Social Anxiety Support

princessbellatrix · 04-05-2012, 04:34 AM

Just started taking effexor,the doctor said these were less likely to stop my epilepsy meds from working.

10PercentExtra · 04-08-2012, 11:04 PM

My pdoc told me that an easy way to come off of Effexor is to taper down a bit and then one day take a single prozac and stop the effexor completely.

I guess since prozac stays in your system a couple of weeks, it doesn't give you the abrupt serotonin reuptake withdrawal

Anyone try this? Sounds a little sketchy, but I do trust my doc. He hasn't killed me, yet

Shannoneilleen · 05-06-2012, 07:25 AM

I've been taken ofd it, and got really bad effects on my point... Now I'm down to 37.5mg... and Iwas getting headspins and nausea for two days or so... but yeahh... to drop that dramatically so quickly would be tough...

ginanz · 05-13-2012, 04:14 AM

I have been on effexor for about a month now and I have to say I feel so much better. I no longer am afraid of being in public and don't feel anxious 24/7. Another thing is a have a lot more energy now instead of feeling drained all the time.

Nibbler · 05-13-2012, 05:09 PM

Hard to pin point what the side effects are now and whats not as been taking this for over 18 months so forgot how i feel without it. I have tired two or three time to go up to 225mg but i get to wayyyyyy too hot and sweaty sometime even feel sick and get headaches so drop back down to 150mg which is fine just i feel it doesn't work as well

would defiantly say it has (with a combination of other things) helped my anxiety more so then my depression thou my mood has slightly improved...

foxy · 05-14-2012, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginanz

I have been on effexor for about a month now and I have to say I feel so much better. I no longer am afraid of being in public and don't feel anxious 24/7. Another thing is a have a lot more energy now instead of feeling drained all the time.

IF your getting your energy back that is do to depression lifting you seemed to have found the right med, just dont give up when feeling better or you will crash , cut down along way down the road if you can yes, but stop an withdrawl is bad, but why withdraw from a med thats working. A LOT DO I DONT GET IT.

Arguablytheperfectman · 05-23-2012, 05:10 PM

This was the worst drug i have tried. It made me sleep 15hrs a day and not care about anything anymore. It is also a notorious drug when it comes to quitting it, many people have to stay on it because they cant cope with the withdraw effects. But once i quit this med, i felt ALOT better and less depressed. I was on 225mg for 4 months. Bottomline, for me not helpful with depression and anxiety.

foxy · 05-24-2012, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arguablytheperfectman

This was the worst drug i have tried. It made me sleep 15hrs a day and not care about anything anymore. It is also a notorious drug when it comes to quitting it, many people have to stay on it because they cant cope with the withdraw effects. But once i quit this med, i felt ALOT better and less depressed. I was on 225mg for 4 months. Bottomline, for me not helpful with depression and anxiety.

225mg after 16 weeks,an you bail. if you had gone to that level , it little longer is needed to benefit, in short you quit to soon

ginanz · 06-11-2012, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginanz

I have been on effexor for about a month now and I have to say I feel so much better. I no longer am afraid of being in public and don't feel anxious 24/7. Another thing is a have a lot more energy now instead of feeling drained all the time.

Nearly a month on this this post...

This has been an amazing medication for me, my anxiety is almost gone.

I have more energy and I can also feel happy.

Would highly recommend this medication.

Alchje · 06-11-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginanz

Nearly a month on this this post...

This has been an amazing medication for me, my anxiety is almost gone.

I have more energy and I can also feel happy.

Would highly recommend this medication.

Ginanz, what dose are you on?

Arisa1536 · 06-12-2012, 12:25 AM

I am up to 450mg since giving birth, dealing with post partum blues, and they do help.
they tend to be the only antidepressant that has worked in any form

foxy · 06-12-2012, 02:00 AM

im mad at my buddy who lives next to me, he came out mental zoo after 5 weeks with a breakdown from depression, they started him on a trail an EFFEXOR worked but he went through the crap start up side effects, he told the shriks the 75mg was cool , i told him after such a breakdown 75m is to small a dose move up to at least 150 mg i think 225mg for him would be right , but no he stayed on 75mg an just had a megga crash, litrally he landed in my garden vire a 8 foot fence in just his pants hamered on booze. The side effects had lifted from the 75mg an he thought he was cured , but in reallity he had not got of the bass line . Now he is in a bad way an today he visits the hospital for a review.

Toe Knee · 06-16-2012, 01:00 AM

Social Anxiety Background
I've had social anxiety to some degree since early childhood. It's been up and down through the years, currently seeking treatment again.

