Effexor Forums (Page 2)

I had a heart attack on 9-26-16...I was doing decent afterward for several weeks. I decided to go off effexor 150mg. after 10+ years. The reason is because effexor can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and weight gain, all in which I have problems with and especially now I need to control them more. I've been tapering for a month with mild withdrawal, some days better or worse than others. Mostly irritability, vertigo, brain fog, tired all the time, yet I cannot sleep. Headaches come and go and quite a bit of body, muscle, joint aches. What's concerning me at this point is my chest is very sore, left side. I'm wondering if the tapering is causing discomfort? As of 2 days ago I decreased again and am down to 37.5. I thought I'd be feeling a lot worse, maybe tha...

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I have suffering from what my doctor says is a low grade depression. I physically have no engery to get up and do things i love to do. I decided on my own in the past year to try antidepressants. I started off with prozac but i was allergic. I switched to effexor which i am currently one. Starting dose was 37.5, i went up to 75 after a couple months which i didn't find to help more or less. While one the 75mg i started to sweat a lot while at work. I am a custodian, i do everything at my own pace. I am sweating profusely at work, sweat pouring from my face, underboobs, etc. I an overweight female, losing weight has been a difficult thing for me. My doctor brings up my weight everytime i see her. When i told her i was still having problems with Effexor (which is the only thing thats ...

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I normally take Effexor and I was wondering if it was alright to mix it with the muscle relaxer 5658 dan ## Hello, Ashley! How are you? No, these two medications should actually not be mixed! They can both increase serotonin levels and it can be life threatening if your levels go to high. Please do not mix these medications, unless your doctor has specifically said that it's safe for you to do so. Learn more Effexor details here. Learn more Cyclobenzaprine details here. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Good catch. This person could have easily ended up with serotonin storm.

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Hi, I'm a sophomore, International student with a scholarship from my government. I'm 36 years old and male. I have depression, anxiety and ADD/ADHD! I have 4 classes for this semester and I got this morning grade: D+. And I'm using this coming list everyday. Effexor 150mg 2 everyday, Concerta ER 54 mg, 1 a day, and Ritalin 20 mg, 3 a day. But my anxiety become very high! Should I ask my DR. To give me anything for my anxiety, and how can I improve my grade, what's the problem? I do not want to lose my scholarship, please help me what should I do? I go to a counselor 2 times a month, and I go to the learning center in my college everyday, also I have extra time 50% in my test. Thank you for your time of reading my problem and Thank you for your help :) ## I'm a littl...

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Will effexor xr 150 mg show on a drug screening? ## In theory it shouldn't, because it contains the active ingredient Venlafaxine, which is an SNRI antidepressant and is not something that is tested for on a drug screen. However, on some of the cheaper, less precise tests, it has been known to cause a false positive for PCP. Are there any other questions? ## can effexor give me a false positive for pcp,i failed a drug test at work for pcp only drug i have ever taken is effexor for the past 5yrs. ## Can venlafaxine er 3.7.5 mg medication give me a hot u.a ## Just had a drug test my dr gave me and I do not do drugs. I only take what he gives me (Effexor). It's hard to believe that I've been seeing him for almost 20 years and he treats me like I am a druggie. Does he not know w...

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I have been on venlafaxine (Effexor XR 75 mg) for a 15 years. I have coronary angiogram procedure next week. I'm worried about the risks as I have read on the internet of the mortality rates after the procedure due to use of this particular antidepressant. Does anyone knows or has any statistics or advice?

My 21 year old son is on Effexor xr, 75 mg's per day. He has been on this drug for almost 9 months. He has gained 20 pounds or so, he is not motivated at all about anything. He can't work. He is not suicidal, but it is not helping him. His girlfriend is ready to leave him. I am at a loss. He has what seems to be brain zaps from what I have read. He calls it electricity jolts. Please send me some information so that I can figure out what to do to help him. He will not do anything about it . He never sleeps at night. He sleeps all day long. He takes the medicine at bedtime. Thank you ## Hello, As a patient with depression, I have taken Effexor on many occasions. I never had a problem with Effexor increasing my appetite or weight. But it did stop working after a few months. Your so...

