Is there any effexor sucess stories????????

I've been on Effexor since 1996, before the drug was approved by FDA. One reason Dr.s don't tell you about problems with Effexor, is that they don't just don't know. I thought this drug was a God send, everything was clearer, colors brighter, sounds more defined... ended up on 450mg for about 8 yr..... I was wrong. Someone else said it better, Effexorsium... something, something. Some time or another the T.D. and the L.D but i didn't receive the memo. So my brain just kept on frying away. Today, I'm on 300mg, I have to use "sticky keys" setting on my computer because my tremor/spasms cause me to hit keys too many times, or too many keys too many times. My brain is gone, thank goodness for spell check, grammar check, now all I need is personality check, attitude check, have a clue check......
Not long ago I went to tie my shoes, had the laces in my hands, couldn't remember how, then in jeep I went to change track on CD, went blank, had no idea how to change it. Since I have been on effexor I've had about 20 jobs, some from bipolar, some from the drug, I can't remember most of them. I have taken over 240 hours in college, everything from Voice, to ROTC, Abnormal Psychology... to Lapidary arts.... some of this due to Bipolar, some due to this drug, Oh, I did get a AAS in Vet Tech stuff, top of my class, have a 3.86 but only when I am manic. Did fail 2 grades in k-12 and dropped out. Sorry, off subject, oh, that is from this med. My memory is gone, short and long, Lose things (my mind) all the time, tremors, fatigue-ish, muscles always tight, can hardly walk for 20 yards without being winded, muscles worn out... I'm 5' 3" and about 125# a year and a half ago, I was in a Capoeria group,(go to youtube if you don't know what it is) I am 42 and was in the most awesome shape ever, now I can't pick things up fine motor skills virtually non existent, gross motor skills the same, can't complete a sentence ( I have never been to good at that, or staying on topic, look over there something shiny) Bla, Bla, Bla! I feel like the short bus is just parked to stay at my house/trailer (now) in RV park. Nice. Not too bad... Have my dogs.(off topic) Okay I now officially loath the evil effexor. It has pretty much wiped my life away, and to think, I, at one time, was the biggest fan of the stuff, but now I don't even try things I loved so much before, I know I don't have the strength mentally, or physically, I think now I have serious blood sugar issues, shall I go on, no, I would rather mumble, trip-n-fall, cry, barely make it, zap, tremor, out of breath, try to reach for, but not be able to pick it up, not know where I am, or how to get there or how to leave there, or if I'm there or just think I am.... to look at that shiny thing... cause it's just a nice shiny thing, don't know how it got there, but don't really care, it's just a nice little shiny thing.

must go for now... must force myself to go take a shower now, three and a half days is much toooo long.

Effexorly Yours,
Jami

I first went on Effexor XR 2 years ago and I did not stick with it b/c it made me feel so weird at first. But my anxiety was so bad I went back to the doctor and promised her I would stay on it long enough to be able to feel the effects. I had the yawning at first. I also took ambien for sleep, so I never had any problem with that. Since it was so long ago, I don't really remember any other effects. I know I felt like crap overall for about 2 weeks. Lots of sweating. But it all subsided. Then one day, it was like someone had flipped a switch. I felt good! It was like a night and day thing. After 2 years, I decided to go off the medication b/c I was no longer in the situation that provoked the anxiety and my new insurance would not pay for the prescription. I certainly could not afford $150 per month. So, I titrated down from 150 mg to 75 mg for 2 weeks and then from 75 to 37.5 for 2 weeks. I'm on my last 8 days or so. The main thing I noticed is sluggishness and also very vivid dreams, especially in the days immediately following a dose drop. Like really long, narrative, vivid dreams. At first, they freaked me out, but I understand where they are coming from now. Also, during this month of titrating down, about every 4 hours my energy just crashes and I have to take a nap. Good thing I am not working right now. Can't wait until its all out of my system completely, but it did help me while I was on it. Things just did not make me nervous. I could really just handle anything that came my way. Hopefully I can handle it all myself now without the meds.

Only success stories on this perticular forum please. There's plenty of negative one's to post on. There are some people that have no choice but to take it like myself. Try to leave some hope that it might work for some people.Ive tried three different meds and they have not been very effective except for zoloft but there was a certain side effect I could live with anymore.
Im supposed to start today. If anyone has some positive stuff please post on here

After about 8 weeks (4 in the withdrawal protocol and 4 without the drug) I am totally "clean" and feeling good about 95% of the time. Digestive system pretty much back to normal and don't need to take naps anymore. I take fish oil and tyrosine, but hard to say if those are making any difference or not. They certainly aren't hurting. I recommend getting a good night's sleep and eating small meals throughout the day. Lots of water. Good luck.

Anyone still on it that has helped out a lot. Anything GOOD that might have come from being on it

I am on another board that talks about withdrawal and I got confused. I thought this board was for success stories getting off Eff XR.

