Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1893

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Effexor-side effects

Posted by Lisa on December 30, 1998, at 12:34:47

After trying just about every kind of anti-depressant,
my psychiatrist put me on Effexor. I am currently
taking 300mg a day (150mg twice a day) and I really
starting to feel better, but does anyone ever have
muscle spasms? I have noticed that not only do I have
trouble sleeping because of the strange dreams, but
everytime I try to sleep I can feel my legs jump and
quiver uncontrolably. I never feel rested.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by alan on December 30, 1998, at 18:40:37

In reply to Effexor-side effects, posted by Lisa on December 30, 1998, at 12:34:47

> After trying just about every kind of anti-depressant,
> my psychiatrist put me on Effexor. I am currently
> taking 300mg a day (150mg twice a day) and I really
> starting to feel better, but does anyone ever have
> muscle spasms? I have noticed that not only do I have
> trouble sleeping because of the strange dreams, but
> everytime I try to sleep I can feel my legs jump and
> quiver uncontrolably. I never feel rested.

Me too, except for the restless legs.


 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Mattias on December 30, 1998, at 19:30:41

In reply to Effexor-side effects, posted by Lisa on December 30, 1998, at 12:34:47

> After trying just about every kind of anti-depressant,
> my psychiatrist put me on Effexor. I am currently
> taking 300mg a day (150mg twice a day) and I really
> starting to feel better, but does anyone ever have
> muscle spasms? I have noticed that not only do I have
> trouble sleeping because of the strange dreams, but
> everytime I try to sleep I can feel my legs jump and
> quiver uncontrolably. I never feel rested.

I´m taking Efexor 75mg a day and I have never experienced muscle spasms but I have trouble to fall asleep.
My psychiatrist gave me Imovane to help me fall asleep, and it helped the first weeks
but now its effect is decreased and has started to make me sweat when I sleep.
When I wake up my bed is wet. This never happened when I took Imovane with Prozac.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Lisa on December 31, 1998, at 8:18:46

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Mattias on December 30, 1998, at 19:30:41

> > After trying just about every kind of anti-depressant,
> > my psychiatrist put me on Effexor. I am currently
> > taking 300mg a day (150mg twice a day) and I really
> > starting to feel better, but does anyone ever have
> > muscle spasms? I have noticed that not only do I have
> > trouble sleeping because of the strange dreams, but
> > everytime I try to sleep I can feel my legs jump and
> > quiver uncontrolably. I never feel rested.
> I´m taking Efexor 75mg a day and I have never experienced muscle spasms but I have trouble to fall asleep.
> My psychiatrist gave me Imovane to help me fall asleep, and it helped the first weeks
> but now its effect is decreased and has started to make me sweat when I sleep.
> When I wake up my bed is wet. This never happened when I took Imovane with Prozac.

I have experienced the sweating when I sleep and when I wake I feel damp also. I have never taken Imovane, but my
psychiatrist did have me taking ambien. Now I have to rely on just pure luck. What do you suggest?

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by alan on December 31, 1998, at 20:55:49

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Lisa on December 31, 1998, at 8:18:46

Now I have to rely on just pure luck. What do you
suggest?

All I can suggest is that you rely on your Doc.
If he/she seems unable to help, after quite some
time or you can't stand each other or whatnot, get
another Doc. It is not that doctors are a superior
form of human existence, as the TV shows often
imply; it is just that they had to get into and
thru their training and have been at their job
full time since then. On the other hand, of course
if anyine knows something special....
BTW, I considder my side effects with
effexor quite tolerable now, alto for severral
weeks I thought I would have to give it up.
II certainly hope something good happens for yo
u soon.


 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by shelley on January 2, 1999, at 20:01:19

In reply to Effexor-side effects, posted by Lisa on December 30, 1998, at 12:34:47

> After trying just about every kind of anti-depressant,
> my psychiatrist put me on Effexor. I am currently
> taking 300mg a day (150mg twice a day) and I really
> starting to feel better, but does anyone ever have
> muscle spasms? I have noticed that not only do I have
> trouble sleeping because of the strange dreams, but
> everytime I try to sleep I can feel my legs jump and
> quiver uncontrolably. I never feel rested.

