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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by clport on February 2, 2008, at 23:47:25
This post is for the women here who are almost menopause age or already there...
Did anyone suffer what might be considered common Effexor XR side effect symptoms (fatigue, head buzz, headaches, numbness of limbs, lack of mental clarity, etc.) and were told by a doctor that these were due to menopause or peri-menopause? I'm 44 now and these and other unpleasant symptoms started when I was approximately 39 years old. At that time, I had been taking Effexor XR for about one year. I'm still on it now, but really want to get off and try Wellbutrin. Anyway, after lots of head-scratching from several docs (neurologists and GPs) about my problems, including MRIs and CT scans for MS, the last GP I saw in April 2007 said he'd attibute all my problems to menopause. I'm not convinced. I think it's all been the Effexor XR. Just curious if any other women have been through something similar.
Sorry if this is not the correct forum to address this. I'm really feeling the "stupids" tonight and my mind isn't making the proper connections!
Posted by Justherself54 on February 3, 2008, at 10:27:49
In reply to Menopause vs Effexor XR side effects, posted by clport on February 2, 2008, at 23:47:25
> This post is for the women here who are almost menopause age or already there...
>
> Did anyone suffer what might be considered common Effexor XR side effect symptoms (fatigue, head buzz, headaches, numbness of limbs, lack of mental clarity, etc.) and were told by a doctor that these were due to menopause or peri-menopause? I'm 44 now and these and other unpleasant symptoms started when I was approximately 39 years old. At that time, I had been taking Effexor XR for about one year. I'm still on it now, but really want to get off and try Wellbutrin. Anyway, after lots of head-scratching from several docs (neurologists and GPs) about my problems, including MRIs and CT scans for MS, the last GP I saw in April 2007 said he'd attibute all my problems to menopause. I'm not convinced. I think it's all been the Effexor XR. Just curious if any other women have been through something similar.
>
> Sorry if this is not the correct forum to address this. I'm really feeling the "stupids" tonight and my mind isn't making the proper connections!Glad you posted..welcome to Babble..I didn't have success with Effexor, but I'm post menopausal..I can't see any symptom of yours linked to menopause except the headaches, fatigue and lack of mental clarity..I had the lack of mental clarity during peri-menopause and had an early menopause..I was 45..the fatigue from poor sleep as I flung the covers off at least 10 times a night trying to cool off..
have they checked your female hormones..it can help to determine where you are in the lovely stages of "the change"..I use the word lovely tongue in cheek! Can you get a referral to a gynocologist?
Keep posting..it's must be frustrating to feel so awful and be told it's perimenopause.. if the gynocologist tells you it is, they'll also be able to help you through it..some women have a terrible time and some breeze right through it..
I hope you get some answers and start to feel better..
Posted by clipper40 on February 3, 2008, at 11:30:28
In reply to Menopause vs Effexor XR side effects, posted by clport on February 2, 2008, at 23:47:25
At least some of your symptoms do sound like they could be the Effexor. Of course going off of it could answer that for you.
Just don't go from Effexor straight to Wellbutrin as you'll have a horrible withdrawal problem. I'm not sure if you are aware of the whole Effexor withdrawal issues. If not, definintely do some looking into it before you make any decisions. It can be hell to get off of unless you do the withdrawal correctly. You have to switch over to another serotonergic medication first, something that should be easy to get off of, like Prozac. This could be very temporary and then you can start on the Wellbutrin. If you read some posts here on Effexor withdrawal or Dr. Bob's tips here on this, you should have all of the information you need. Many doctors don't take the withdrawal from Effexor seriously enough. If yours doesn't, please educate yourself on it.
(If you already know all of this, just disregard my post. I just wanted to make sure you don't suffer unnecessarily.)
Posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2008, at 12:19:23
In reply to Re: Menopause vs Effexor XR side effects, posted by Justherself54 on February 3, 2008, at 10:27:49
Yes welcome to babble. My menopause was also a breeze til the ob-gyn wanted me on hormones. Now I wasn't on effexor but was trying all the SSRI's and even a l0day go at effexor at the time. I too had the MRI's etc. What they did find was chronic lymes disease. But as much as I hoped the meds were the cause for my horrible anxiety. I think it was hormones. When your FSH hits 50 they say you're menopausal the ob-gyns that is. I hope you feel better soon. I do emphathize with you. I feel hormones are down played sometimes. Phillipa ps good luck
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