Who has tried Effexor (XR)?
If so, what are your exact experiences with it?

I read in Dr.Amen's book "Healing ADD" that it would be the "drug of choice" for Type 3 (overfocused Add) which would be me..

I was on Ritalin for awhile but it made me really depressed/sad.

I started today with Medikinet but don't have the greatest expectation since it's the same generic as Ritalin (methylphenidate).

If you heard anything about Effexor (xr) or about sth else that could be used by the overfocused Add type (who worries to much), please let me know!

I don't want to take AD/SSRI, etc.

Thank you in advance,
Katy

Hi Katy - I had the same problems with methylphenidate (made me very depressed and anxious when a dose - even the smallest dose - wore off.) I switched to dexedrine, which I MUCH prefer. I also just started Effexor XR today. It's approved for GAD (general anxiety disorder) so maybe that's why it's helpful for ADDers who worry too much.

@Allison:

Thank you for the reply.
Did only Ritalin make you depressed or also the short release forms of methylphenidate like Medikinet/Concerta?

Don't you have any side effects with dexedrine?

also just started Effexor XR today. It's approved for GAD (general anxiety disorder)Is Effexor a SSRI or how does it work?
If you'd only take Effexor (without any stimulent), does it also help the ADHD symptoms?

Thanks again,
Katy

im on 75 ml its helping me quite a bit i habe g.a.d with lots of physical symtoms,sine starting effexor feel a lot better,graham

Hi Katy -

I took Effexor XR.
My psychiatrist switched me from Zoloft to Effexor when I asked him about it after reading the Amen book.
I took it as an antidepressant though (not simply to treat symptoms of ADD) because I have problems with depression.

The Effexor seemed to work okay for me but I ended up switching to Cymbalta after several months because I felt really bad if I missed a dose of Effexor or if I took a dose more than an hour or so later than usual every day.

To answer your question about whether it's an SSRI: My limited understanding of Effexor is that it works on both serotonin and norepinephrine. (not just on serotonin)

For me the Effexor did not work by itself for my ADD symptoms. For the ADD symtoms I used dexidrine (I think the generic name is dextroamphetamine) in addition to the Effexor. We settled on the dexidrine after trying ritalin (generic and brand), Adderall and Concerta.

Good luck finding a med that works for you!

hi,im on 75 mills an d it is helping me,i was in pretty bad shape,lots of physical symtoms palapatations,heat rushes,tingling,you name it,im also seeing a therapist.
he is teaching me c.b.t,youll be ok..talk to your doctor about effexor.
Graham

Before you go on Effexor, do a quick google of "effexor withdrawal."

Effexor can be a god send for some people. Honestly, if anything is going to pull you out of the deepest dark depression, Effexor will.

But thats the end of it. DONT go on Effexor because you think it will help your ADD. Thats part of the reason I went on it. When I tried to stop, with my doctors words of mild flu like symptoms, I went of pretty quickly. Woke up in a pretty bad state of panic/dysforia/psychosis.

Some people can come off easy, but quite a few cant. And there are a few people that have permanent discontinuation syndrome.

This drug is currently being pushed by quite a few doctors, thinking its the next prozac. Effexor is nothing to play with. It took me around 4 months of tapering to get off after being on around 7 months.

Regardless of whats above, these types of medications generaly affect several aspects of your life. Such as your sex drive, emotional blunting, sleep problems, night sweats, (really bad with me) and despite what some people are saying, some serious mental impairment. Its really not worth it. This is coming from someone who is quite adept at chemical experimentation (cough) with about every pharmaceutical drug, including some of the tough ones for most people like paxil, and a 4 month high dosage of Xanax, but Effexor was the most trying time of my life. Both on it and off.

I really dont mean to scare anyone of the drug if you really need it. Its quite a bit better than depression, but thats what its usage should be confined to.

Before you go on Effexor, do a quick google of "effexor withdrawal."
I too caution the same thing. I went slowly, but it was a nightmare. Also, if you forget to refill your meds on time, do not take this drug. If I forgot one day or even a half day, my emotions went out of control-mostly depression and anxiety-ER trips a couple of times.

