I'm on venlafaxine (effexor) for depression but it seems to be causing me problems with constipation and, ahem, excess flatulence.....\n\nI've been on it a few months and thought these side effects might wear off, but they haven't and I've had to use glycerin suppositories for the constipation. I don't want to stop the venlafaxine, because it's really helping with my depression, but what would anyone recommend for the gastro side effects? And I already eat a lot of fibre, but it's not helping with the constipation, and probably contributing to the flatulence!!!
200498
If you doctor OKs it, you might try adding a "good" bacteria product to your diet. You can buy lactobacillus capsules anywhere you buy vitamins or you could just try eating a package or two of live-culture yogurt every day.  (Just make sure the yogurt says "live culture" on it.)
406659
Talk to your doctor if you can.  St. John's Wort is a natural herbal remedy and there are other natural herbs that are supposed to help, I'm not sure if they really do.  I felt the exact same way as you.  I took a couple of different anti-deppresants.  Although I did feel better, I felt apathetic & emotionless, like I didn't care about anything. My school work definitely surfered from it because I just didn't care if I did well or not.  I stopped taking anti-depressants because I would rather feel sad than feel nothing at all.   So antidepressants aren't always the best.  Try an herbal remedy or trying to changes omething in your life (exercise releases natural hormones that make you feel good, or get a fun job, hobby, club, sport - sometimes these things can make a big difference)
226115
I was taking 30 mgs. daily, and my doctor took me off of it too abruptly - just over a two week period, and I had been taking it for over a year.  It took me about a month to feel like myself again.  My side effects included dizziness, waves of shock like electricity in my head (the worst.)  It helped me to go to a search engine under "Celexa Withdrawl Symptoms" and see that a lot of other people felt like I did.  You'll be ok again.
42624
Yeah it's fine, I've done that before. I'm on 220 MG of Effexor XR (supposedly the highest dose). Whatever you do, don't miss one dose, as the withdrawal side effects are unbearable and complete torture.
556136
Hello,\n\n  I have taken many anti-dep and have taken along time to find one that fits all my needs. I had a really hard time sexually when on prozac and zoloft, etc. I let my new doc know the problem was affecting my life and he suggested Wellbutrin. So I take a smaller dose of lexapro for the depression because you can only take so much wellbutrin. Then I take a dosage of Wellbutrin to help take the sexual side affects away, which also helps with depression. That changed my life taking both drugs together!!! Been taken them for over 4 yrs. now and I thank my doc all the time! My sex drive is actually usually in over drive now :)
211748
Yikes, I hope you don't get bad withdrawal symptoms from Effexor like I do.  It's pretty bad if I don't take mine, but then again I'm on 300mg so that might make a difference.\n\nIn fact I wouldn't even have 'a few beers' while Effexor is still in your system, I don't think it clashes well with alcohol.  Don't take my word for it though, you should really call your psychiatrist or a pharmacist.
314812
People all seem to say laxatives are bad. Of course people are always fearful of what they have not tried. I have had a far different experience. I set aside one weekend a month to cleanse my system and it seems to help a great deal. I take two Bisacodyl suppositories and drink four ounces of Castor oil. It is best to take the Castor oil in juice. I just swallow it in one big gulp so I don't have to taste it. This will cause multiple bowel movements. After the first few I take six bisacodyl pills. Be sure to drink at least 8 to 10 ounces of water or more every hour as you will lose fluids in the clean out process. You will go to the bathroom until what comes out is clear. There will be some cramping. But nothing intolerable. After you are all cleaned out eat very lightly for the next few days and include yogurt to put a good flora back in your colon. I know that many will disagree with this method but it works great for me!!! I have done this once a month for over 10 years with great results and far better health!!!
357437
I have IBS and I do a Castor oil cleansing one weekend a month and have much fewer problems for the other three weeks. I start by inserting two bisacodyl suppositories and then drinking four ounces of Castor oil. In about an hour I am having flush bowel movements. I take six dulcolax pills. Be sure to drink at least 8 to 10 ounces of water or more an hour while doing this. This process will make you go until what come out is clear. After doing this eat lightly for a few day and include yogurt to put a good flora in your system. I know many people will disagree with this but it works great for me. People are always afraid of what they have not tried or is not common practice!!!
194833
If you is on Effexor you is getting help for depression. Go back to your GP and tell him/her what you wrote here and they will get you PROPER help
124455
Speaking as someone who has been on efexor for a long time now, I can honestly say it is worth persevering.  At least for a little longer.  it may be you need to gradually build up this does, but that can't be done straight away, and it is something your doctor will monitor.  I am on 375mg a day and this newest does has had very positive effects for me.\nOn the other hand it may just be this drug isn't for you and your doctor will listen and try you on something else.  Depression is so different in every one that finding the right AD can be a mine field.\nAs for side effects coming of  the drug, try to get your depression effectively treated before you start listening to people's experiences otherwise you will be anxious about that and impede the benefits of your meds before they can really work.#Good luck
487581
Yep - I've got it too.\n\nI used to take Effexor, but it killed my libido and the withdrawal effects are super-awful (I now kind of understand drug addiction - vomiting, dizziness, the whole she-bang) I took a lot, though, 150mg so that didn't help.  The med helped the anxiety a ton, though. So much that I thought I was better and decided to wean myself (bad idea - don't do it - you will be sorry 3 months later and have to spend another 3 months getting something new into your system)\n\nI am now starting Prozac.  So far the only bad side effect is I can't take it before bed or I don't sleep well.  It is too soon to tell if it is working - so it isn't helping much yet.  Hopefully soon.  \n\nGood luck.  Go to a psychiatrist - they can prescribe meds and have much more background than a family physician so they will have experience with lots of meds.
425849
You probably needed to go off the Effexor slower.  \n\nI would start the Topomax as was directed by your doctor.  It might help with the moodiness, irritablitiy, etc...\n\nI was on Topomax (to help with the weight gain of my Bipolar meds) but honestly, it did not do anything!!!  I did not lose a pound....\n\nJust because a med says it is for something, it does not mean that doctors do not use it for other conditions.  Look at the antipsychotics....they were made for schizaphrenia, but everyone takes them now...depressed people, bipolar people, etc.\n\nAlso CALL YOUR DOCTOR for an appointment sooner
324519
My daddy takes Effexor XR and has heart problems so he takes blood pressure medication too.  That makes me assume Effexor is safe for your heart and should NOT cause any palpatations.  \n\nYou really should call your doctor about this, especially if you haven't been taking it very long.
626377
The depression might be making you more tired than usual. However, it might be a side effect of the medication. Many times..medication has to be adjusted in dosage or changed all together if the side effects aren't tolerable for the patient. Please speak to your prescribing doctor about this.\n\nI had a client taking Effexor, and she often complained that she would have frequent sweating.
505612
Going cold turkey in NOT a good idea. You could begin to experience a lot of bad side effects like dizzyness, nausea, headaches- to the point of being incapacitated. I would have to know what type of Effexor you are taking to know how long the withdrawl will continue- extended release, or regular?\n\nPlease talk to your doctor and tell him/her that you want to stop taking the Effexor- and find a way to gradually wean your body off the medicine.\n\nThere are tons of forums and Q&A sites on the web you might want to check out. Here are 2 to start with. Hope this helps!\n\nhttp://www.thedoctorslounge.net/psychiatry/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1013\n\nhttp://www.medhelp.org/HealthTopics/Effexor.html
436085
Everyone reacts to drugs different.  I don't react to anything that makes your average person sleepy or tired.  So it doesn't matter to me at all.  I do notice that things start to wear off differently.  Do what your doctor told you to do at first and if you experience weird side effects for more than a couple weeks then think about changing things up.  I found that changing my diet really helped me IBS.  It was terrible for a long time and I thought that my diet wasn't really that bad.  Then I moved to Germany and couldn't go out much to eat.  So I started cooking more quality food.  It has really helped.  Also the amount of different types of foods sometimes makes a difference. Good luck.
545783
I have been taking Effexor for many years and I tried coming off all at once and that was a trip.  What I did was cut back one a week for about a month, the one every other day, then one every two day, so on, so forth.  Your Dr. can tell you how to do it, but different things for different people.