New, need advice regarding Effexor

[kat55]

Hi all,
I'm new here, and registered in the hope of getting some advice. I've been diagnosed with GAD and have been prone to panic attacks. I was taking generic Ativan as needed, but my doctor wanted me to try something more scheduled. Tried Citalopram but it kept me tired all the time. He next went to Pristiq, which seems to work well. I've read that it's little more than a placebo but all I can say is it worked for my anxiety and panic attacks.

This year, my insurance changed the formulary and won't cover it, at least not unless I try something else first. (Apparently it doesn't matter that I tried Citalopram). So, my doctor called in Effexor. I haven't gone to pick it up, and am terrified of taking it because of the withdrawl horror stories. Is there something else I should ask him for instead? Should I take Effexor for a while and try to get Aetna to then cover Pristiq?

BTW, I was given samples of Cymbalta for my chronic back pain and it turned me into a zombie, so that's out of the question as an alternative.

[sevnofspades]

Ok pristiq is the active metabolite of Effexor. In Theory, if pristiq works than Effexor will. In my case Effexor worked but pristiq put a knot in my stomach and made me chain smoke.
Effexor is a tricky drug. They call it a lifer drug. Once u start your on it for life. I have meet a few people who have successfully gotten off Effexor, but it's a long, drawn out tapering schedule.
Now, the pros. Effexor xr was the absolute best medication for me. I was relaxed, couldn't talk myself into a panic attack if I tried, easily handle stress, and had a great positive outlook on life.
Effexor is very hard to get off of, I know first hand, but not impossible. I've been contemplating going back to it. If u decide to take Effexor, get the brand name only! I can not stress that enough. The generic is garbage and should be taken off the shelf. Once again, I know first hand.
Good luck

[sandyrdh1]

Shoot I would act like you took it and it did not work just to try and get the ins company to pay for the other med you can take! I hate when ins company's tell you what you can and can't take!

[sevnofspades]

Have your doc contact your ins, saying this is the med for u and is not willing to play experimental meds. It works, and that's all that should matter.

[kat55]

Thank you for the replies.


Ok pristiq is the active metabolite of Effexor. In Theory, if pristiq works than Effexor will. In my case Effexor worked but pristiq put a knot in my stomach and made me chain smoke.
Effexor is a tricky drug. They call it a lifer drug. Once u start your on it for life. I have meet a few people who have successfully gotten off Effexor, but it's a long, drawn out tapering schedule.
Now, the pros. Effexor xr was the absolute best medication for me. I was relaxed, couldn't talk myself into a panic attack if I tried, easily handle stress, and had a great positive outlook on life.
Effexor is very hard to get off of, I know first hand, but not impossible. I've been contemplating going back to it. If u decide to take Effexor, get the brand name only! I can not stress that enough. The generic is garbage and should be taken off the shelf. Once again, I know first hand.
Good luck

So if Pristiq is essentially the same drug, then it will cause the same or similar withdrawl symptoms? Maybe I shouldn't worry so much about it then. The thing about being on a lifer drug is that I'm not sure I want to be. I guess I've always been anxious, but the panic attacks started later in life. They threw me for a loop, and yes, I made my share of ER visits. After a while I just learned to deal with them.

I thought I didn't need to be on medication, other than a quick fix for panic attacks, but I was surprised at how much better I feel now. I'll see if Effexor works, or maybe give it a few weeks and have my doctor tell the ins. company I need Pristiq.

I hate having insurance people make decisions for doctors!

[alankay]

Not everybody has that much trouble stopping effexor but just tapper off it. If you resume pristiq that should help coming off the effexor a great deal. Alankay