Other Treatments
Celexa, Paxil, Wellbutrin, klonopin, ativan, currently trying therapy and hopefully a medication soon.

Treatment Experience
I had an amazing experience with celexa in high school that I've been chasing ever since stopping it. Effexor was the only medication that got me close.

I was super motivated again, happy, really confident. I didn't gain the conversation and interpersonal skills that I had on celexa, but I really felt good. Overall it worked, but it was missing that something extra that I needed, whatever that is.

Also I did experience the discontinuation syndrome after stopping effexor, but they weren't that bad for me. Everytime I moved my eyes to the far left or right I would get a wobbley feeling thing going on and a mild shock sensation. It really wasn't that bad for me, in fact it was kind of amusing. The positive effects seemed to last for a few months after I stopped and oddly enough I had an extremely easy time quitting smoking while in the discontinuation state.

blue the puppy · 06-22-2012, 06:29 AM

i had a horrible experience with effexor. gave me bad stomachaches, nausea, and a zombie-like feeling. the withdrawal (yes, i tapered it down very slowly) was hellish.

guitargirl · 06-22-2012, 09:40 AM

Effexor was absolute hell for me. On it, I felt completely numb. Which I guess is better than feeling the crazy lows, but I felt like a zombie. Then coming off it was even worse. I had severe headaches, "brain shakes", nausea, and restless nights. I'm glad to hear that like me, you're making a recovery off of this medication. I wish you the best

Joyfultides · 06-30-2012, 03:39 PM

Hi, I have just signed on to this forum

My history is a major depressive episode in April, 2012, resulting in an admission to the hospital. I was placed on Celexa until I saw a therapist and psychiatrist. The two weeks of Celexa did not help my depression which I believe is situational, due to a recent break up of an 8 year relationship, my mother and father passing within 8 months of each other, and trying to help my adult son who has had addictions and multiple rehab admissions as well as a stint in jail for such.

The psychiatrist put me on 50 of prestique, but it did nothing for my anxiety.

After a month, she put me on 37.5 mgs of Effexor generic along with .5 mg of Klonopin as needed twice a day.

After another couple of weeks, I felt no better. My anxiety was through the roof. I was nervous to take Klonopin due to what I have read about it and it's addictive properties.

The psychiatrist then upped the Effexor generic to 75mg saying it would help more with my anxiety, and keep me from getting hooked on the Klonopin although I would rarely use it.

Well nothing is changed, and my anxiety was still high, and I began having many side effects from the zeffexor generic.

Two days ago, I stopped the antidepressant, and still have many symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, high anxiety, and horrible nightmares.

My question is, after just one month on this Effexor generic, could I be in withdrawal from stopping cold turkey? I have no faith in the doctor at this point and just want to get off all meds and deal with my depression and anxiety on my own.

Amy advice is appreciated from personal experiences.

Thanks

Taija · 07-15-2012, 03:56 PM

Effexor was the last antidepressant I used before I quit the medications.

It helped me more than any of the SSRIs I had tried, but many of the same side effects were present; increased appetite, dizziness and occasional nausea.

And like all antidepressants, it made me quite apathetic and all feelings, good and bad, were diminished. I think the meds are good when you're having trouble with even the daily tasks in your life, because they will help you get through your day, but at least I found it hard to actually use Effexor to deal with my anxiety in any meaningful way.

evilgrinners · 08-09-2012, 06:16 AM

Is it possible to feel effects of Effexor within a couple of hours or is my mind playing tricks on me? Shouldn't it be more like 3-5 weeks?

evilgrinners · 08-10-2012, 05:48 AM

The nausea sucks!!

I'm ramping up my doses right now... I really hope it subsides soon!

llodell88 · 09-12-2012, 05:12 AM

After 11 days, 75 mg twice daily of Effexor (150mg total), so far I think this is really helping with social anxiety, although I am also taking Risperdal/Respiridone 1mg, beginning use at the same time (which from research on this forum Risperdal seems to generally be thought to bad for SA). Although I'm taking Risperol I don't believe I have enough criteria to fit borderline/bipolar diagnosis and I'm certainly not schizophrenic(although do have a grandfather w/ it) which I believe is the main use of these. I have been a cutter though. I'm female and I've always been very quiet, keeping to myself even at 3-4 years old. My personality seems to be less "passive" now, and my mother made a comment that I'm speaking up for myself more. I feel more talkative with family now and don't have the same mental mind-blanking thing when I do feel a little anxious around others or strangers. Also can concentrate better on what people are saying when I feel nervous. Hope this helps. Ah, maybe in a way it's helping me function better with the anxiety? Idk but i like it.

