Question:
I was just put on Effexor XR for anxiety/depression. More so for the
anxiety.I have been on paxil with great sucess but we are looking for a
med with less side effects, especially insomnia and that can handle
both the anxiety and depression. My problem is that I took my first
dose and can barely keep my eyes open. Is this normal? I have heard the
higher the dose (which we are doing in 4 day incriments) the less
tired. Any response as to whether people are generally tired or
ususally not would be a great help. I did take Paxil and Celexa in the
morning when I was on those meds. I am just hoping that this is just a
transition period and that I will adjust and take it in the morining
becuase I don't want to run the risk of anything contributing to my
insomnia. I do also, I should mention, take clonazapam at night to help
with the transtition also but I am hoping to stop using that as well.
How long before you fell the benifits? I remembered feeling great after
just a few days on the Paxil. Not so much on the Celexa and have high
hopes for the Effexor. I am just getting panicky about it working and
the sedating effect.
Answer:
I know Effexor XR has worked great for
some people, and it was okay for me, not wonderful though. The reason I'm
replying is that I had nausea almost every single day while on 150 mgs.
I've been weaning off slowly for weeks now and am on my 5th day without any
Effexor. I've had withdrawals and side effects like dizziness,
light-headedness, buzz head, nausea, some crying, weird feelings, weird
dreams, etc. This is just a caution from me to you. I would guess, not
being a doctor, that it's the med combo making you feel sleepy because I
don't remember feeling sleepy on Effexor at all, not the first day nor while
on 150 mgs. YMMV, but if I were you I'd seek another med. Sorry for being
so negative about it. I was took Effexor XR for 5 years and it did not sedate me.I have been on Effexor for almost 4 years. My doctor reccomended I
take it before bed so I don't have such a difficult time in the day
time. So were you having a hard time with just being tired or other side
effects? Can I ask what doseage you are taking and if the side effects
got worse or better with the increase? Have you tried any other meds
and do they compare? Thanks for your reply and sorry for the
interogation (sp). I don't remember what other side effects I had, I think a little
nausea. I went from 35 mg up to 250mg. My fatigue increased to a
point where I just dragged all day. I never really felt like I woke up
from the morning. Paxil did this to me too, but I went off of my 20 mg
of Paxil and onto the Effexor. I found the Effexor the same, but not
worse than the Paxil. In the summer of 2005 I was dx with bipolar so
my meds are altogether different now. I take everything at night,
including 150mg of Effexor, 1200mg of Lithium, 50mg of Seroquel, and
trazadone and resperdone as needed. It sounds like alot, but in
comparison to being unmedicated, it is quite comfortable. Here's what
I am thinking for you...why not call up your Dr. or make an appointment
and let him/her know that you are really tired from the meds. He/she
will tell you to give it time blah, blah, blah, and then you say you
were wondering if it would affect the effects of the meds if you took
them at night instead of morning to see if that would help the fatigue
a little. I think the Dr. would appreciate that you asked for advice
rather than switching on your own, and if the Dr. is an ass, then maybe
mention you were talking with someone who had the same problem, and did
just what you are asking about a long time ago.