I also had uncontrollable muscle spasms when taking Effexor. I found it unbearable. I shook so hard I could not hold a pen, nor sign my name, nor drive my car. And I never slept. As you can probably guess, I stopped taking it entirely. Even after months the effects did not wear off.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Lisa on January 8, 1999, at 9:54:52

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by shelley on January 2, 1999, at 20:01:19

> > After trying just about every kind of anti-depressant,
> > my psychiatrist put me on Effexor. I am currently
> > taking 300mg a day (150mg twice a day) and I really
> > starting to feel better, but does anyone ever have
> > muscle spasms? I have noticed that not only do I have
> > trouble sleeping because of the strange dreams, but
> > everytime I try to sleep I can feel my legs jump and
> > quiver uncontrolably. I never feel rested.
> I also had uncontrollable muscle spasms when taking Effexor. I found it unbearable. I shook so hard I could not hold a pen, nor sign my name, nor drive my car. And I never slept. As you can probably guess, I stopped taking it entirely. Even after months the effects did not wear off.

I have found it hard to write and my mind starts racing a lot lately. I really do not want to stop taking Effexor because I haven't felt this good in years, but the side effects are wearing down on me.
It's almost like I have two choices Mental health or physical health.
Depression is such a nasty disease and I am just trying my hardest to not let it take the best of me!

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Susan on January 8, 1999, at 15:22:48

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Lisa on January 8, 1999, at 9:54:52

How long have you been on Effexor? I do great on 225 mg Effexor XR taken all in the morning but I do need something else to help me sleep. I currently take .25 mg Xanax which relaxes/sedates me but does not give any next day drowsiness. Did you work up gradually to the 300 mg and give your body time to adjust? I know how frustrating it can be to find the best AD and even the best med may need fine tuning after a while. Hang in there. Have hope and work with your doc. I'm sure glad that I did!

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Lisa on January 8, 1999, at 16:03:49

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Susan on January 8, 1999, at 15:22:48

> How long have you been on Effexor? I do great on 225 mg Effexor XR taken all in the morning but I do need something else to help me sleep. I currently take .25 mg Xanax which relaxes/sedates me but does not give any next day drowsiness. Did you work up gradually to the 300 mg and give your body time to adjust? I know how frustrating it can be to find the best AD and even the best med may need fine tuning after a while. Hang in there. Have hope and work with your doc. I'm sure glad that I did!

I have been on Effexor for about 6 months. I started on 75mg twice a day and then worked my way up.
Thanks for the encouragement. It feels good to know that I am not the only one out there going through things like this.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Robin on January 10, 1999, at 22:41:35

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Lisa on January 8, 1999, at 16:03:49

I can relate to your feeling of having to choose between physical or mental health. The first time an anti-depressant worked for me, I was so elated that I did not care what kind of side effects I had. I was just glad to be functioning mentally so well! But my doc. convinced me that she could actually fine-tune my medicine so that I wouldn't have such trouble with side effects. I agree that it seems like you need a mild sedative at night. Have you ever heard of "restless legs syndrome"? I couldn't believe there was actually a medical term for the jumpy nighttime legs thing (I've had it, too). There are a variety of reasons that it can occur. But I would bet that a sedative may relax those muscles enough for you to get a good night's sleep. (I don't know if you actually have restless legs syndrome, but I just thought it might be interesting info. for you!) Good Luck!

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Lisa on January 11, 1999, at 9:05:08

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Robin on January 10, 1999, at 22:41:35

> I can relate to your feeling of having to choose between physical or mental health. The first time an anti-depressant worked for me, I was so elated that I did not care what kind of side effects I had. I was just glad to be functioning mentally so well! But my doc. convinced me that she could actually fine-tune my medicine so that I wouldn't have such trouble with side effects. I agree that it seems like you need a mild sedative at night. Have you ever heard of "restless legs syndrome"? I couldn't believe there was actually a medical term for the jumpy nighttime legs thing (I've had it, too). There are a variety of reasons that it can occur. But I would bet that a sedative may relax those muscles enough for you to get a good night's sleep. (I don't know if you actually have restless legs syndrome, but I just thought it might be interesting info. for you!) Good Luck!

Yes actually I do have restless legs syndrome. I just wasn't aware that there was a medical term for it. I definitely need something to help me sleep though. Thanks for the input.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Cheryl on April 11, 1999, at 20:46:50

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Lisa on January 11, 1999, at 9:05:08

I've been on Effexor for 4 years. My highest dose was 200mg/day. I have tried and tried to get off this drug, but by the time I just about get off, I feel myself falling down the hole again. I cry for no apparent reason, I feel hopeless and useless and am unable to make decisions. I totally relate to the sleeplessness - I haven't really slept well for 4 years! I just had a blood test done and there has been some liver damage. I'm really serious about getting off of this drug. I think I might try some of the herbal remedies. Has anyone out there been warned of liver damage for long term use?

