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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jp on February 12, 2000, at 7:38:52
Hi,
I have started taking Effexor XR about two weeks ago (severe depression etc.), and I am feeling a little sedated, calm and dreamy on it, a bit "unreal, not quite there", which is quite a change from my usual distracted ADD-self.
I am at this point not particularly worried, as I am feeling better overall, but I do feel slowed down, which will become a problem if it persists.
Anyone else have similar experiences?
Posted by Noa on February 12, 2000, at 8:21:09
In reply to Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by jp on February 12, 2000, at 7:38:52
> Hi.
No, for me, effexor has always been activating. But given your add, I am not surprised you would have the opposite effect from me. A lot of others have mentioned feeling sedated by it.
How fast did you increase your dose? This might be an initial adjustment effect.
BTW, are you on regular or xr?
Posted by Caz on February 12, 2000, at 8:36:19
In reply to Re: Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by Noa on February 12, 2000, at 8:21:09
> > Hi.
>
> No, for me, effexor has always been activating. But given your add, I am not surprised you would have the opposite effect from me. A lot of others have mentioned feeling sedated by it.
>
> How fast did you increase your dose? This might be an initial adjustment effect.
>
> BTW, are you on regular or xr?My experience was that the tablet form made me feel kinda high and enervated within 2 hours of taking it but the capsule (slow release) made me yawn excessivly and feel drowsy in the afternoon if taken in the morning. I stuck with the slow release and took it late afternoon rather than morning and had no side effects other than raised blood pressure and weight gain.
It seems people have many different experiences with this drug. Also, I had to give up coffee and avoid pain killers containing codeine while I was on it since coffee made me kind of manic and codeine made me VERY sleepy and gave me nightmares.*shrug*
Seems like an unpredictable drug. I'm curious about why it affects people in different ways.
Posted by Cindy W on February 12, 2000, at 9:37:46
In reply to Re: Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by Caz on February 12, 2000, at 8:36:19
> > > Hi.
> >
> > No, for me, effexor has always been activating. But given your add, I am not surprised you would have the opposite effect from me. A lot of others have mentioned feeling sedated by it.
> >
> > How fast did you increase your dose? This might be an initial adjustment effect.
> >
> > BTW, are you on regular or xr?
>
> My experience was that the tablet form made me feel kinda high and enervated within 2 hours of taking it but the capsule (slow release) made me yawn excessivly and feel drowsy in the afternoon if taken in the morning. I stuck with the slow release and took it late afternoon rather than morning and had no side effects other than raised blood pressure and weight gain.
> It seems people have many different experiences with this drug. Also, I had to give up coffee and avoid pain killers containing codeine while I was on it since coffee made me kind of manic and codeine made me VERY sleepy and gave me nightmares.
>
> *shrug*
> Seems like an unpredictable drug. I'm curious about why it affects people in different ways.There must be something the matter with me, because all the AD's I have taken (including Effexor-XR) didn't really bother me in terms of side effects (except for sexual side effects). I don't feel any different taking Effexor-XR (no fatigue, no "high"), just no hopelessness or despair and subdued OCD.--Cindy W
Posted by Julie on February 12, 2000, at 9:44:31
In reply to Re: Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by Cindy W on February 12, 2000, at 9:37:46
Yeah, Effexor makes my brain feel weird sometimes too in an inexplainable way. Sort of deja vu, odd flashes of dreamy feelings. I also feel, at the same time, kind of activated and kind of sedated on it- jittery yet drowsy? Odd. I don't remember having these kinds of feelings on Zoloft. But weird as this med can be, it seems to work very well on my depression-- so I'm sticking with it.
Posted by torchgrl on February 12, 2000, at 19:20:20
In reply to Re: Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by Julie on February 12, 2000, at 9:44:31
The main side-effect I remember from Effexor was feeling like I was on a different plane from everyone else a lot of the time. It also made my pupils REALLY dilate, which I assume is the cause of some of the weird visuals that happened--I basically felt like I was tripping a lot of the time. I remind myself of that everytime I think that maybe I should just try it one more time...
Posted by Sarah on February 16, 2000, at 20:46:12
In reply to Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by jp on February 12, 2000, at 7:38:52
I had the same syptoms. I was put on Effexor for mild depression and ADD. After about two months on, I began feeling weird, anti_social and just plain icky! I changed my shrink and now I am on a new drug and feel wonderful and my ADD is hopefully undercontrol!
