Quote:
Originally Posted by Chai15
I am pretty new on this website so I don't know if their is already a thread for this. I guess there probably is, but I'll do one anyways. Sorry if repeated threads annoy anybody.
I know these meds's effects differ from people and I'm not looking to base my choices on the replies I will get. I'm just curious to here about your experience with antidepressants as I am new to them (since september).
I started with Remeron at 15mg then 30mg then 45mg (which made me eat non-stop and gain weight) and now (since about 5 days), I've been on effexor. So far, no side-effects. I'm on 37.5mg for a week (along with 30mg of remeron) but will be at 75mg in a couple days
What was the best and the worst ones you have taken and why?
Also, if you have tried effexor, what are your thoughts on it. I heard mostly bad things.
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Remeron weight gain is very common.
The bad things you hear about Effexor is because it is most likely to cause the worst withdrawal symptoms when you go off of it. You have to taper off very very slowly if you are someone who get the withdrawal. I have taken Effexor on and off many times and never got withdrawal. But then I do not get withdrawal from any of them. All this has nothing to do with the effectiveness of Effexor. You will have to take it two months to give it a fair shot to work.
Over the last twenty years Effexor has been the most effective. My problem is that after a year or two they lose effectiveness. I have gone back to Effexor after not taking it for a couple of years and it works again but not as good as it first did.
By far the most effective one I have ever taken is Fetzima, a new SNRI and the one I am currently on. I do better on the SNRI's. There are not as many of them. Effexor, Pristiq (active metabolite of Effexor), Cymbalta, Fetzima, Savella (mirror image isomer of Fetzima).
Worst one ever was Paxil. Didn't work and I didn't like how it make me feel. It's hard to remember and I am lucky with side effects so if one don't work I try another.
20% of people get withdrawal symptoms after taking 6 weeks and quitting. I don't think it is known if Effexor has a higher percentage. All of us here will tell you Effexor has the worst and longest withdrawal symptoms. A slow taper solves this for most people.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0801/p449.html