I have been on anti-depressants for about 10 years now. I've trie...

I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE A GUINEA PIG FOR YOUR DOCTOR?
IN THE MEANTIME YOUR STOMACH IS KILLING YOU AND IT SEEMS LIKE NO ONE BELEIVES YOU ON HOW BAD IT IS.

I wanted to learn more about EFFEXOR and I ran into this website. I was just prescribed this medication yesterday but the pharmacyst put it on hold until he spoke with my Dr. regarding the side effects this med would give me. The Dr hasnt called the pharmacyst back to release the med to me. Maybe GOD is giving me a sign! I am so paranoid on taking anything that will upset my stomache. I have been having stomach problems lately which makes me not be able to breath and end up having a panic attack.. leading to numbness of my hands and arms.....I dont know if its because I end up breathing too fast and I hypperventilate. NOW I am really afraid taking this med!

I have been having problems with severe depression for 20 years.if I go a day without meds I am in the bed sleeping for two days.I have had just about every med on the market.I have even been hospitalized for two weeks.Every drug does not work for every person.I think by reading all these posts that is pretty obvious,and I do not believe just one med is the cure all.I believe it comes down to trial and error and the end result is usually a combination of two or three meds,and you are going to have to help fight the depression as well.I have never had a problem with 225mg of Effexor XR for depression and 45 mg of Buspar during the day for anxiety.I have had three spine operations and have been in pain for 5 years 24/7.I just moved to Florida and my new pain doc wanted me off effexor,I had no problem what so ever coming off effexor,although I was expecting the worse from everything I read. He wanted me on 60 mg of cymbalta,because cymbalta also fights pain.I can tell you speaking for myself,effexor is still the best drug on the market for depression as far as I am concerned.It does curtail your sex life,so choices have to be made.Depression or Erection.Like I said it has to be combined with other drugs that help with different situations.
Best of Luck to Everyone suffering with depression.
Walt