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Rebecca Willis on April 12, 1999, at 13:36:29

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Cheryl on April 11, 1999, at 20:46:50

I am possibly going to start Effexor for depression. I have finally lost my excess weight and absolutely do not want to gain weight. Does Effexor cause weight gain or increase appetite?

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Polly on May 17, 2000, at 19:11:07

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Cheryl on April 11, 1999, at 20:46:50

I have been on Effexor for less than a year and while I feel great and don't have many of the side effects that have been mentioned with the exception of the hands trembling, I'm thinking it has made me gain weight. And now hearing about the your blood tests and liver enzymes or whatever I'm really worried that this is not the right medication for me. My friend works for Bristol-Myers and reps Serzone. It supposedly has the fewest side effects but Doctors won't prescribe it as much because it has to be titrated. Has anyone ever tried it and how did it work if so.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Orin on May 18, 2000, at 21:43:42

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Polly on May 17, 2000, at 19:11:07

From my experience, stay with the venlafaxine if its working. Worry about liver damage if you drink, not if you're taking venlafaxine. Serzone (nefazodone) had a very crude "feel" to it. In fact, I felt physically terrible while taking it (12 week trial). Be aware that serzone's metabolites reach extremely high levels in your blood, and your liver has to deal with every one of those molocules. One of the metabolites (mppp or mcpp or something like that) is **anxiogenic** and you'll likely feel it as a wrenching in you gut. I believe the drug affects one's immune system; I had one cold after another while taking it; I developed a staph infection under a fingernail that did not clear up, even after several bouts of antibiotics, until I went off the drug. Also, you'll likely get LSD-like after-images and trails, and these make for dangerous night driving.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Michelle on May 19, 2000, at 14:06:50

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Rebecca Willis on April 12, 1999, at 13:36:29

> I am just starting Effexor, I have been on Prozac off and on for about 2 years. Is there anything that I should be worried about taking this medication. I'm starting on 37.5 mg and then 75.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Noa on May 19, 2000, at 16:33:21

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Michelle on May 19, 2000, at 14:06:50

Michelle,

The most important advice I can give you is GO SLOW. Don't rush from 37.5 to 75, and from 75 up. It takes a lot of patience, of course, until you get to whatever the therapeutic dose for you will be, but it can make a big difference in how your body gets used to it.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Rita on May 25, 2000, at 18:34:28

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Michelle on May 19, 2000, at 14:06:50

> > I am just starting Effexor, I have been on Prozac off and on for about 2 years. Is there anything that I should be worried about taking this medication. I'm starting on 37.5 mg and then 75.

I've been on Effexor for five years with various side effects, none of which seemed serious or long lasting. The most pronounced, was the jerking muscles....legs, arms, whole body sometimes ...during that "almost, but not quite asleep" state. If I could stay calm and ignore it, eventually, I'd fall asleep. In the beginning, I had to use an occasional sleep aid (Benadryl, or Ambien). Eventually, especially after I stopped taking Effexor after 2 p.m., I didn't need a sleep aid anymore.
Re stopping: VERY difficult. Can relate to an earlier note in this thread about how everything started to fall apart again. **IMPORTANT** Check out an article currently on the "abcnews.com" web site called "SSRI Withdrawal Effects Underdiscussed" by Dr. Joseph Glenmullen. I just found it yesterday and it seems to apply...at least in my experience with this drug. Am going to share it with my doctor, too....they're all still learning about these "new" drugs which help "BUT"....
Bottom line, withdrawal can take many months and must be done VERY gradually. For me, it's been worth it; but I'm glad to know this about the withdrawal symptoms...because I've tried to go off it, too; but the symptoms scared me back on. Have reduced from 300 to 275 sucessfully now, for 3 months. Will continue to attempt to decrease by 25 gm (the size of my tablets) about every 4-6 months. May be easier if you're not on such a large dose, or haven't been on as long. But trust your body, your doctor and your own sense of well being...and take it easy. If the drug helps, it's worth the effort to go on and come off it right. Took a long time to find this drug that works for me....so many others didn't.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Leslie on June 2, 2000, at 0:35:33

