Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 68651

Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:

Posted by Janelle on July 1, 2001, at 20:03:27

I'm titrating up on Effexor (75 mg from 37.5, will do the mext jump in a few days) and I feel EXACTLY like someone who posted about fatigue somewhere above: I am wiped out and *exhausted*--I can't get enough sleep. I sleep about 11-12 hours a night, and then have to take 2 or 3 hour long naps during the day. The quality of my sleep is poor. I just kinda fall asleep (not that true "tired" and relaxed feeling and enjoyment of sleep), and I wake up frequently.

I've heard a lot of people complain about fatigue and drowsiness side effect (this goes beyond drowsiness), but not mentioned with Effexor. I thought A-D's were supposed to perk you up. Within a half hour of taking this, boom, I'm wiped.

Also little change in my mood... still anxious and tense (probably now also from feeling this way), I don't know if it's less depression, because I feel apathetic and lethargic. Can't even do the exercise I keep hearing is so important.

Anyone else experience this with EFFEXOR? Will the sleepiness, lethargy and apathy decrease as I take more and get to the therapeutic level?

 

Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:

Posted by SalArmy4me on July 1, 2001, at 20:20:59

In reply to Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:, posted by Janelle on July 1, 2001, at 20:03:27

Stick with it, and you may experience weight loss, according to the most recent study which was not sponsored by a drug company. TAKE ALL of the XR Version AT BEDTIME, since the drug's half-life is longer than 24 hours in some people.

Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Volume 21(2) April 2001 pp 185-189. Sustained Response to Open-Label Venlafaxine in Drug-Resistant Major Depression." Schweitzer, Isaac MB BS, MD:

"...In only 32 patients (12%), study events resulted in cessation of venlafaxine... The most common study events were somnolence (21%), headache (18%), insomnia (16%), sweating (16%), constipation (14%), dry mouth (11%), nausea (10%), and dizziness (10%). There were no statistically significant changes in mean systolic or diastolic blood pressure or pulse during the extension phase. However, a slight but significant decrease (1.4 kg in weight) was noted in weight at month 4 (p = 0.007)..."

 

Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:

Posted by Janelle on July 2, 2001, at 1:28:07

In reply to Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:, posted by SalArmy4me on July 1, 2001, at 20:20:59

Thanks for responding. I'm going to have to stick with it long enough to give it time to kick in (or not), and wouldn't mind losing a few pounds. HOWEVER, my pdoc told me to take EffexorXR in the morning (which for me these days is noon!) with food. I'm still tapering off Celexa (take that one at night), so maybe when I finish the Celexa, I can take EffexorXR after dinner. Except I heard it's extended release meant to work throughout the DAY, and some people take one in am, and other at pm; others take all of it in am. This is the first I've heard about taking EffexorXR at night!

 

Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy: » Janelle

Posted by kid_A on July 2, 2001, at 11:35:11

In reply to Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:, posted by Janelle on July 1, 2001, at 20:03:27


I'm at 75mg now as well, up from 37.5... It's hard for me to account for all of my side effects because right now I am experimenting with a combination of about 4 different drugs: effexor each day, geodon at night, plus remeron or ambien to help me sleep...

I wasnt given specific instructions about when to take the effexor, so I started taking it at night... I was having a horrible time w/ the side effects and I couldnt sleep at all... So I was perscibed xanax for the symptoms, and switched to start taking it in the morning w/ food.

I have never had any problems w/ somnolence w/ effexor, it has always been the oposite: feeling hyper, restless, numb, and completely spaced out.

I've found that these symptoms totally diminish as long as I am eating... If I skip a meal, or for some reason can't eat, I get these symptoms again... Luckily, the remeron has been making me eat like a horse, and at my weight, this is a good thing as I'm actually trying to *gain*...

I dont know why some people experience somnolence and others the opposite, but I do think that the effects can corelate to the dosage that you are taking... it seems like everyones mileage varies...

 

Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:

Posted by rmshed on July 2, 2001, at 18:50:34

In reply to Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:, posted by Janelle on July 2, 2001, at 1:28:07

> Thanks for responding. I'm going to have to stick with it long enough to give it time to kick in (or not), and wouldn't mind losing a few pounds. HOWEVER, my pdoc told me to take EffexorXR in the morning (which for me these days is noon!) with food. I'm still tapering off Celexa (take that one at night), so maybe when I finish the Celexa, I can take EffexorXR after dinner. Except I heard it's extended release meant to work throughout the DAY, and some people take one in am, and other at pm; others take all of it in am. This is the first I've heard about taking EffexorXR at night!

