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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
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.
Posted by fayeroe on March 5, 2004, at 9:30:50
In reply to My experience w/ Effexor- I'm quitting, posted by J_Nikita25 on March 5, 2004, at 8:43:53
You struck a chord with me when you mentioned manic depression....someone accused me of being manic while I was on Effexor.....no such symptoms since I got off of the drug.
Posted by Stryker88 on March 6, 2004, at 2:26:17
In reply to Re: My experience w/ Effexor- I'm quitting » J_Nikita25, posted by fayeroe on March 5, 2004, at 9:30:50
I am with you I am also going down to 75mg and then off!! One year is enough for me and I believe I will not feel so tired all the time when off!! I am going to eat right, excersise, go to support groups and begin to socialize again. Effexor has turned me into a loner, when I thought it was supposed to cure social phobia. I rarely interact with others as much as I should and have lapsed into strange behavior like shoplifting, lying, and being more angry than ever. THAT IS IT I AM @#$#$^% SICK OF IT!! I AM STARTING TO WEAN OFF STARTING TOMOROWWW!! NO MORE PROCRASTINATION
Posted by fayeroe on March 6, 2004, at 7:07:58
In reply to Re: My experience w/ Effexor- I'm quittingME TOO, posted by Stryker88 on March 6, 2004, at 2:26:17
You reminded me of something else........when I was on Effexor, I isolated myself something terrible.........now I have a life! I almost got agraphobic on it! Whew!!!!!
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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