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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jms600 on December 16, 2003, at 17:14:04
I've been on Effexor 75mg for about a month. I'm doing OK on it, however, lately I have noticed that I am experiencing strange & vivid nightmares. Has anyone else experienced this? Can anything be done about it?
Posted by noa on December 16, 2003, at 17:55:49
In reply to Effexor nightmares, posted by jms600 on December 16, 2003, at 17:14:04
I have very vivid dreams from Effexor, but they are usually emotionally UNintense, no matter how bizarre.
However, I know that some serotonergic meds do cause nightmares (I've heard Paxil is one).
It is possible that since you have only been taking Effexor about one month, that it might be just an initial side effect that might fade with time. I think you should talk to your pdoc about this. If it persists, you might want to ask if the pdoc can prescribe something to counter this effect that can be taken before bed.
I think one of the meds some people have taken for this is actually an antihistamine that was used for PTSD in combat veterans who had nightmares. Geez, I forget the name of it now. Others have reported that it also counters the sexual side effects of some meds, too.
Posted by angiebaby on December 16, 2003, at 20:46:11
In reply to Effexor nightmares, posted by jms600 on December 16, 2003, at 17:14:04
> I've been on Effexor 75mg for about a month. I'm doing OK on it, however, lately I have noticed that I am experiencing strange & vivid nightmares. Has anyone else experienced this? Can anything be done about it?
Hi JMS - I'm not on Effexor, but on Lexapro and have been for about a year. I experience very vivid dreams and have since I began taking it. Sometimes they are nightmares (I used to wake up crying) and sometimes they're just crazy! I call them "my nighttime blockbusters" because when I tell people about them, they tell me I should write a movie about them. The only thing that I can say is that I understand how disturbing the vivid dreams can be, but for me, they seem to have faded slightly. I've started to enjoy having a crazy story in my head each night.
But if they are really bothering you, talk to your doctor. But know that you're not going crazy - you just have a wonderful imagination.
Posted by Camille Dumont on December 16, 2003, at 21:32:18
In reply to Effexor nightmares, posted by jms600 on December 16, 2003, at 17:14:04
Hi, I've been on Effexor for quite a while now. I'm at 300 right now and the nightmares come with this medicine.
However, if that can reassure you, the nightmares sort of diminish and its only vivid and weird dreams after a while ... stuff that doesn't make you wake up screaming ... at least for me.
The downside of this is that if you miss you meds you'll definately have nasty nightmares.
Posted by T_R_D on December 17, 2003, at 9:40:30
In reply to Re: Effexor nightmares, posted by Camille Dumont on December 16, 2003, at 21:32:18
I can agree Camille...dose regularity is a real factor with the bizarre dreaming. While I was on the drug it just became an occasional side effect that I learned to accept. It wasn't pleasant though as my nightmares were combined with spontaneous orgasm, sleep paralysis, clonic jerks that were very intense and almost painful...finally I just had to give up the drug. Since you're at a low dose, modifying it might help. You're just barely within the therapeutic range...maybe once you get to where you're supposed to be they might abate. They might now, however. If they become too troublesome go back to the doc...you might need to go off the med.
Good luck!
Posted by twinmommy on December 22, 2007, at 14:58:44
In reply to Effexor nightmares, posted by jms600 on December 16, 2003, at 17:14:04
I've taken Effexor 150mg for 4 or 5 months now and have missed a dose before with no major problems. I missed a dose yesterday though & had one terrifying vivid nightmare after another last night with hallucinations of some loud noises in the house upon awakening - which brought me to the internet for answers. Today I'm very jittery and feel like my hearts racing & just don't feel right so I'm glad to see one missed dose could be the reason, because I am not up for a repeat of that tonight. I'm fairly happy with the medication to control anxiety but do feel it doesn't completely relieve it, however I'm not willing to increase dose anymore and I've taken other meds (Prozac & Paxil) with no improvements - so I'll stick with this one because it at least makes things manageable. I'm a stubborn do-it-yourself-er & it's hard to admit I have to take something like Effexor to deal with everyday life - but I've had to realize I can't make my mind work the way I want it to & life is a lot better when I agree I need the medication's help. So if there's anyone else out there that is hard on yourself about it - take my advice and at least give it a shot - everyone responds to the different meds in different ways, so be patient and find the one that's right for you.
Posted by KathrynLex on December 28, 2007, at 16:56:31
In reply to Re: Effexor nightmares, posted by twinmommy on December 22, 2007, at 14:58:44
I recently started on Effexor. I'm currently at 37 mg and will be bumping up to 75 mg in about a week. My dreams have already become very, very vivid and my sleep is restless. To counteract that I take .5 mgs of Klonopin before bed which really seems to help.
KL
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