Experiences on Efexor (Venlafaxine)?

Question

I've been on this for 2 months now (75mg) and I'm just starting to increase the dose to 150mg as I wasn't feeling much effect. I was just wondering what side effects people are getting on it and whether it's helping at all?

I've been getting very weird and long dreams on it- they are like films some of them and some like horror or sci-fi films. I also seem to be colder than usual all the time. Also I can't tell whether it's the depression or the drug that is making me so tired all the time. I just can't stop sleeping.

Answer 1

Hi

I have been taking venlafaxine for about 6 years now.
I started at about 75mg then increased to 150mg and over time have had to increase up to 300mg.

The longer on it the less the effect.

I dont know whether it is me or whether it is the drug but my pmt is alot worse than it used to be - yet you think it would help.

I absolutely sweat buckets and find it almost unbearable in the summer - so much so i avoid going out as people stare or ask me if im ok - which obviously makes me anxious and i sweat more. I have to wear t-shirts even in this weather.

I have gained alot of weight on it.

When i was first starting out on it i did have bad dreams but that has now stopped - i just wake up alot during the night.

It was supposed to help with anxiety also which it did for a couple of years but the panic attacks have reappeared more frequently the longer i have been on it.

I have tried to wean off of this medication because of these and other horrible effects but can never do it. I get very ill physically and mentally every time i try, no matter how slowly and how little i do it.

I thought this was the best antil depressant i had ever been on when i first started on it as i felt like i had "woken up" and felt like me again after too many years to count. But now i wish i had never ever started on it.

This is only my experience though, it is not meant to scare you in any way. At the end of the day i was in a bad place when i started taking it and it got me out so i have that to be thankful for at least but it scares the hell out of me to think i am physically and mentally "run" or "dependant" on this drug.

Good luck and i hope it works better for you.

Elly x

Answer 2

Effexor is used primarily for the treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder in adults. It is known as one of the most activating of the newer antidepressants. While this can be helpful to some, as a number of depressed patients report feeling exhausted and unmotivated, to others it poses the risk of increased anxiety and agitation.
Effexor is an effective antidepressant for many persons; however, it seems to be especially effective for those with treatment-resistant depression. Some of these persons have taken two or more antidepressants prior to Effexor with no relief. It has also been found to reduce the severity of 'hot-flashes' in menopausal women.

http://www.healthy-pharmacy.com

http://www.jvspharmacy.com

http://www.lalorspharmacy.com

In addition, a September 2004 Consumer Reports study ranked Effexor as the most effective among six commonly prescribed antidepressants. However, this should not be considered a definitive finding, and responses to psychiatric medications vary significantly from individual to individual.
Substantial weight loss in patients with major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social phobia has been noted in taking Effexor, but the manufacturer does not recommend use as an anorectic either alone or in combination with phentermine or other amphetamine-like drugs.
Some common side effects of using Effexor include:
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Sleepiness
• Increased blood pressure
• Vertigo
• Dry mouth
• Sexual dysfunction
• Dizziness
• Vivid dreams
• Sweating

Answer 3

your side effects (drowsiness, weird dreams and feeling cold) are actually all possible side effects from this drug. so i wouldnt' worry about it unless you think it can be problematic (ie: being drowsy all the time must make it hard to drive or pay attention to something). if you find that the side effects affect your quality of life then you should talk to your dr. about switching to another antidepressant that wont do this...although in general, most antidepressants can cause drowsiness.

some patients dont get any effect on 75mg, some patients get great effects on 37.5mg so it all depends on you. moving up to 150mg after 2 months sounds very reasonable and is within the practice guidelines. once you've been stabilized on the 150mg dose, it may take up to 4-6 weeks until you get maximum effects. so the key is patience! you will probably start getting positive effects after about 2 weeks.

Answer 4

I don't take the med But I work in a pharmacy and here are the side effects they list

What side effects may I notice from taking venlafaxine?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
Rare or uncommon:
•abnormal body movements, for example, of your tongue or upper body
•bruising or bleeding
•difficulty breathing
•fainting spells
•mania (over-active behavior)
•problems passing urine (increase or decrease in frequency)
•rapid heartbeat, or palpitations
•seizures (convulsions)
More common:
•agitation, anxiety, or restlessness, especially in the first week of treatment or when doses are changed
•changes in vision (blurred vision)
•sexual difficulties (abnormal ejaculation or orgasm, difficult or painful erections, impotence)
•vomiting

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•dry mouth
•constipation
•dizziness, drowsiness
•increased sweating
•loss of appetite, loss of weight
•nausea
•tremor
•weakness or tiredness

Answer 5

took this long term on a high dose and I had the following problems:-
yawning and tiredness all the time
jaw clenching and teeth chattering all the time
could really feel the cold
slept a lot during the day
occasionally used to tremble
weight gain of 3 stone
peed a lot
felt suicidal all the time
strange dreams

Answer 6

I am also on a high dosage of Effexor, mine was also just increased. It works fine for me. I am finding that I am colder than normal with this dosage, I sleep less on it and do have high blodd pressure because of it. All are normal side effects.

Answer 7

Adhere to a far more slim protein/green plant diet plan

Answer 8

placed less meals out and about and you will probably get much less throughout

Answer 9

Oh goodness, i hate Effexor. It made me yawn all day long and then I couldn't sleep at night! But it worked for me, I even tried to worry about stuff and I couldn't.

Answer 10

Exercise in the morning as compared to night time