It could work for you, but the label warnings are pretty clear about not missing or skipping a dose. Proceed with caution. It is not a generic. Other SSRI's work well and cost less.

You are paying for it and it is your health, know the risks and benefits and make an informed choice-to or not to take Effexor.

RADD

I couldn't agree more. I was on it, I missed a day and had what I would consider the equivalent of a mental breakdown. It made my depression worse after being on it for about six months. After weaning myself off it, the question of what hell on earth is like was answered for me. I know multiple people who say the same thing. For months I kept getting dizzy, getting hot and/or sweating flashes, dizzyness, nausia, and, the feeling that my brain was like a skipping record and/or a paused one constantly. I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone. I would say to try Zoloft, Paxil, or Wellbutrin first. They all have their bad points, but none as bad as Effexor. :faint:

One more caution from me too! I had a good friend with BPD (she's still out there, we are no longer close though) and she personally warned me to never allow my Cymbalta to be changed to Effexor for any reason!

She share the same tendency for deep depression and her withdrawal from Effexor was so extreme that she felt it would be immoral not to warn me about it. She had to be hospitalised when she withdrew and her mental state was frightening to her to say the very least.

If it works for others I would support that of course.

Maybe I ought to contact her and see how she is doing these days? Last I heard from her she was doing very well but going offline and I have not seen her since.

Crazy :cool:

OH MY GOD! Thank you SO much for these warnings!

Are the symptoms somewhat similar, if not that severe, if you stop other SSRI?

Please be straight honest cause I'm not suicidal, so I don't HAVE to take any SSRI and if you tell me other anti depressants can cause or usually cause bad withdrawal symptoms, I'm definitely not gonna take it!
Please let me know.

My neurologist gave me fluoxetin (SSRI) !

Has anyone tried it or is currently taking it? What about the side effects or withdrawal symptoms of fluoxetin ?
The package insert says you either lose weight than gain weight on fluoxetin..
I don't know about that..

Thanks for any reply

Fluoxetine hydrochloride is an antidepressant drug used medically in the treatment of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and panic disorder. Fluoxetine is also used (off-label) to treat many other conditions, such as ADHD. Fluoxetine was derived from diphenhydramine, an antihistamine found to inhibit reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Compared to other popular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), fluoxetine has a strong energizing effect. This makes fluoxetine highly effective in treatment of clinical depression cases where symptoms like depressed mood and lack of energy prevail. Although stimulating, it is also approved for a variety of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Fluoxetine is sold under the brand names Prozac, Symbyax (compounded with olanzapine), Sarafem, FLUX (Pakistan), Fontex (Sweden), Foxetin (Argentina), Ladose (Greece), Fluctin (Austria, Germany), Prodep (India), Fludac* (India) Oxetin (Bosnalijek,Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Lovan (Australia).

I have not taken Zoloft for many years, but I do remember that I did not gain weight on any SSRI. If I would withdraw, then go back on the same SSRI, I typically lost weight (this happened with Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft) but I am well aware that this does not happen to everyone. People react differently to medications!

Please discuss your concerns with your doctor :).

Crazy :cool:

Thanks a lot for this detailed information.

Compared to other popular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), fluoxetine has a strong energizing effect. Isn't that contraindicative for s.o. with ADHD? It could make you more irritable.

That's also a reason why I don't want to take SSRI because I think they would have the effect on me that I'd be the same way as I'm without stimulants.
At least it would (in my! opinion) lessen the (focusing,etc.) effect of the stimulants.. ?
Thus stimulants and SSRI could kind of "cancel each other out"..

Is that true (at least to some point) ?

Katy, mine don't do that, OK? My SSNRI treats my depression and my stimulant treats my ADHD. I am an old woman and I have realised that over-thinking things is counterproductive. All I care about these days is relief, and a little peace for the last half of my life.

Crazy :cool: