Social Anxiety Support

bookgirl · 11-05-2008, 09:04 AM

Lets see, over the past 5 years I have tried Paxil, Zoloft, and now Celexa. None of these have really worked, but I recently came across a drug which is a SNRI (the drugs above are SSRI's) called Effexor XR. I have not really researched it yet, but I was just wondering if anyone here has taken it? If so, what was/is your experience with it? Please list any side effects, the way it made you feel, if it relieved any or all symptoms of SAD.

Thanks so much

~Bookgirl

GordonGecko · 11-05-2008, 01:34 PM

I've been on it a couple of months, my psychiatrist just increased the dose to 225mg which is the maximum usual dose. Didn't have many side effects apart from when I ran out and missed a couple of days, definitely remember to take it each day

I don't think it's helped much with my SA but everyone's experiences with these things are different so it might work for you

shyguy246 · 11-05-2008, 01:57 PM

When I first started taking it, I didn't really notice anything different except my friends and family did. They said I was a little more outgoing, I can even remember getting excited about going to a party. But then my doctor didn't increase the dosage, the effects wore off, I got depressed and I stopped taking it. If you start taking it, DO NOT go off it without talking to your doctor. The withdrawal symptoms, I wouldn't wish on anybody. While on Effexor, I had a lot of side effects, mostly these things called "brain zaps" where it felt like an electric current going through my brain. That mostly happened if I turned my head suddenly or moved my eyes too much. Also, the back of my neck felt really tense, and there were some, uh, sexual side effects, where sex(even masturbation) became a chore and didn't feel good anymore. I'm a guy so I'm not sure how it would affect females, but yeah, that's my experience with Effexor.

dss · 11-05-2008, 02:47 PM

If 3 other SSRI's didn't help you I don't really know if trying a SNRI is going to be much different. If you would like to try a new medication then maybe go with something different like an MAOI/RIMA , Benzo or something else (I don't have enough experiences to tell you what but there are plenty of good posts that could help you).

I personally was on Effexor XR for a couple years and while it did slightly help me after coming off I wish I would have done so earlier and tried other options.

Foh_Teej · 11-05-2008, 03:43 PM

Effexor isnt well regarded here on SAS. I wont tell you to avoid it but i will urge you to actually do research on here and elsewhere before you decide to take it. There are countless posts regarding the side effects and epic withdrawal on here to read.

Noca · 11-06-2008, 09:14 AM

effexor has legendary withdrawals, be warned

bookgirl · 11-08-2008, 06:16 PM

Hey guys,

All of your experiences and knowledge of Effexor has really made me change my mind about trying it. Mostly, the whithdrawl warnings and the brain zaps really did the trick for me!! I think I will definately NOT be taking it!!!

~Bookgirl

KILL__JOY · 11-08-2008, 06:46 PM

All I know is that it made me extremely ill the first day i took it and never took it again. Nobody seems to like that stuff.

Drew · 11-09-2008, 10:07 AM

I knew about the withdrawal and side effect possibilities, but tried it anyway. It's the only anti-depressant that has been effective for me and hasn't had major side effects. While it's always important to consider the side effects with your doctor, everybody reacts differently to medication. SSRIs were not kind to me in terms of side effects, but Effexor has worked great.

KurtG85 · 11-09-2008, 10:28 PM

Effexor completely, and I do mean completely, turned my brother's life around and he is doing incredibly well, is happy and extremely productive now (for 14 years) in part due to the help he gets from effexor. It is an absolute life saving, incredible miracle drug for many people.

Let me give you a bit of advice that may save your life. Never, ever, decide to not even give a med a chance at helping you based on the negative experiences of others. You will never have the slightest amount of useful perspective on how helpful or worthless a med will be for you *until you try it*. I have even talked to bipolars who's moods were balanced by SSRI/SNRIs. Every single SSRI and SNRI will most likely have noticeably different effects on you and it is foolish to skip any one unless you would just like to put it off for a later time. In fact, I think I am going to make this paragraph my sig because I am getting pretty tired of having to repeat it for all the people in the same situation.

This is coming from 10 years of psychotropic med experience with nearly every med prescribed. I was exactly like you at first in terms of reading peoples experiences in order to decide what I thought would work for me but I eventually realized: the only way you will know if a med will help you or not is if you try it for yourself and do not let others experiences influence the perception of your own. Amazingly, I have even seen this in the reverse sense where a person hears from many others that a med WILL work for them, turns our it doesn't, and they refuse to come off it even though it is just making them feel like crap. Others experiences mean little to nothing in this situation unfortunately and you must put your trust in yourself.

