Effexor (venlafaxine) [SNRI]
Description:
Effexor is the most commonly prescribed medication in the category of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It has been used in the treatment of major depression for many years and has recently been approved by the FDA for the treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder.
SNRIs are typically prescribed as a second option after SSRIs have not been effective or tolerated well. They function by affecting the amounts of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the body as well as their uptake in the brain. Effexor is reported to be effective among many SAD patients, though other patients do not find Effexor to be useful. Common side effects include insomnia and sexual dysfunction.
More Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effexor_xr
Askapatient.com Ratings:
http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=20699
RevolutionHealth.com Ratings:
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/drugs-treatments/rating/effexor
SNRIs are typically prescribed as a second option after SSRIs have not been effective or tolerated well. They function by affecting the amounts of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the body as well as their uptake in the brain. Effexor is reported to be effective among many SAD patients, though other patients do not find Effexor to be useful. Common side effects include insomnia and sexual dysfunction.
More Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effexor_xr
Askapatient.com Ratings:
http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=20699
RevolutionHealth.com Ratings:
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/drugs-treatments/rating/effexor
Nightmare!!
Shared by meyaj on Sep 21st, 2009
3 out of 7 people found this treatment experience helpful:
Treatment Experience
I tried this once for a week, on the relatively low dose of 75mg/day. I had the XR once-daily pills.
Once-daily was kind of misleading, for my body anyways. If I didn't take my next pill about 20 hours later, I would get intense withdrawals. The brain zaps were frequent and pretty debilitating.
And when I was on the medication.. I'm normally a pretty fatigued person but it just made me so tired, all I wanted to do was sleep all day.
I normally tolerate drugs pretty well, but this was too much for me.
I tried this once for a week, on the relatively low dose of 75mg/day. I had the XR once-daily pills.
Once-daily was kind of misleading, for my body anyways. If I didn't take my next pill about 20 hours later, I would get intense withdrawals. The brain zaps were frequent and pretty debilitating.
And when I was on the medication.. I'm normally a pretty fatigued person but it just made me so tired, all I wanted to do was sleep all day.
I normally tolerate drugs pretty well, but this was too much for me.
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Does Nothing
Shared by h4kirvan on Oct 21st, 2008
13 out of 31 people found this treatment experience helpful:
Treatment Experience
I've been on 75 MG Effexor for about 2 years now, and I can tell you that I still have all my symptoms. And have weird side effects too. I don't know why I have stayed on it so long.
I've been on 75 MG Effexor for about 2 years now, and I can tell you that I still have all my symptoms. And have weird side effects too. I don't know why I have stayed on it so long.
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Wasn't worth the money I paid for it
Shared by thisisfraser on Feb 23rd, 2009
2 out of 5 people found this treatment experience helpful:
Treatment Experience
I started taking Effexor at the lowest dose you can get. I spent 3 days in a state of complete shock and paranoia when I first started taking it. After those 3 days I started feeling more like a zombie than an actual human being. I once again went to see my doc and he kept upping the dose until I hit the 150mg mark. I felt like garbage for 30 minutes after taking it and after two months I still constantly felt like my body was charged with static electricity and was almost always nauseous so my doctor decided to take me off of it.
The side effects of being taken off the meds was even worse than taking the meds. Sensory disruption I think is one of the side effects and man did I ever feel like I was being zapped every time I blinked.
I started taking Effexor at the lowest dose you can get. I spent 3 days in a state of complete shock and paranoia when I first started taking it. After those 3 days I started feeling more like a zombie than an actual human being. I once again went to see my doc and he kept upping the dose until I hit the 150mg mark. I felt like garbage for 30 minutes after taking it and after two months I still constantly felt like my body was charged with static electricity and was almost always nauseous so my doctor decided to take me off of it.
The side effects of being taken off the meds was even worse than taking the meds. Sensory disruption I think is one of the side effects and man did I ever feel like I was being zapped every time I blinked.
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A very scary drug
Shared by DB85 on Nov 19th, 2009
0 out of 1 people found this treatment experience helpful:
Treatment Experience
Google "effexor withdrawal" before deciding to take this drug.
I took it for years, starting at 75mg and going all the way up to 225mg for a period of about 2 years. At no time did I feel like effexor made me less depressed or anxious, but I was terrified of coming off of it. The side effects (what felt like rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, constant sweating, erectile dysfunction, constant hunger/inability to lose weight even when working out hard 5 days a week) were what finally pushed me to try and stop. Did I mention erectile dysfunction? Yeah, thats reason enough not to take this drug, fellas. Talk about social anxiety...not being able to 'rise to the occasion' is a nightmare.
