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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jennifer1 on April 1, 2001, at 17:38:06
My doctor diagnosed me with depression and anxiety. My major complaints were fatigue, poor concentration, not being able to focus, inability to sleep etc. He started me on Effexor XR 37.5 mg, which I started on Wednesday. I haven't really had many side effects except not being able to sleep. I have been waking up at 3:00 in the morning and not being able to go back to sleep until 5:00. I'm also starting to experience blurred vision. I have been reading the postings and am starting to wonder if I should continue taking the meds. I'm afraid of all the other side effects that I am going to experience. I also don't understand why my doctor would prescribe this medication if he knew one of the side effects was the inability to stay asleep. I'm not sure if this is the AD for me, has anyone had a better experience with something else or will these side effects subside over time. Especially the sleeping problems. I look forward to everyone's feedback.
Jennifer
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 1, 2001, at 17:49:08
In reply to Starting Effexor XR and I am afraid, posted by Jennifer1 on April 1, 2001, at 17:38:06
Most people with affective disorders have problems sleeping with or without medications. You may be one of zillions of people who needs a simple sedative to enhance sleep, and there are some very good medications out there: Sonata, Ambien, Desyrel, Zyprexa, Oxazepam.
I highly doubt that the blurry vision will continue more than a few days; and I have never heard of that as a side-effect of venlafaxine. If for some highly unlikely reason it does continue, perhaps you can go on buspirone or nefazodone.
> My doctor diagnosed me with depression and anxiety. My major complaints were fatigue, poor concentration, not being able to focus, inability to sleep etc. He started me on Effexor XR 37.5 mg, which I started on Wednesday. I haven't really had many side effects except not being able to sleep. I have been waking up at 3:00 in the morning and not being able to go back to sleep until 5:00. I'm also starting to experience blurred vision. I have been reading the postings and am starting to wonder if I should continue taking the meds. I'm afraid of all the other side effects that I am going to experience. I also don't understand why my doctor would prescribe this medication if he knew one of the side effects was the inability to stay asleep. I'm not sure if this is the AD for me, has anyone had a better experience with something else or will these side effects subside over time. Especially the sleeping problems. I look forward to everyone's feedback.
>
> Jennifer
Posted by AnneL on April 1, 2001, at 17:59:37
In reply to Starting Effexor XR and I am afraid, posted by Jennifer1 on April 1, 2001, at 17:38:06
> My doctor diagnosed me with depression and anxiety. My major complaints were fatigue, poor concentration, not being able to focus, inability to sleep etc. He started me on Effexor XR 37.5 mg, which I started on Wednesday. I haven't really had many side effects except not being able to sleep. I have been waking up at 3:00 in the morning and not being able to go back to sleep until 5:00. I'm also starting to experience blurred vision. I have been reading the postings and am starting to wonder if I should continue taking the meds. I'm afraid of all the other side effects that I am going to experience. I also don't understand why my doctor would prescribe this medication if he knew one of the side effects was the inability to stay asleep. I'm not sure if this is the AD for me, has anyone had a better experience with something else or will these side effects subside over time. Especially the sleeping problems. I look forward to everyone's feedback.
>
> JenniferHi Jennifer,
Your side effects are very common with Effexor XR and will most certainly dissipate given a little time and patience. Sleep needs to be addressed though. I agree with Sal that all you need is a simple little sleeper to get you through the night. I am a new user of Effexor as well and really understand your concerns; but I must tell you that by the 3rd week at 75 mg. I am doing so much better and am really grateful to all of the members of this message board who advised me to stick it out! Get your sleep problems addressed and the rest will work itself out. Take Care, Anne
Posted by Michele on April 1, 2001, at 21:56:26
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor XR and I am afraid-Jennifer, posted by AnneL on April 1, 2001, at 17:59:37
Hi!!!!!! I started effexor xr 4 weeks ago. first week on 37.5, second 75, and third and now 150mg. I too was also very afraid of the side effects, but the indeed did go away. When do you take your dose? I was very worried about my sleep.... so my pdoc advised me to take it with dinner, which happens to be about 8 p.m. It's worked great for me that way... no problems. I've also adressed this issue above. I sleep right through the night. Hang in there with the side effects.... they will go away!!!!!! Keep me posted! Michele
Posted by Chaston on April 2, 2001, at 11:38:45
In reply to Starting Effexor XR and I am afraid, posted by Jennifer1 on April 1, 2001, at 17:38:06
Hi Jennifer,
For any given medication that stays on the market for any length of time, there are many people it helps, some it doesn't, and a few who actually feel worse taking it. Many, if not most, of the people who post on this board (including me) come here because they are not entirely satisfied with their "meds." So you get a distorted sample.
