How Long Does Effexor Take To Show Effect?

Posted on Tue, 21 Jun 2016

Question: How long will it take effexcor and hormone replacement therapy to help

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Effexor and HRT

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

The antidepressant/antianxiety medication Effexor can take 6-8 weeks to see full effects for treatment of depression/anxiety, but many people see changes in improved sleep and energy within 1-2 weeks.

Regarding hormone therapy, usually (regardless of the type of hormone - thyroid, estrogen, etc) it takes around 3 months for the hormonal changes to reach a stable state and for you to feel the full effects. However you may start to feel some effects quite quickly.

There is some variation from one individual to the next, but these are generally what you can expect.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (11 hours later)

I have been on lexapro for some time so should the effexor help sooner. Also I have been given klonopin to help calm me some. I hear this is not abnormal in postmenopause. Do you have others that are experiencing this?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
What symptoms are you experiencing?

Detailed Answer:
It's possible that having been on an SSRI may shorten the time for the Effexor to help but that is only if the Lexapro had been helping somewhat.

Klonopin is a benzodiazepine and a good sedative although it will not help depression.

You ask if I've had others who are experiencing this, but I am not sure what you are experiencing. Can you please write:
What symptoms you are having and for how long - a bit about your history?
How severe or disabling are your symptoms?
And was there any difficult experience that seemed to set your symptoms off? Also, have you suffered with anxiety and depression at other times in your life?

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)

Postmenopause seems to have really hit me very hard around anxiety and mood swings. This also happened 8 years ago in perimeno. Lexapro helped a lot then. But my doc seems to think hormone replacement therapy should help now that I am 100% postmenopausal. She thought knowing me like she does that I am probably at my worst right now and should improve. It is quite scary. I have a husband and 14 year old daughter. I have a great job too. I want to get back on track.

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Some thoughts:

Detailed Answer:
I have seen some women have similar problems from hormone changes, but not extreme. Have you had your thyroid hormones (TSH and free Thyroxine levels) and blood sugar (A1C) checked. I have to say in situations where anxiety just came on without any situational event triggering it, and is to the point that it is significant, there has been thyroid dysfunction, autoimmune disorder (but with autoimmune problems you'd have other symptoms as well - usually), or side effects from a new medication. If you had the exact same thing as you are having now, 8 years ago, then perhaps it is hormonally related.

That the Lexapro has been helpful in the past is hopeful that you may get benefit from the Effexor, and possibly soon.

But do ask your doctor to look into some medical causes with a CBC, TSH and either T3 or free T4, A1C, and a chemistry panel. Especially the TSH.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar