Looong time! I have a question about Effexor if anyone is taking it!
#337188 - 10/21/08 06:06 PM
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Hi everyone! I don't recognize most of the names on here anymore since it's probably been a couple years or more since I've been on here.
I have been having a lot of anxiety issues lately, as I have in the past...but I finally got up the nerve to talk to my doctor and she wants me to try Effexor.
This is b/c I have tried Zoloft before, and it destroyed my sex drive. She said there are 3 in that same class as Zoloft, so I should probably stay away from those, and this is the next best choice. She also said I could try Wellbutrin, but that that works better for depression, which I don't have.
So - I am very nervous to start this new drug and want to know if anyone is on it and what your side effects are? Do you like it? Should I try it?
I currently take xanax about 1 out of 4 days to sleep at night. (Most of my anxiety is at night and I never take xanax during the day b/c it wipes me out) I just want something for my anxiety during the days that makes it very hard for me (I have 2 very small children).
Thanks in advance for any advise!!
I haven't had a chance to look through posts but I might just to see what everyone is up to that I recognize!!  Hope you are all doing well.
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~Cara~
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I am brand new to the boards and just posted about anxiety too! I was on Effexor XL 75mg for about three years. It worked GREAT for the first two and a half and then started losing it's effectiveness (I started having IBS-D again and anxiety) they wanted to put me on a higher dose but I decided to just get off and try another anti-depressant. After trying several I am not on anything b/c I can't seem to tolerate them! If you have anxiety and IBS-D I would give Effexor XL a try. I have to warn you I felt like cr-- the first week or two getting on it (sweating, chills, nausea...I thought I was getting the flu) but after that it was soooo worth it. Getting off was hard too, take time to wean off, I had to take xanax to wean myself off of it and now that I am not on anything I take xanax occasionally. I am thinking of getting back on Effexor since I have been off it a year maybe it will work again as well as it did when I started taking it the first time. Good luck!
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Thank you!!
Ok, so do you think I should try it, even when it eventually wore off for you?
I'm just wondering if I should just suck it up and just take xanax when I need it...b/c I don't have anxiety EVERY day, it's just mainly when I travel, have company over, or my husband is gone at night. Oh - and as soon as someone says they have any flu like symptoms my anxiety goes nuts. But most days I am just fine. So...I dont know if I should start this medicine and be on it long term if I really don't need it everyday?? I just can't make up my mind.
I'm afraid that in a few years when I decide to go off of it, my anxiety will come back just b/c in my head I'll be thinking 'I'm off the meds, oh no'. Is that how you felt when you were weaning off of it?
Thanks so much for the reply!!
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~Cara~
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Hey girlfriend, didn't expect to run into you here! LOL!!
I say TRY IT!! Expect some crappy stuff the first week or two while you are adjusting than give it 3 months as some of these meds can take a while to get the full benefit.
Don't worry about what MIGHT happen if and when you decide/need to go off it-one problem-one anxiety at a time!! 
I LOVED lexapro which is similar to effexor but can't take it because of the damage done to my heart from the sarcoidosis. I'm now a cymbalta girl but thats more for depression and pain, not sure if it helps with anxiety at all.
Is it your turn to email me or my turn to email you??!!
 I've got some new so I will email you!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I have to admit, I took this for awhile for depression and it destroyed my sex-drive, which prompted my doctor to try switching me to Wellbutrin. Effexor worked great, I just got tired of the side effects. It also made my C a whole lot worse; I was amazed at how bad ADs made my C once I finally got off of them.
So I eventually tried switching from Effexor to Wellbutrin, and the withdrawal was AWFUL. I was nauseous and dizzy and got migraines. It was horrible. So rather than increase my Wellbutrin, my doc stopped everything, and I felt much better once I was off of everything.