My doctor prescribed my Effexor XR to be taken at bedtime. I also take Doxepin at night, it helps me sleep although it is also an AD. The first few nights on effexor xr 37.5 mg, I experienced a light sleep, I kept waking up about every two hours, but fell back alseep. After taking 37.5 mg for 15 days, my doctor increased my dosage to 75 mg at bedtime, I had a really good nights rest last night. I take my medication with food. As far as the nausea, I take prozac and xanax along with the effexor and doxepin. All of these drugs have nausea as a side effect, I think I have learned to live feeling nauseated, just feeling more at times. I am clueless as to why my doctor has me taking the effexor xr at bedtime, I have to see him on Monday 7/9. He wants to check my blood pressure and he said we will go from there.

 

Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:

Posted by DebbieLynn on July 3, 2001, at 21:10:39

In reply to Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:, posted by rmshed on July 2, 2001, at 18:50:34

> > Thanks for responding. I'm going to have to stick with it long enough to give it time to kick in (or not), and wouldn't mind losing a few pounds. HOWEVER, my pdoc told me to take EffexorXR in the morning (which for me these days is noon!) with food. I'm still tapering off Celexa (take that one at night), so maybe when I finish the Celexa, I can take EffexorXR after dinner. Except I heard it's extended release meant to work throughout the DAY, and some people take one in am, and other at pm; others take all of it in am. This is the first I've heard about taking EffexorXR at night!
>
> My doctor prescribed my Effexor XR to be taken at bedtime. I also take Doxepin at night, it helps me sleep although it is also an AD. The first few nights on effexor xr 37.5 mg, I experienced a light sleep, I kept waking up about every two hours, but fell back alseep. After taking 37.5 mg for 15 days, my doctor increased my dosage to 75 mg at bedtime, I had a really good nights rest last night. I take my medication with food. As far as the nausea, I take prozac and xanax along with the effexor and doxepin. All of these drugs have nausea as a side effect, I think I have learned to live feeling nauseated, just feeling more at times. I am clueless as to why my doctor has me taking the effexor xr at bedtime, I have to see him on Monday 7/9. He wants to check my blood pressure and he said we will go from there.

Hello...
I currently take 225mg of Effexor XR. (Never thought I would hit this dose!) I started at 37.5 mg and SLOWLY increased my dose at weekly intervale. When I got to the 150mg dose, it made me lethargic too! Effexor produces a lot of side effects for a lot of people. To the point where they want to stop. I considered stopping it too, but my pdoc put me up to 225mg (150mg in the am and 75mg in the pm) I know that sounds like a lot, but he said to reach optimum results (for depression) I need to reach that dose. After 4 weeks of being on 225mg, I saw the biggest difference. This med has worked wonders for me. For the longest time, before starting Effexor, I did not feel like doing anything, always tired, you know...symptoms of depression, but I did not realize it. Anyway, NOW, I am much more active, I am a nursing student in the psychiatric field (imagine that) and so on, and so on.

Hang in there...It will be worth it!!!

Good Luck
Debbie

 

Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:

Posted by Konrad on November 15, 2003, at 21:31:22

In reply to Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy: » Janelle, posted by kid_A on July 2, 2001, at 11:35:11

Who has had experience with taking high doses of Effexor XR..and how is it working for you?
My doctor has my spouse taking 300mg of Effexor XR in the morning and 150 mg at bedtime. I have a feeling this dose is too high. He seems to be doing a lot of sleeping, seems confused and has trouble with concentration and focus. The doctor insists he needs this dose. I am looking for more information.

 

Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy: » Konrad

Posted by SCA on March 23, 2005, at 14:22:57

In reply to Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:, posted by Konrad on November 15, 2003, at 21:31:22

> Who has had experience with taking high doses of Effexor XR..and how is it working for you?
> My doctor has my spouse taking 300mg of Effexor XR in the morning and 150 mg at bedtime. I have a feeling this dose is too high. He seems to be doing a lot of sleeping, seems confused and has trouble with concentration and focus. The doctor insists he needs this dose. I am looking for more information.

Might I recommend you do some research on Effexor XR and find a different doctor for a second opionion. It can also depend upon how long he has been taking that high of a dosage as some of those symptoms may pass as he adjusts to the medication.

 

Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:

Posted by canadianmom on March 24, 2005, at 0:25:22

In reply to Re: Help! EFFEXOR and fatigue, lethargy, apathy:, posted by Konrad on November 15, 2003, at 21:31:22

Your husband is on a dosage that can lead to other related products. Effexor is one of the hardest medication to withdraw from so when the dosage is lowered make sure it is a very gradual reduction so it does not shock his system. I find it unusial to take a second dosage at night. The symptoms that you list tells me that he could even be suffering from neurological problems related to the extra ordinarily high dosage.

I would not wait. You need to see a different doctor ASAP. Your husband is going to need understanding and compassion when they start to taper the Effexor. Effexor can be addictive, and comes with what is labeled as the worst withdrawal symptoms of any antidepressant. We witnessed it first had with our own 6 yr old daughter. It nearly killed her.

Good luck and Keep us posted

CM


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