How long for Effexor XR to start working (read)? Do I need to increase dose or is it the wrong med?

Question

Just some background: I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (mainly social anxiety, moderate ocd) my freshman year in college and was put on Lexapro 20mg for about a year. It worked somewhat well but made me very lethargic and I always wondered if a different medication would be better. So I was put on Prozac 20mg for about 6 months, and then 40mg (which ended up being to much to I went down to 30mg), it worked well for me probably better than Lexapro, I had more energy and almost no anxiety, but then my increased dose came with some side effects. I felt numb, emotionless, lots of brain fog, very out of it, zombie-ish, somewhat dumber even. I also became lethargic again and my libido was almost nonexistent. But being reducing the dose didn't seem to change much.

Then my doctor put me on Effexor XR 32.5mg after I tapered off Prozac. which I took for about 3 weeks than went up to 75mg which I've been on for about 2 and a half weeks. My anxiety resurfaced as the Prozac was leaving my system, yet on the Effexor I hardly noticed a single side effect (except maybe occasional headache or trouble sleeping). Anyways starting the 2 weeks after I made the switch I've been feeling very anxious and tense. I've had low energy/drive, have been over-worrying, feeling very socially anxious, irritable, panicky, not wanting to talk to people, and lacking interest and most things. I've also noticed my ocd has resurfaced as well: constantly over-thinking things, obsessing over insignificant things, intrusive thoughts, etc.

Do I give it more time or ask to increase my dose?

I also ALWAYS obsess over the medication I'm on, and nit-pick all of its pros and cons and constantly questioning whether its the right (or even the perfect) medication for me and all my symptoms. I keep obsessing over finding the 'perfect' medication (which probably doesn't exist). I wish I could stop thinking about my anxiety and medication day-to-day, I wish I could find a medication and then just forget about it and just live. So tired of over-analyzing it. I'm not in therapy, I've only been to psychiatrists, so I'm considering that as well.

Lastly I've also been taking Dexedrine (they don't have Adderall in Australia where I'm currently abroad. I take 5-10mg about 3-4 days a week and figure that might be contributing to my anxiety. I've also been taking Xanax (which I'm not prescribed) 1-2mg randomly when I've been anxious.

Sorry lot of info, any info/thoughts/advice on my anxiety and my experience with Effexor would be much appreciated! Please give me so feedback and mainly: does this medication need more time or is a higher dose possibly needed?

Answer

I know this is an old thread but I have just startet Effexor 6 days ago and I am really nervous that this medicine won't work. I get it for anxiety but I feel like I'm getting more anxiety.
It is nice to hear positive results and words of experience. Anyone got some word of relief?

Answer

"I also ALWAYS obsess over the medication I'm on, and nit-pick all of its pros and cons and constantly questioning whether its the right (or even the perfect) medication for me and all my symptoms. I keep obsessing over finding the 'perfect' medication (which probably doesn't exist). I wish I could stop thinking about my anxiety and medication day-to-day, I wish I could find a medication and then just forget about it and just live. So tired of over-analyzing it. I'm not in therapy, I've only been to psychiatrists, so I'm considering that as well."

thats me to a T.. i know this thread is old but i just had to answer. That describes me perfectly and I thought i was the only crazy one.. any luck? have you found a medication that works for you??

Im on week 4 of effexor and i had ALL of your symptoms.. to the point where I seriously considered quitting but i stuck with it.. i definitely am starting to see a positive change but we'll see..

Votes: +2

Answer

I've been on Effexor XR 75 for 13 years for  anxiety attacks , and once it took hold (3 months of hell), I've been totally without any anxiety or fear whatsoever. But this week we got notice to move from our large rental house (4 elderly and handicapped family members), and yesterday I started getting almost debilitating anxiety about the overwhelming effort ahead of us. I must find out quickly if I can safely double my dose to stop this new anxiety.

Answer

Hi, I'm in the USA & I'm 3 times your age & female. However, Effexor XR 37.5 mg brought me out of a severe depression. I also take 1 mg of Clonazepam at nite to sleep. Prior to that I ran the gamut of SSRIs. Zoloft worked for me for many yrs but after I stopped it & tried to start it again it didn't work. It took 3 wk of being on Effexor for me to feel better. The 1st 3 weeks I was really fatigued. Then after taking 2 cups of coffee wibreakfast in the morning the Effexor turned me into the energizer bunny. I could never increase the dosage bc now I can tolerate the side effects & I don't want to heighten them. I get headaches (gone by taking aspirin), more frequent peeing, nite vision probs, & low tolerance for booze (bummer). But the Effexor turned me into a new person. I also had lots of intrusive thoughts & obsessing before the Effexor & they are much less now.

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You could probably tolerate Effexor XR 75 mgs much better than me bc you are much younger & I'm very thin bc I didn't eat much during my depression. I hope this helps.

Votes: +1

Answer

pete; First the first post is correct but you also need to continue on the medication if I have it right you have been on the dose of Effexor for 2 weeks this is good it takes that long to adjust to the medication and the extra anxiety and other weird feelings you are having should start to go away. As you continue to take the Effexor week 3 and 4 you start to notice some of the benefits of taking it But to get to the full blood level you need to be on it and I think you are going to have to have the doctor increase the dose but by week 6 to 8 is when your blood level peaks with the Effexor and that is when you know how well it well works for you. But it is very common for people with this condition to need to take sometimes 2 or 3 different medications and no you are not going crazy much of this they know is more a chemical imbalance and with the benefits of the newer medications, they are getting closer and closer to a fix for us.

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But it is very Important with the Effexor to take it about the same time each day, Don't miss dose's but anyway within the next week or so if not now ask the doctor about an increase in dose so you can get the side effects taken care of that vary from person to person but sound like your dealing with them well. The school you're at do they have a clinic that offers to counsel. I know this well help you a lot to learn how to deal with this and block some of those thoughts out of your mind and also they have many was to teach you relaxation techniques that well help with the medications to avoid all the rushing thoughts. But you must let the doctor be the doctor and you be the patient!!! no little white lies you sound like you really want to get better so you must be very honest with the doctor. and Therapist. Things we'll get better but you really need someone to work with you for all of these overwhelming problems and don't beat yourself up this is nobodys fault this is more a chemical imbalance and habits that we learn that are not always good to avoid things that bother us the good thing is you are young enough that you well be able to get all of this worked out with the right medication and the great types of therapies they have available to us now days. Good luck my friend. give your doctor a call at least in the next week and see if you can get the doctors okay for an increase your conditions is normal to get up to 225 to 300 mg a day. Good luck again. Be glad it is now they can do so much for these conditions that they did not even know not that many years ago.

Answer

Only have time to address one thing at the moment. If I were you, I would absolutely consider therapy. It could be very helpful to you in dealing with all of these things.

How long for Effexor XR to start working (read)? Do I need to increase dose or is it the wrong med?

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