lean meats, turkey, chicken, cans of tuna. The cardio will significantly enhance your cardiovascular system.

I noticed when taking Effexor XR it would always make me tired and hindered my performance in the gym. It's a good medication for a person with severe depression who has no other choice, but if you have a choice, stay away from Effexor and follow the guidelines I've listed above. You'll begin to feel a much better way of living.

[Amphitrite]

Hey J, I was reading at the exact moment you wrote. Quick question..you actually felt some sort of High from Bupar?

That's interesting to me. First because I have an obsession with meds and how they work in the body(not  to mention my phobia of pills). But also because I've taken Buspar on and off for 7 years and the only thing that ever felt strange was my teeth(and I have no idea what that was about).
Come to think of it...I don't think I've ever felt an immedicate effect from any med except for IV pain meds. But even my xanax and now klonopin...I just feel normal.

I wonder if it has to do with if you need the medication or not. Like for instance..someone who took a dose of my pain meds would be high as a kite but because my pain is so severe I only feel pain relief. So because my anxiety/panic is so high the xanax and bupsar don't effect me in that way....
Just a random thought..

I don't want to clog up Dr. Goulds forum with my nonsensical random thoughts

[Jaquta]

I hope you didn't take my post to be a personal attack on you and your views.  I was merely stating my own observations based on my own experiences and opinions.

The medication you speak of is one I was not trialled on.  I speak of side-effects, withdrawal, etc generally based on my experience of medications over a range of classes (mainly the ssri's but also some of the older classes).

Your comment made me think of physics and 'what goes up must come down'.
The only thing resembling a high I have experienced from taking medication was from buspirone (an anti-anxiety medication).  I felt my thoughts were racing (some of which seemed 'pretty' intellectual for me).  At the time I used the word manic to describe how I felt.  There were other symptoms also and they were some of the most distressing I've ever felt from a med.

I don't think there should be a need to tolerate withdrawal.  If it is done appropriately then side-effects should be kept to a minimum.

The thing I've learned from having made many disastrous decisions is that ultimately you are responsible for yourself.  You and only you.

I've done some studies in sport and exercise science.  I'm aware of the benefits of exercise.

I was given an article to read today based on an article by Dr Rob Fry, a senior anaesthetist.  The article is entitled The pursuit of happiness.  Here is an excerpt.
  "The right lifestyle choices can also aid happiness by improving brain chemistry.  Try to get 7-8 hours sleep a night, preferably going to sleep before 10.30pm to boost your melatonin.  Laughter, sex, aerobic exercise and pleasant thoughts produce endorphins; exercising in sunshine strengthens the immune system; and relaxation, spirituality and exercise boost serotonin levels, elevating mood".

I was training for a marathon at the time.  I've since done half's.  (I'm thinking about doing an ironman in 2010).
I'm all for natural stuff.  I think medication can potentially help us with managing our symptoms though.  I'll give you an example.  I get extremely stressed and anxious and have a tendency to repeat things.  Last year I missed the start of my half marathon (which frustrated me no end, especially as I can be extremely competitive) because I was stuck repeating things.
If medication helps us manage our symptoms and allows us to work through them in therapy, then yes, I think it has a role.
I am typically very adverse to taking medication but at times I feel it offers the only respite or hope.
Would you choose to take medication if it gave you the freedom to live your hopes and dreams?

I'm not sure exactly why I'm defending medication but I think it does have a role.

Because you are drug-free it doesn't mean you don't have issues.  Pills are not magic cures.  I think it's ignorant to suggest that life will improve without addressing issues.
I am more concerned about a persons ability to function.  Ideally, I would like to see people achieve and overcome issues without resorting to medication.  Sometimes it is necessary though.
Medication is only a tool, a stepping stone, so to speak.

I believe I am mentally tough and mental illness has humbled me.
I believe when toughening it out you dig a deeper hole/ rut for yourself.
Didn't Einstein say we needed to solve problems on a different level to that which they existed??

I see what you mean.  Yes, I think it's more important to be well-versed in making healthy lifestyle choices.  Sometimes that does include taking medication though.

When I've spoken to people from communities with the same mental health issues as me, I'm one of the few who hasn't taken medication religiously.

In my experience doctors have been knowledgeable about such things.  Certainly most doctors I've seen have been fit and healthy and have been ready to pass on information.  One didn't appear so healthy but I didn't like him much anyway.  I read this thing somewhere and so I imagine him in a diaper with a rattle in a mall.  It makes me feel I have more power over him (or my memory of him, etc).

The only book I tend to read about healthy eating at the moment is Dr Gould's book, Shrink Yourself: Free yourself from emotional eating forever.  (I think that's the title, I'm not 100% confident though).

I don't think exercising is the be all and end all.
For me, without addressing the underlying issues I can't exercise.  (This is coming from someone who use to seriously over-train).
Mental health issues messes everything up.

At the moment I'm working on identifying negative emotions and working to more effectively problem-solve.  Making things work for me and not against me.

Did you want to discuss your experiences, etc with this medication??
Why did you start it?  Why are you so ?angry now?  How has it affected you and your life?
What happened for you to decide to stop taking it now?

J

[goodhealth100]

Everyone has their own opinion. And the word "Expert" is very relative. One would want to be an expert in exercise, both cardio and strength training, good healthy diet, drinking lots of water each day and staying positive rather than be an expert in popping Effexor XR each day and think that'll change your life.

One thing that I learned when going to doctors is that they know absolutely nothing about exercise and about the types of foods to eat to keep a person's body healthy. Ever hear a doctor mention that you should be drinking a half ounce of water per pound of bodyweight? Be your own doctor and read books about proper diet and exercise. Running several times a week will dramatically alter your system in a very positive way.
You have to get yourself into a groove and be very independent about your goals. But if you are not exercising at least 3 or 4 times a week,  just forget about the whole thing.

[goodhealth100]

If you take medication such as Effexor XR and feel the highs from it then you definitely need to be able to tolerate the lows of getting off it. There is no free lunch in this type of business. You have to take responsibility for your decisions.

And as far as running. It's very obvious that it opens up your cardio vascular system and releases endorphins naturally that make you feel better.

Training for a marathon?? You disagree that things will get better the longer the medication is out of your system? That doesn't make too much sense. But I guess everyone is different. Bottom line is you need to tough it out. Depending what type of a trauma a person has suffered in his or her life, that has a big role as well.

One thing is for certain. You definitely do not want to take Effexor XR for the rest of your life. Big mistake.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I welcome your strong opinion, and the equally strong  opinions that have already been posted as reply.  Its the question of balance and usefulness...I personally think that simply medications without therapy is a bad policy..But medications with therapy, used discretely, is a good policy..hope that helps...