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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by drac on February 22, 2006, at 17:37:47
Hi, I am glad I stumbled accross this website. Since I have been taking Effexor I had noticed some weird things. I tried hard to ignor them as they happened because my depression seemed to be waning.
Without going in to whole diatribe of why I ended up on Effexor suffice it to say I am taking in in lieu of Luvox for the treatment of Panic Disorder and Seasonal Affect Depression.
Since I have been taking Effexor I have also been waning from some other prescriptions to see if I can reduce the amount of drugs. Over a period of 6 months I have successfully reduced the amount of Clonazapam I take four-fold, and Wellbutrin in half. Having done this in the past with Luvox, I know what withdrawal normally feels like and let me tell you this ain't it.
I read through many of your posts and finally find that I am not alone in these feelings. Here is a list of things I am going through:
- no energy (I normally have reduced energy, but I have trouble getting up off the couch without losing my breath and heart racing - feeling like I'm gonna die)
- elevated BP. My Bp was slightly elevated before taking Effexor, but now it has been climbing despite my GP's efforts to reduce it with a angiotension inhibitor. Don't see any interaction warnings but I have to wonder.
- Nightmares,
- body spasms in my sleep,
- yelling/screaming, moaning in my sleep
- poor sleep
- restlessness
- memory problems - whoa can I talk about this
- feeling like I'm out of body
- inability to concentrate
- extinguished (not diminished) sex drive
- difficulty distinguishing dreams from reality
- suicidal thoughts (although not accompanied by depression)
- shaking
- sweating
- the list goes onLately the effect that is taking hold of me is the difficulty distinguishing reality from my dreams. I don't know what to do about this one. My memory seems to be toast. Although I have noticed this for some months, I thought it would go away. This morning (in a meeting) I couldn't even piece together thoughts from my co-workers. It was like every word out of their mouths was random. Reading has become the same for me. I don't retain anything. But more significant to me seems to be that when I try to recall things, I don't know for sure if I am recalling dream information or actual information. Several times I was caught talking about things in dreams with my partner as though they were reality. I was irritated with my partner because he did not follow-through with somethings I had asked him to do. Turns out I had never asked it, but dreamed it. yeah I know - spouses can be forgetful, but this has also happened with coworkers. It is geting kind of debilitating. I have to write down everything. This really is not like me at all - my peers have been jokingly saying that it's my turning 40 that is the cause. The fact that they have noticed gives me pause.
Ramble ramble - I'm really surprised that I managed to say as much as I did in this message. I guess the point I was really trying to get across is "thanks for posting" to everyone, I now know that I'm not alone. Where in the side-effects on the product does it describe the side-effects that we are feeling. Some of them are there. What about the others?
Maybe a "quality of life" study is needed.
Posted by Phillipa on February 22, 2006, at 20:38:56
In reply to Happy to find this forum - effexor problems, posted by drac on February 22, 2006, at 17:37:47
Welcome to psychobabble. If you do a google search on the bottom of the page on the Dr. Bob side you will find an incredible amts of posts on effexor. Knowledge is power you will gain it there. Fondly, Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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