Can I go back to Effexor?

September 30, 2012 8:52 PM

I was on Effexor (venlafaxine) at a low dose of 50mgs/daily for 6 years. It worked for years until I started to have extreme symptoms of fatigue, short term memory loss, and concentration problems. But I was happier on it, I am very anxious and depressed in winter. I have been off Effexor for 2 years. If I went back, would it work again without the worst side effects?
posted by ElisaOS to health & fitness (7 answers total)

Can't really say one way or the other. It's possible the side effects will come back and possible they won't. There isn't any way to know but to try.

There are a lot of ADs out there. I don't see any harm in starting with Effexor but keeping an open mind to others out there.
posted by kathrynm at 9:06 PM on September 30, 2012

FWIW, I was on Effexor for a few years and although it did help address some of the issues for which it was proscribed, I had a lot of difficulties with several aspects, some similar to what you describe.
I did go off for awhile, then back on, and found the side effects to be the same (def not better, slightly worse). Of course we are all different, how we metabolize substances, so YMMV.

I have since been taking Cymbalta (for a couple years now) and am much, much more satisfied with it (compared to Effexor). In terms of side-effects, it's like night n day when compared to Effexor.

Unfortunately I believe there is no generic for Cymbalta, so price may be prohibitive, depending on your insurance.
posted by armoir from antproof case at 10:33 PM on September 30, 2012

I've never taken Effexor, so I can't answer that aspect of your question. However I have Seasonal Affective Disorder, and have a lot of trouble in the winter in northern climes if I'm unmedicated. I take Wellbutrin (bupropion), which has worked incredibly well for me. My understanding is that because it's not an SSRI, it doesn't have the fatiguing aspect that SSRIs sometimes do. For me, it feels like a stimulant - like caffeine, but in a calm rather than a jittery way. Obviously IANYD, and YMMV, and all that, but might be something to check into.
posted by UniversityNomad at 11:42 PM on September 30, 2012

I also switched from Effexor, which I had loved and tolerated without side effects for years, to Cymbalta, and it's been great.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:25 AM on October 1, 2012

It's really odd that your side effects started so long after you began taking it.

I went back on Effexor after many years off it. Don't recall any side effects the first time (other than when I stupidly stopped taking it cold turkey). This time around I'm on a much larger dose and the only side effects are minimal sexual side effects and that I start to have withdrawals in hours instead of days, but both of those could be attributable to the higher dose.

There are reports that people have less success with the same drug the second time they take it. But there are also people who say that's bull.

Best of luck!
posted by MeiraV at 4:14 PM on October 1, 2012

I have done some reading since posting this. At the time that i had the other symptoms, I was also losing hair. Lots of thinning on top. The hair came back after ceasing Effexor.

It seems that for some people, Effexor hair loss is alleviated by taking zinc & selenium. Shortages of zinc could cause the same memory & concentration symptoms.

So it looks like I may have an answer -- keep an eye on zinc/selenium if I'm on Effexor.
posted by ElisaOS at 5:35 AM on October 2, 2012

Hair loss with medication discussion at PsychoBabble
posted by ElisaOS at 5:51 AM on October 2, 2012