Celexa to effexor

TickledPink · 07-25-2006, 03:34 PM

I'm switching right now. coming slowly off of 60mgs of Celexa and onto 225 of effexor, anyone else on effexor?

Lemonade Ladybug · 07-25-2006, 03:43 PM

I pray/hope you have a good experience on Effexor. Everyone has a different response to ADs but Effexor is called "Satan in a Pill" among it's current/former users.

My side effects were nothing short of a ride through hell and backing up and doing it again. Once I realized the side effects were making me sicker than the depression, I decided to find something else... and HOLY COW...the coming OFF the Effexor which most doctors fail to tell you about.... much worse than hell. I have a friend who is trying to wean off Effexor right now. It took me a full 30 days and I was literally counting out the drug beads in the capsule because I was still having horrible brain zaps on such a small dose.

Please forgive the post.... I really do hope it WORKS wonders for you!!!

But I wanted to be honest of my Effexor experience....I only lasted on it for 8 months.

LL

TickledPink · 07-25-2006, 03:48 PM

Thank-you for your honesty!

I am only supose to go on it for a month or 2 to try and snap me out of the huge hole I am in right now.

penguinlover · 07-25-2006, 05:01 PM

I've been taking Effexor for over a year and it has been working great for me! I am on 150 mg per day.

If you are just going to "try" Effexor, I hope your doctor told you that you need to go off of it slowly and not cold turkey.

I don't believe it's "Satan in a pill." If you use it correctly, it works for many people.

SurrenderedCyster · 07-25-2006, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TickledPink

I am only supose to go on it for a month or 2 to try and snap me out of the huge hole I am in right now.

Hang in there, hope brighter days are ahead for you.

ccsoc · 08-02-2006, 02:42 AM

I am taking it, have been for about 6 months, and it is the first thing in YEARS that I felt has helped me even a little bit. But, as we all know these work differently for everyone. I hope its good for you!!

Melissa1223 · 08-02-2006, 04:31 AM

Effexor worked great for me for about a year, and then just stopped working. For the year that it worked, it was the best I'd ever felt. I agree with the others -- coming off of it is not so easy, but my doc just put me on a low dose of Prozac (10mg) and I was able to come off it with no further 'withdrawal' effects. Good luck!

Grazia · 08-06-2006, 01:03 AM

When I first suffered from depression I was initially put on zoloft (lustral), which made me so much worse, and then I switched to Effexor. Starting at 75mgs a day and working my way up to 225mgs a day. It worked so well for me...it enabled me to get myself together and function at a level that I could cope with life. I was on it for 2 years. I then decided to come off it myself.

Around 3 months ago, I relapsed with my depression. I started back on effexor 225mg around a month and a half ago. My moods have been a little better, but I realise the reason why I relapsed is because I didnt deal with whatever was affecting me the first time round with my depression. So I urge anyone, not to just depend on medication, maybe that was an obvious statement to make, but I thought because I felt ok, I was ok. And now I am in the same position I had been, but not as bad as I recognised I was going down.

All I would suggest is get the enteric coated tablets, the pharmacist gave me non coated effexor and my stomach was doing somersaults, it made me feel terribly ill with waves of nausea.

I wish you lots of luck with it. There seems to have been a wide range of experiences in this post, highlighting how different we all are. But I hope it works for you! Keep us updated!

sleepydumpling · 08-06-2006, 01:22 AM

How are you going with the Effexor Tickled? Any positive results yet? I hope so.

I can't use it myself - made me put on a lot of weight and scared AF away. And coming off it was NASTY (beware the "brain zaps" - if you know about them they're not so scary).

Good luck with it sweetie!
Kath

Grazia · 08-06-2006, 03:12 AM

I meant to mention, right now the worst side effect I seem to be having is hand tremors. Whenever I am trying to concentrate on doing something with my hands, especially if its slightly intricate, my hands just start shaking of their own accord.

k9hughes · 08-06-2006, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemonade Ladybug

I was still having horrible brain zaps on such a small dose.
LL

Brain zaps!!! That is the best way I have ever heard those awful withdrawls described!! I had a terrible time on Effexor....it took a while, but I ended up so chronically fatigued I couldn't get out of bed and had to withdraw from classes during a summer semester. The withdrawls just about made me insane...and that was with weaning off. It totally turned me off of antidepressants for a while. Hope your experience is better...meanwhile I'm happy to have a way to describe that bizarre feeling. "Brain zaps!" lol

sleepydumpling · 08-06-2006, 03:44 AM

Oh I shake on both Effexor and Lexapro, so I understand you there!

Adoption Momma · 08-07-2006, 10:35 PM

My dr put me on Effexor XR today to help "mellow" me for a few weeks. I think my hormones are all whacked out (surprise surprise) and that the surgery for my endo didn't help. I go to my RE in 2 wks to discuss a hysto. In the meantime, the dr is hoping this will help me.

** Stacye ** · 08-18-2006, 05:14 AM

Hiya!

I've been suffering from panic attacks for about 6 yrs - And I've been on Lexapro for some time, but I started to feel like it wasn't working the way it should ... so, the doc gave me Effexor XR on Tuesday (08/15/06) but I've yet to take them. I think I made a mistake by going on line and reading some of the side effects - the 2 that scare me the most are the 'brain shocks' and the withdrawals.

... What to do!?? ...

sleepydumpling · 08-18-2006, 05:29 AM

It's a hard decision... if I'd have known I was going to react to Effexor like I did, I'd never have taken it. But some people are fine with it! In my case I ballooned in weight and had those nasty "brain-zaps" coming off it - but I've known other people to take it and just be fine.

In the end, my doc has increased my dose of Lexapro and I've found that's been a good solution.

Hope this helps
Kath