![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by korimar on May 24, 2008, at 11:50:32
Hi all,
I've been on effexor for 5 years for depression. Works very well for me. 75 mg for the last 3. Usual sexual side effects, helped somewhat by bupropion 200 mg. (also helped with lack of strength from effexor--I run and could feel the lack).The point is my blood pressure, which has always been low normal has slowly morphed into high...; went down to 37.5 mg effexor and it dropped; now considering moving to cymbalta.
Doc, who is good, suggests move to cymbalta or says I can try effexor at 37.5...I'm not sure this is enough to hold me...nor is he. Effexor has been a great drug for me; it's a pity about the blood pressure. been on the 37.5 for 2 days; don't feel great, but withdrawal symptoms manageable.
Advice?
I've searched through the threads on this and have got as much as I can out of them.
thanks
Posted by Phillipa on May 24, 2008, at 11:58:13
In reply to effexor to cymbalta, posted by korimar on May 24, 2008, at 11:50:32
Cymbalta has more NE but I've heard it raises BP and it did to me to when on it. Good luck in your trial. Try 20mg first. Love Phillipa
Posted by Walk_Roll_Float_Fly on May 24, 2008, at 13:28:35
In reply to Re: effexor to cymbalta » korimar, posted by Phillipa on May 24, 2008, at 11:58:13
What? does cymbalta or effexor contain NE?
Posted by BGB on May 25, 2008, at 3:49:04
In reply to effexor to cymbalta, posted by korimar on May 24, 2008, at 11:50:32
What about adding a little blood pressure medicine? I take propranolol with my Cymbalta, so I know it's safe. I don't have high BP but my meds give me tremors which the propranolol helps with.
It's also on the $4.00 prescription list at any of the pharmacies that have that.
Good luck!
Posted by korimar on May 25, 2008, at 21:48:27
In reply to Re: effexor to cymbalta » korimar, posted by BGB on May 25, 2008, at 3:49:04
Well, I don't really want to stay on a dose of a med that'll turn my low usual blood pressure into high blood pressure if I can help it...I wasn't feeling too hot when it was really high, either.
I got down to 37.5 mg effexor and, although first day wasn't great 2nd day was good & today was fine--and my blood pressure is back down to normal---I think the benadryl (1 a night) is helping a lot w/ the effexor withdrawal symptoms--the night I didn't take one they were much worse the next day--...sweating nausea headache--really not much yesterday or today. In fact I feel really good--more awake, less bland---maybe I didn't need that much effexor in my system any more...I'm going to stay on the 37 mg and see what happens--don't want to go completely off--don't want to go back to dropping into depression for weeks at a time. If it doesn't work, there's always the cymbalta
thanks for answering my posts; I'll let you know how it goes.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.