It just stopped working...

[heather]

I've been on Effexor XR for about 9 months (75 mg combined with 37.5 daily) and for the past 2 weeks it's seems like it has just stopped working. I'm extremely depressed, sleeping, no appetite, not going to the gym, barely making it to work (all the usual symptoms of a bad episode.) Anyone experience this? I know I need to call my doctor, but thought I'd ask in the forum first. Don't want to switch meds as this one seemed to have been the best (Zoloft - no; Celexa was okay for a while.) Thanks for any input.

[Ella - Canada]

My brother is on this medicine and it has been 2 years now. He keeps having problems in stomach including vomiting and depression attacks of shouting and pain to the extent of taking him to hospital. I sometimes feel the drug is not doing anyhting. Is this normal? Any comments?

[cdp]

heather wrote:

I've been on Effexor XR for about 9 months (75 mg combined with 37.5 daily) and for the past 2 weeks it's seems like it has just stopped working. I'm extremely depressed, sleeping, no appetite, not going to the gym, barely making it to work (all the usual symptoms of a bad episode.) Anyone experience this? I know I need to call my doctor, but thought I'd ask in the forum first. Don't want to switch meds as this one seemed to have been the best (Zoloft - no; Celexa was okay for a while.) Thanks for any input.

You really should contact your doctor. I was on effexor xr since Nov. 2003; and just weaned myself over the past few weeks. I started with 75mg and my doctor upped it to 2 x 75mg after I had a horrible reaction to Straterra (on it for two weeks--made me suicidal). So maybe you will need to increase it. I must add, if you can possibly change to another med, I'd recommend it because of the withdrawal side effects.(If you think you'll be able to go off meds in the futureL) I have taken paxil and prozac in the past for 1-2 years (?) each. I've never stayed on a drug long-term.

Effexor did help me during a very difficult period, but I am trying to clean myself of the need for a "pill" by seeing a therapist and getting more exercise to see if I can actually increase those good brain chemicals naturally and through "behavior" therapy.

Probably not much help, but I just wanted to give you some feedback from a voice out here.

[Frank]

Hey, I definately have been experiencing these feelings that Effexor has stopped working for me the past 2 weeks and I am definately considering discontinuation but am afraid of the side effects I experienced at other times I tried to quit and from what I have heard on forums

[Linda]

heather wrote:

I've been on Effexor XR for about 9 months (75 mg combined with 37.5 daily) and for the past 2 weeks it's seems like it has just stopped working. I'm extremely depressed, sleeping, no appetite, not going to the gym, barely making it to work (all the usual symptoms of a bad episode.) Anyone experience this? I know I need to call my doctor, but thought I'd ask in the forum first. Don't want to switch meds as this one seemed to have been the best (Zoloft - no; Celexa was okay for a while.) Thanks for any input.

I can relate to you on this as effexor has just stopped for me although I am still on it. I went down to 150mgs but it is doing nothing.

[Linda]

I can relate to you on this as effexor has just stopped for me although I am still on it. I went down to 150mgs but it is doing nothing

[gml10]

ya i have been on it for 4 months and when im taking it during the first month or so it works great but then it just stops and all the anxiety problems come right back

[Brigid W]

gml10 wrote:

ya i have been on it for 4 months and when im taking it during the first month or so it works great but then it just stops and all the anxiety problems come right back

Hmmm. I can't help but keep wondering what the real story is. So many contradictions, so little sense. I just don't get it.

[rose]

I have been on effexor for over 6 years now. it worked great for the first 5 years maybe, but in the last year, it feels like sometimes I forgot to take it. I know I have taken it, but I all shaky, and very light headed. My anxiety has returned full force, and I have been off work for 2 weeks now. I cry at the drop of a hat, for now reason at all. I have a great relationship with my boyfriend. I should be extremely happy but I am not. I am taking 225mg effexor every morning. is it possible that the effexor isn't working anymore?

Feeling scared

[Travelynne]

Paxil did me that way: Worked quite well for five years, then just kinda pooped out. My shrink said Paxil sometimes does that, so she switched me to Effexor. I did not react well to Effexor (in fact, I reacted very badly, but far be it for me to blame Effexor - physicians still think it's wonderful), so I stopped, on a graduated basis. She recommended that I take Prozac as well while I was weaning myself off, but I decided not to. I wasn't pleasant, but I did do it, and I'm so glad I did.

Keep looking for the answers for yourself, rose. Most doctors just quote what they've been told by the pharmaceutical salespeople.

[MCfromNYC]

All the SSRIs will eventually stop working. If you want to stay on them, it's usually a good idea to switch drugs every few years. (Prozac stopped working for me a long time ago.)

[Ezin]

Rose,

This is called antidepressant 'poop out', it is not a new phenomenon, and has been recognised for many years. After a while, the drug can stop working at a particular dose, it wears off.

An early study on Prozac, Feb 1995, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that: in 34% of patients the drug wore off; 84% of patients responded to an increase in dose; but within a year this effect had worn off in 27% of patients.

If you want to read up about it, then Chapter 2 of Joesph Glenmullen's book on side-effects 'Prozac Backlash' discusses the phenomenon.

People often describe having withdrawal symptoms while still taking their usual daily dose. It is particularly painful when patients have been informed that they may remain on the drug for life, but the poop-out possibility was not mentioned.

There are options, but it is something you will need to discuss with your doctor. The main thing is not to be scared, this isn't an unusual scenario.

[Joey]

MCfromNYC wrote:

All the SSRIs will eventually stop working. If you want to stay on them, it's usually a good idea to switch drugs every few years.(Prozac stopped working for me a long time ago.)

Hello, any information as to WHY they stop working?

[Travelynne]

I'm guessing your body builds up a tolerance to it, but that's just a guess.

[Rose]

Travelynne wrote:

I'm guessing your body builds up a tolerance to it, but that's just a guess.

Well I guess my doctor thinks I am crazy, the effexor should be working, he upped it to 300mg a day. That only made it worse. He put me in hospital, the doctor there put me on celexa, and is weaning me off effexor. he discharged me after 4 days because he said he needed the beds. So I guess I dont count. I have been on celexa 20mg for over a week, with no change. i go back to my doctor today and he says there is nothing he can do.

Where do I turn now, I feel like hurting myself so I can feel physical pain, then maybe they will take me seriously.

LOST AND ALONE

[Jamie]

Hi Rose,
I'm so sorry that you have to go through all of this pain! I just went through it and the withdrawel it was much worse than I anticipated. The pain feels all too real when we experiences it and hope seems dim, but it will ge better soon. There really is light at the end of the tunnel. There will be some dark days, but on the whole it gets much better.
You DO COUNT ALOT! It's hard when doctors don't come through, but it just points out that we have to take charge of our own healing, even if what we feel we would like the most is for someone to just make us feel better. Hang in there, Rose, you can make it, so many of us did and are so glad to be rid of this drug. TRY A DIFFERENT PHYSICIAN who is willing to help right now.
Hugs to you, Jamie

[Jamie]

Hi Rose,
I'm so sorry that you are having to go through this. Many of us know what it feels like to see no hope and not finding good medical care. For me, the withdrawl was much worse than anticipated. Though it seems hopeless at times, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The worst will be over in a few days. I have been off effexor for about two months now, and though I still have some weepy days, it is a whole lot better than when on the drug and especially when coming right off it.
You do count alot!! Try to get a new physician. Most are overworked but there is someone out there who can help you.
A big hug and my prayers to you,
jamie

[Jamie]

Hi Rose, I've written three posts to you that dissappeared and this is just a test

[shannon]

Rose wrote:

<quoted text>
Well I guess my doctor thinks I am crazy, the effexor should be working, he upped it to 300mg a day. That only made it worse. He put me in hospital, the doctor there put me on celexa, and is weaning me off effexor. he discharged me after 4 days because he said he needed the beds. So I guess I dont count. I have been on celexa 20mg for over a week, with no change. i go back to my doctor today and he says there is nothing he can do.
Where do I turn now, I feel like hurting myself so I can feel physical pain, then maybe they will take me seriously.
LOST AND ALONE

Hi Rose....please know that there are others out there feeling your pain, and you are NOT ALONE!
I agrre with Jamie, you should get a different doctor. I had a doctor like that...he even forgot my name (after a year of treatments) and THAT was the last straw! I now have a doctor who actually CARES, and it makes a big difference. Please don't hurt yourself, because then you will have NO CONTROL over your life, it will be taken away from you...it's a scary feeling and I don't want you to experience it. You are important! and remember, these medical people have NO IDEA what you are going through, because chances are, they haven't been where you are! They would be much more compassionate if they actually FELT what you are going through. Stay strong and reach out for help with your VOICE! keep posting!

[shannon]

Jamie wrote:

Hi Rose, I've written three posts to you that dissappeared and this is just a test

Your posts are visible, but this happened to me last week. I wrote to the help desk at TOPIX, and they told me sometimes they have a slow glitch, and posts get delayed...but that they will post, just later in the day.