Effexor?

[srm12123]

Hi im steven im 20 years old. My doctor seems clueless anymore to what to do which isn't good in my eyes. I have been trying so many different medications with no success only worse feelings. From Prozac,Paxil,Luvox cr, lexapro, perphenazine amitriptyline.... It's like I just am tired of trying all these with no help. I mentioned Effexor to him because I heard from someone it was a good choice for her after many strike outs with medications heard the withdrawal sucks but my point is I feel like sh*t 90% of the time as it is. I just want some input on the medication and if it was worth it to others because my insurance doesn't cover and it's 130 for 30 day supply. And if anyone wants to share how they felt prior to medication would be good to help me compare. Like physical and mental symptoms and if Effexor helped you thanks everyone hope to hear back! Steven.

[Siegfried]

Hello Steven!

I'm sorry for your plight. I'd like you to give us some more info:

1) please describe your symptoms, and tell us how long ago they began;
2) you say you've tried quite a serious number of different drugs without any improvement. How long were you on each of them?
3) is your doctor a psychiatrist? Are you going through therapy?

Don't be discouraged. You'll get over this, and people here know what you're going through, so you're not alone.

[srm12123]

This all started around last November I have lost family members 3 in the past two years prior to that I thought that was the reason but I don't even really think about anything I just have a anxious feeling ALL DAY long and someday a are so bad that I actually start to cry and have to call either my mom or girlfriend but they don't understand why I just can't drop it. And everything in my life is just so perfect far as my family and love life. I just have such a hard time staying focused at all at work or even just in a normal conversation. I feel like there is a band around my head from the time I wake up till I go to bed specially at work when I think about it all the time. I heard that could be allergys or sinuses so I'm going to a allergist for that too. I'm just tired of always over thinking everything there is times were I feel like t might be going away but then I think about just anxiety and it comes right back. I cant control it and my memory is awful too I just can't take all this as being anxiety but I do see a psychiatrist and he says it all is im just not convinced. I was seeing a therapist for awhile but stoped the money just wasnt there for both. All the medications I have tried for at least a month to 6 weeks enough time for them to do something. There was like two that just totally made me worse where I didn't make it but three weeks. I just don't know what to try anymore I go to the gym and hangout with friends just always feel so f'd up that it makes it hard to stay positive. And I'm willing to give anything a chance just for some relief I know it's mostly me but there has to be something out there to just make me not worry about everything so much and make my life the way it was. Thanks steven

[srm12123]

I also feel like I always have to be on my phone idk why but like always bugging family and girlfriend for really no reason just because I'm always anxious and t sucks when trying to work or do anything!

[Siegfried]

I can relate to everything you describe bar the ineffectiveness of drugs. I also am not too sure why your doctor went into the antipsychotic play field. Still, you took most of those drugs for 4-6 weeks, but in what dosage? Say, Paxil or Prozac: what was the dosage during that time? Also, were you given benzodiazepines (such as Xanax, Valium or Klonopin), and if so what were their effects on you?

Going to the gym and hanging out with friends is 70% of any good therapy. What kind of sports do you do? What about sleep? How many hours of rest do you get on an average day?

I think that an important thing you should do before trying any more drugs is to get a second opinion from another psychiatrist and also, possibly, from a neurologist.

Keep us posted, Steven, and rest assured that you'll be back to normal.

[alankay]

If those ssri's and TCA's didn't help I doubt a snri will but you can't tell. But you've tried some good ones(prozac, lexapro, paxil) and I hope the doses were high enough(some quit on doses too low). Seeing as how effexor is generic you might give it a try. I would at some point ask about a long acing benzo like valium/klonopin/clorazepate for the worst days/occassions for relief from all the anxiety you're feeling. If not maybe atarax(an anti-histamine with anti-anxiety properties) could be tried. If you can get an rx for a benzo just use them sparringly. PM me any time. Alankay.

[srm12123]

Currently I take 1 mg of Xanax a day for the past four months but don't want to be taking that really it doesn't help just numbs me and any more I feel like t doesn't even do that. And I love basketball and just going to the gym I work a lot too. But the Paxil and Prozac I don't remember exactly what dosage but I know they started low and increased them with stillno success these two I actually gave around 6 weeks a piece and felt like shit still that's my problem none of the ssri seem to help idk d that makes sense to you I know there is so many different meds out there I just thought by now I would see some relief. And what is a neurologist going to do for me everything I see is people go to them because they think thy is what's wrong is tudors or something but I don't have the money to go and spend all the money on scans and stuff and them to just say everything is normal I mean deep down I know I'm fine it's been a year almost if I was sick or dying things would of got worse they are just consistent and never go away I am just clueless and am willing to try anything from herbal to a new medication I just feel like I'm the only one that gets no success specially after the amount of time I have been trying stuff and suffering it hasn't just been two months or anything it's been almost a year and that's why I'm back to the forums because I need others experiences and what helped them out! Thanks! Steven

[Siegfried]

I understand your frustration, and that you may not wish to throw any more money on the problem since doing so has not helped thus far. But for instance you say that you took Paxil and Prozac for about six weeks each, but that you started with a low dose and built up. Take Paxil: many people start with 10 mg a day for 2-3 weeks which is not a therapeutic dosage but helps them get used to the drug and over the most common side effects, and then move on to 20-40mg, and only after some 4-8 weeks of taking 20mg+ do they start feeling a real difference. If you started low (prob 10mg) and built up (prob to 20mg) and quit; all this in the space of six weeks, then there is no question in my mind that the drug not only did not help you, but probably made your condition worse (withdrawal + side effects). So I am not sure that you're really giving these drugs the time they need for the therapeutic effect to kick in. And this brings us back to my previous piece of advice: see another doctor, either a shrink or a neurologist (they are also qualified to deal with these conditions, I was not suggesting that you had any serious neurological condition) to get a second opinion. It is beyond odd that so many different drugs, with so many different pharmacological profiles (you've taken ssris, tricyclics, antipsychotics) should not have at least improved your symptoms.

As to the Xanax, you're right in wishing to quit. Four months is a bit, and you need to taper off slowly, under medical supervision. Also, there are other benzos that may be better for you in that they do not numb you so much (actually, the worst thing I found about Xanax was how it made me mentally slow, and killed my concentration). Try ethyl loflazepate. It beats Xanax big time.