If you don't think you need it all the time, then maybe you should try something else. Also, since you seem to know the specific instances that cause you anxiety, perhaps seeing a therapist or counselor would be better for you. I did this while I was taking the ADs, and it helped a lot. They can teach you techniques for dealing with the particular situations that cause you anxiety, then maybe you can just take the Xanax as needed.... Just something to think about.
Good luck!
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Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
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I felt like I was out of options when I got on Effexor. I had gone from 155pounds to 114pounds because I stopped eating since everything I ate gave me IBS-D. It stopped the D within a couple weeks completly as well as the anxiety and I didn't have any cramps (during my period) or lower back pain. I needed those few years of relief. It was hard to get off of and I did take xanax to get off and I occasionally have to take xanax now. I get anxious when my husband travels (which is about seven months out of the year because he works in Major League Baseball), when I travel (fly or drive longer than an hour), when I have plans to go out or have people over and when I start to feel sick (I had a panic attack earlier this week because my heartburn hurt so bad I thought I was going to die)! Sounds like a lot but most days I am fine. I just choose what I REALLY want to do and who I REALLY want to see so I don't waste time and energy getting stressed out with a busy social schedule. I am going to start seeing a Christian counselor and hopefully she can help with the anxiety and maybe my stomach will settle down. BUT, if it doesn't then I will get back on Effexor or maybe even try Cymbalta since I have heard it is similar to Effexor. Quality of life it the key and right now mine is not so hot!
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Hey Cara!! It's good to hear from you. I have sent you a few forwards here and there but haven't e-mailed you in awhile. You sound like you are going through the same thing I went through. I was on Lexapro for a year and it did wonders for my anxiety and IBS. I never had an attack on it. However my sex drive was horrible!! Finally this summer I talked to my doctor about it since we were taking 10 year trip to the Bahamas and I wanted some romance and fun! Well I weaned off the Lexapro very very slowly while adding Wellbutrin in. The Lexapro was very hard to wean off of. I had some weird withdrawl symptoms. I am now on Wellbutrin only 1 pill a day of 150mg and I found that it is working ok for my anxiety. I am more emotional than I was on the Lexapro. I swear I was so mellow on it. But I do have to say my sex drive is right back where it should be! Which is nice. I have had a few attacks but nothing super bad. I figure it it keeps my IBS to a minium and I have my libido back then it is worth it. My doctor said that Wellbutin can work for anxiety too, not just depression. Which I don't suffer from. I hope that helps. E-mail if you have anymore questions. And send some pics of the kids soon if you have any!
And Michele what kind of news do you have??? Anything good?
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How are you? I hear ya on the sex drive thing - that's what happened to me on Zoloft - it was such a weird feeling, really, to have ZERO sex drive. I can't believe you stayed on it as long as you did!
I'm still going back and forth. I really don't want to go on anything if I don't HAVE to....I'm thinking I'll wait a couple weeks and document my anxiety and just make sure I really want to try something. And maybe I'll look into Wellbutrin now that you say that. I just figured it was better for depression!
I'll put some pics of the kids on here! They will be 3 and 1 in December. Can you believe how fast they grow? I was on these boards with you waaay before I even got pregnant the first time! That's so weird! I really have no IBS problems anymore so I even stopped lurking for a long time.
Anyways - here's the kiddos: And I want to see pics of your kids too!
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~Cara~
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I really appreciate it. I think I am going to wait a little bit like you said, and just see how I do. I am so afriad of the side effects!!! And I'm afraid of weaning off of meds too.
But like Michele said...I need to not worry about things until I need to - I have problems with that!
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~Cara~
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I know what you mean. I didn't really want to be on an AD either but it has helped. I can't believe how big your kids are! They are so cute! It amazes me that they are 1 and 3 already. Time does just flies by. Noah will be 5 in January and Ava will be 2 at the end of November! Here are some pics!
[image] [/image]
Noah had his first day of Preschool. He loves it!!