11-05-2008, 09:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
bookgirl Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA - N.C. Posts: 34	Effexor XR? Lets see, over the past 5 years I have tried Paxil, Zoloft, and now Celexa. None of these have really worked, but I recently came across a drug which is a SNRI (the drugs above are SSRI's) called Effexor XR. I have not really researched it yet, but I was just wondering if anyone here has taken it? If so, what was/is your experience with it? Please list any side effects, the way it made you feel, if it relieved any or all symptoms of SAD. Thanks so much ~Bookgirl

11-05-2008, 01:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
GordonGecko Status: Surplus to requirements Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Notts/Lincoln, England Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 806	I've been on it a couple of months, my psychiatrist just increased the dose to 225mg which is the maximum usual dose. Didn't have many side effects apart from when I ran out and missed a couple of days, definitely remember to take it each day I don't think it's helped much with my SA but everyone's experiences with these things are different so it might work for you __________________ Come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr and shine!

11-08-2008, 06:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
bookgirl Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: USA - N.C. Posts: 34	Helpful Info Hey guys, All of your experiences and knowledge of Effexor has really made me change my mind about trying it. Mostly, the whithdrawl warnings and the brain zaps really did the trick for me!! I think I will definately NOT be taking it!!! ~Bookgirl

11-08-2008, 06:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
KILL__JOY Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: USA-MO Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 218	All I know is that it made me extremely ill the first day i took it and never took it again. Nobody seems to like that stuff. __________________ Watch out for those *** bats man.

11-05-2008, 01:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
shyguy246 Status: Permanently Banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In my head Gender: Male Posts: 539	When I first started taking it, I didn't really notice anything different except my friends and family did. They said I was a little more outgoing, I can even remember getting excited about going to a party. But then my doctor didn't increase the dosage, the effects wore off, I got depressed and I stopped taking it. If you start taking it, DO NOT go off it without talking to your doctor. The withdrawal symptoms, I wouldn't wish on anybody. While on Effexor, I had a lot of side effects, mostly these things called "brain zaps" where it felt like an electric current going through my brain. That mostly happened if I turned my head suddenly or moved my eyes too much. Also, the back of my neck felt really tense, and there were some, uh, sexual side effects, where sex(even masturbation) became a chore and didn't feel good anymore. I'm a guy so I'm not sure how it would affect females, but yeah, that's my experience with Effexor.

11-05-2008, 02:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
dss Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: B.C. Gender: Male Posts: 109	If 3 other SSRI's didn't help you I don't really know if trying a SNRI is going to be much different. If you would like to try a new medication then maybe go with something different like an MAOI/RIMA , Benzo or something else (I don't have enough experiences to tell you what but there are plenty of good posts that could help you). I personally was on Effexor XR for a couple years and while it did slightly help me after coming off I wish I would have done so earlier and tried other options.

11-05-2008, 03:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Foh_Teej Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2004 Gender: Male Age: 30 Posts: 381	Effexor isnt well regarded here on SAS. I wont tell you to avoid it but i will urge you to actually do research on here and elsewhere before you decide to take it. There are countless posts regarding the side effects and epic withdrawal on here to read.

11-06-2008, 09:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Noca Status: Permanently Banned Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario Gender: Male Age: 23 Posts: 14,079	effexor has legendary withdrawals, be warned

11-09-2008, 10:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
Drew Status: Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Gender: Male Posts: 1,356	I knew about the withdrawal and side effect possibilities, but tried it anyway. It's the only anti-depressant that has been effective for me and hasn't had major side effects. While it's always important to consider the side effects with your doctor, everybody reacts differently to medication. SSRIs were not kind to me in terms of side effects, but Effexor has worked great.

11-09-2008, 10:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
KurtG85 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Missouri Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 472	Effexor completely, and I do mean completely, turned my brother's life around and he is doing incredibly well, is happy and extremely productive now (for 14 years) in part due to the help he gets from effexor. It is an absolute life saving, incredible miracle drug for many people. Let me give you a bit of advice that may save your life. Never, ever, decide to not even give a med a chance at helping you based on the negative experiences of others. You will never have the slightest amount of useful perspective on how helpful or worthless a med will be for you until you try it. I have even talked to bipolars who's moods were balanced by SSRI/SNRIs. Every single SSRI and SNRI will most likely have noticeably different effects on you and it is foolish to skip any one unless you would just like to put it off for a later time. In fact, I think I am going to make this paragraph my sig because I am getting pretty tired of having to repeat it for all the people in the same situation. This is coming from 10 years of psychotropic med experience with nearly every med prescribed. I was exactly like you at first in terms of reading peoples experiences in order to decide what I thought would work for me but I eventually realized: the only way you will know if a med will help you or not is if you try it for yourself and do not let others experiences influence the perception of your own. Amazingly, I have even seen this in the reverse sense where a person hears from many others that a med WILL work for them, turns our it doesn't, and they refuse to come off it even though it is just making them feel like crap. Others experiences mean little to nothing in this situation unfortunately and you must put your trust in yourself.