effexor- please I need feedback

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heartbroken1
heartbroken1 Member Posts: 54
edited June 2018 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi 

I just started effexor today( with breakfast)- I am trying to be positive- starting me on 37 mg- for ab out 10 days- it is evening- and I already feel some slight slight nausea- I am praying that I can tolerate it- cause that is the only drug my oncologist will allow me being on Tamoxifen)( I can't swithch to aromatase cause of my bones)- Please- anyone else have some side effects- but in time they diminished???? I think they would like to move me up to 75- but are taking it slowly- I am being monitored by a psyciatrist who specializes in medications ( psychiatric- - not just therapy- so - I felt a little safer than being monitored by my oncologist.

ANyone out there to give me some encouragement???????

thanks all 

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  • jmfl
    jmfl Member Posts: 88
    edited December 2008

    Yes. The side effects you experience when you start taking effexor should get much better after about two weeks. It is a drug that your body has to get used to. I did not have nausea but I was totally exhausted when I first started it. It was like the first trimester of pregnancy. I took it at night because I would have to go to bed about an hour after taking it. I just couldn't keep my eyes open. After about 2 weeks I felt much better. I don't have the exhaustion any more but I do have an easier time falling asleep and I feel better rested when I wake up, which is a positive. When I increased my dos from 37.5 to 75 I had the exhaustion again but it went away faster, after about week .

    I'm doing really well on the eeffexor and am glad I started taking it. I plan to stay on it for at least as long as I am on Tamoxifen, if not longer. 

    I recommend trying to stick with it for 2 weeks if you can and see if it gets better. Good luck.

    Julie

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  • swinn
    swinn Member Posts: 125
    edited December 2008

    I've been on it for several years and started at 37 1/2 mg. I also was nauseaus.Believe me it goes away and now I have an appetite! Give it some time. I'm taking 75mg now. These meds take a while for the side effects to go away and to start working. Plus everybody is different in how they react to them. Try to put up with it a little longer and you should notice some positive effects.

    Sally

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  • car
    car Member Posts: 492
    edited December 2008

    Women report different side effects w/many of the antidepressants that oncs prescribe. One of my friends had real problems w/effexor and another had none. I had real problems w/generic vs. nongeneric wellbutrin, then the nongeneric stopped working. Cymbalta didn't work at all, but lexapro seems fine. The main thing is to monitor your side effects, and if they remain, talk w/your onc. There are a number of drugs that can be prescribed.

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  • Pinkfin
    Pinkfin Member Posts: 7
    edited December 2008

    I have been on effexor tablets for several years.  You must take it AFTER a meal to avoid the nausea.  If you are taking the effexor XR (extended release) it may make you feel really tired like a heavy comforter over your head.  I started on the tablets, then a few years later tried the XR -- hated it and went back to the tablets.  Paxil was recommended by the oncologist too, but I know I am okay with the effexor.  Though, tamoxifen is in my future (just found out) I would definitely take it after a solid breakfast (not just toast & coffee).  If you can drink half a glass of milk or yogurt to "coat" the stomach too.

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  • emanresu
    emanresu Member Posts: 60
    edited January 2009

    I have been on Effexor for 5 years. I have had no problems with it.

    When I start to go off of the Effexor I will do it very, very slowly.

    I have been on the 37.5 mg.

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  • dreamwriter
    dreamwriter Member Posts: 3,255
    edited January 2009

    I have been on effexor for 2 yrs.... 37.5mg twice daily.  To help with the hot flashes. I took some stomach medication at first and after a week found the nausea subsided.  The fatigue took another couple of weeks.  But once I was used to it, I had not problems at all.  Good luck to you.

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  • swinn
    swinn Member Posts: 125
    edited January 2009

    heartbroken1,

    Are you home yet? Just wondering if you got back from your trip and tried the effexor again.

    Let us know if we can help. PM me and I will tell you what my doc told me about this AD.

    Sally

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  • heartbroken1
    heartbroken1 Member Posts: 54
    edited January 2009

    HI

    Yes I am back- and I am holding off starting cause I got real trouble w/ my ears and a bit of di\zzyness- soI get that sometimes after a rough flight( we couldn't go non stop - had an emergency on board and had to touch down and then go back up again. But frankly- - so spoke to the doc- and he said to call when I was better- he is starting so low- like 20mg- but I for some reason- feel great emotionally- I have really felt better than I have in a long time- the trip? who knows- so I now am thinking twice about starting it. I certainly don't feel depressed at all 

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  • swinn
    swinn Member Posts: 125
    edited January 2009

    Glad to hear the trip did you good. Maybe that was just what you needed. I know I feel like that sometimes. Just a need to get away. Sorry you aren't feeling well. Flying can cause some vertigo. Just hope you don't have an ear infection.

     Take care and keep us informed with what you decide. I think I need a change of scenery right now. Long winter months with little sunshine doesn't help.

     Sally

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  • Mont
    Mont Member Posts: 1
    edited June 2018

    hi,

    This seems to be a very old post. But whatever you have described, I am in exact same situation. I would like to know how did you manage with dizziness and these symptoms and tamoxifen?

    Best,

    Mont

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  • wallan
    wallan Member Posts: 1,275
    edited June 2018

    Hi there:

    First time I had BC, I was on effexor XR (37.5 mg) for hot flashes from tamoxifen and Aromasin. I took it for 6 years and then very slowly tapered off. I had headaches from it, but they disappeared within a few weeks of taking it.

    This time, i was put on Effexor XR (75 mg) for anxiety/panic attacks after surgery and I had headaches that lasted a few months. After I started Arimidex, the Effexor XR was boosted to 150 mg per day which I freaked out about to myself. I did have headaches and lightheadedness, nausea and some diarrhea for a few months. I have been on that dose for a year now. I am fine. It really helps with my anxiety. I no longer have side effects from it other than weight gain but that may also be from the Arimidex. Anyways, give it try and don't let possible side effects scare you off. Its a good drug. I must say, I have no hot flashes or mood swings from the Arimidex. This is likely due to the Effexor.


    wallan

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