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Posted 1/30/2005 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
I just started taking effexor last week, I am feeling pretty good.  I actually see some positive effects already, although I know that it takes a few weeks to get the full effect.  But does anyone have the fatigue that I am experiencing?  I am having a hard time staying up passed 9pm!  Any suugestions?
Posted 1/31/2005 3:16 AM (GMT 0)

I take effexor XR 150 mg. I got tired at first and then it went away. When I went up from 75mg to 150 I had to take 75mg in the morning and 75mg at night to keep from getting too tired. Now I take 150 mg at night and I'm fine. So it does get better. I noticed a difference the next day after I started taking effexor. I thought it would take a few weeks also. It sounds like it's going to work for you!

Terri

 

Posted 2/1/2005 5:24 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on effexor for about 4 months.  I started at 75 then went up to 150 and now my doctor has just raised it to the maximum amount for me 225mg.  I am feeling better, but I do have spells of tiredness every now and then but a quick 15-30 minuet nap helps alot.  I think I have had depression for the last two years and when it started causing other medical problems to develope such as severe anxiety attacks I convinced myself to go see a psychiatrist.

Carrie

Posted 2/8/2005 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

Im new here. I was on Effexor up until two months ago. I took myself off the drugs b/c I didnt want to be dependant on drugs. At the time I was taking 75mg plus another 37.5mg at night. For the past three to four weeks ive been feeling very depressed, short tempered, socially withdrawn, feel hopeless, worthless and so on.
I felt the fatigue as well but I also started getting what they call "brain shivers" (a name given to a feeling similar to a mini electrical shock you feel). When I first felt it, I tried explaing to my doctor but he didnt understand so I searched the net and found a whole discussion on it at about.com (http://search.about.com/fullsearch.htm?terms=effexor%20brain%20shiver). I later learned that this sensation was experienced if I did not take my medication at the same time everyday or if I fogot to take the drug all together. The worst feelng was if I ran out of the medication and missed a whole day.
Posted 2/16/2005 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
J.Ali thanks for ur info on the brain shivering i feel that as well sometimes. its good to know . i am on efexor for about 3 years now
Posted 2/16/2005 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
HI

I am trying to overcome the effects of memory loss and thinking skills after about 2.5 years on Effexor.  I don't remember my phone # if asked unexpectedly.  I have to be super prepared for any social encounter, and I don't "get the drift" when a new subject/topic is introduced. I now have trained myself NOT to participate in conversations until I can go home and think it all through first.  The good news is I didn't kill myself because of depression. 

Posted 2/17/2005 8:55 AM (GMT 0)
cheia, this is intresting i also certain had memory issues and thinking skills slow down when i was working , at first i was really worried . it was mostly in the first year of medication and usually came acompanied with stress and such, i haven't had any stressfull encounters in the last few months or so and i don't think it lasts forever maybe it's just a phase or something.
Posted 2/17/2005 12:18 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Effexor since Sept. 2004. I started at 75 mg., then to 150, and finally to 225. I still feel I have a ways to go dealing with my depression and anxiety but my doctor won't up the dosage at this time because my blood pressure has increased - not drastically but enough for her to be cautious. Instead, now I take 150 mg. Effexor at night and one Wellbrutin in the morning. Has anyone else had this combination? Did it work?

Posted 2/17/2005 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Cheia

Now you have got me thinking. I am 64 (Monday) and my memory has been sufffering. I thought it was age related. But maybe it's the Effexor.

I can't remember how long I have been on Effexor. "I have a very good memory, but it's short" tongue :-)
Posted 2/17/2005 2:17 PM (GMT 0)
i started effexor on 75 then 150 for over 2 years, then 2 months ago was increased to 300 for over a month , now i'm back to 150. normally i take it in the morning.

i used to be on serquel as well in conjunction with effexor, but as serual has big sleeping side-effects i think the doctors decided to switch me to zeldox-effexor combo now, zeldox 40 meg a day.
Posted 2/17/2005 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Happy Birthday, Ralph
Posted 2/17/2005 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Jeanette. I may be good for a few more years. Everyone on here helps.
Posted 2/23/2005 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Effexor for a couple of years now, on 150mg. Been on 225mg since November and I feel great. I feel like I'm who I should be. My only problem is my weight. I weight 250lbs, 37 years old, single. My life is great, I run my own small business, have my own house and car. If I could just surpass that weigth issue, my life would be perfect thanks to Effexor. Has anyone had problems losing weight while on Effexor?
Posted 2/24/2005 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Seldnac
I think the anti-d's are geared more to normal eating patterns, or at least that's their effect. I was in a battle with anorexia trying to get ahold of me, and E helped my ability to recognise appetite and answer it. Perhaps if you are an nervous eater it will help with that too. OR now that you're feeling better, you may want to try a gym, walking club. or something on your own in the physical department. My favorite is a dog. Love, attention, devotion, and exercise all rolled inti one. What could be better? LOL. ps Skinny is over-rated.
Posted 6/24/2006 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,
I don't mean to be a stick in the mud or anything, but reading all your posts reminds me why I got off of effexor 6 months ago. I was on it for 4.5 years at 275 mg. I gained 20 lbs, my thought processes were awful, my self worth sucked, and I felt like no one could touch me. Almost like I was bigger than life itself. I did not feel like me. The first few years were great, and then I fell in love and I could not cope with that. The brain shivers are terrible. When I got off of effexor, it took me 3 months to get to the point where I did not have thoes brain shivers anymore. I felt like I had the flu, I literally could not drive, I felt paranoid, just low. I believe its a good drug, but for me, it was worse than the depression itself. Now I take Zoloft, and I am OK. I'm not real happy with it, but my anixety is down and I can work now and feel whole and I am in love, now married. Today, my memory is terrible and I feel it is from the effexor. I feel I will have effects from it for a while. Do some research on it. Look for: effexor side effects. I can't remember, but there is another forum on the web that has this. Thanks for listening. Ellen
Posted 6/27/2006 3:29 PM (GMT 0)

