effexor

[KATE336]

has anyone taken this drug over an extended period of time? i am taking it with two mood stabilizers-one for depression the other to help control mania. how did it go for you? i am afraid of mania with it...

[KissMeImBiPolar]

Hi Kate! Although I have never taken it...my sister has and didn't like it...but remember...what everyone seems to agree on is that each medication is different for everyone   I had the same question about my Geodon just yesterday or the day before lol....so, what might work for someone, might not for you and vice versa.....as someone told me...give it time to see  

Hope that helps???

Hugs,
*Chelbie*

[francie reregistered]

Hi... i haven't taken effexor over an extended period of time, no... but each individual is so different when it comes to their reaction to drugs, and whether they help or not.  If you feel effexor isn't helping you, the best place to start is with the prescribing doctor.

My roommate takes effexor and has for more than three years.  doesn't seem to help her depression at all, but then, i think she invents her depression a lot of the time because i can see a difference when a real bipolar related depression is coming on for her, and when she's having a pity party. 

her memory is failing her, also.  i have read this is a side-effect of effexor, but just like everything else, we are all individual and all of us do not have the same side-effects, either!

I sure hope your doctor can help you... take care.

~~francie

[elwood]

Hello.  I have taken Effexor for a year and half or so.  I just recently tried to taper off effexor and go back to cymbalta. I found myself feel better in most ways but my hostility  came back.  So i reverted to effexor again.  it seems to keep me calm, sometimes to calm.  I either sleep all day or stay awake for two or three days. 

The part about memory is hitting me very hard also.  I don't read books very much any more because by the time I am half way through a long paragraph I forget what was at the beginning of the paragraph.  (my favorite song just came on "Lay Lady Lay" by Bob Dylan).

I had to get authorization from insurance to get up to 450 mg per day.  I guess thats a lot.

I also take Lamictal, klonopin and Abilify.

Elwood. aka Rick