However, I will say I did have a successful experience on Effexor. I had just started a new job and I was having a VERY difficult time adjusting to the new circumstances. I was seeing a therapist to help me through the adjustment period and it was helping some, but not enough. I hated going to work, I was late every day, and I couldn't enjoy my weekends b/c all I could think about was that I would have to go to work on Monday and I dreaded it so. I used to have to take half a xanax to attend big meetings.

I went to my internist and she recommended and prescribed Effexor XR. It took awhile to work and did make me feel kind of weird at first. Then one day it was as if a switch had been switched. Seriously, I can remember the exact moment when I felt things go right.
Suddenly, I could breath easily, take things in stride, think straight, etc. My interactions with my coworkers improved 100000%. I found it much easier to meet people and develop relationships. Although I am no longer with that firm, I still maintain some of those friendships. They are very valuable to me.

I think it took about a month to work its way into my system. For a while I did feel pretty lethargic and I had that yawning thing. But after the first few weeks, I felt really good and very chilled out. Now that I am no longer at that firm, I don't feel I need it anymore (plus my insurance no longer pays for it and it is kinda pricey). I find that I still am anxiety free. I even grew my nails again (I was a bad nail biter). I started at 75MG, but that was not enough. I went to 150MG, but did not want to go any higher than that. I was on 150MG for about 18 months before I went off.

I hope that helps!

ANyone else have good news

Thank you for that post good stuff. ive had the prescription for two weeks and have been too afraid to try it.

was having with it. I soon found myself jumping on the other side of the fence. Here is why.....
I began to realise that not only was I becoming immune to depressing situations, I was also becoming immune to happy ones as well. Effexor made it so that ulimately I had no real personal emotions toward anyone or anything. This affected my personal life with my family, my girlfriend, my friends, and anyone else who came into contact with me. I had no feeling, none that I could call my own anyways, and it was burning the bridges with all of those around me. I tried to quit about a year ago and immediately started feeling withdrawal symptoms. I fell into a deep, horrible depression and attemted suicide. I tried consulting with my family doctor who actually prescribed me a higher dose to help with the depression. I felt hopeless and alone. I did as I was told with taking the higher dose. All it did was make what I was feeling worse. I was watching a TV special on one of those documentary channels when they began talking about how in some prisons they medicate the inmates to a point where the inmates don't even know they are in jail. It struck a cord in me that I had never realised before. It was like that "Creed" song where he is talking about creating his own prison. I decided right then and there that I was finished wi

I've been doing some research on venflaxamine, as I am myself an Effexor XR user, and came across this board. Figured since I was here, I would add my 2 cents worth :)
I have been on SSRI's since having my son, 16 years ago. I have been off them every few years just to see if things have "improved" as far as my depression goes, but no, it is an ongoing saga. I was on citalopram for many years, but found eventually that I needed a switch. I briefly tried Wellbutrin, but it was not effective for me, and we tried the Effexor XR. I was using 150mg for a bit, now on 300mg a day.
I have nothing but great things to say about the drug. I have 6 children, and am studying at university in Biomedical Sciences. It has allowed me to have a decent relationship with my children, to concentrate on my studies, and to enjoy my life, as complicated as it sometimes is! Yes, I sometimes need a nap, but thats more likely a result of my poor diet and lack of exercise (too much studying not enough biking) as anything else, as well as chasing around my twins! And my orgasmic capabilities are not what they were, but I'm quite happy to take a little longer to get there, or not go there at all, than to be perpetually angry or sad. I've had the dreadful side effects from missing a few days capsules when I neglected to get my script filled on time, the predominant one being disproportionate anger and impatience. I've never had trouble having the odd glass of wine, and haven't noticed any weight gain (quite the opposite actually because I am more optimistic and don't need food to make me "feel better").
I say a huge "hoorah" to those who have found a way to counter my chemical imbalances and give me back my life. If being an "addict" is the price I pay, then I gladly do so. I would much rather be hooked on these than the alternatives!

OOops just realised I neglected to say I am 44 yrs old. Also, far from being emotionally shut down I actually feel things in a much more balanced way now. I can smile and laugh at a spilled drink or a grumpy 2 year old, rather than getting angry or shutting down then bursting into tears. I plan outings with the children that I wouldn't do when I was depressed, and don't fret about things. Its very nice to be able to study, or do housework, or play with my children, or meditate, or ride my bike, without having to spend days working myself up to it. :)

Began Effexor XR August 2004 for anxiety. As other posters have indicated, just when you think it is a waste of time, the world changes overnight. Started at 75mg, stayed there for two years. Dropped back to 37.5 since then. The negatives have been significant weight gain and some nausea at times, along with the often described brain shivers if I missed a day. The positives are that I am level and not subject to mood swings or anger as before. The compromise? I have lost some of the "edge" that made business easy, but have lost the same edge that made my family uneasy. After 5 years, I am leaving the Effexor program - voluntarily and with no regrets. It was the right thing for me in its time.