06-12-2012, 12:25 AM	#171 (permalink)
Arisa1536 Status: New mum to summer rose Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Surrey UK with Hubby for christmas Gender: Female Posts: 1,875	I am up to 450mg since giving birth, dealing with post partum blues, and they do help. they tend to be the only antidepressant that has worked in any form __________________ "Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not? " RFK quoting George Bernard Shaw Do you think we choose the times into which we are born? Or do we fit the times we are born into?-Abraham Lincoln

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Effexor- Best SSRI/SNRI?	tooker	Medication	43	08-29-2012 05:29 AM
Venlafaxine (effexor) for mild anxiety	dejay72	Medication	9	12-18-2011 09:31 AM
Agomelatine + Venlafaxine ?	minimind	Medication	1	11-23-2009 07:30 PM
Ratio-Venlafaxine - when to take and with how much food?	louise1	Medication	3	08-30-2009 02:28 PM
Mixing Effexor(SNRI) with Paxil(SSRI)?	Biron21	Medication	8	06-21-2007 05:45 AM

04-05-2012, 04:34 AM	#161 (permalink)
princessbellatrix Status: SAS Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: liverpool uk Gender: Female Age: 28 Posts: 14	Just started taking effexor,the doctor said these were less likely to stop my epilepsy meds from working.

04-08-2012, 11:04 PM	#162 (permalink)
10PercentExtra Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 49	My pdoc told me that an easy way to come off of Effexor is to taper down a bit and then one day take a single prozac and stop the effexor completely. I guess since prozac stays in your system a couple of weeks, it doesn't give you the abrupt serotonin reuptake withdrawal Anyone try this? Sounds a little sketchy, but I do trust my doc. He hasn't killed me, yet

05-06-2012, 07:25 AM	#163 (permalink)
Shannoneilleen Status: Shanny Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Gender: Female Posts: 12	I've been taken ofd it, and got really bad effects on my point... Now I'm down to 37.5mg... and Iwas getting headspins and nausea for two days or so... but yeahh... to drop that dramatically so quickly would be tough...

05-13-2012, 04:14 AM	#164 (permalink)
ginanz Status: SAS Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Gender: Female Age: 27 Posts: 47	I have been on effexor for about a month now and I have to say I feel so much better. I no longer am afraid of being in public and don't feel anxious 24/7. Another thing is a have a lot more energy now instead of feeling drained all the time.

05-13-2012, 05:09 PM	#165 (permalink)
Nibbler Status: >.< Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: England Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 345	Hard to pin point what the side effects are now and whats not as been taking this for over 18 months so forgot how i feel without it. I have tired two or three time to go up to 225mg but i get to wayyyyyy too hot and sweaty sometime even feel sick and get headaches so drop back down to 150mg which is fine just i feel it doesn't work as well would defiantly say it has (with a combination of other things) helped my anxiety more so then my depression thou my mood has slightly improved...

05-23-2012, 05:10 PM	#167 (permalink)
Arguablytheperfectman Status: Destroy ALL the MAO! Join Date: May 2012 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 28	This was the worst drug i have tried. It made me sleep 15hrs a day and not care about anything anymore. It is also a notorious drug when it comes to quitting it, many people have to stay on it because they cant cope with the withdraw effects. But once i quit this med, i felt ALOT better and less depressed. I was on 225mg for 4 months. Bottomline, for me not helpful with depression and anxiety.

06-12-2012, 02:00 AM	#172 (permalink)
foxy Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: england Gender: Male Posts: 795	im mad at my buddy who lives next to me, he came out mental zoo after 5 weeks with a breakdown from depression, they started him on a trail an EFFEXOR worked but he went through the crap start up side effects, he told the shriks the 75mg was cool , i told him after such a breakdown 75m is to small a dose move up to at least 150 mg i think 225mg for him would be right , but no he stayed on 75mg an just had a megga crash, litrally he landed in my garden vire a 8 foot fence in just his pants hamered on booze. The side effects had lifted from the 75mg an he thought he was cured , but in reallity he had not got of the bass line . Now he is in a bad way an today he visits the hospital for a review.

06-16-2012, 01:00 AM	#173 (permalink)
Toe Knee Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 13	Social Anxiety Background I've had social anxiety to some degree since early childhood. It's been up and down through the years, currently seeking treatment again. Other Treatments Celexa, Paxil, Wellbutrin, klonopin, ativan, currently trying therapy and hopefully a medication soon. Treatment Experience I had an amazing experience with celexa in high school that I've been chasing ever since stopping it. Effexor was the only medication that got me close. I was super motivated again, happy, really confident. I didn't gain the conversation and interpersonal skills that I had on celexa, but I really felt good. Overall it worked, but it was missing that something extra that I needed, whatever that is. Also I did experience the discontinuation syndrome after stopping effexor, but they weren't that bad for me. Everytime I moved my eyes to the far left or right I would get a wobbley feeling thing going on and a mild shock sensation. It really wasn't that bad for me, in fact it was kind of amusing. The positive effects seemed to last for a few months after I stopped and oddly enough I had an extremely easy time quitting smoking while in the discontinuation state.