I don't know why Effexor in particular is so controversial here. One reason may be that it is so widely prescribed. Obviously, it doesn't work well for everyone, some people have had a lot of discomfort discontinuing its use, and a few people have very strong negative opinions about it, based on their experiences.
Before I took it, some of the posts here scared me too, even though I had taken other ADs, and experienced some withdrawal symptoms from Paxil before, without any horrible problems.
About 2 years ago, I started on Effexor XR. The side effects (including sleep disturbances)went away within a few weeks. I think I got up to 200-300 mg /day. I discontinued it after about 6 months because I was no longer depressed. I tapered off slowly, and didn't have any withdrawal problems at all. I can't say whether it will work as well for you, but I just wanted you to know that people are more likely to report problems with a med, than successes.
Good luck!
> My doctor diagnosed me with depression and anxiety. My major complaints were fatigue, poor concentration, not being able to focus, inability to sleep etc. He started me on Effexor XR 37.5 mg, which I started on Wednesday. I haven't really had many side effects except not being able to sleep. I have been waking up at 3:00 in the morning and not being able to go back to sleep until 5:00. I'm also starting to experience blurred vision. I have been reading the postings and am starting to wonder if I should continue taking the meds. I'm afraid of all the other side effects that I am going to experience. I also don't understand why my doctor would prescribe this medication if he knew one of the side effects was the inability to stay asleep. I'm not sure if this is the AD for me, has anyone had a better experience with something else or will these side effects subside over time. Especially the sleeping problems. I look forward to everyone's feedback.
>
> Jennifer
Posted by Jennifer1 on April 2, 2001, at 20:14:06
In reply to Re: Starting Effexor XR and I am afraid, posted by SalArmy4me on April 1, 2001, at 17:49:08
Thanks for the advice. I took an otc sleep aid last night and I only woke up a few times and was able to fall right back to sleep. I now have a second concern, weight gain. It seems that most ADs have a side effect of weight gain, do you know of one that doesn't? I'm eating healthy and going to the gym but I don't want to gain the weight, that was one of the reasons for depression. I would appreciate any type of feedback.
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 3, 2001, at 1:57:03
In reply to Thanks everyone - Sal - One more question, posted by Jennifer1 on April 2, 2001, at 20:14:06
What was the OTC sleep aid that you used?
The addition of buproprion to your medication regimen may kill your appetite such that weight-gain will not become an issue. Pindolol or Topiramate can do the same thing.
Posted by Jennifer1 on April 3, 2001, at 11:33:46
In reply to Re: Thanks everyone - Sal - One more question, posted by SalArmy4me on April 3, 2001, at 1:57:03
> What was the OTC sleep aid that you used?
>
> The addition of buproprion to your medication regimen may kill your appetite such that weight-gain will not become an issue. Pindolol or Topiramate can do the same thing.I used Simply Sleep which is by the makers of Tylenol just without the pain reducer. I took it last night and I was able to sleep through the night. I'm feeling pretty good today. I was taking the meds in the morning, I'm going to try taking them at night. Thanks for all of your help, I really appreciate it.
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 4, 2001, at 3:04:10
In reply to Re: Thanks everyone - Sal - One more question, posted by Jennifer1 on April 3, 2001, at 11:33:46
My Dr. Dad recommends using just plain Benadryl as a sleep aid when other drugs are feared or when all else fails.
> > What was the OTC sleep aid that you used?
> >
> > The addition of buproprion to your medication regimen may kill your appetite such that weight-gain will not become an issue. Pindolol or Topiramate can do the same thing.
>
> I used Simply Sleep which is by the makers of Tylenol just without the pain reducer. I took it last night and I was able to sleep through the night. I'm feeling pretty good today. I was taking the meds in the morning, I'm going to try taking them at night. Thanks for all of your help, I really appreciate it.
Posted by Jennifer1 on April 4, 2001, at 19:21:50
In reply to Re: Thanks everyone - Sal - One more question, posted by SalArmy4me on April 4, 2001, at 3:04:10
> My Dr. Dad recommends using just plain Benadryl as a sleep aid when other drugs are feared or when all else fails.
Thanks for all of your help. I took a lower dose of the sleeping aid last night and slept right through. I'm going to cut it down again tonight and see what happens.
This is the end of the thread.
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