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is it safe to take effexor (SNRI) with drugs?

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psytaco

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Wasn't sure if this is the right forum for this question but i wanted some input from you smart guys and girls.

I have recently been prescribed effexor (venlafaxine) for depression. i am to take 75mg a day. I am yet to start taking it. exeffor is serotonin-norepinehpine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

I was wondering if it is safe to use drugs occassionally whilst taking this. currently the only drug i take regualry is codeine, alcohol and valium.

I do like to occasisonally use MDMA (well I used to use it alot but it has become very hard to come by in Australia), LSD, mushrooms, DMT, and seldomly speed.

I understand that MDMA, LSD, mushrooms and DMT all work heavily on serotonin. while I get diminished effects whilst taking these drugs with effexor.

i don't plan on getting heavily back into drugs as I want to get my mental health back in order. but i do like to party now and then and would like to know the dangers from a harm min perspective.

cheers guys=D
 
i think it will completely/partially block out the effects of MDMA, but i also read somewhere that taking high doses such as 120mg + of Effexor can completely block serotonin, norepinephrine and other neurotransmitters that can lead to depression and other symptom's..
 
I used to be on effexor xr 225 mgs for about 4 years. MDMA will not work at all. Seriously don't bother wasting your time and money on trying to find this out. I wasted about 5 good white hearts, 2 green G's, and a white Nike trying to get the magic with zero effect. I even crushed up a white heart, mixed it with about 75 units of water and danged it with no effect (damn I wish I had them pills now). I have heard stories of MDMA working on people on ssri's but seriously don't try it.

LSD works fine as well as ice/speed/meth and shrooms etc. But realistically if you are taking effexor to treat depressioni would advise to steer clear of all drugs and especially the worst one of all alcohol. I used alot of drugs whilst trying to treat depression and it only made it worse. Maybe it's time for a break mate, if you are serious about your mental health.
 
According to drugs.com, there are 188 major interactions with Effexor and other drugs, and something like 800 minor ones. The first one on the list is 5-HTP, which is sold as a homeopathic supplement. You really should look in thing thoroughly before you take anything really.

There are tonnes of threads on Bluelight already

http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/search.php?searchid=5335679

http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/search.php?searchid=5335696

It interacts really badly with Alcohol, I know that from first hand experience. It not only increases the effects, but it stops them having any positive effect on your mental health. If you really do want to get your mental health back in order stick with just the meds and therapy mate. Have a good social life and keep busy and make sure you have a good support network :)
 
my innerself said:
I used to be on effexor xr 225 mgs for about 4 years. MDMA will not work at all. Seriously don't bother wasting your time and money on trying to find this out. I wasted about 5 good white hearts, 2 green G's, and a white Nike trying to get the magic with zero effect. I even crushed up a white heart, mixed it with about 75 units of water and danged it with no effect (damn I wish I had them pills now). I have heard stories of MDMA working on people on ssri's but seriously don't try it.

LSD works fine as well as ice/speed/meth and shrooms etc. But realistically if you are taking effexor to treat depressioni would advise to steer clear of all drugs and especially the worst one of all alcohol. I used alot of drugs whilst trying to treat depression and it only made it worse. Maybe it's time for a break mate, if you are serious about your mental health.
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Spot on, couldn't have put it better myself. I was on Effexor (varying doses) for a few years too and had similar outcomes when combined with various drugs. Forget MDMA entirely. I found it dulled LSD a little, well changed the headspace of any trips I took anyway, and not for the better. I'd avoid cannabis & speed too, especially if you have anxiety issues.

As my innerself mentioned one you really have to watch is the old insidious alcohol! I found I'd easily throw back a few drinks and be fine & feeling relatively sober, and then have one or two more and black out completely.... also noteworthy that drinking affects your serotonin levels and is hence counterproductive if you're taking anti depressants.

From memory it didn't affect benzos or opiates much for me though. I think I only smoked DMT once or twice on it but only in low doses. Watch out for changa or ayahuasca mixes with MAOIs though!

If down the track your doctor suggests increasing the dose you're taking, I strongly suggest you look into combining a lower dose with mirtazapine (remeron, avanza) instead and suggest the combo to your psychiatrist. I found it more effective than effexor alone :)

Peace,

belarki
 
Wow. I had no idea about the alcohol interaction. thats no good because i do like to drink (and informed my doctor of this). Hmmmm

could someone in the know tell me, what i am to expect if combining it with alcohol. Is it alright with say a few drinks or do I have to be really careful with just drinking alot? Does it increase the hangover, or just make you really sick when drinking? This is a real pain in the arse because I like to drink to lubricate myself socially.

i do plan on having a break from drugs. I plan to start taking it next week. I've got two parties each with close friends on tonight and tommorrow. so might do a small dose of mushies and drink a bit, but after that - keep it clean.
 
^ Be very careful with drinking as belarki mentioned, it will potentiate alcohol a lot.

I would try and cut down on drinking whilst your being treated, alcohol really can impede your progress. It was hard but I have cut down on all drugs, codeine and alcohol included, from addiction levels to much lower levels of use in order to get better. I am not being treated for depression right now, rather bipolar related psychosis, but when I was depressed alcohol did not help me get better at all and stopped me learning valuable social skills that I needed.