06-22-2012, 06:29 AM	#174 (permalink)
blue the puppy Status: madly in love Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: the DMV, USA Gender: Female Age: 29 Posts: 2,433	i had a horrible experience with effexor. gave me bad stomachaches, nausea, and a zombie-like feeling. the withdrawal (yes, i tapered it down very slowly) was hellish.

06-22-2012, 09:40 AM	#175 (permalink)
guitargirl Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 103	Effexor was absolute hell for me. On it, I felt completely numb. Which I guess is better than feeling the crazy lows, but I felt like a zombie. Then coming off it was even worse. I had severe headaches, "brain shakes", nausea, and restless nights. I'm glad to hear that like me, you're making a recovery off of this medication. I wish you the best

06-30-2012, 03:39 PM	#176 (permalink)
Joyfultides Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 1	Hi, I have just signed on to this forum My history is a major depressive episode in April, 2012, resulting in an admission to the hospital. I was placed on Celexa until I saw a therapist and psychiatrist. The two weeks of Celexa did not help my depression which I believe is situational, due to a recent break up of an 8 year relationship, my mother and father passing within 8 months of each other, and trying to help my adult son who has had addictions and multiple rehab admissions as well as a stint in jail for such. The psychiatrist put me on 50 of prestique, but it did nothing for my anxiety. After a month, she put me on 37.5 mgs of Effexor generic along with .5 mg of Klonopin as needed twice a day. After another couple of weeks, I felt no better. My anxiety was through the roof. I was nervous to take Klonopin due to what I have read about it and it's addictive properties. The psychiatrist then upped the Effexor generic to 75mg saying it would help more with my anxiety, and keep me from getting hooked on the Klonopin although I would rarely use it. Well nothing is changed, and my anxiety was still high, and I began having many side effects from the zeffexor generic. Two days ago, I stopped the antidepressant, and still have many symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, high anxiety, and horrible nightmares. My question is, after just one month on this Effexor generic, could I be in withdrawal from stopping cold turkey? I have no faith in the doctor at this point and just want to get off all meds and deal with my depression and anxiety on my own. Amy advice is appreciated from personal experiences. Thanks

07-15-2012, 03:56 PM	#177 (permalink)
Taija Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Finland Gender: Female Age: 20 Posts: 422	Effexor was the last antidepressant I used before I quit the medications. It helped me more than any of the SSRIs I had tried, but many of the same side effects were present; increased appetite, dizziness and occasional nausea. And like all antidepressants, it made me quite apathetic and all feelings, good and bad, were diminished. I think the meds are good when you're having trouble with even the daily tasks in your life, because they will help you get through your day, but at least I found it hard to actually use Effexor to deal with my anxiety in any meaningful way.

08-09-2012, 06:16 AM	#178 (permalink)
evilgrinners Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4	Is it possible to feel effects of Effexor within a couple of hours or is my mind playing tricks on me? Shouldn't it be more like 3-5 weeks?

08-10-2012, 05:48 AM	#179 (permalink)
evilgrinners Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4	The nausea sucks!! I'm ramping up my doses right now... I really hope it subsides soon!

09-12-2012, 05:12 AM	#180 (permalink)
llodell88 Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: southern illinois Gender: Female Age: 24 Posts: 170	After 11 days, 75 mg twice daily of Effexor (150mg total), so far I think this is really helping with social anxiety, although I am also taking Risperdal/Respiridone 1mg, beginning use at the same time (which from research on this forum Risperdal seems to generally be thought to bad for SA). Although I'm taking Risperol I don't believe I have enough criteria to fit borderline/bipolar diagnosis and I'm certainly not schizophrenic(although do have a grandfather w/ it) which I believe is the main use of these. I have been a cutter though. I'm female and I've always been very quiet, keeping to myself even at 3-4 years old. My personality seems to be less "passive" now, and my mother made a comment that I'm speaking up for myself more. I feel more talkative with family now and don't have the same mental mind-blanking thing when I do feel a little anxious around others or strangers. Also can concentrate better on what people are saying when I feel nervous. Hope this helps. Ah, maybe in a way it's helping me function better with the anxiety? Idk but i like it.