Cindy wrote:

I guess there must be something wrong with me because I have taken this since my husband died in 2000 and have none of the problems mentioned here. I am not as angry as I use to be and am more tolerable of other people. It has been good for me. I have not tried to get off this medication due to a family history of anxiety and depression. I have missed a dose for 1 to 2 days and feel a little dizziness but nothing more.

don't try to stop taking it though.... that's the hard part. and by hard, i'm understating. it's HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!! DON'T TAKE EFFEXOR!!!!!!!!!

I have finally gotten off it. I am completely symptom (withdraw)free. Was on it for 5 yrs 225 mg. In march I started to taper of with less dosage but every day until in June someone told me it takes 6 mnths to get it out of my system. Thats when I decided to go cold turkey, but I was only taking about 15 granules every other day or every 2 days. The zaps where there just not as bad. I told myself that I would and could work throuh them and thats what I did. I have to say it was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life.(41yrs)I did have vomiting, diahrea, swets at nite and during the day. Id have to change 10 times a night.I wish I could have locked myself in my room for weeks and do it but that wasnt an option. Life goes on and I had to keep movin on to make a living.I do daycare so not only did my kids go throuh it with me but all my ever so patient daycare kids. My reason for wanting to stop was that I could no afford it. Simply put, I cant rely on my husbands (employer)benifits, they come and go with not paying the bill. It was costing me almost $400.00 per month without insurance. But...I do believe it helped me in many ways and if I was guaranteed steady insurance coverage I would still be on it or go back on it.I dont like who I am today.My kids hate me and my husband never gets sex!I do hope things get better. And I have gained som weight too.
So that all being said... yes it is possible to get off it but if it benefits you and you can afford it, than there is nothing wrong with a little help.

Hello,
I have been suffering from depression for years which I never got treatment for. It was only after my daughter was born that it got really bad and I just didn't want to live anymore, she's 3 now and I just went to the doc a few months ago, tried cipramil, and have now switched to efexor. Am really anxious and upset after reading a lot of the negative stories. I just want to live my life without crying every day and give my daughter a happy childhood. Has anyone anything positive to say on efexor, really need some hope now.
Thanks

I take Effexor for some months (I order at http://pillrx.info ). It's effective medication for me, which helps to cope with depression.

These drugs always stop working you will build a tolerance to it eventually and need to be changed to a different drug. You have time now to go and read about the issues with these drugs before they happen. effexoractivist.org
paxilprogress.org
ask questions read all you can
there are a lots of books in the library about these drugs prozac backlash ,antidepressant solution, your drug may be you problem,
There are countless sites on the net with infor look up these names dr glenmullen dr healy dr blake tracy.
I do not know why we this generation think that life will be a breeze that we should be happy all the time maybe it is being raised on disney movies and tv. So when we are challenged and break it seems we want to escape and the drugs are right there offerring a way to.
Women have been depressed after giving birth for centuries it was expected other women supported and helped them thru this in years past. Now all the women are working the support networks are gone and we get a pill for every fricken thing under the sun.
This is just one senario there are several issues that we try to drug away grief failure stress get a pill these are not mental illnesses and do not need to be medicated these are life challenges hormonal imbalances that will correct themselves in time situational depression needs time care.
Believe me if you want out or your life bad enough these drugs will do that for you but in the future when you do wake up and get off them you will be so pissed to have missed it all. The best senario is that you will have emotional blunting yes you will not get so upset maybe but you will not feel joy either. There is also withdrawal poop out and personality changes acting strange and not caring about the one you love. That is a lot to take away looking back I wish I had never taken any pill wish I had my life back but once it is gone man it is gone.
one shot
this is it
live it now

There are so many other things you can do to help yourself even with out money you have a computer look up cbt eft join a online support group about your issues. Don't drink eat right get some exercise do some relaxation living is an art to do it well balance is needed.
Read the 'power of now'.
Try anything and everything else first.
Go read what has become of other people that have taken these drugs 10 15 20 years inform yourself about what you are getting into you owe it to yourself.

I suffer phobias,panic attacks,anxiety,depression.
Yes effexor helped for these but the trade off for physical problems was not worth it!And now I am back where I started but I will never put another antidepressant in my body EVER I will find another answer.

I have no problems with effexor 150mg, but don't look forward to the rest of my life taking it. Been on it for 10 years and I'm 48yrs. old. Any
answers for me?

Effexor really helped me when I needed it. However, it is expensive and hard to get off of. I gained about 20 pounds (a lot on my small frame) and can't seem to get rid of it. It took me about a month to ween off, so it really wasn't that bad. You just have to get through it and know that during that month, you just can't do a lot. You need to eat right, get a lot of sleep, get some exercise (no matter how crappy you feel) and then before you know it, you are off. Still trying to lose the weight, but I think that good nutrition and regular exercise are the real answer to a lot of depression and anxiety problems.