Of course everyone's situation is different though. But even my psychs that I am seeing now are realistic and say to me to cut down on drinking, not cut it out completely if it's not necessary.
 
^ thanls for the link. It actually said there it was fine to combine with alcohol. but i will definately exercise alot of caution.

For those who have taken it. what are the side effects like? I have been doing a little reading on it, and some of them seem pretty severe. headaches, insomnia, sweating. AND sexual dysfunction - I read a study saying that 10% of men suffer sexual dysfunction on it.

Also, I have read that when you stop taking it the withrawal symptoms are very severe - the electric jolts in the brain sound particularly worrying. Has anyone suffered severe withdrawal symptoms once they discontinue using it?

if you don't want to discuss any of these issues on a public board feel free to PM me.

thanks guys
 
I took it for a short while. I didn't get too many side effects, but definite sexual dysfunction (wanking for >30 minutes gets boring) and sleep disturbances (mainly early waking). I didn't take a high enough dose for long enough to really get a discontinuation syndrome, but yes I've heard it can be horrible. I had one bad experience with it when I had too much alcohol and weed and had an ambulance called (barely conscious and immobile), but the paramedics were confident it wasn't actually a dangerous combination and I was just put to bed (we got a free ambulance blanket out of the ordeal!).

Some people are very passionate about effexor being the worst drug ever made or such, but keep in mind it also works for a lot of people. As always there's much variation. Good luck :)
 
Some people are very passionate about effexor being the worst drug ever made or such
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Well, perhaps not the worst drug ever made, but certainly in that category imo. Please read up well on this drug before deciding to take this long term. There are plenty of reports on BL.
 
phase_dancer said:
Well, perhaps not the worst drug ever made, but certainly in that category imo. Please read up well on this drug before deciding to take this long term. There are plenty of reports on BL.
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thanks for the advice divine moments and phase.

i have started to take the drug (this morning) and have been doing some reading on it. It does take around 2-4 weeks before I will notice its effects.

Is it relatively easy to switch SSRIs or other antidepressants if one doesn't work out?

I feel in the future if I need to get a script for a mental illness I will get a referal for a psychiatrist. GPs are notorious for spending little time on explaning whats wrong and medication side effects. I wasn't told anything about the bad effects of effexor other than it may cause headaches. She actually said it was preferable for me to take it, due to is decreased likelihood of causing sexual dysfunction compared to other SSRIs.

I have a pretty solid background in psychology (a degree with honours) and sometimes I feel that I know more about mental illness than some doctors. or maybe thats just arrogance:\
 
^if you are comparing yourself to a GP then I wouldn't be surprised that you do know more than them. They probably barely get any training in mental health and yet can prescribe all the meds that psychiatrists can. Crazy. I wouldn't trust a GP scripting me mental health meds. It's just not their cup of tea.
 
Z Y G G Y said:
^if you are comparing yourself to a GP then I wouldn't be surprised that you do know more than them. They probably barely get any training in mental health and yet can prescribe all the meds that psychiatrists can. Crazy. I wouldn't trust a GP scripting me mental health meds. It's just not their cup of tea.
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I agree GPs don't get nearly enough mental health training. There are a select few with an interest in it who are very good, but most dislike dealing with it and do so poorly. Also, in Aus at least, GPs can't prescribe all the drugs a psychiatrist can (e.g. dexamphetamine).
 
Z Y G G Y said:
^if you are comparing yourself to a GP then I wouldn't be surprised that you do know more than them. They probably barely get any training in mental health and yet can prescribe all the meds that psychiatrists can. Crazy. I wouldn't trust a GP scripting me mental health meds. It's just not their cup of tea.
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I agree with what you and Divine Moments are saying about GPs not having enough mental health training and that them tailoring a mental health med regime has its hazards. However it does have the beneift that someone in urgent need of psychiatric meds can get them relatively quickly from thier GP rather than the more lengthy (and costly) process of seeing a psychiatrist. Don't get me wrong, I don't think GPs should be handing out antidepressants etc like candy, but I've had more than one instance where I've been glad I could get a script directly from my GP rather than waiting a month + to see a specialist.
 
2 to 4 weeks to feel the effects of the effexor?

More likely 6 months before you notice any effects. I hated taking effexor. It really messed with my head. Destroyed my libido and the 'brain zaps' I got from missing a dose was terrible.
 
phase_dancer said:
Well, perhaps not the worst drug ever made, but certainly in that category imo. Please read up well on this drug before deciding to take this long term. There are plenty of reports on BL.
Click to expand...

+1 hate here.. GF had it, still hasnt got her sex drive back. Make her plump, moody, constant headaches...

And the WDs after being on it for a year was NOT a walk in the park. She basically smoked weed for a week (even though she hates it) to releive the symptoms.. On the 4th day, she was almost going to start her dose again cause it was that bad... Her doctor told her sweet fuck all about the side-effects, or the WDs.
 
^ Did she just stop cold turkey? It's a bad idea with these substances, I tapered down successfully from sertraline being careful not to go too fast after reading about the possible WD symptoms. I didn't find sertraline too bad, apart from making me manic and psychotic. :D
 
hi
i take 450mg of effexor xr, for the last five years. I have noticed the following regarding drug interactions with the effexor.
Ecstasy - doesnt work
Heroin - Works
Benzos - works
Speed - works but not very well
Alcohol - works
Pot - Works
 
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