I recently tapered back down to 75mg over a few months period, feeling awful for about a week each step down I took. I finally went from 75 to 0. I felt ok - maybe a little uncomfortable - for about 36 hours after stopping. Then, a feeling of 'oh my god, I'm dying' swept over me. My heart was pounding, I felt outside of myself and completely out of control. I rushed home and took a 75mg and xanax to calm down. A few hours later I was back to normal (well, 'Effexor normal"). I went to my doc and got 37.5 mg pills. I took one of those a day for about a month and went down to nothing again. This time I felt the typical nausea, diarrhea, 'brain zaps' which are truly bizzare and not much fun, and constantly like I just got off of a boat at sea. I also wake up feeling exhausted. The icing on the cake was waking up with tons of acne around my mouth after the fourth day. Physically, the withdrawal sucks, but I'm doing OK with it on that front. Dramamine, vitamin b complex, st. john's wort, and a multi-vitamin are probably my saving grace. Mentally, I get violently angry over stupid things, and then I'll be hopeless and crying almost without skipping a beat. I have very wacked out and vivid dreams. Sometimes I feel like I'm not in control of myself. Its frightening. The feeling of hopelessness is crushing by the end of each day. You may say "well that's because you're not on an anti-depressant anymore, stupid!". This is not the case. Scroll up and re-read about how I often felt ON the drug. I'm feeling signs of improvement and can't wait to be totally free of this nightmarish med. I no longer go to the doctor who put me on this drug. I could never trust his judgment again after this experience. I really wish they would pull it off the market. It's just not worth taking with so many more options out there...I, personally, will be taking the therapy and self help route again. I want lasting change, not drug dependency and side effects.
If you're suffering from a phobia or specific social anxiety, may I suggest a beta blocker such as inderal? That drug got me to go in front of people and present without the physically debilitating panic attacks. After the first positive experience, I stopped having anticipatory anxiety, and even started to enjoy giving presentations. I only take it now before very big presentations and meetings :-) Being able to get yourself exposure should be your ultimate goal, and this med can really assist you in being able to do so.
Google "effexor withdrawal" before deciding to take this drug.
I took it for years, starting at 75mg and going all the way up to 225mg for a period of about 2 years. At no time did I feel like effexor made me less depressed or anxious, but I was terrified of coming off of it. The side effects (what felt like rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, constant sweating, erectile dysfunction, constant hunger/inability to lose weight even when working out hard 5 days a week) were what finally pushed me to try and stop. Did I mention erectile dysfunction? Yeah, thats reason enough not to take this drug, fellas. Talk about social anxiety...not being able to 'rise to the occasion' is a nightmare.
I recently tapered back down to 75mg over a few months period, feeling awful for about a week each step down I took. I finally went from 75 to 0. I felt ok - maybe a little uncomfortable - for about 36 hours after stopping. Then, a feeling of 'oh my god, I'm dying' swept over me. My heart was pounding, I felt outside of myself and completely out of control. I rushed home and took a 75mg and xanax to calm down. A few hours later I was back to normal (well, 'Effexor normal"). I went to my doc and got 37.5 mg pills. I took one of those a day for about a month and went down to nothing again. This time I felt the typical nausea, diarrhea, 'brain zaps' which are truly bizzare and not much fun, and constantly like I just got off of a boat at sea. I also wake up feeling exhausted. The icing on the cake was waking up with tons of acne around my mouth after the fourth day. Physically, the withdrawal sucks, but I'm doing OK with it on that front. Dramamine, vitamin b complex, st. john's wort, and a multi-vitamin are probably my saving grace. Mentally, I get violently angry over stupid things, and then I'll be hopeless and crying almost without skipping a beat. I have very wacked out and vivid dreams. Sometimes I feel like I'm not in control of myself. Its frightening. The feeling of hopelessness is crushing by the end of each day. You may say "well that's because you're not on an anti-depressant anymore, stupid!". This is not the case. Scroll up and re-read about how I often felt ON the drug. I'm feeling signs of improvement and can't wait to be totally free of this nightmarish med. I no longer go to the doctor who put me on this drug. I could never trust his judgment again after this experience. I really wish they would pull it off the market. It's just not worth taking with so many more options out there...I, personally, will be taking the therapy and self help route again. I want lasting change, not drug dependency and side effects.
If you're suffering from a phobia or specific social anxiety, may I suggest a beta blocker such as inderal? That drug got me to go in front of people and present without the physically debilitating panic attacks. After the first positive experience, I stopped having anticipatory anxiety, and even started to enjoy giving presentations. I only take it now before very big presentations and meetings :-) Being able to get yourself exposure should be your ultimate goal, and this med can really assist you in being able to do so.
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About Treatment Experiences
The individual experiences about treatment for social anxiety disorder (social phobia) are not a substitute for medical advice.
You should always consult a qualified health care professional before beginning, changing or stopping a treatment.
