High BP and Heart Rate with Effexor

Hi All,   Just wondered if anyone had ever suffered from a raised blood pressure and heart rate as a result of effexor.  It is a side effect that can happen when taking doses above 200mg.  I have been taking 225mg for about 3 months now and just recently have noticed my resting heaqrt rate to be about 90bpm and for someone who does a lot of exercise, I thought this was odd so I went to my doc and she said my blood pressure was higher than normal. She told me it was as a result of the effexor which is what I had thought and said not to worry about it.  Im not going to worry too much as its not causing me any problems so its best to leave things as they are as the effexor is really helping me.   Just wondered if anyone else had suffered this and what they did about it?   Thanks   (also posted on anxiety forum)

Hey Vic,  As you know I take Effexor Xr.  When I was started on it, it was for depression and also because it does have the side effect of Hypertension.  I have that autonomic disorder that causes me to have really low blood pressures.  When I got to the dosage of 150 mg on the Effexor depression wise I was stable but my BP's still sucked.  So my Psychiatrist kept increasing until I reached 225mg.  My Syncope episopes have been fewer then before so it is helping in that area for me in combination with my other medications I take for my blood pressure.  It can also cause rapid heart rates...however, I have a pacemaker due to bardycardia so my heart is regulated by the pacer.

Went to my doctor today and he reduced my effexor from 225mg to 150mg as my ECg showed that I had sinus tachycardia(fast heartbeat) and its due to the medication.  I hope it calms down now as I have had a racing heart all week and its driving me bonkers!!