Question:
Has anyone any experience with taking Efexor XR prior to surgery and
Has anyone any experience with taking Efexor XR prior to surgery and then after? I was on a lot of pysch meds prior to having an open RNY (6/12/01.) I was able to get down to 2 EFFEXOR (75mg) within 6 months of my surgery. Last Oct it was increase to 3. Then, I had to increase it to 4 in June 1st, then to 5 mid-June. Now, currently (this week) I'm trying 6 (2AM, 2 Noon, 2 PM)I know that with our pouches being so smaller and the rerouting done to the stomach that things pass through us more quickly. Could this be the reason that I'm having to increase the dossage.I have ask my DR.(PSYCH) he not sure since I'm his only patient that has had a gastric bypass-RNY. I told him that I felt like a failure for having to increase the meds. Also,I just had all of blood work done and all is normal. Would appreciate any ideas or thoughts anyone miht have. Thanks BBC (7/03 170 lbs:6/01 343 lbs) — Bernice C. (posted on July 10, 2003)
July 10, 2003
Hi, I use to take effexorXR, but I had side effects from it so my doc
switched me to lexapro and I have been taking it for about a year now and
it works wonderfully. But, everyone has diff side effects with diff
medications, so if it works for you that is great! Also, I was told that no
antidepressant medication or any other medication should work diff. in your
body after having surgery, it still disolves the same, and passes thru just
fine to take full effect. And I had my surgery 5 mths. ago, and the
medication I still take works wonderfully! So, you should be just fine, but
ask your surgeon or pcp if you are still worried! Good Luck to you!
— Melodee S.
July 10, 2003
Hi! I've run the gambit on effexor... one thing you should know... this
drug is HIGHLY addictive, and you end up needing more the longer you take
it. I finally had to get off of it after being on it for nearly seven
years... 18 months post op, here, too. See if he will try something
else... like Wellbutrin... Perhaps that will be a better med, and it isn't
addictive like Effexor! :~) Good Luck!
— Sharon M. B.
July 10, 2003
Ther pharmacist told me that any extended release meds aren't good for
bypass patients due to the mechanism of release. I take the regular kind
of Effexor, one on the am and one and night. Works for me. Perhaps your
doc could switch you.
— [Deactivated Member]
July 10, 2003
At the time of my surgery (1/8/01) I was/am taking 225 mg of Effexor XR (3
pills). My psyc and I decided it might be best if I take the capsules apart
prior to taking them in the morning. The capsules are full of little
tiny-tiny pills. I guess I was afraid the larger capsule would not
dissolve. Anyway, I did that for about a month and I was fine. I am his
only WLS patient too. I've been on them several years now. I tried
Wellburtin and it made me feel nothing/dead so I went to the Effexor. Yes,
everyone responds differently to meds.
— Betty Todd
July 10, 2003
Just to follow up on the last post -- my pcp prescribed me the xr after wls
and told me to open them up and take the little balls inside. The
pharmacist told me NOT TO DO THIS, that it won't work that way, since it
messes up woith the release mechanism. Who knows?
— [Deactivated Member]
July 10, 2003
Two thoughts here - First, the XR is extended release - if you're taking it
several times a day anyway (instead of just once, which is the point of the
extended release), why not switch to the regular, which may be absorbed
better? Second, I do not believe that Effexor is addictive, as noted by a
previous poster. Clinical depression is physiological - if you have a
persistent clinical depression, then going off your anti-depressant -
regardless of WHAT anti-depressant that is - may result in a relapse of
symptoms, and the need to reinstate treatment. That being said, people
react to anti-depressants in different ways; it's very individual. Find one
that works for you. I have been on Effexor for several years, and have not
needed to increase my dosage (150 mg a day) or change meds at all. By the
way, the XR has continued to work for me post-op, but if I needed, I was
prepared to switch to the regular version. If you suddenly need to increase
your dosage post op (where your dosage had been stable pre-op), I would
suggest swithing from the extended release to the regular version.
— johanniter
July 11, 2003
I have been on Effexor XR for several years. Frankly, it is the only reason
I am still alive. My doc said that the XR formula works just fine for GB
patients, so I continue to take it post op and it works just as well now as
it did pre-op. I've stopped taking it twice in the past, and suffered no
withdrawal / addictive problems. I don't think it is addictive. But it is
advisable to gradually decrease the dosage rather than stopping
cold-turkey.
— Cosmo K.
July 11, 2003
I am also going to tell you that it is extended release. You are taking
more because it isn't staying in your system like it should. I have
already been told that after surgery I will have to swith to another form.
— Cameron Van Winkle
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