has anyone tried the anti-depressant effexor ?

opinion ?????

I had a friend who was on it. He was nuttier than a fruit cake. He tried to get off of it and went to the hospital.
I found a huge bottle of it with his name on it in my house. (How it got here I do not know). I threw it away.

smile

I've been trying to remember...which probably isn't much help to you...I started on effexor at the beginning of my last bout of depression late 2001, but had so much trouble with side effects (can't remember what they were now...sorry), that I was switched (after a horrible nightmarish detox from effexor) to Wellbutrin SR in early Spring 2002. Wellbutrin was much better for me, although the low libido became a problem (more so for hubby than for me) as well as severe nightmares, so I came off that one too about a year ago.

(Unfortunately, a year later, my libido is still non-existent, so that may not have been Wellbutrin's fault!)

Some of the women had a lot of problems with it and especially when they tried to go off of it.

There is another one called, Celexar, I think. I'll check. They've had very good luck with it.

I was close. It's Celexa. Hope this helps

I know a young person who was on it, has been weaned, and did well.

Another one is Zoloft. I think the key is beginning with a small dose and being in therapy at the same time to discuss the sad feelings. Just my two cents.

I once took Serzone. You don't hear of it much, but it was a miracle drug for me at the time. It began working within a few days. I had no side effects. I was also in therapy. I've said this before, but I had post traumatic stress syndrome caused by a car accident and injury.

Lion, my thoughts and prayers are with the person who may need it.

My doctor put me on Effexor when I was first diagnosed with Bipolar/Depression. It worked for awhile, but it loses effectiveness after a period of time. It also causes weight gain.

Currently, I'm on a combination of Cymbalta and Welbutrin. This is a good combination for me and I don't have any noticable side effects. Of course, I do have memory issues and trouble with recall, but that could be getting older and have nothing to do with the meds.

thanks ladies ---

i finally called my medical doctor because i was getting dizzy and shortness of breath (without exertion) among other stuff -- i wanted to rule out physical problems before i thought mental

she thought i was having anxiety attacks and advised i see a psychiatrist (due to her lack of experience with my personality disorder) -- WELLLLL our local mental health center could evaluate me if i wanted to wait 4 hrs but it would take 4-6 weeks to see the doctor -- they advised since i had insurance to see a private doctor

i called everyone in the book and it was either, we're not taking new patients or we dont bill insurance -- so my medical doctor started me on effexor (in the meantime one doctor returned a message i had left and i have an appointment the last week in July)

i started it today and we'll see what happens -- i had so many bad experiences with the anti-psychotics they kept trying on my son that i'll be looking closely for side effects --- but i will give it an honest try too

i appreciate your thoughts ladies !!!!

I urge anyone who is considering taking effexor to seriously rethink it. Get a second, third and fourth opinion!!! It may help some people, though I have never heard any success stories. I was on it and I am now in the withdrawal period. The list of side effects that are provided to doctors is long, and I assure you, incomplete. I gained 20 lbs in less than 6 months even though weight loss is a side effect.
Even worse, I am not suffering from extreme mental illness. I was diagnosed with slight to moderate depression and PTSD, yet on this drug I attempted suicide---Even in my worst depression, I never even thought about suicide. This drug causes what it is meant to treat!!!! Find something else.

I was on effexor and it was pure hell to get off of it. It had stopped working and they had to take me off of that to put me on a different med. I'm glad I'm off of it, but I'm on prozac and I don't know what the long term effects are. I know I feel better then a year ago, but I'm going into the bad time of year.

We'll see, I'm hanging in there trying not to get depressed or go into a tailspin when some little thing happens.