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Thread: Effexor XR

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    Veteran Member danijamesxxx's Avatar
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    Default Effexor XR

    Hey just a question, I did a couple of searches and didn't find anything TOO relevant....just wondering if anyone on here has been on Effexor or Effexor XR? And what were your experiences? I am reading things from people on the internet that lose weight on it....or gain weight on it....etc, etc. I just wish to know what to expect. I am on it for GAD and also I am on Ativan and Zopiclone.
    Thanks!
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    Veteran Member danijamesxxx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Like it feels like I am going to lose weight on this. Has this happened to anyone else?
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    Senior Member PorschaM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Sort of depends. If you eat because you are depressed, and you aren't depressed anymore then you won't gain weight.

    On the flip side, I used to take Paxil and it makes you hungry. Therefore you eat more and gain weight. I just happened to be on a low carb/food combining diet (Somersizing) when I started taking it, so even though I was constantly eating, I was eating food that I could have on my diet and was able to still lose weight (al beit slowly). My doctor switched me to Wellbutrin and it basically took away my appetite.

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    God/dess FrustratedBunny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    I think I tried effexor a few years back (if I recall correctly that's what it was) and I couldn't tollerate it. I felt like I was on crack or something. My heart would race and I could barely breathe. So I never got to a point to see if it made me gain or lose weight.

    I took prozac a couple years and gained weight. I was basically just happy to sit around and eat so I plumped up.

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    Veteran Member danijamesxxx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Well I sure do feel energetic. I've never done crack so I am not too sure if that is the same, hah but yeah. I have a ton of energy it feels, with like a glaze of Ativan over top. Weird feeling...
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  6. #6
    Darcy Foxx
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    i lost a lot of weight on it, but that was moreso due to the fact that i felt happy and motivated again and actually wanted to work out and eat right.

    that being said, i hated it. when i first started taking it i absolutely flipped out, i was crazy for a few days, it really fucked with me. after that it got better, but i constantly had a really horrible nauseated feeling in my stomach and my brain always felt like it was full of air and i was really spaced out. yes, it made me not depressed anymore, but it made me feel ill 24/7 and turned me into a zombie.

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    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Quote Originally Posted by danijamesxxx
    Hey just a question, I did a couple of searches and didn't find anything TOO relevant....just wondering if anyone on here has been on Effexor or Effexor XR? And what were your experiences? I am reading things from people on the internet that lose weight on it....or gain weight on it....etc, etc. I just wish to know what to expect. I am on it for GAD and also I am on Ativan and Zopiclone.
    Thanks!

    I'm on Effexor for my OCD and sleep. I adore it. It helps me so much! About damned time something made my OCD shut up. I neither lost nor gained, and it has the typical Lack Of Libido effect like others in its family.
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  8. #8
    Darcy Foxx
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    ^ yeah it definitely helps with sleep. i used to take them at night and i'd go loopy and get all dizzy for 10 minutes and then i'd be sound asleep. they used to really knock me out.

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    Veteran Member danijamesxxx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Weird, I take mine in the morning and I don't feel tired. Maybe it's because I am on the extended release tablets. But yeah I hope that I really benefit from it like you guys. Here's a hoping!

    PS Happy 22nd Bday to me
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    Veteran Member babykay26's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    ive been taking effexor for 5 years, ive never noticed any weight differences. i took xr, it was too much for me. it works well though.

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    Senior Member PorschaM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Quote Originally Posted by PaigeDWinter
    it has the typical Lack Of Libido effect like others in its family.
    That was the other problem with Paxil.

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    God/dess Dottie Rebel's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    I was on Effexor XR (150mg) for 6 months. I am now tapering off of it. I lost about 20 pounds the first month. It completely eradicated my appetite. I wasn't hungry for an entire month after it kicked in. It wasn't like going from depressed, emotional eating to a normal appetite. It was regular appetite to NO appetite.

    I was happyhappyhappyhappy all the time. It sort of alarmed my friend/family because I had been depressed for so long. I loved it. I became superwoman.

    Then I started reading a bunch of negative things about it, so I decided to taper off of it and go the natural route--St. John's Wort, 5-HTP, sam-E--something like that. I found out that the withdrawal associated with Effexor is possibly the worst of any anti-depressant (this is probably not something your doctor will tell you because the official word from the drug company that makes it is that Effexor is NOT addictive, though there are some reports of a "discontinuation syndrome." That's their benign sounding way of saying "withdrawal from an addictive drug.").

