effexor - Fibromyalgia Message Board

momofsix · 11-05-2003, 08:31 AM

Nortriptyline didn't work for pain, so the next medication my doctor wants to try is effexor. Anyone have any experience - good or bad - with this medication and at what doses? How long did it take to notice the effects?

Linda

MistyMisty · 11-05-2003, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindawainwright

Nortriptyline didn't work for pain, so the next medication my doctor wants to try is effexor. Anyone have any experience - good or bad - with this medication and at what doses? How long did it take to notice the effects?

Linda

Hi Linda, I took it for 8 months. It helped me through a rough time. See the post on Serzone. I posted a bit about it there. It helped with my mood but it takes about three weeks to notice a stable effect. It was good for me when I needed it, but I did feel like I was dyslexic. I was forgetful and had a hard time remembering how to spell words! I don't have much luck with SSRI's. I also got mild temporal pain from it and all SSRI's. That does not mean you will have the same side effects. I was taking it for severe depression while getting my thyroid meds syncronized due to a complete thyroidectomy. It helped when I needed it. It was one of the better SSRI's that I have tried. As for relieving pain, it may have helped a little bit. Getting into a better mood is what helped the most. Give it some time and hopefully you will have good results. MistyMisty

becky1954 · 11-05-2003, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindawainwright

Nortriptyline didn't work for pain, so the next medication my doctor wants to try is effexor. Anyone have any experience - good or bad - with this medication and at what doses? How long did it take to notice the effects?

Linda

I have taken Effexor 150 mg twice a day for several years. I was having trouble at work and getting more depressed so my doc added a 75 mg Effexor. It really helped. It takes all psychotrophic drugs anywhere from 2-4 weeks to work. Just give it some time. I have no side effects from it.

producttramp · 11-06-2003, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by becky1954

I have taken Effexor 150 mg twice a day for several years. I was having trouble at work and getting more depressed so my doc added a 75 mg Effexor. It really helped. It takes all psychotrophic drugs anywhere from 2-4 weeks to work. Just give it some time. I have no side effects from it.

I had to stop after a few weeks, b/c of the side effects--extreme dry mouth, a weird foggy overmedicated feeling. I liked zoloft much better even though it only works on your seratonin levels.

Carina · 11-06-2003, 06:23 PM

I take 37.5mg of Effexor for pain and 50mg. of Zoloft for my depression. I have had Fibro and been in pain for more than 7yrs. The last few years I have been in pain so bad I used to cry from it. My doctor put me on Effexor(was suppose to go on this new one similar to effexor but it did not come out yet)along with Zoloft, I have been on it for over 3 months and the pain is so drastically down that I do not miss as much school as I used to. I told the Rheumatologist about the effexor/zoloft combo and he was impressed of the thought of mixing the two. But taking Effexor helps me manage my pain drastically. I notice the difference in pain to go down in less then 2 weeks. I have not suffered side effects that I know of. Its hard to tell with having the smae symptoms as the side effects.

Carina