Question:
: I have been doing fine, thanks. I have moved back to Odessa with my family. : PD has been ok. I did, however, wreck my company truck a few weeks ago. : There were 4 people in the other vehicle… all were hurt and I’m sure they are : going to sue. besides that, everything else is going fine…. how ’bout you? : : See ya, : : Scott H. : :I survived your absence and am doing rather well generally speaking but I *am* :glad that you’re here again and I hope you’ll stay a while! I think I will. Looks like things have settled down some… although I don’t recognize most of the posters. Take care, Scott H.
Response:
Scott Hampton schreef: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : I have been doing fine, thanks. I have moved back to Odessa with my family. : PD has been ok. I did, however, wreck my company truck a few weeks ago. : There were 4 people in the other vehicle… all were hurt and I’m sure they are : going to sue. besides that, everything else is going fine…. how ’bout you? : : See ya, : : Scott H. : :I survived your absence and am doing rather well generally speaking but I *am* :glad that you’re here again and I hope you’ll stay a while! I think I will. Looks like things have settled down some… although I don’t recognize most of the posters. Take care, Scott H.
Some months ago there were some changes. Gary decided it was time for Real Life, there was a bad *troll war* with very ugly aspects and many regulars left ASAP. Now there are almost no trolls (ssssshhht….don’t even talk about them out loud or they’ll come out of the woodwork again 
) and a new set of good people. However, we do still have old-timers like Arthur & Jen & Jon for example. Jet is in the hospital with dibates-complications and is apparently very ill. Philip
Response:
Hang in there. I took Effexor for over a year in doses ranging from 75 to 375 mg day. Early on at the lower doses I had a hard time ejaculating but would last for hrs. At the higher doses sometimes lost erection but things did change as time went on. After a few months things got more back to normal. Talk to your dr about what is going on, there are options such as adding one of a few different meds to stop the undesired sexual side effects. Purple Panic – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It can’t get any worse. I might as well be a eunuch. Maybe I’ll become a monk. I’ll be the slightly anxious one. Is it possible the sexual dysfunction will go away as I continue w/effexor? It’s kinda scary to think I’ll never be able to have sex again. Then again, my mind has never been clearer now that I don’t have THAT distraction anymore. DOug
Response:
Scott Hampton schreef: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : : : : : I have been taking Effexor for about 4 years. my initial dose was 37.5 mg x 3 : a day. That worked for me for a while. To get to the point, the last pd doc I : went to raised my dose to 75 mg. x 3. He also said the minimum effective : dose is 175 mg. per day. YMMV. : : Take Care, : Scott Hampton : :Hey, YOU!! : :Is that you, Scott? (rubs eyes) Where have you been all these years? ) How are :you doing?! Philip, I have been doing fine, thanks. I have moved back to Odessa with my family. PD has been ok. I did, however, wreck my company truck a few weeks ago. There were 4 people in the other vehicle… all were hurt and I’m sure they are going to sue. besides that, everything else is going fine…. how ’bout you? See ya, Scott H.
I survived your absence and am doing rather well generally speaking but I *am* glad that you’re here again and I hope you’ll stay a while! Philip
Response:
GRRRRR….EEEEEEE….AAAAT! (great). I’m a eunuch for nothing. Although it does seem as if the effexor has had some effect — I’m less depressed. My anxiety level has decreased too. I’m not sure if this is because of the effexor, buspar, therapy or workbook though! Doug
Response:
: :
: : : I have been taking Effexor for about 4 years. my initial dose was 37.5 mg x 3 : a day. That worked for me for a while. To get to the point, the last pd doc I : went to raised my dose to 75 mg. x 3. He also said the minimum effective : dose is 175 mg. per day. YMMV. : : Take Care, : Scott Hampton : :Hey, YOU!! : :Is that you, Scott? (rubs eyes) Where have you been all these years? ) How are :you doing?! Philip, I have been doing fine, thanks. I have moved back to Odessa with my family. PD has been ok. I did, however, wreck my company truck a few weeks ago. There were 4 people in the other vehicle… all were hurt and I’m sure they are going to sue. besides that, everything else is going fine…. how ’bout you? See ya, Scott H.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It can’t get any worse. I might as well be a eunuch. Maybe I’ll become a monk. I’ll be the slightly anxious one. Is it possible the sexual dysfunction will go away as I continue w/effexor? It’s kinda scary to think I’ll never be able to have sex again. Then again, my mind has never been clearer now that I don’t have THAT distraction anymore. DOug Hi Doug, I don’t know about Effexor, but with all the Tricyclics and SSRIs I’ve tried their sexual dysfunction affect diminished, but never completely disappeared. 
