I have been taking Effexor Xr for several months and I have no sexual desire and it's causing probs for me and hubby. I assume this side effect won't be going away. Also, how do you feel on Effexor XR............. does anyone feel energized or motivated at all? I kinda feel like i have a heavy weight that is sitting on top of my head. My mind doesn't feel clear at all. Please share your experience on effexor XR.
2006-10-24 04:07:10 · 7 answers · asked by Darcee 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
You know I'm 31 and have dealt with severe depression and anxiety since I was a kid. I have been on a number of antidepressants over the years. These include: Xanax, Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and lastly Effexor. I had the exact same thing happen to my sex drive. It dissappeared. Like life wasn't depressing enough already! I actually stopped taking antidepressants altogether 6 months ago. After years and years of taking them, my depression hadn't changed or improved much in general. Yes, there were times that I'd feel better for awhile and then it would lose it's effect. I still deal with depression but I have given up on pills to fix me. When I was 14 years old I was prescribed my first antidepressant. I'm 31 now and I figure if over 15 years isn't long enough to treat depression then there's no reason to keep taking them. I still have depression but guess what I don't have: A Lack Of Sex Drive (It's better now!) Brain "zaps"..I used to get an electrical shock sensation in my head from taking a/d's.
I generally feel like my mind is clearer. I'm glad I don't take pills anymore. I was also taking xanax for anxiety. It worked..sort of. I wasn't an emotional basket-case but instead a zombie with no feeling. Unless you feel you really need em, I say forget the pills or at the very least switch to Zoloft. (I was on Zoloft the longest and found it to be the best one. Unfortunately, it lost it's effect after a couple years). Good Luck and know that there are a lot of people who live with this. There is no quick cure for depression but it can be managed. Listen to your gut instinct and discontinue use of effexor. I found effexor to be the worst of them all in regards to side effects.
2006-10-24 04:36:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have also been taking Effexor XR for almost 2 months now and feel that same thing about having a heavy weight on my head, mostly my neck. I was so foggy that I finally called the doctor, and we took my dosage down to two a day. Now I can at least stay awake. At first I slept well and now I only sleep about 3 to four hours and feel tired all the time. I think I have almost every side effect of Effexor there is but I guess this is better than I was before I started taking it. Sometimes now that I am only taking two I get a glimpse of the person I used to be, happy and smiling.
I understand how you feel.
2006-10-24 05:12:39 · answer #2 · answered by enufornow 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I first started taking Effexor, I had some problems with fatigue and not wanting to do anything. All the side effects went away after a while. It is different for everyone. Fortunately for me, I never had the low libido side effect. But I have read that after time, that too can go away. Effexor is a tough drug for the body to get used to and even harder to get off of. I am weaning off it right now after being on it for years. Withdrawal is far worse than starting. But if you are really concerned, talk to your Doc, maybe there is something else out there, like Wellbutrin, that is great for depression and has low sexual side effects!
Good Luck!
2006-10-24 04:14:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might want to check out your blood pressure to see if it's too high or too low. Have you lost/gained weight? I have used Effexor for about ten years. I have always had a low blood pressure, and I often feel dizzy/foggy when I get up all of a sudden. Also, if there have been changes in your life it could have an effect that's not actually drug-related. I suggest seeing your doctor. Your symptoms may be harmless, but you should check them out in case there's some rare side-effect or a contraindication. Good luck!
2016-03-28 06:05:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I don't take Effexor myself (I take Zoloft), but I had a friend who took it and finally had to go of of it b/c of the severe side effects. I do know that sexual side effects usually subside after your body has gotten used to the drug; I experienced the same w/Zoloft and that went away after a few weeks...but you say you've been taking it for several months, and the side effects still aren't gone...I'd go back to the doctor. Don't just suffer! Effexor is well-known for its severe side effects...tell him/her the symptoms you've been having. There are many other good anti-depressants out there. I'm reasonably happy with Zoloft; no lasting side effects, and it does help my depression. Good luck.
2006-10-24 04:13:39 · answer #5 · answered by peachy78 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had the same problem you mention - the lack of desire; also I always felt fuzzy. The first week or so I was off it, I felt like everything was so sharp it nearly cut me, a very strange feeling, I assure you! I had to give up entirely on meds of that sort, but I don't think I was actually in a state of depression, just stress so strong I was falling apart, which, when relieved, (I quit the job) went away, leaving me sleepy on the meds. It took another year and a change of doctors to get off them, though. You shouldn't just stop taking them, you can get some really hairy side effects from that too!
2006-10-24 04:11:33 · answer #6 · answered by Baby'sMom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Venlafaxine is the other name of this drug, you can find info about it at the link below.
I have no personal experience of it but I hope the site helps.
2006-10-24 04:09:37 · answer #7 · answered by huggz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tyr www.network54.com and crazymeds.com.
2006-10-24 04:27:57 · answer #8 · answered by apes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