Posted by J_Nikita25 on March 5, 2004, at 8:43:53
I've been on Effexor 75mg for a year now. Started taking it after Prozac didn't work for me. I've had a wide array of side effects, some which have come and gone and others that still linger. At first, it made me feel like a zombie until I adjusted to the drug being in my system. But this drug seems to make me do things that are totally uncharacteristic!
At first, I felt this huge compulsion to just move around. I couldn't sit still! I was so fidgity that it drove the people around me nuts! I'd get urges to just start swinging my arm through the air, or rock back and forth, or hum a tune quite loudly. And it's not a very comforting feeling when you know that other people are looking at you like you're a freak.
I get the episodes where I just all of a sudden feel like being really mean!!! I want to kick, hit, and say nasty stuff to other people, and it's really hard to suppress these urges some times. I have movie quality dreams, often re-occuring, and I talk and walk in my sleep. I can't orgasm, totally not in the mood for sex, and find it often irritating when I husband does what to engage in sexual activity. I miss being able to enjoy my otherwise healthy sex life! And the night sweats have gotten worse over time.
Missing a dose is the worst though...I start feeling like I'm losing my mind! I have trouble thinking, I feel really anxious, and it feels like my brain is violently shaking around in my head!
And come to find out, a cousin of mine was on the drug for a while as well. She was diagnosed as manic depressive while on the drug. But since we've compared notes on the things this drug does to us, we're now wondering if maybe she isn't manic afterall...that maybe it's just the drug's side effects that's causing these manic like episodes.
All I can say is...for me...it's not worth it! Effexor DID calm me down enough to explore alternative ways of dealing with my depression and anxiety, (T'ai Chi, meditation, a regular exercise program, etc.) but now that I feel I have the ability to help myself in other ways, I'm not going to take this drug any more! I've been bumped down to 37.5mg and doing well. A lot of my side effects are starting to lessen, and I'm feeling good! And it feels really good to be able to help myself, and not have to rely on a drug to feel better.
poster:J_Nikita25
thread:320562
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040304/msgs/320562.html