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Rita on May 25, 2000, at 18:34:28

I've been on Effexor for about 6 months and "mental" health-wise it has definitely made a HUGE improvement, however I have developed an irritating problem that really interferes with my sleep. I clench my teeth and I keep hearing a popping noise in my ears at night, when I go to bed. Does anyone else have this??? It got so bad that I cut back on my dose by 75mg, then I tried to get completely off it - what a mistake that was. I became so disoriented and dizzy that I had to go back on the meds.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by LD on June 2, 2000, at 8:45:32

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Leslie on June 2, 2000, at 0:35:33

Since I have been on Effexor (2 months) I have also started clenching my jaw severly at night. I'm on 300 mg XR. Sometimes its so bad that I can't chew the next day. I've found that taking alot of advil helps with the stiffness and pain, but not with the clenching. Maybe taking a muscle relaxer at night?? I also take klonopin and have noticed it helps with the clenching alittle. Sorry I can't help more.

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Snowdancer on June 29, 2000, at 21:57:10

In reply to Effexor-side effects, posted by Lisa on December 30, 1998, at 12:34:47

> After trying just about every kind of anti-depressant,
> my psychiatrist put me on Effexor. I am currently
> taking 300mg a day (150mg twice a day) and I really
> starting to feel better, but does anyone ever have
> muscle spasms? I have noticed that not only do I have
> trouble sleeping because of the strange dreams, but
> everytime I try to sleep I can feel my legs jump and
> quiver uncontrolably. I never feel rested.


I just wanted to say that I have had horrific nightmares on my effexor xr, 150 mg per day. I also did with prozac. My dr put me on 1 mg of xanex at night and during the day for anxiety and it has helped tremendously! I can't believe the nightmares that I have, everynight, constant, and wow! Afraid to sleep without my xanex although after a year I am afraid I am building a tolerance up to it because the nightmares are coming back and fast. taking two pills now to be rid of them. Good luck! Don't know whats up with the dreams but have read that they can be a side effect. :( Hugs! Snowdancer*

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Lesley on June 30, 2000, at 19:21:45

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Snowdancer on June 29, 2000, at 21:57:10

I started Effexor about 2 months ago and was up to 150mg day and I was also already taking Trazodone for sleep. I had about a half a dozen days where I would get a wierd dizziness off and on throughout the day. It started up again one night while laying in bed and actually made my eyes roll downward for a second. In the morning, the "episodes of dizziness" progressed to the point where it was happening constantly. It was almost like an electical charge in my brain and getting dizzy was an after-effect of these charges. It got to the point where I was feeling tingling down my right arm to my palm & fingertips whenever I got the "charges". I slowly discontinued using Effexor and I've been back on Prozac for a couple days now and I've never had any side effects from that. Has anybody ever had this type of experience with Effexor?

I also have nightmares (waking up with my fists clenched), night sweats and see "trails" sometimes

 

Re: Effexor-side effects » Lesley

Posted by Snowdancer on June 30, 2000, at 22:36:05

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Lesley on June 30, 2000, at 19:21:45

> I started Effexor about 2 months ago and was up to 150mg day and I was also already taking Trazodone for sleep. I had about a half a dozen days where I would get a wierd dizziness off and on throughout the day. It started up again one night while laying in bed and actually made my eyes roll downward for a second. In the morning, the "episodes of dizziness" progressed to the point where it was happening constantly. It was almost like an electical charge in my brain and getting dizzy was an after-effect of these charges. It got to the point where I was feeling tingling down my right arm to my palm & fingertips whenever I got the "charges". I slowly discontinued using Effexor and I've been back on Prozac for a couple days now and I've never had any side effects from that. Has anybody ever had this type of experience with Effexor?
>
> I also have nightmares (waking up with my fists clenched), night sweats and see "trails" sometimes

OH Most definately! People call them everything from
brain spikes to nerve spikes in the brain to brain
flashes, oh it's unreal! We all no exactly what
the other person is trying to describe as soon as they
start! It's unreal, I hated going back on this med
after all the he!! I went through while going off
it, and never went through any of it with prozac. My
dr blew a gasket when I took myself off though and
a couple mo later told me to go back on it so I did
since I was in the hptl due to crashing hard and
trying to od. I really had to listen to his advice
at that point and to keep my husband satisfied. yes
I remember all to well the dizzy episodes where I
would just turn my head or even move my eyes from
one object to another and get them brain flashes,
nerve spikes, what ever they are! And the sweating
is horrid not to mention the nightmares. I think
I'm better off not taking this stuff but then I
hit rock bottom when coming off it. The only reason
I quit prozac (my miracle pill!) was my body seemed
to build up a tolerance to it and I gained 30 lbs.
which added to my depression ofcourse! Well good
luck to you, feel free to email me if you have any
addl questions! snowdancer@ameritech.net :)