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Your kids are sooo cute! They are so big too! Look at Ava...wow, I think the last pics I saw were her BABY pics - she's so cute! She really is a good combo of you and your husband I think!
I think I'm going to call and start an AD now...I had a bunch of panic again last night......bla!
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~Cara~
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Thanks! I am glad you think she looks like both of us because most people say she looks just like Noah and that they both look like hubby! I just tell people I only cooked them for 9 months and that they must not have absorbed any of my genes!!
I hope you find an AD to help you. I never needed one until I had my kids and I don't attribute them as being the reason. I think it is more the anxiety about keeping them safe, worrying about every little ache or pain and just plain loving them so much it can make you crazy!!!
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Oh my gosh I totally agree - on both things.
A. My kids are both exact clones of my husband. He, by the way, is blond with blue eyes, which you would think would be recessive genes, but NOOOOO! I had to throw up for 18 months to pop out kids that look like they had NOTHING to do with me!
and
B. Kids definately attribute to anxiety. You just worry about every little thing and just want them to be happy and healthy and it can get very overwhelming! I also have anxiety about anything happening to ME now that I have little kids that are so dependant on me! There's so many emotions that you never had before.
By the way - I think I will start the effexor tommorrow, I just picked it up. But, did you never drink while taking it?? Not that I go out and drink all the time, but sometimes I go out with the girls and have a few! It says, 'DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE TAKING THIS MEDICINE'. 
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~Cara~
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Back in 2003, I think, the doctor prescribed Celexa and it gave me horrible headache. So he switched to Effexor XR, it helps but gave me constipation. He told me to take stool softener with Effexor, it didn't help much. Another side effect I had with Effexor were dry mouth (GOD!), no sex drive (for few years) and little drowsy. Felt weird for two weeks, then its fine.
Last year I came down with IBS-A, I decided to quit take Effexor and BP med (caused diahrea and gassy). It didn't bother me to wean off. Later, I got tired of more soft stool than constipation and decided to take Effexor again. Boy it make me so tired all the time. No wonder it's from Effexor that got me so tired for many years. So I quit taking it.
Soon I will ask the doctor about taking other kind mild depression med. My head (ear drums) were making so much noise, worst than tinintus.
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Hi, Michele, Cara, and Angela! Do you remember me? (I remember all of you when you were pregnant!) I haven't been on this board in several years, but I used to post regularly. I posted on the Eating for IBS board earlier, but didn't get any responses so I'm posting here too.
I am going through menopause and was having terrible hot flashes and insomnia at night. Then the anxiety (and lil depression) started. About 10 days ago, the doctor started me on Pristiq, a new AD that is similar to Effexor. I am also on hormone replacement therapy (Premarin, a combination of estrogen/progestrone), and my IBS A has been so much better. But I'm still having trouble sleeping at night. I feel antsy....like I've had too much coffee. I take the Pristiq in the morning. So I'm having to take either a Klonopin or Ambien pill at night. The doctor wants me to continue taking the Pristiq and see if my sleep improves.
Has anyone else had experience with Pristiq, and if so, when did you take it, at night or in the morning? Did it cause insomnia with you?
I'd love to hear from anyone who is currently on this.
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Hey!! I remember you. Do you still have beagles? I still have my beagle, and a puggle too.
I have not heard of that AD, so I can't give you any advice unfortunately I know that sometimes the only thing that helps me sleep is xanax, but doctors don't give it out too much b/c it's addicting.
Anyways, good to hear from you!!
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~Cara~
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Hi Cara,
I know about the feeling of anxiety at nighttime as well and the sleeplessness that goes with it. Went to the doc a couple of months ago and she put me on a low dose of Zoloft (and Klonopin at nighttime 'til the zoloft kicks in). Did okay for the first couple of weeks, but then after she bumped the Zoloft dose up I was soooo I nauseaus, could not eat, and felt totally out of it. Plus, it threw my IBS into full force.
