PLEASE HELP.......efexor makin me feel real bad - Anxiety Message Board

AlanG · 07-06-2003, 10:30 AM

hi yesterday i took my first efexor xl (75mgs) and at first i felt fine. i took it at 330 (with food) and till about 2300 i felt fine but since then right thru till now 1727 next day ive had back to back attacks....i really dunno wot to do and im goin crazy how can i calm down

Jennita · 07-06-2003, 12:09 PM

I don't know why they prescribe these serotonin-type drugs for anxiety, other than maybe because they have discovered that the proper drugs for anxiety, the benzodiazepines, have caused alot of addiction problems, so now they just substiutite the depression drugs? Basically from what I understand, serotonin is an excitatory neurotransmitter, not an inhibitory one! I would think that's the last thing an anxious person would need.

Regular exercise is very calming, along with some mild helpers like chammomile and calcium supplements(or milk). CBT has helped some people. A full physical must be done to rule out such triggers as blood sugar or thyroid problems.

If one uses benzos, they shouldn't be taken everyday, only for emergency attacks. Also, the smallest dose to avoid dependancy and tolerance.

XxlDippsxX · 07-06-2003, 02:59 PM

Take deep breaths u will be ok, made me like that, maybe u should try 35mg first effexor isnt an ssri it is an snri affects motivation shouldnt reall be given for anxiety more for depression made me freak out reall bad.. just take 35 mg stick with that for a week, i will experiecne alot of anxiety but it will all pass.. dont start on 75mg..

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dipps

AlanG · 07-06-2003, 04:26 PM

yer i thought 75 woulda been too strong thats wot the doc bloody gave me tho...they never pay attention do they

wot other meds are there that aint so potent???

i dont know much about em and efexor was my first

hry33 · 07-06-2003, 05:26 PM

to alan g,the smallest effective effexor dose is 75 but it often helps to take a smaller dose for a week or so
effexor and all the other antidepressants often make us more anxious and panicky for the first week or 2, valium type meds reduce these so called inital nusiance side effects, but many docs are antibenzo and wont prescribe any
I suggest you get some benzos and persist with the effexor if you can
many docs dont know about early antidepressant side effects, they rely entirely on drug co sales reps for their meds info and the sales reps 'forget' to tell them.

early antidepressant side effects are sometimes so bad that they must be stopped.