Depression Support Group

I was on 225mg of effexor cr and took myself down 75mg. I cannot stand being a zombie. So now I am on 150 mg. I hate this drug and am working my way off it, I am determined to take something else. Or nothing at all for a while. I also took myself off the lamictal and the abilify.
My pdoc is on sabbatical and I see new pdocs each time and they don't really know what the heck to do with me, I see a new one on Tuesday. So far I am less zombified this week. Still spent today in bed but I was actually outside four days in a row this week!

What other med do you think you'll try?

I have been taking Effexor XR for a while now and the doc keeps raising my dose. I also felt like a zombie for a while but it passed. However, now I am trying to get off of it and it is a nightmare!!!!! I NEVER sleep and my appetite has REALLY increased.

I used to be on this. Getting off was so hard. Do not try this without a doctor. You will be amazed how better your mind and body feels OFF of this medication. I'm sure it helped me get out of the depression, but after that it was just sedatiing. Good luck.

I don't really know what my coverage will pay for, does anyone have any success stories with other meds that do not increase weight?

Pozfem, this is a conversation best had with your pdoc, but in my experience, zoloft and prozac were better than this effexor stuff. Due to the 'zombie'effect like Marie describes here, it is hard to get up and exercise. However, my son is on this same med (prescribed to him because it worked for me, his md thought)and he is in the best shape ever...but of course, he's 22! By the way, my son has tried 2-3 times to get off of it and has been able to do anything except lower the dosage. There should be warning labels on Effexor that warns people of the adddictive nature of the drug,in my opinion.

My experience with Effexor has been the complete opposite.
I have tons of energy and my mind is very sharp

I have to say I am really surprised by all the negative posts I see about Effexor.

In clinical trials Effexor was far more effective than SSRI's (Paxil,Prozac,Zoloft)
with less side effects

Every psychiatrist I ask ( I know several thru work) all say Effexor is the most effective anti depressant

oh well, I guess everybody is different

This is to reply to MrKNE, please know that the reason Effexor is not a "good med" according to me is due to the addictive quality making withdrawal so difficult. After you are done with Effexor and want off of it, please write with how "easy" you got yourself off of it. When docs prescribe this, they usually forget to tell you this. While it is true, when the dosage is right, this is an effective anti depressant and anti anxiety med, it has its down side....withdrawal challenges. Just my opinion. Ask all those docs that you work with...I got off at my first attempt but I know people who have tried 2-4 times and always resolve to try again later. It is similar to other anti anxiety meds in this way.

I was originally on Effexor RX but it raised my BP off the charts - and I typically have low BP. It was up to 158/125. It was helping with my anxiety and depression - so I was bummed (on 150 mg). Didn't want to take BP medicine so I was weened off Effexor XR and have eased on to Zoloft - 150 MG. It seems to be working.

effexor did the same thing to me. it actually made my depression worse because i felt so useless & like a zombie. I couldn't even function when i was on it. it was horrible. i felt much better after i got off it tho.