Hi Jess,
Regarding your concern about Effexor given your experience with Cymbalta - I had really bad side effects from Cymbalta and Effexor has been a life-changer for me. Helps with depression, anxiety, and pain. My doc did genetic testing on me to determine which psych meds would be most effective and found that I had a major gene-drug interaction with Cymbalta but that Effexor was recommended! So, even though they’re in the same class, they must work differently.
I assume that your doc practices “start low, go slow”. Effexor has a wide effective range. If you’re sensitive, start with 75!
I managed to kick a three-year klonopin habit. You’ll want to have a good SSRI or SNRI in place for your anxiety and go down slowly. But I promise, you can do it! Klonopin is a highly addictive drug that really isn’t meant for long-term use. It’s better to manage your anxiety and sleep with an antidepressant and something like trazodone for sleep if you need it. But when you’ve been using klonopin for so long, there’s a fear that you can’t cope without it, and I promise that’s not true, because I did it. Your doctor can help you, and your therapist can bolster your anxiety-calming strategies to help you cope. You got this, girl!
Hugs,
Amanda

Hi Jess, if u are very good at taking ur meds on time everyday then i think Effextor is a good med, but if u tend to forget to take ur med or take them at different times then i would say a big NO!!! The brain zap seem to start even if ur just a few hours late. The brain zaps feel horrible and are a form of withdrawal, and is the main reason i will never take it again.
I don't know if any of this helps u or not but in my opinion is that it is a good med but beware of the withdrawal problem.
Good luck and I wish u a happy day!✌🌼Brenda

@A MyFibroTeam Member Amanda thank you so much for your insight! It really feels like you went through exactly what I'm facing! It is scary, I see my psychiatrist on Thursday so of course I've been nervous all week trying to make the decision whether or not to try. My pain management said he's never personally put people on it because he prefers to try more homeopathic but he said it was worth a try. My psychiatrist knows my anxieties so I'm sure she will start me low, in fact I'll insist she does. Coming off klonipin is scary. I know my body is addicted to it because my anxiety starts increasing about an hour before I'm due for my dose. But I know I've been on it way too long. I'm so thankful for someone whose been through the same and has similar sensitivities. They had tried buspar at one point but 15mg gave me daily migraines. The effexor does make me nervous being in the same class, but I'm hoping this works. I can't be on klonipin forever and I'm not taking any other pain meds but lidocaine shots and patches and ibuprofen because of my anxiety over what happened with cymbalta. Thank you again for your input and experience. I can't explain how much I appreciate your advice!
Jess

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A MyFibro...

I was on Effexor for six months several years ago and did not do well with it. After just a few weeks I started having suicidal thoughts, which is not normal for me. I also went through really bad withdrawals when coming off the medication. I also know everyone is different, so it may not impact you in that way.

I've been on Effexor for a long time now (can't remember how long...it's been yrs. though). I was originally put on it for anxiety, but yrs. later was diagnosed with RA and 6 mos. after with Fibro. Of course, with RA and Fibro., depression comes along for many of us due to the pain and having to give up things you use to love to do, but just can't do them anymore.

The Effexor takes the edge off my anxiety and depression. It also helps because I'm very sensitive to certain sounds, being around too many people and too much hubbub, which seems to put me in a fight or flight type mode. If I can't get away from it I get very cranky.

Over the yrs. I've been knocked up to 300 mgs. a day, but have been given an extra 25 mgs. in case I fall into too much of a funk and need the help the extra 25 mgs. gives me. I like the Effexor due to that, but cannot stand the fact that you can go through withdrawals, literally, within two hours of a missed dose. Not taking the 25 mgs. doesn't affect me, as I take it when needed, but if I fall asleep before taking my 100 mgs. that I'm suppose take at night before bed, I wake up with withdrawals, which are HORRIBLE!! They're known as "brain zaps." I don't really know how to put the feeling into words, but it's like this awful electrical feeling that for me (and what others I've read about also go through), runs from the top of my head to the tips of my fingers. If you move your head or even your eyes, that's when you really feel the brain zaps. I've been in REM sleep (before I got sick) and have been woken up due to brain zaps from my eyes moving during REM.

For myself and many I've known of, Effexor is not easy to get off of if you've been on it for a while. I tried getting off of it due to hating the brain zaps and my doc. put me on @Cymbalta. It didn't work for me, so I had to go back on the Effexor.

My husband was put on 75 mgs. to start and couldn't handle it. He's now on Zoloft and it works well for him. Because you're sensitive to medications, your doctor will probably put you on a low dose and see how things go for you. I wish you luck! :)