However, there may be things that lessen the effect. I’m doing some research on this and hope to post something in time for Christmas. Ian Sorry to bud in (but I will anyways..hehehe;-), but I snagged a copy of the latest edition(well…Nov.1998) of the "Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience". In a number of clinical trials they did with those suffering either from PTSD, PA’s, or GAD, Effexor proved NO better then placebo.
Yeah, not surprised. The drug companies know that its a major problem so every time a new AD is released the tom-toms start beating about how few sexual S.Es there are with the new product. Celexa being the latest. Its all crap, but I guess it gets a few in, for a while at least. <sigh IMO they’d be better of giving us a discount on Viagra, although from what I’ve heard thats not all its cracked up to be. Ian
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – It can’t get any worse. I might as well be a eunuch. Maybe I’ll become a monk. I’ll be the slightly anxious one. Is it possible the sexual dysfunction will go away as I continue w/effexor? It’s kinda scary to think I’ll never be able to have sex again. Then again, my mind has never been clearer now that I don’t have THAT distraction anymore. DOug Hi Doug, I don’t know about Effexor, but with all the Tricyclics and SSRIs I’ve tried their sexual dysfunction affect diminished, but never completely disappeared. However, there may be things that lessen the effect. I’m doing some research on this and hope to post something in time for Christmas. Ian
Sorry to bud in (but I will anyways..hehehe;-), but I snagged a copy of the latest edition(well…Nov.1998) of the "Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience". In a number of clinical trials they did with those suffering either from PTSD, PA’s, or GAD, Effexor proved NO better then placebo. I had read some simular conclusions in Dr. Reid Wilson’s book "Don’t Panic". Suggested medicationts to try where (not in any order) 1)start with 5-10 mg of Prozac 2)10 mg Paxil 3)25mg of Zoloft 4)10-50mg’s of Imipramine or Desipramine (Desipramine causes less anti-chollergenic effects then Imiprmaine) 5)Start at 25mg of Clomipramine at bedtime, and work way up to 100-150mgs.(Cause major sedation and weight gain…can possibly aggrivate depressive symptoms) 3-4mg of klonipin in 2 divided doses was suggested, as well as 30mg of Temazepam at bedtime for sleep.(Or Ambian(sp?), depending which ever is tollerated better.) The reseaarch seems to indicate starting at smaller doses of the a.d, with VERY theraputic doses of a benzo initiated right away. *Note: Desipramine has little sedating effect, and may cause insomnia. It was suggested by Dr. Wilson to take desipramine doseage in the morning. Again, this is ALL YMMV, etc. Just some current research I thought you guys might be interested in. It seems more and more the SSRI’s really have no advantage over tricyclics for most, with exceptions of course. That is why it is important to experiemnt, and find a good doctor to help you with this. As a side-note, I have come off of a 2 year bout with Zoloft (200mg a day), and found VERY little in the way of relieving anxiety. The side-effects where JUST horrible. Now, I am on the above mentioned desipramine, klonipin, and Temazepam, and to be hones, I can’t even tell I am on medication.(with the exception of feeling a little more "energetic" yet calm.) Again, YMMM (how many times do I have to repeat this..AHHHHH..hehhe), and have been working with some Reality and Guided Imagery Therapy.(Very VERY soothing for Panickers….a ver simple technique..close your eyes; lay down; focus on the number 100…block out any interfering thoughts….say to yourself you are relaxed…start counting down to 1, with each number counted, breath in and out slowly and deeply..repeat..and when reach one..count up to ten..and with each breath..suggest to yourself when you reach 10, you will open your eyes feeling relaxed and refreshed.) This is a more "simple" form of meditation..but I have been using it for about 3 weeks now, and it REALLY does feel very comfortable. Again, though, the meds help with part of the "physical" aspect of the disease. Sound’s "wish washy", but seriously, it forces you to focus ONLY on 2 things…the numbers, and the relaxation of the breathing….which is VERY simular to meditation, subconsciously blocking out any negative thoughts or worries. Thats all for today’s lesson folks..LOL!!!! Take care, Peace…. James — "Brother can you spare…. Another War.. Another Wasteland… Another… Lost Generation.." "Between the Wheels"