So I went off and decided against any ADs, 'cuz pretty much the same thing happened with Lexapro a few months back. So I take the Klonopin at night as needed (which for me could be every night, but I'm kind of scared of this stuff too). On the nights that you don't take Xanax (which I believe is similar to Klonopin), do you get any sleep??? How long have you been taking Xanax??
Something you might try for your daytime anxiety is Librax. I tried it a while back for anxiety, but it basically did nothing for me. However, I do believe many people have had good results with it and it doesn't wipe you out....just calms you down and it not at all like a benzo. You can get them generic so they are really cheap.
Best wishes.
Sharon
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HI Bl! Sure I rememer ya! I am sorry I don't have any info on what you are taking. I know that taking different meds can be really nervewracking dealing with the side effects. Good luck with all that and stop by more often! I miss all the "oldies".
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Hello!
#337525 - 10/29/08 06:01 AM
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epa_ginger
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1158
Loc: Chicago, IL
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I wish I could help you, but I take Zoloft. I can hear what you're saying about sex drive, but I honestly think my sex drive would be suffering regardless. I work 30 hours a week, have a 2 year old and 4 month old, and my husband comes home after 7 every night. I have no energy!
I'm actually in the process of weaning off, I don't think I need it anymore. (I had PPD after my daughter was born, and so I went back on after my son was born as a precaution.)
I hope you find some answers!
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OH girl...I hear ya. The 2 little ones are so exhausting, and my hubby works late too. He also works 3 out of 4 Saturdays, and sometimes Sundays. It's really hard at times! And the sex drive totally suffers!
Congrats on your baby boy!! I want to see pics!!
You're pretty far north in Chicago, right? I'm down near Joliet now.
Anyways, good to hear from you, and I hope you can wean off the Zoloft ok! If I remember right, I had no problems weaning off of that over a couple weeks.
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~Cara~
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Re: Hello!
#337553 - 10/30/08 03:29 AM
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Flipada
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 1026
Loc: West Michigan, USA
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¡Hola! Just wanted to pop in and say hi. AND that I found a HUGE difference after I got off Zoloft and got on Wellbutrin. EVEN with being tired...my drive came back! Didn't think it was possible at the time. Hope you're doing well!
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Flipada - IBS-C "It's a gas, gas, gas"
**Lauren**
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Hi BL, sure, I remember you!! How have you been? Sorry to hear the menopause is causing you grief. I have never heard of that AD, must be really new? I have had a hard time deciding when to take my cymbalta as well. The doc said morning but the bottle says may cause drowsiness?? I tried to switch to pm for a week and I had a harder time sleeping so went back to the am.
I also take 1mg of xanax every night. Occasionally I will take one during the day but thats pretty rare now.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Hi Lauren! How's the school year treating you? Mine is pretty stressful. I have a kid who crys almost every day and he is 11 years old. It's been rough. Got any new pics of Sebrina? I bet she is getting big!! I have to tell you that you were so right about the Wellbutrin and sex drive. It is so nice to have mine back again!! Hubby agrees!
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I'm in Tinley Park actually---I grew up in Joliet! And my parents live in Shorewood now.
Here are two recent pictures of Henry. He is just the best! I can't get enough of him. He has recently been sleeping through the night so I'm more well rested.
[image] [/image]
[image] [/image]
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Awwww what a sweetie!!
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IBS-D since 1999...mostly stable..i do cheat too.Bad me.
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Oh my gosh - he's so cute! And I love the name Henry. We are RIGHT on the border of Shorewood! We'll probably stay here a few more years and then try to move farther north. My parents are in Wheaton.
Thanks for the pics! Ashley (my 2nd) slept through the night much quicker than Grant did - it was around 6 months for her, and a year for Grant. I love my sleep now!
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~Cara~
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Oh Ginger he looks like such a happy little guy! I love those cheeks. Those are the kind you can just kiss and kiss! How sweet!!!
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