After 10 years of being on Zoloft and doing well on it my husband decided to try and quit smoking
was on Wellbutrin and Zoloft for 2 wk for this and spiraled into a suicidal state - that was in July. After 6 weeks being on zoloft he was anxious to feel like himself again and his Doc. reccommended on 9/11-Efferor XR , along with risperol 1 mg and remeron of 30mg to sleep
He is now on 225 mgs tried 300 for a week butwent done as he wakes up
very tired and despressed, now his aniexty is peaked. Tried to get him off remeron the past week also. He feels terrible, can't sleep , feels hopeless , and today suicidal. We want off of this drug
but Doctor insists he should "give it a couple of more weeks" NO WAY! I truely feel its the
Effexor, I also feel so helpless not being able to help him that I'm starting to crash and burn.
Any comments?
Thanks.

I was on efferor for a few months. It made me a very angry person. I got off it. Wellbutrin caused horrable depression. I am now on prozac. and trazidone for sleep. and am doing Dialectical Behavior Therapy. I am able to control my emotions for the first time in my life. you are in a dificult place ,being the caregiver. I wish you all the luck you need. linda

I have used all kinds of prescriptions for anxiety...going back roughly 8 years. I recently weened myself off of all RXs (including effexor rx, 225 mg) partly due to money constraints, but mostly because I hate the idea of being a slave to chemicals in order to feel somewhat normal.
Yes, he is prob going through withdrawal...I had horribly withdrawal that lasted more than two months. I tried to ween as slowly as I could to avoid the mania, anger bursts, depression, nausau, HEADACHES, sweats, ....eeeeekk, I could go on and on...Going through that hell made me realize just how good of a decision it was to get off Rxs altogether.
I found the herb called valerian root that I now take at bed time that is for relaxation, along with another vitamin called melatonin that helps me fall asleep. Both are natural herbs that help enhance what your body is already doing (if that makes sense).
I also take a multivitamin, a flaxseed oil capsul (for my heart), a magnesium pills for muscle relaxation (RLS), an vit C pills for my immune system. I feel way better now that I did before. True, i am still taking pills, but they are at least natural, and they don't break the bank or require permission from a doctor. I should also note that I am also enjoying the benefits of yoga and other mind soothing exercises in addition to reading more books about the human mind and how it plays "tricks" on you (try The Power of Now and/or A New Earth by Ekhart Tolle). It also helps if you have a patient significant other. Good luck.

I'm a 46 year old Mom of a 2 girls 8 and 10 years of age. I have struggled with anxiety and depression most my life and always beleive it will get better. I have tried many antidepressants and mood stabalizers. Over the last 5 years I've been steadily taking Xanax going anywhere from daily doses of 4mg a day to 2mgs (benzos work the best) however Drs are reluctant to continue prescribing. I am now on 150mgs of EffexorXR and 2mgs xanax a day. The Effexor helps with certain moods but doesn't address my anxiety (GAD). I'm also dealing with neck pain and was told I should try Cymbalta now. I would love to wean off of Xanax and find one drug that helps all symptoms. I've read a little about Valerian Root and wonder if that is an avenue for me or if my brain is too screwed up to go holistic. I don't like to be drugged and I'm very active even with the meds I'm taking. I can't afford to be any more sedated then I am now........ Any suggestions????

The valerian root doesn't make me spacey as some people claim. I am so tense and anxious though, that perhaps it is exactly what I have needed to bring me down to a "normal" state. I take 4 pills that are 450 mg each. I believe the recommended dosage is 1500 mg/day. I have yet to find anything on valerian 'over dosage', and have thus considered taking 3 pills in the a.m. and one or two at bedtime, just because I believe so much that it has helped me manage some of my looniness! I am cautious though, and will look into it more before I add more pills to my daily cocktail. Good luck.

One more thing....look into acupuncture for your neck pain...I hear those needles can do wonderful things.