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Rita on July 1, 2000, at 10:16:04

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Lesley on June 30, 2000, at 19:21:45

> I started Effexor about 2 months ago and was up to 150mg day and I was also already taking Trazodone for sleep. I had about a half a dozen days where I would get a wierd dizziness off and on throughout the day. It started up again one night while laying in bed and actually made my eyes roll downward for a second. In the morning, the "episodes of dizziness" progressed to the point where it was happening constantly. It was almost like an electical charge in my brain and getting dizzy was an after-effect of these charges. It got to the point where I was feeling tingling down my right arm to my palm & fingertips whenever I got the "charges". I slowly discontinued using Effexor and I've been back on Prozac for a couple days now and I've never had any side effects from that. Has anybody ever had this type of experience with Effexor?
>
> I also have nightmares (waking up with my fists clenched), night sweats and see "trails" sometimes

Hello again. As Snowdancer mentioned, I too can relate to the various side effects you mentioned. For me, most of them went away after several weeks; but would return briefly if I changed the dose, missed a dose, or got over stressed/tired. The teeth clenching has persisted, but apparently not as bad as yours. Flexeril (at night) might help....it's a muscle relaxant and helped me with both the teeth clenching and the muscle jerks/spasms. Have been getting off the drug over the past few weeks... Starting at 275mg, began cutting back (with doctor's permission) by 25mg/week...now down to 100mg and still OK. Tried to stop before by cutting back 50mg/day (the size of my pills)...disaster!! Like someone else said...scared me back on. Now I use a pill cutter and every time I cut back, I readajust to make sure I spread the remaining dose as evenly over each 24 hour period as possible. Best of luck to all of you. Effexor's a good drug; works when many others don't; however, it has it's own idiosyncracies and doesn't work for everyone (like Prozac didn't work for me). Trust your doctor and your body! ... Rita

 

Re: Effexor-side effects

Posted by Cindy W on July 1, 2000, at 12:02:03

In reply to Re: Effexor-side effects, posted by Rita on July 1, 2000, at 10:16:04

> > I started Effexor about 2 months ago and was up to 150mg day and I was also already taking Trazodone for sleep. I had about a half a dozen days where I would get a wierd dizziness off and on throughout the day. It started up again one night while laying in bed and actually made my eyes roll downward for a second. In the morning, the "episodes of dizziness" progressed to the point where it was happening constantly. It was almost like an electical charge in my brain and getting dizzy was an after-effect of these charges. It got to the point where I was feeling tingling down my right arm to my palm & fingertips whenever I got the "charges". I slowly discontinued using Effexor and I've been back on Prozac for a couple days now and I've never had any side effects from that. Has anybody ever had this type of experience with Effexor?
> >
> > I also have nightmares (waking up with my fists clenched), night sweats and see "trails" sometimes
>
> Hello again. As Snowdancer mentioned, I too can relate to the various side effects you mentioned. For me, most of them went away after several weeks; but would return briefly if I changed the dose, missed a dose, or got over stressed/tired. The teeth clenching has persisted, but apparently not as bad as yours. Flexeril (at night) might help....it's a muscle relaxant and helped me with both the teeth clenching and the muscle jerks/spasms. Have been getting off the drug over the past few weeks... Starting at 275mg, began cutting back (with doctor's permission) by 25mg/week...now down to 100mg and still OK. Tried to stop before by cutting back 50mg/day (the size of my pills)...disaster!! Like someone else said...scared me back on. Now I use a pill cutter and every time I cut back, I readajust to make sure I spread the remaining dose as evenly over each 24 hour period as possible. Best of luck to all of you. Effexor's a good drug; works when many others don't; however, it has it's own idiosyncracies and doesn't work for everyone (like Prozac didn't work for me). Trust your doctor and your body! ... Rita

Hello! i feel so lucky, because i take Effexor 275 mg/day and it doesn't bother me in any way. Hope you find the right thing!


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