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I'm on effexor 15mg want to take champix to quit smoking is this ok ## I won't to stop smoking and try champix but I'm taking 75mg Effexor will it help me ## No, you should not take both, unless your doctor feels that it is safe for you to do so. The NIH warns that combining them could result in someone developing a dangerous condition known as Serotonin Syndrome, which can has the potential to be fatal. Have either of you consulted your doctors?

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Is the efficacy in dosing comparable or the same?? My rheumatologist titrated me off Effexor XR 150mg which I was taking to assist in controlling my Fibromyalgia pain & put me on Wellbutrin SR 150mg. I am 3 weeks taking Bupropion & I have been crying & depressed like never in my life the past 3 days & having suicidal thoughts. I just thought I was experiencing major depression due to a few recent events but THEN it just dawned on me I switched these medications recently and I feel this CHANGE is what is affecting my mental state. What do I do???? I can't take the crying & feeling this way much longer. It is Sunday & I know the first advice is going to be CALL MY DOCTOR. What is the second suggestion, increase the Bupropion? Take an Effexor XR?? I already took...

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Is it safe to take Effexor 37.5mg with Temazepam 30mg & Norco 10mg? Any interactions? ## Taking them together my increase the risk of experiencing dizziness, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and confusion, according to FDA reports. Such symptoms may be more severe in the elderly. It could also cause depression of the central nervous system. Have they all been prescribed by one doctor for the patient in question? ## Thank you for answering! Yes, my primary doctor prescribed Norco and just yesterday started Effexor. Except for Temazepam. I have a few* I have severe chronic abdominal pain caused mostly from adhesions from several surgeries and osteoarthritis. Waiting to have a "single balloon enteroscopy " for a recent "small mass" found near my bile duct. Doctors ...

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I've been on Effexor for about three weeks after a change over from Wellbutrin. I am taking 75 mgs twice a day. I am feeling so much better, but over a week ago I started spotting. This lasted for a few days and stopped. Today I started again. I read that Effexor can mess with hormones. I have been in menopause for a couple of years. Has anyone else had this problem? And if so, did you continue to take the Effexor and did this 'side effect' eventually go away. I will be contacting my doctor this week, but I wanted to know if anyone else has gone through this. ## Anytime you experience vaginal bleeding past menopause, you need to have it checked out by your doctor immediately, because there is a chance that you may have a condition that requires medical treatment. Yes, some a...

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Let me begin by stating that if I had fully understood how horrible it would be to stop taking the various SSRI, SNRI and benzodiazepines that I have been prescribed over the years, I don't think I would have started taking them in the first place, or perhaps I would have done things differently. I certainly knew there were risks involved, however, I avoided doing a ton of internet research, as this can cause unnecessary doubt and instead, I put my trust in my healthcare providers. It seems that the small percentage of people who do not experience withdrawal from these drugs (Effexor, Clonazepam, Cymbalta) gives some doctors enough confidence to put patients on these medications without fully explaining the probable consequences. Sadly though, when you are someone who lacks emotiona...

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I have a history of low grade chronic depression since my teen years. I am now 58. In 2001, I was prescribed Effexor xr. It has worked great!!! In 2011, my sodium levels started falling and have reached serious levels now. My question is, after all these years, could Effexor be the problem, even though the first 10 years I was on it I never had problems with sodium??? ## Yes, it is possible, because our bodies do change with time, so the way we react to medications may also change and the FDA does list hyponatremia as being a possible side effect of this medication. However, there are also other issues that could cause it, as well, such as dehydration, extreme dieting, and other medications. Do you take anything else? Does your doctor think it is due to this medication? What dosage are ...

