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