Posted by FrannyGlass on February 9, 2006, at 1:33:53
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Below is an account of my three week and five day experience taking Effexor XR. Starting dose 35.7 mgs for one week, increasing to 75 mgs at week 2.
At first things were fine. Early in week three however I began to notice some problems. Today I'm nearing the end of my 3rd week and am now experiencing a dozen or more side effects, some of which are just too fierce for me bear. I've reduced the dose back to 35.7 and (with any luck) will be able to stop taking Effexor completely within 1-3 weeks. That's the plan anyway.
If you read the blow-by-blow account I've transcribed from my journal below you'll see that I have had a pretty bad exerience with this medication. But please keep in mind that just because it didn't work for me does not mean it wouldn't work beautifully for you; in fact it has worked wonders for many. I'm posting this as a portrait of my experience only (as well as to kill the hour I have to wait for the pharmacy to fill the Xanax prescription that my doc has called in). Anyway, as always YMMV.
::: ::: :::
Week 1. Nothing - no effects, good or bad.
Week 2. Nothing - no effects except (and this may be unrelated but I've never experienced anything like it before) I'm suddenly completely disgusted by the appearance of the wood grain in my desk. I can't stand to look at it; I have had to cover it up. Just thinking about it makes me shudder. Weird.
Week 3. Increasing dose as advised to 75 mgs. Nothing much is going on. I do feel sleepy during the day though.
Week 3, day 2 on 75 mgs. I'm developing quite a tremor in my hands. My balance is off--I'm stumbling a lot and bumping into furniture. My vision, for lack of a better way to explain it, is at once too fast and too slow when I move my eyes from one thing to another. I had night sweats last night. Am mildy nauseated and have no appetite. Quite thirsty but nothing seems to help.
Week 3, day 3: Tremor in hands increasing and now have sensation of trembling and shaking throughout body. Night sweats worsening. Dry mouth, dry eyes. Balance problems increasing. Visual disturbance (slow to reorient) when turing head is now constant and very bothersome. Heart rate up. I'm nervous, jumpy. Street noises, cars honking, kids playing, the muffled sound of TV in next room, all exacerbating nervous and jumpy feeling. Can't satiate thirst. Throat constricted, anxiety pretty high. Sore muscles in neck and shoulders.
Week 3, day 4: Reduced dose back to 35.7. Throat feels coated in wax, very tight and constricted. I cannot alleviate my thirst. Pulse is racing; sensations of skipping beats and odd fluttering in heart area. Weakness in limbs, tremor in hands much worse, and everywhere I feel a buzzing or bubbling as if my veins were filled with 7-UP. Nausea has fluctuated between mild and moderate, but today it's inching toward severe. More intense vertigo last night and today, especially as I begin to fall asleep. Last night in bed I felt a profound sense of dread as if I were free falling from a great height and SPINNING at the same time--definitely not fun. Continued spinning (as if I were stuck on the Teacup ride at Disneyland) off and on all night, plus sweating, nausea, waking up disoriented, off balance and stumbling as I tried to make my way to the bathroom. Bizarre dreams and even near nightmares, vaguely sexual and vaguely threatening, unpleasant to say the least.
Week 3. day 5: Unaccountable crying, sadness, gloom & doom, feelings of utter hopelessness--all clearly chemically induced as there's no reason for any of it. I haven't felt this bad in since I began taking Lexapro almost 2 years ago (10 mgs. to start then 20 mgs per day for 1 year). Lexapro banished 90 percent of my depression and I continue to take it to this day. Effexor was added to "boost" the effects of the Lexapro a bit, but really it wasn't necessary and I regret messing with it.
Week 3., day 5, part II: The worst yet: a tugging sensation at my heart as if it's being clutched or squeezed--very unpleasant--accompanied by vertigo: tight, Teacup ride spins. I'm off-the-charts nervous, totally off balance, stumbing around the house. Food tastes terrible. Ice water, soda, tea, milk all taste like baby powder and do nothing to quench thirst. Muscles in shoulders tight and seriously uncomfortable--I'm knotted up.
Week 3., day 5, part III in real time: I can't think straight; I'm in a muddle. Prescription for .5 mg Xanax is almost ready, pharmacy says about 20 minutes. Tearfulness, sad mood, anxiety and nervousness all at intolerable levels. This is what depression felt like before I took any antidepressant medications. I haven't had a panic attack yet but I feel I could any minute. I'm managing to keep half a grip on myself only because I recognize these symptoms as unhappy brain chemicals and nothing more and it will soon pass, but man it has NOT been easy.
Thanks for letting me divert myself while I waited for my Xanax to be filled. It's ready now; I hope I can drive. My hands feel tingly though I know I'm not hyperventilating. Well, wish me luck, and take care all.
PS
While it's true that YMMV, Efffexor is serious business. If your current meds are working well enough for you, I'd think twice before trying to fix what ain't broke.
poster:FrannyGlass
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060205/msgs/607869.html