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Originally Posted by butterflylover  I know everyone's body is different but I would just like to hear from other people that are taking it or have taken it. I've been on pretty much every SSRI there is. Any info and stories would be very helpful. |
Just keep in mind that everyone's experience with SSRI's will be different, seems like you're aware of that.
After trying Lexapro, Zoloft, and Paxil, I finally settled in with 150mg of EffexorXR per day. It took about 8-10 weeks to feel "normal", until then I couldn't shake the feeling of having a head full of cobwebs. Sleeplessness was a major issue until I switched the times I took it. But once the effectiveness set in, I guess the best way to describe the effect is that my attitude and outlook on life felt "leveled off" rather than having the ups and downs of anxiety and depression that came on after I sobered up. A year after starting to take it I tapered off with zero side effects, and since then I feel great.
I think the biggest thing I should mention is how important it is to communicate with your prescriber. If necessary, keep a journal of how you're feeling so you can let your doctor know what specific problems you're having, or even to keep track of what you're feeling good about. It was necessary to increase my dosage a few times to determine an effective amount, if I hadn't been talking consistently to a nurse I might've thrown up my hands in frustration. Be open and honest with your doctor, it'll make it easier for him/her to find what'll work best for you.