I have been on Effexor for almost a year, I have had some problems with it stopping working but then they increase my doseage and then I feel alot better. yeah   Anyways, If yall have any questions feel free to e-mail me at [email protected].

 

Later Melissa

Posted 6/27/2006 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi iam new here. I was on 150mg of effexor xr for almost 2 yrs. My docter decreased it to 75mg.I didnt do well at all.So she raised me back to 150mg. still not feeling well so we uped it again to 225mg. Now it is only been 6 days on it at 225mg. Does any one know how long it will take to feel better?
Posted 6/30/2006 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on effexor for a while, I am also a nurse. I believe in taking the smallest dosage of any med.  Effexor is one of the most difficult anti depressant drugs to come off of.  I think they'e all like shoes, a person has to keep trying them on til they find the right fit.  I take 37.5 qd, I still experience some stress and anxiety but life isn't stress free and I've found effexor is the best for me, I don't experience any of the neg side effects except for fatigue.

 

Posted 6/30/2006 8:13 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on 225mg for the last 2 years. Besides my insurance company being difficult with pre autorzations, I have had very little problems with it. Fatigue was a definate side effect, but I found taking it in the evening as opposed to morning helped with it.

I experience the "brain shivers" as it's been mentioned only when I forget to take it on a daily basis. it doesn't bother me too much...as it can otherwise serve as a reminder that I was forgetful :)

I tried welbrutin for a month when I first started, and it messed me up. I was a total wreck. Don't know if it was the dosage or not...but after experiencing what I did...I would of rather dealt with the depression than be on welbrutian.

Posted 6/30/2006 10:23 AM (GMT 0)
scooterbug - that's funny about the forgetting and brain-shivers...I also take 225mg of Effexor and every once in a while I get absentminded and may forget my 75mg dose or whatever and then they start almost immediately (sometimes hours or next day).  Yes, it is always a good reminder to take my meds.  I do dread the day I would ever have to come off of it though...  
Posted 6/30/2006 10:38 AM (GMT 0)
Christophersmom said... I have been on effexor for a while, I am also a nurse. I believe in taking the smallest dosage of any med.  Effexor is one of the most difficult anti depressant drugs to come off of.  I think they'e all like shoes, a person has to keep trying them on til they find the right fit.  I take 37.5 qd, I still experience some stress and anxiety but life isn't stress free and I've found effexor is the best for me, I don't experience any of the neg side effects except for fatigue. Hi Christophersmom - I wanted to welcome you to healing well forum.  We are happy to have you. I can say from personal experience that their isnt any antidepressant that is easy to come off of and the side effects of each do have different ranges.  Zoloft and Luvox were especially terrible for me and took many, many months of lowering dosages and suffering with terrible side effects.  So I do believe they all have their pro's and con's.  If your able to take a small or minimal dose of any antidepressant and have some positive effects from it that is wonderful, but for most who like myself with Major Depression, Anxiety and Panic disorders the smallest dose isnt going to touch it.  Being a nurse, you may be interest to know that there are several studies coming out proving that women process medications differently then men at a higher and faster rate.  Meaning that they would require higher doses of meds, such as pain medications and antidepressants and medical meds.  Just thought that was interesting... No life isnt stress free and no one should rely on medications to cure or take away all of lifes problems or even expect them to relieve all of our symptoms from these disorders.  But we should be able to try to get as much relief from those as possible to life the the best most normal life possible.
Posted 7/27/2006 12:32 AM (GMT 0)

Cheia said...
HI

I am trying to overcome the effects of memory loss and thinking skills after about 2.5 years on Effexor.  I don't remember my phone # if asked unexpectedly.  I have to be super prepared for any social encounter, and I don't "get the drift" when a new subject/topic is introduced. I now have trained myself NOT to participate in conversations until I can go home and think it all through first.  The good news is I didn't kill myself because of depression. 

This is exactly how I felt on Paxil.  Have never taken Effexor.  I took Paxil for several years.  In the end it totally flattened me out - I felt nothing.  I now take Lexapro and I feel it has changed my life.  I dream (for some unknown reason) of being medication-free, but when I try to get off, I feel immediately depresses and whitdrawn, so it is not worth it to me. 

Good luck with the Effexor - it works beautifully for many folks.  LEAANN

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