    My doctor told me to cut my dosage in half one week, then half again the next week, then take the lowest dose every other day for a week--which is what most doctors recommend, as I found out. Ok, fine, sounds good. Tapering off this quickly sent me into panic attacks, caused unbearable headaches and "brain zaps," completely eradicated my ability to concentrate. I was a wreck. I couldn't work or do anything for almost a month. The symptoms did not go away until I finally brokw down and took more Effexor. BAM. I was right back to normal. The more I read online I realized that this was a very common thing--more common than not for people who are on the drug for more than a couple of months.

    I know you asked about what to expect while taking it and didn't solicit this kind of advice, but I felt an obligation to share my experiences. If you'd asked me three months ago what I thought about Effexor XR I would have sung it's praises from the highest mountain. Now that I'm trying to kick it, it just doesn't seem like such a miracle anymore.
    Last edited by Dottie Rebel; 09-19-2006 at 12:11 PM.

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    Veteran Member danijamesxxx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Eeek! I am just on the 37.5 moving up to the 75mg next week and I already feel like that! (happy, no appetite etc.) Yeah that had excited me, but now I'm freaked out too by the later side effects. I am going to go to another doctor tomorrow and get a secong opinion I think. Thanks!
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    All of those medications affect different people in different ways. The side effects usually go away after a few weeks or a month. At least in my case they did. Its also important to watch your alcohol consumption while you're using Effexor, Paxil etc... It interfers with medication.

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    Veteran Member JettaNyx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    i'm such a freak...i've been on paxil cr for like 3 years now. i droped nearly 20lbs the first 3 months on it and i've got my hubby's libido beat, lol.

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    God/dess Dottie Rebel's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Quote Originally Posted by danijamesxxx
    Eeek! I am just on the 37.5 moving up to the 75mg next week and I already feel like that! (happy, no appetite etc.) Yeah that had excited me, but now I'm freaked out too by the later side effects. I am going to go to another doctor tomorrow and get a secong opinion I think. Thanks!
    Please update after you talk to your doc. I'm interested to hear what s/he has to say.

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    Veteran Member danijamesxxx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    I'm going this afternoon. When you were on Effexor XR were your pupils like, HUGE all the time?!
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    God/dess PaigeDWinter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Oh, I forgot dosage, didnt I? I'm on 150mgs right now. They really dont make me tired, but they calm my brain down so I can get tired. I think way too much, in part due to my OCD. Thats the only reason I'm on it. Really, the only thing it did to my hunger was make me nauseated the first few days I was on it....
    Number of times Rickrolled on stage: 6
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    Marasmus ... "Ladies don't fart. They butt-laugh."
    Marasmus says, "Oh no, that wasn't gas, it was merely a rectal chuckle."

    Marek says, "A friend of mine got punched in the face by a dominatrix stripper about two weeks ago and I thought of you."

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    Veteran Member danijamesxxx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Mmmkay went to the doc. He wants me to stay on 75 for a week, then go up to 112.5 then 150. So I guess we'll see..
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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    God/dess Dottie Rebel's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    Yes, actually...my pupils did get huge! I forgot about that little quirk...

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    Veteran Member danijamesxxx's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    I call them sexeyes!
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  22. #22
    goldengrl69
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    How long did it take to work?

  23. #23
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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    I started with 37.5 for a week, then 75 for a week, then 150 for 6 months. I'd say after about two weeks I was starting to feel the effects. By the middle of the the third week I was an airline stewardess on crack. "HIIIIII!!!! How are you? I'm GREAT!!!" But then again, that's just an amplification of my normal personality, so YMMV.

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    Default Re: Effexor XR

    I am on 150mg of Effexor XR. It works wonders for me. I don't suffer from depression nearly as much as I use to and no longer have panic attacks. It really helps when you are going through a time in your life as well.

    I haven't gained any weight on it at all. Some side effects for me are forgetfulness like losing my keys and leaving the lights on in my car frequently, insomnia and night sweats. But it has definately gave me the extra boost I need to get through hard times.

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    Senior Member PorschaM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Effexor XR


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