New meds, new me?

[katiebug12]

Hey everyone

So update.....

My lexapro was not working for me. Too many side effects that didn’t combine well with my depression. I have been sleeping constantly still having crying fests in my car, it’s become a routine now. I’m tired of being down so today I told my psychiatrist they weren’t working for me and he prescribed me Effexor XR. Who has taken this before and what should I look for?

I want something to work!

I need help and I can’t live like this.

Somethings gotta change. I am trying to stay hopeful. Thanks for any advice you can give me!

Thanks

- Katie

[hunter4ransom]

Hi Katie,

I’ve never been on lexapro, but I’ve tried Effexor. You will either love it or hate it and you will know pretty quick if it is what works with your body chemistry. For me, it was not a good fit. Sertraline (generic Zoloft) has been the best fit for me. I suffer anxiety and depression and after trying to wean off my medication with horrible results, I’m weaning back on and slowly getting to better days.

[jpsmith]

It is definitely a process to find the right medication but once you do you’re going to be much better off. Stick with it and I’m here to talk if you need to.

[katiebug12 in reply to jpsmith]

Thank you I really appreciate it!

[Missnoname]

Hi Katie! Effexor worked well for me for over a year, combined with abilify. No other meds ever worked and I tried many. However, I have now weaned off and am trying holistic treatments which are working well for the time being. What you need to know is that you can begin to have severe withdrawal symptoms within hours of missing a dose. Some people require twice daily dosing. The WD symptoms can be completely debilitating to some people. It took me 4 months to wean off.

Effexor works differently at different doses. I won't go into details here, but I suggest keeping a journal of symptoms, sleep patterns, etc. Be aware of how your body is reacting physically as well as mentally.

After going cold turkey my last pregnancy, my OB/gyn sent me back to my psychiatrist when I asked her to restart my prescription. She said her best friend was on it and she refuses to give it to anyone. I suggest you do a lot of research and know this med inside and out. I don't want to discourage you from something that has the potential to improve your life, I just want you to be aware of many things that our docs usually don't tell us.

Keep in mind that there are a ton of adjustments that make a big difference with effexor, including adjunct meds, time/dosing variations, etc. So if you do make the decision to stay the course, be aware that some fine tuning can make the difference between it helping a little or helping a ton! I agree with Hunter... It's love or hate. Good luck and I hope you're feeling better soon!

[CTLibraryGirl]

I just started Effexor XR generic a month ago after I told my Dr that Celexa (generic) made me exhausted, sleepy. I'm on the lowest dose 37.5. The first few days I had some nausea, restless sleep. My Dr said to take the Effexor XR in the morning with breakfast. She said around 8am is best. Since the Lexapro was making you tired, maybe the Effexor might be energizing for you. I say give it a go, keep a little notebook near you and jot down how you are feeling, any side effects and give it a month. Bring your notebook and talk to your Dr about what you wrote. I may up my dose to 75. I have an appt with my Dr next week and plan to discuss it.

[techguy]

Try acupuncture, it worked for me along with healthy diet and exercise.

Hope this helps.