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Ive been on Methadone maintenance (150 mgs) for 3 yrs now, and started taking Wellbutrin about 1 yr ago. Everything had been going great for awhile, but then the Wellbutrin seemed to stop working as well. So last week my Dr. put me on Effexor 75mg once a day. As soon as i started taking it I started feeling REALLY WEIRD. My depression seems to be better, but the side effects are freaking me out! Starting out it would give me energy, then after a while I become very lethargic; then came the restless leg when i got into bed (cant stand!). + Most of all is the sweating! I have a problem with sweating as it is (the Methadone makes it worse on its own), and now the Effexor is giving me MAJOR COLD SWEATS throughout the day! I figured it might be me withdrawing from the Wellbutrin, so I starte...

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Does anyone else awaken from their sleep almost in zombie mode while on Effexor? It usually takes me a good 5 minutes to completely collect my thoughts. Lol ## Yes, that can be a normal side effect of most antidepressants, according to FDA reports. They can cause REM onset latency, which means it takes longer to enter the deep dreaming REM phase of slumber and you spend a shorter amount of time in it than usual. This can cause disrupted sleep, odd/unusual dreams, and difficulty awakening. How long have you been taking it? I've found that things usually improve after a few weeks of taking them.

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Unfortunately I was talked into taking Effexor for apparently being depressed despite counsellors repeatedly telling me I was simply sad with how my life had not gone to plan. I needed to talk, not take pills; anyway a story for another time. I wanted to stop taking Effexor 6 months ago and was on 225mg. I self medicated and cut back to 150mg then 75mg in 2 months with no side effects. I then tried cold turkey and totally regretted it. I did the right thing and visited my GP and he suggested dropping back to the weakest strength which i think was 35mg? I did 2 full weeks then every 2nd day. I could not get past the 2nd day without the side effects. I eventually did get there after 6 long months. The lesson for me out of this is as much as the people around me loved me they were wrong in...

Hi all - I have been taking Effexor for well over a decade. In June, I reduced my dosage from 225mg/day to 150mg/day which I continued until the end of Feb this year. For the last 10 days I have been taking 75mg/day instead and I have had some bad side effects. Will this pass while my body adjusts to the new dose? If so, how long will I feel crappy for? Was just wondering if anyone had tried a similar reduction and had any expereince to share?? Many thanks ## Yes, things should improve, once your body adjusts to the new dosage, but you may experience other withdrawal effects, such as rebound depression, anxiety, pain, diarrhea, and body aches, according to NIH reports. Why are you tapering so rapidly? Has your doctor told you to do it this fast? Are you on any other medications? ## Hi V...

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My doctor says these meds are part of the same family therefore I can easily transition from the 75mg dose of Zoloft to 75mg on Effexor. What difference should I be noticing? Or any other useful info I can get? ## They are NOT THE SAME FAMILY. Your Dr. is either ignorant or a liar. Zoloft is an SSRI, Effexor is an SNRI. ## Jeff is correct! You may experience some withdrawal symptoms that could include rebound depression, anxiety, body aches/pain and diarrhea, when you make the switch. You may also experience side effects from the new medication that could include nausea, dizziness, headache and dry mouth, as reported by the FDA. You may be miserable for a couple of weeks, but things should settle down, once your body adjusts. Is there anything else I can help with? ## it varies from per...

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I am considering taking champix to quit smoking and need to know if there are any drug interactions with effexor and micardis plus ## is it okay to take tylenol#3 while taking champix ## Did anyone one adache sfhave severe muscle aches headache when comming off effecof

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Hi, this is my second time trying Effexor. I was on it for several years a while ago, but went off as I got to the highest dose and it still stopped working after a while. Since then I've tried several other drugs to very little improvement, as well as ECT and rTMS, neither worked. Of course I've tried counselling and CBT, and mindfulness as well, but my brain is not even in a place where I can begin to implement those things. So, I believe that the Effexor is beginning to possibly help. I haven't had a major low in a few days, I'm actually able to push myself a little to do some stuff. I even tidied up a bit! First time I've really been able to do that in 6 months. Major problem though... most of the side effects I'm getting are deal-with-able, dry mouth, etc. B...

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