Too afraid of sideeffects to take efexor!

[mishel]

i had bad reactions on other antidepressants including Citalopram which gave a me a huge weird panic attack, I was afraid ti leave my room, I thought they were lots of people outside and was afraid they were goin to break in, etc...... only lasted a day and my friend helped calm me down.
I am home alone durning the day and my mum sucks at dealing with my panic attacks.
my doctor gave me 37.5 mgs of efexor to help with my anxiety and agoraphobia,
but I'm so afraid to take them, I dont want to freak out if im on my own and I already overreact to everything already like any weird sensation i get freaks me out never mind if i get side effects!
i dont know what to do, i want to be free of anxiety and it would be amazing if the medication worked,
i dont have a choice but to be on my own durning the day,
i'll to have to some how force myself to take it, and hope for the best, :weep:

[mishel]

http://www.askapatient.com/viewratings.asp?drug=20699&name=EFFEXOR%20XR&sort=age

got a bunch of reviews, oh and im on the xl slow release ones

[mishel]

I'm starting to consider not taking it, i dont want to take anything for more than a few months, if its going to makr my anxiety worse for a while and then getting withdrawls it doesnt seem worth it, id rather work on my anxiety without medicating cause that will only hide it.
ah i dont know what to do

[jo61]

The side effects never caused me any problems but the withdrawal did. However I know people who came off it no problem. As with all meds, everyone's response is different.

[nov3ske]

I never had any bad side-effects from venlafaxine. Actualy it's helped me ALOT with depression, and it's starting on my anxiety aswell!

I think you should deffinatly atleast try it for a week or 2 and see how it goes, if it does work out well for you, you deffinatly won't regret it!

[MyNameIsntRich]

Well being one who has had a 3+year long horror story from this drug i may be a bit bias on the subject. When it works effexor feels and seems like the best wonder drug ever. However!! and this is a big one comming off of it is literally described by many as worse then heroin withdraw. It has strucken me so hard that i would do anything in my power to prevent another person from even taking the chance of starting this drug. I have known 5 people who have taken effexor. I am the last one still on it. 1 had no problems at all as far as the common horror stories. the other four including myself think that its a drug satan created himself! i urge you to exaust all other medication options before trying effexor.

[mishel]

i know it's addictive, another reason i don't want to take it. i have 4 weeks worth of the stuff,

[MyNameIsntRich]

Maybe ask the Dr for another option ? Of course as i said before jsut cause one person has a reaction doesnt mean you will but soo many people do have adverse reactions tothis drug i would really try to find an alternative... Best of luck to ya keep us up to date!

Not Rich

[Dahlia]

Hello

I've gone through the same dilemma this week - should I take Effexor or not? I was really really scared about the side effects (I posted about it on the general Medications board). I've had side effects from other anti-depressants, and had to come off them. I'm also on my own at home.

Anyway - I decided to take it, and just deal with it one day at a time. I thought, if the worst comes to the worst, and I have a horrendous day I don't have to take it again. And if I don't like it after a month I can just come off of it.

So, I am on day 3 now (75mg per day of Effexor XR). So far, nothing negative to report other than shaky hands (!) In fact, I am going to bed at night and sleeping rather than lying there feeling anxious (compare this to 2 weeks ago when I was spending half the night in my bathroom, out of my mind with anxiety!) - this may be because I have switched from Sertraline to Effexor immediately, or it might be a placebo effect (not sure the anti-anxiety effects would start so soon!). But right now, I feel better than I did 4 days ago, not worse.

I have had a couple of very mild anxiety moments shortly after taking the pill - but asked myself 'am I just feeling anxious because I have taken the pill?', and realised that is exactly what it is, and the anxiety goes! In those moments, I read a book or do a crossword, and then realise half an hour later that I feel absolutely fine.

Of course, it might all start up tomorrow and I'll have a terrible day! But if I feel ill, I am just going to get into bed.

It's worth reminding yourself that if you look at anti-diarrhoea tablets, for example, they list most of the side effects that anti-depressants do. Yet we take stuff like that without thinking.

Remember - deal with it one day at a time. You aren't on your own - come on here and post if you feel bad.

Good luck!

[mishel]

wow thanks! still havent taken them! my doctor thinks i'm taking them too! i know i am being paranoid about it! still havent decided if i want to take them or not

[Dahlia]

You're welcome, and you aren't being remotely paranoid - we all go through this when we start medications, especially if we have had bad experiences in the past!

[jonstar]

I find it best NOT to read the CMI pamphlet, otherwise, power of suggestion takes hold, and you imagine your self suffering every side effect listed within the first 10 minutes of swallowing a pill

[mishel]

yes i know i will never do it again!!!!! well i will to read drung interactions, but i will not read side effects, i take antibiotics without even thinking!