What's your take on Effexor?

Question

I was on it a few years ago when I was 13 or 14, and now I am back on it again. (I started taking it again back in August.) I hate this med! Right now I am on 300 mg, and I would give anything to get off of it.

Even if I am a couple hours late in taking this med, I get horrible side effects. I become terribly dizzy. Whenever I move my head at an angle, no matter how small it may be, the room I'm in spins, almost as if it takes my brain a couple extra seconds to understand what I'm seeing and what is going on.

I don't think it has helped me too much. I still feel very depressed, and I still ocasionally think about suicide. I always feel so sluggish, and I rarely have any energy I have also had a lot more nightmares since I have been on Effexor, as many as three in one night.

When I miss a dose, I get incredibly sleepy. A few times after I missed a dosage, I wound up sleeping for 24 hours.

Sorry to rant, I just hate this pill so much!

Answer 1

I think anti-depressants medication is great and effective but Effexor XR is the ONE EXCEPTION to the rule that I know of.. It is the most awful medication ever - the side effects, the withdrawal etc... I would NEVER recommend it be taken by anyone let alone someone who is still fairly young (adolescent/child)...

My advice however would be to:
1. Speak to your doctor about your concerns.
2. NEVER stop the medication suddenly - this could have even worse effects - it did for me.. and could leave you feeling more depressed than you were to begin with.

Hope that helps... BUT if you remember one thing that is DO NOT STOP TAKING IT COLD TURKEY... it must be done under the supervision of an experienced doctor.

Answer 2

ha i hate it too im supposed to take 200 mg but he can kiss my butt i take 150 mg. I feel the same dang way you do i sleep amazing amounts and feel even worse. Everyday i wake up with headaches caused from stress. Im dizzy and i constantly cry to my mom that i can not even live like this and can not work at a mere mcdonalds. The withdrawal symptoms are just dangerous and it could actually make you want to suicide. When i forget a pill i instantly know because i freek out and cry later in the day and think i have to worst life in the world. My cousins therapist did not want her on this because she told her the side effects and withdrawl symptoms are dangerous

effexor should be banned! its not fair i have to live in hell because of them and the fact my doctor...is an idiot :)

Answer 3

I'm on Effexor, too. 300 mg also. But i'm an old dude.

Missing a dose sux. Ugh. Mind goes nuts, headache.

It definitely 'enhances' the dream ability. I've not had nightmares, but dreams are so much more vivid.

Answer 4

I'm on effexor xr and wellbrutrin. The combo seems to kinda be helpin me but i Have had alot of the same side effects. Plus, I have absolutely no sex drive. That makes things kinda rough on the hubby. I've asked ot be changed to something else but theya re afraid to loose the little bit of progress that I"ve made. So, I"m stuck wiht it. Hope you have better luck

Answer 5

I was on effexor and I became more depressed than I was before taking it. If it is not being prescribed by a psychiatrist I would suggest going to see one. Most definetly talk to you doctor about changing to a different medication.

Answer 6

hey girl, i know exactly how u feel. *believe me*. i was on effexor too. last march, i was given this drug from my doctor....a big mistake on her part. as soon as i began to take this medicine, i had weird side effects. for one, my appetite was completely taken away. i went for a whole day without eating one thing. i ended up losing 15 pounds. i would spend the whole day in bed. it completely made me feel very isolated and suicidal. the effexor was so wrong for my body, it gave me high blood pressure. one day i got so dizzy, i passed out.

i got off of that drug as soon as i could. i hate effexor so much. if it's making u feel worse, i seriously recommend switching to another drug. good luck !

Answer 7

i was on it for years. I got up to nearly 500mg before they realized IT WASNT WORKING!!! It never helped me. It might help a person with minor depressive issues short term but long term the dose ends up so high that its insane. I really dont think it should be prescribed for anyone with chronic or clinical depression. Just my own personal opinion and experience. I hope it helps you. Tell the doc your side efects are interfereing in your lofe and you want to try a new med. It is your right to request that and for him to oblige your request

Answer 8

Definetly tell your doctor and try to get him to put you on something else. IT may be because the pill isn't delayed-release, which provides fewer side-effects over longer periods of time. Maybe suggest Wellbutrin, which worked well for me, or everyone's favorite, Zoloft. But make sure you tell your doctor!

Answer 9

Have you tried something else?? There are a lot of antidepressants available. Does your m.d. know you are having these symptoms?

You cannot abruptly stop this drug; it needs to be tapered. I don't know what you can take at your age, but Effextor does tend to have more effects when you withdraw from it. You are on a hefty dose, too. I would ask your m.d. for something else. Lexapro, maybe??

Answer 10

I used to be on that one, too. I know what you're talking about with the physical side effects. You need to talk to your doctor about the nightmares and the side effects (there may be some alternative they can try).