Response:
I have been taking Effexor for about 4 years. my initial dose was 37.5 mg x 3 a day. That worked for me for a while. To get to the point, the last pd doc I went to raised my dose to 75 mg. x 3. He also said the minimum effective dose is 175 mg. per day. YMMV. Take Care, Scott Hampton
Hey, YOU!! Is that you, Scott? (rubs eyes) Where have you been all these years? ) How are you doing?! Philip
Response:
It can’t get any worse. I might as well be a eunuch. Maybe I’ll become a monk. I’ll be the slightly anxious one. Is it possible the sexual dysfunction will go away as I continue w/effexor? It’s kinda scary to think I’ll never be able to have sex again. Then again, my mind has never been clearer now that I don’t have THAT distraction anymore. DOug
Hi Doug, I don’t know about Effexor, but with all the Tricyclics and SSRIs I’ve tried their sexual dysfunction affect diminished, but never completely disappeared. However, there may be things that lessen the effect. I’m doing some research on this and hope to post something in time for Christmas. Ian
Response:
It can’t get any worse. I might as well be a eunuch. Maybe I’ll become a monk. I’ll be the slightly anxious one. Is it possible the sexual dysfunction will go away as I continue w/effexor? It’s kinda scary to think I’ll never be able to have sex again. Then again, my mind has never been clearer now that I don’t have THAT distraction anymore. DOug
Response:
:in half and take one in the a.m. and one at night). In any case I’m having some :sexual dysfunction at this dosage. According to the pharmacological literature :I’ve read the effective dosage of effexor is supposed to be 75mg. I’d like to :cut my effexor dosage down to 18.5mg a day (half a tablet). What I’m worried :about is whether or not this would negate any positive effects the effexor has :in controlling my anxiety and depression. Doug, I have been taking Effexor for about 4 years. my initial dose was 37.5 mg x 3 a day. That worked for me for a while. To get to the point, the last pd doc I went to raised my dose to 75 mg. x 3. He also said the minimum effective dose is 175 mg. per day. YMMV. Take Care, Scott Hampton
Response:
in half and take one in the a.m. and one at night). In any case I’m having some sexual dysfunction at this dosage. According to the pharmacological literature I’ve read the effective dosage of effexor is supposed to be 75mg. I’d like to cut my effexor dosage down to 18.5mg a day (half a tablet). What I’m worried about is whether or not this would negate any positive effects the effexor has in controlling my anxiety and depression. Doug
Response:
in half and take one in the a.m. and one at night). In any case I’m having some sexual dysfunction at this dosage. According to the pharmacological literature I’ve read the effective dosage of effexor is supposed to be 75mg. I’d like to cut my effexor dosage down to 18.5mg a day (half a tablet). What I’m worried about is whether or not this would negate any positive effects the effexor has in controlling my anxiety and depression. Doug
Hi Doug, The recommended dose is from 75mg to 225mg per day, with an absolute max of 375mg. On that basis it could well be than 18.5mg will have little if any effect on your anx/dep. However, its impossible to make hard and fast rules, only experimentation will answer your question. Side effects aren’t necessarily dose related. Many begin at low doses and do not increase in severity as the medication dosage is increased. So increasing to 75mg/day, or even higher, may not make matters any worse. Ian
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