Initial Experience with Effexor

[TightRope]

I have been prescribed Effexor for depression, anxiety and ruminating thoughts that I have self diagnosed as Post Traumatic Stres Disorder.  I had a positive response the very first day with 35mg and the next six days before upping the dose to 75mg on day eight that will eventually reach 150mg the third week.  The first day on 75mg I was very fatigued and had a major shift in mood with anxiety and depression late afternoon.  Should I expect and endure adversity during the first few weeks of treatment?

[Bob_D]

Hi Donna,

It is called "Pristiq".

[donnashamshar]

i have taken effexor for 10 years.  it is a life safer.  i have depression and OCD.  i can't imagine my life without it.  side effects will decrease, although i still get a brief episode of nausea about 3 hours after taking it..."gut seratonin" is what i was told.  it is worth it.  what is the newer Effexor that was mentioned?

[neetsiepk]

Give the effexor a chance to work as I was told.  I had been on prozac for 14 years and loved it, but my company would no longer pay for brand name and the generic was not working for me like the brand name, so I had to go through several new drugs before I found effexor.  I am now up to 150/day, and I am very happy with it.  I am really happy!  So hang in there, you should be too.  I have a prescription for xanex that I can take for anxiety if I need it, but I haven't noticed any additional anxiety since taking the effexor.  Good luck.  Anita

[Bob_D]

Dear Tightrope,

Based on my experience with a number of antidepressants, the answer is "yes".

I myself am currently going through a somewhat difficult introductory period (intense fatigue and mild nausea) with a new anti-depressant (the successor to Effexor) and plan to continue with it for some time. After all, the product information says it typically 3-4 weeks to begin to work.

At least two antidepressants I have taken in the past were initially quite unpleasant but turned out to be very effective...for a while.

These drugs, although an improvement on what came before, are relatively primitive. Although they are tested and meet some list of criteria to be designated as "safe", how they work is not really known. "Chemical imbalance" is not a scientific explanation and there is little evidence to support it. The product literature included with drugs usually lists a dozen or more potential side effects. Antidepressants affect brain function, after all, and brain function is still largely a mystery.

So I suggest you give it a chance, and good luck to you.

Cheers,
Bob D