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Has anyone taken this? My uro wants me to start on it. I told her I wanted something that would help with depression and pain. Since my incident with elavil she suggested this. She started me at 37.5 mg. She also said that she isnt going to put me on any more meds at this time until my symptoms get worse. I just want to know what to expect? Has anyone had success?
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Diagnosis: IC '09, vulvodynia '10, fructose intolerance '06, GERD '06, fibromyalgia '09, IBS '10 and TMJ '09, PCOS '11, genital herpes '12
Current Meds: Butrans patch, welbutrin, lamictol, geodon, xanax, aldactone, linzess, topimax, trazadone and diflucan as needed.
Meds tried before: Elmiron, elavil, antibiotics, welbutrin, cymbalta, prozac, nerve blocks, instills, nyastatin, flexerol, percocet, naproxen (which was what I was given for pain for years). -
I take cymbalta which is similar but newer. Cymbalta has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of muskoskeletal pain, which is fibro pain. I find that it does also help my IC pain. Another Dr changed me from my cymbalta to effexor and my uro was not happy about it at all, from the informations he shared with me studies show that while they are similar, cymbalta does better with pain relief. That is only my personal experience. As far as help for fibro pain, I felt relief rather quickly and I guess it does help my depression and anxiety. When I changed from cymbalta to effexor I didn't notice any difference in the two.
I hope you get some relief for your depression and pain with it. You can go to higher doses, although I can't remember the dosing for effexor.
SandraLink to the patient information, everything from What is IC? to Disability
http://www.ic-network.com/patientlinks.html
American Urological Association Clinical Guideline
Diagnosis and Treatment of Intersitial Cysitis/Painful Bladder Syndrom
http://www.auanet.org/content/guidel...ent_ic-bps.pdf -
I took cymbalta before for my fibro. It didnt help much. I think if the effexor doesnt work I will try cymbalta again. When I was taking it before I was drinking lots of pop and eating whatever I wanted. I think that defiantly hindered my bladder getting better and helping everything.Diagnosis: IC '09, vulvodynia '10, fructose intolerance '06, GERD '06, fibromyalgia '09, IBS '10 and TMJ '09, PCOS '11, genital herpes '12
Current Meds: Butrans patch, welbutrin, lamictol, geodon, xanax, aldactone, linzess, topimax, trazadone and diflucan as needed.
Meds tried before: Elmiron, elavil, antibiotics, welbutrin, cymbalta, prozac, nerve blocks, instills, nyastatin, flexerol, percocet, naproxen (which was what I was given for pain for years).Comment
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I was on it and I liked it. It didn't help with pain, but it did with depression. It's good to step up. It's really strong. Are you going to go to the 75mg? I'd even take the 37.5 with food. What happened with the elavil?Comment
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With elavil I had retention and I wanted to switch to something different. I am starting at 37.5 I'm not sure if I will go to 75 or not.Diagnosis: IC '09, vulvodynia '10, fructose intolerance '06, GERD '06, fibromyalgia '09, IBS '10 and TMJ '09, PCOS '11, genital herpes '12
Current Meds: Butrans patch, welbutrin, lamictol, geodon, xanax, aldactone, linzess, topimax, trazadone and diflucan as needed.
Meds tried before: Elmiron, elavil, antibiotics, welbutrin, cymbalta, prozac, nerve blocks, instills, nyastatin, flexerol, percocet, naproxen (which was what I was given for pain for years).Comment
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How's it going? I felt that fluoxetine gave me retention. Effexor did not! Good luck!Comment
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My Dr. was trying to get me to 150 mg of Effexor because this is the level that typically treats depression and anxiety. I made it to 112.5 mg before they realized I was having an allergic reaction to the medication. That part was not so great since I had been taking it for four weeks. Just a warning, be careful with antihestimines while on Effexor as they can mask mild allergies to medications. I was taking different types of antihestamies for the first four week of my medication to sleep on Effexor while my body adjusted (Dr. Rx) and then a while when I had a flareup. Turns out my falreup was likely caused by the allergy reaction from Effexor. Note: An allergy to Effexor is rare.
I did like using Effexor for depression despite the allergy problems.Comment
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its going ok. No changed but the dr said it could take a couple of months to see if it will help. I will keep u informed..so far no retention which is great!!Diagnosis: IC '09, vulvodynia '10, fructose intolerance '06, GERD '06, fibromyalgia '09, IBS '10 and TMJ '09, PCOS '11, genital herpes '12
Current Meds: Butrans patch, welbutrin, lamictol, geodon, xanax, aldactone, linzess, topimax, trazadone and diflucan as needed.
Meds tried before: Elmiron, elavil, antibiotics, welbutrin, cymbalta, prozac, nerve blocks, instills, nyastatin, flexerol, percocet, naproxen (which was what I was given for pain for years).Comment
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Hey Gina! How is it going on Effexor? I have feeling the new pain management doctor's are going to put me on either effexor or cymbalta because they won't let me try any more TCA's and they said they don't like that I'm taking celexa and welbutrin together...i'm most curious if it has helped your IC pain and frequency. Hoping this message has found you feeling great!IC symptoms since Dec. 12 2010 after confirmed bladder infection "never went away." Recently also diagnosed with PCOS, piriformis syndrome, and pelvic floor dysfunction, sinus issues. I was in great health before fall 2010.
Current medications: citalopram 40 mg, valium 2.5 mgs a night, lidocaine patch (for back pain), Prelief
Therapies tried or continuing: stretches, walks, baths, internal massage, physical therapy, IC diet, IF unit, heating pad, mindfulness based stress reduction classes, cognitive therapy, books on IC and pelvic pain...
Drugs Tried: the urinary analgesics, 4 kinds of muscle relaxants (including in suppository form), hydroxyzine, 3 kinds of TCA's, lyrica, cymbalta, 6 months elmiron, vesicare, antibiotics, prednisone (after sinus surgery), NSAIDS...
Supplements: over 20 herbs and supplements, including regimens from TCM practitioner and a naturopathic MD
Intravesical/Surgical: 3 instills of Uracyst, 2 “rescue instills” lidocaine, bicarb, elmiron; 1 self-instill of marcaine, a steroid, bicarb and heparin; 1 hydrodistention and capsaicin instill (made me worse, still recovering two months later...)
Other: Acupuncture treatments, magnets (LOL), Anti-Candida Diet (2 months), Wheat free diet, water pHComment
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Haven't been on Effexor (seems one of the few medications that I haven't had). I was on Cymbalta from June till just recently, but come to find out I was allergic to it! One of the side effects was itching. I don't pay too much attention to the reactions, but with this one I kept bringing it up to all of my doctors but they pretty much kept shooting me down; until my cardio got involved. My arms looked like a war zone and he was worried that they would get infected and with a mechanical heart valve we can't have that. Anyway, I had to get off of it and arms are healing, but now I am back in pain - so that help me on that part.Comment
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