Feedback for Effexor xr

[Purple_heart22]

Could anyone provide feedback on taking Effexor xr for anxiety. I cant take lexapro or zoloft.

[BrianER]

That's what I take it's worked better than anything else I've taken.

[Purple_heart22 in reply to BrianER]

Thanks for responding. I see my doctor next week. I cant take lexapro or zoloft. So I hope something good comes from the visit. I have been dealing with severe anxiety and have been to the ER 5 times since November. Im so ready to find something that will help. Im taking low dose xanax and sleep almost all the time.

[Hidden]

I took Effexor for several years and loved it -- until it stopped working as well. I have a warning: I stopped taking it over two years ago, and I STILL get brain zaps. I have tried everything to stop them, but they won't go away. They drive me crazy sometimes. Had I known this would happen, I would not have taken Effexor. As good as it was, it wasn't worth this.

[HealthAnxietyGuy]

Effexor had worked on me for anxiety but gave me multiple side effects. I eventually came off of it after about 8 months and a second time ~1 year.

My suggestion is to try out probiotics. I did so much research and countless tests but everything would come out normal. I had severe IBS but always related it to my Anxiety/Panic Disorder. I tried so many things, Diet, Exercise, Meditation/breathing techniques, medication then vitamin supplements, nothing helped.

The 3 things that have completely controlled the symptoms were #1 Renewed faith in God, #2 Probiotics, #3 CPAP machine for sleep apnea. I am not obese and my doctors kept ignoring my request for a sleep study because I would tell them that when my anxiety was bad I would stop breathing when dosing off. Finally Dr. accepted and did the study, and diagnosed mild sleep apnea. So my sleep is much better with the CPAP.

The biggest help was really the probiotics, because the issues didn't completely leave with the CPAP.

I really believe that for many people their gut microbiome is messed up, which affects our immune system, and other systems, etc.

What has helped me is, 50B probiotics daily, with psyllium husk capsules to help feed the probiotics. I've been through 3 different meds last year which hadn't really helped much, some made me worse. About 6 years ago I was on Venlafaxine (Effexor) which really helped and stopped my panic attacks, but came with a bunch of side effects, including fatigue. I had also tried diet and exercise but with no results and usually felt worse for hours/days afterwards. I also went through a lot the past 10 years with anxiety and panic.

My anxiety is pretty much nonexistent now, and my energy levels are still problematic at times but I'm gradually recovering from years being unwell. Biking/moderate exercise 3 times a weeks sometimes a little weight lifting in between days. All of this I find helps me to actually be tired at night and fall asleep better.

The gut and brain connection plays a huge role and the probiotics helped me tremendously and might do the same for you. It took a few weeks to finally notice a difference and a few more to really see a big difference.

I saw a study that shows that approximately 80% of our seretonin is produced in the gut, so imagine all the other ones that might be the same.

I use Ultimate Flora Critical Care 50 Billion from Renew Life. They also have 30, 40 and 90 billion. Here's what strains you should try to get if you can't find it in your area, since these helped me:

Bifidobacterium bifidum (HA-132) 25 Billion

Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA-122) 10 Billion

Lactobacillus casei (HA-108) 8.875 Billion

Bifidobacterium breve (HA-129) 4 Billion

Bifidobacterium longum (HA-135) 1 Billion

Lactobacillus rhamnosus (HA-111) 250 Million

Lactobacillus rhamnosus (HA- 114) 250 Million

Lactobacillus plantarum (HA-119) 250 Million

Lactobacillus fermentum (HA-179) 250 Million

Lactobacillus salivarius (HA-118) 125 Million

other companies have similar ones but I know this company worked well for my mom and I. Their capsule is a slow release so that more can reach the large intestine. Multiple strains are being studied because theoretically probiotics are supposed to help your immune system, anxiety and the probiotics help convert the food you eat to vitamins more effectively, since they aid digestion.

I pray you find a solution and that this may help. God Bless.