Posted by Renee N on February 16, 2000, at 22:54:37
In reply to Re: Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by Sarah on February 16, 2000, at 20:46:12
> I had the same syptoms. I was put on Effexor for mild depression and ADD. After about two months on, I began feeling weird, anti_social and just plain icky! I changed my shrink and now I am on a new drug and feel wonderful and my ADD is hopefully undercontrol!
What are you on now that's working for your ADD and mild depression? I have the same problems. I'm on Effexor XR, Wellbutrin SR, and ADDerall. My depression is a little better, but my ADD never lets up!
Posted by Sarah on February 17, 2000, at 9:17:55
In reply to Re: Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by Renee N on February 16, 2000, at 22:54:37
> > I had the same syptoms. I was put on Effexor for mild depression and ADD. After about two months on, I began feeling weird, anti_social and just plain icky! I changed my shrink and now I am on a new drug and feel wonderful and my ADD is hopefully undercontrol!
>
> What are you on now that's working for your ADD and mild depression? I have the same problems. I'm on Effexor XR, Wellbutrin SR, and ADDerall. My depression is a little better, but my ADD never lets up!I am on 10mgs of Adderall once in the AM. Love it!! I have been able to get things done, concentrate, and my house is clean!!
Posted by Sarah on February 17, 2000, at 11:24:17
In reply to Re: Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by Sarah on February 17, 2000, at 9:17:55
> > > I had the same syptoms. I was put on Effexor for mild depression and ADD. After about two months on, I began feeling weird, anti_social and just plain icky! I changed my shrink and now I am on a new drug and feel wonderful and my ADD is hopefully undercontrol!
> >
> > What are you on now that's working for your ADD and mild depression? I have the same problems. I'm on Effexor XR, Wellbutrin SR, and ADDerall. My depression is a little better, but my ADD never lets up!
>
> I am on 10mgs of Adderall once in the AM. Love it!! I have been able to get things done, concentrate, and my house is clean!!BTW, I still do have to force myself to do some of the tedious chores that get most adders. It just seems a bit easier and once I do them, I have noticed that my anxious feelings and my slight depression go away. It is wonderful to be able to finally finish something, it really has helped!! (a few more months, I think I might give school another go!) Also, I would get the Hello off Effexor, I was talking to my shrink about it and he said it is no good for ADD, but he is just one guy. It just made me feel so bad, I would never even think of it again! I'm sure it has worked wonders for some ppl, but not for me! AUGH! (wellbutrin wasn't much better) Have you tried Prozac or Paxil, or maybe even a triciclic (sp)? I couldnt' handle the sedative effect of Elavil, but I have heard it helps ADD and is a wonderful anti_depressant. ( I took it for years before my pregnancies) Let me know!!
Posted by Jared on February 17, 2000, at 13:18:39
In reply to Re: Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by Julie on February 12, 2000, at 9:44:31
I feel the exact same way. Sometimes I feel "unreal, and dreamy", as you put it. For instance I might
see someone during the day, and then later when I remember seeing them the memory will
seem distant almost as if I dreamed it and it didn't really happen.
I have been taking Effexor XR for GAD and have found it to be an interesting AD.
It also makes my brain feel weird, at the beginning of the day I feel sedated, but
towards the end of the day I start to feel almost wired, and I can feel my brain
being really active, almost like there is more blood or activity there.
I haven't been on it very long. My psychiatrist wants me to work up to 225mg, I am now on 112.75mg. I imagine as I get used to it these feelings might pass.
Posted by jp on February 22, 2000, at 7:48:01
In reply to Re: Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by Jared on February 17, 2000, at 13:18:39
Thanks for all the replies. The side-effects sort of passed, and I was put up to 150mg now, and am feeling a little weird again. hopefully that will pass in time.
a few people mentioned ADD as well... many studies have found Effexor to be useful.
getting back to feeling weird and high... I read somewhere that venlafaxine is a distant benign cousin of MDMA (i.e. ecstasy). how's that!
Posted by torchgrl on February 22, 2000, at 14:09:16
In reply to Re: Feeling dreamy and weird on Effexor, posted by jp on February 22, 2000, at 7:48:01
> getting back to feeling weird and high... I read somewhere that venlafaxine is a distant benign cousin of MDMA (i.e. ecstasy). how's that!
I believe it! I'd consider another trial of it if it weren't for the fact that it's a little difficult to function in the real world when you have spontaneous experiences of being on something illicit...
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