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Re: Fatigue and Effexor (When Effexor Stops Working) » Persephone79

Posted by CaffeinePoet on May 14, 2011, at 23:49:37

In reply to Fatigue and Effexor (When Effexor Stops Working), posted by Persephone79 on May 14, 2011, at 12:44:48

> I am 32 and have been on Effexor XR (300 mg) for the past 15 years. Although it's always made me pretty tired, it worked well at controlling my depression, and since I was never a terribly high-energy person because of my depression, the fatigue didn't seem like a really big deal. For the past few years, though, my fatigue has gotten unbearable. I feel completely unmotivated and I can sleep for most of the day. Leaving the house and going to the grocery store is a big deal. Exercise is totally out of the question, and I'm having a hard time getting work done. I also feel that it's possible that the Effexor is not as effective as it used to be (but it's possible that I'm just feeling depressed because it's gotten so difficult for me to function.) I've tried Adderall but had to take the maximum dosage, and this wasn't a long-term solution because it made me borderline hypertensive and I lost my appetite and was having trouble eating. I tried adding Nuvigil and Wellbutrin (not together) and they just made it difficult for me to sleep, but I was still tired and lethargic. I tried going off Effexor and found that the fatigue disappeared, but I got severely depressed again and sick from withdrawal. I am desperate to do something about my lack of energy--I hate my life the way it is right now--but I'm dreading getting off Effexor and then going on the roller coaster ride of trying different medications. Has anyone had a similar experience and found something that helped?

I think I know just how you feel. After 8 years on Effexor, I went to therapy for lack of motivation and poor attention span. I slept all day when I absolutely didn't have to be out(like at work) and drank tons of coffee in order to stay up for dates at night. I socialized less often because staying out past 9pm seemed so much harder.

Getting off the Effexor, even though it was hard, was the best thing because after the withdrawal, I found a drive and motivation that didn't previously exist. Unfortunately my mood is less regulated, of course.

So, my first suggestion would be getting off the Effexor -- with an MD's help, of course.

The next thing I did, was go without drugs for a while. I functioned well for 3-4 months before developing debilitating anxiety, for which I started to take a benzo regularly. I was hesitant to take it, because benzos have a bad name, but actually INCREASED my productivity.

I now would like to get off the benzo, as in the long run use can lean towards depression and lack of motivation as well. However, I do not have to sleep all day and at lower doses still have drive/motivation.


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