[BK68]

My pdoc wants me to go on Effexor 37.5 for a week and then up to 75. He says that should be as high as I will need to go. My concern is...I have a kidney transplant and I am wondering if the dry mouth side effect is caused by a diuretic action that will harm my new kidney. I asked my pdoc, but he said - just take it! I was taking Symbyax and he wants me to go off it cold turkey. Should I follow this advice or find a new pdoc?

[bchlyn]

can you ask your med doc about it... i just started on 37.5 and my mouth does get dry...so i have been drinking a lot of water... i am taking it for anxiety so he thinks i may need to go as high as 150... lyn

[trippinmickey]

I never been on Effexor but my roommate was .It a very hard med. to come off of one of the hardest. If I was you I would go to a doctor who when you ask if effexor is bad for your kidneys will tell you!!!! There are alot of meds out there that are very bad for your kindeys and liver you need to have blood test few times a year to make sure their Lv. are not to high for they can shut down your liver or kidneys .Not to scare you but you need to check into this right away.Sorry i cant help more but you really need to talk to a doctor.

[speedy11]

My first reaction is find a new doc! It seems rather rude to tell someone to just take something and not address concerns about it. As a patient you have every right to understand your medications. Consider asking your pharmacist. Many people don't realize these folks can be great resources too and often know more than the docs.

I've been on Effexor XR for 5 years or so. I've had varying doses, right now 225mg daily. Effexor is not a diuretic but what I experience is increased sweating. I'm usually warm and dehydrating so I always have something to drink nearby. If I don't stay on top of it I will get symptoms of heat exhaustion. This is listed in the side effects, but I am not sure how common it is or what exactly is the reason for it.

[BalishBun]

celexa was the only med that gave my dry mouth and it was bad!

[Jully]

I began taking Effexor XR (300 mg) about six months ago, and at first it caused me to have an extremely dry mouth and a terrible taste in my mouth. Gum/mints/hard candy are extremely helpful, as is having plenty of water handy at all times. I don't know about the kidney thing, but your doctor's attitude about it would have made me angry, to say the least. What a jerk! Certainly, I would consult with someone else rather than risk harming your new kidney.

As a side note, I switched to regular Effexor when the generic version came on the market due to insurance issues, and it seems to have less side effects for me than the XR version. My doctor warned me that the side effects on the regular are usually really bad. Also, increasing my dosage to 400 mg he thought would really mess me up. I guess our bodies all react differenly.

[splitimage]

I didn't get dry mouth with Effexor, but I did get some other interesting side effects, including the increased sweating and heat sensativity.

But seriously I would check with your dr., and find a new pdoc. Having a new kidney is nothing to mess around with, and you want to be careful of any drug effect or interactions. I wouldn't want to deal with any Dr. that wasn't understanding of that.

--spltimage

[mlpHolmes]

Hi!
I've been on Effexor 375.00 mg.yes 375.00 mg, for 2 yrs. now & experienced sweating in the beginning. I very rarely have dry mouth. I always have water with me but I think it's a nutrition thing not the Effexor.

Be Well!

[okiedokie]

Hi BK,
I would suggest to your pdoc that he consult directly with your surgeon on this matter. Give him the phone number of the doc who is monitoring your progress post-transplant. Let them discuss the benefits vs. risks. There is no reason for you to be "guessing" about your well-being and stuck in the middle. Put the ball back in their court.
Best,
Okie