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Effexor 37.5

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Posted 11/16/2014 11:13 AM (GMT 0)
My doctor has weaned me off of Celexa and started me on Effexor 37.5. I have been on multiple SSRIs since my husband became ill 12 yrs ago. I am also on Xanax 3 mg per day as needed. The effects of Effexor have been almost out of body! When I take it I feel dizzy, jittery, my head feels like it is "full." It has been 3 weeks and it is lessening. I do feel better in a few hours and actually feel like doing things except sleep and work. I work night shift which is a problem in itself. I having been breaking the pills in half and playing with the dosage which has not done me any good. Today, I have decided to take the full 37.5 with my other meds (Lipitor, Vasotec, insulin) before bed to see if I feel better. I find I don't need the Xanax except to sleep. I hope I can sleep with 1 mg and how I feel with the Effexor. Do these side effects lessen so I will just feel good (Normal)? My sister had a horrible experience with Effexor
Posted 11/16/2014 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Faith

First of welcome to the forum I am pleased you have found us you will find good support here.

When changing medications it is quite common to get a spike in your anxiety and you may feel worse again before you start to see any improvements. When your body is getting used to a new medication you usually will experience side effects some of which you listed but these should pass after a couple of weeks but if they don't you should go back and speak with your doctor.

I was on Effexor a few years ago and found it did really help with my anxiety but it stopped working after a while and I changed to a new med. I hope it works well for you keep us updated of your progress we are here to support you.

Hibee
Posted 11/16/2014 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
Faith,

My doctor told me that Xanax doesn't let you go into third and fourth stages of sleep if you take it before you go to bed. He said I shouldn't take it after six oclock. Just thought I would mention that.

I took Effexor for about 15 years. It worked well for me. I took brand name though. Never tried generic. I hope you feel better soon.

Please take your meds as doctor prescribed... Effexor is not one to mess with the doses. You can get to not feeling good if you do...

Best wishes

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/16/2014 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for your reply. I work nights and I need continuous sleep. Most people I work with sleep 2 or 3 hrs get up and then nap before work. This doesn't work for me. Since the addition of Effexor, I am SO CONFUSED trying to find the right time for my meds. Maybe I should just try a sleeping pill. I don't think I need the Xanax but I need something for sleep. I have tried Melatonin. Is anyone in the same boat working bites?
Posted 11/16/2014 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
I do meditation before I go to sleep. It helps... But you have to be able to shut off your mind. I took ambien for years too. It helps me get restful sleep. I no longer take that. I take Xanax too, but just one 1/4mg in the morning. Through relaxation and mindfulness I have needed less Xanax. I use to take four mg everyday.

I hope that you find something to help you sleep. I would talk to your doc about the Xanax just to make sure. But ya, that was what a doc told me, so I stopped taking it at night. I actually started dreaming again.

Working nights is hard. I like second shift myself. But it is hard to sleep during the day for me.

I hope you feel better and have a good day and weekend...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/16/2014 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Karen...my problem when I get home is I can't shut my mind off. Work is very stressful (nursing supervisor) and then I have my husband to tend to. I used to take 4 mg of Xanax and it just added to the depression. Effexor has definitely helped like no other med...maybe it's just the initial dosing? I love this site, I find it so very helpful...God bless you all for taking your time to share and support!
Posted 11/16/2014 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Get a book on meditation. It teaches you how to relax and focus on nothing. When I do that, I fall right to sleep. It really does work. Basically what I do is focus on relaxing every muscle in my body. I start at the top of my head, work down to the tip of my toes. I can feel nervous energy going out my feet. It is strange, but cool...

God bless you too Faith...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/16/2014 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Effexor for a long time and it worked really well for me. Just took a little while to get into my system and start working.
Posted 11/16/2014 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the feedback. I will get a book on meditation and try that. I usually try reading before bed but find I get into the book too much. I went to bed at 1pm and already am up by 4:30p. I know if I try to lay down again I would need a Xanax and then I would bt too groggy by 8 pm when I normally get up to go to work. I just feel CRAZY, confused that I can't figure this out on my own
Posted 11/17/2014 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
I feel for you having to work nights. Do you like it? You have to reverse everything it seems.

I think you will like the meditation. It makes you feel peaceful. I have been doing it for a long time. It kind of comes natural now. All I have to do is think about it and I feel calmer. I hope you can do that too. It takes the place of medications at times.

I hope you have a good evening. The weekend is almost over. Back to the normal stuff. I want to get stuff for Thanksgiving dinner this week. I have to check the sales. Ha!!!

Take care and keep posting, it helps...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/17/2014 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
I had no choice at first working nights. Most of my life I worked days. Right now it would mean a pay cut if I go back to days. I still may consider it. My anxiety tends to present itself as anger and being short- tempered! Probably better that I am on nights (especially for the people I work with!!!!).

You hit the nail on the head...I just want to find peace and be happy. I hate that I am dependent on meds- even my insulin. I can't believe how therapeutic I find this forum- that someone else understands. Thank you so much and I will keep posting. Still trying to navigate the site but my daughter is trying to help! Now it's time to get ready for work...see how I feel thru the night and in the AM!

Faith
Posted 11/17/2014 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
Have a good night Faith... This forum sure moves fast. I had to hunt for this thread on another page. I am glad I found it.

I wish you a good night at work...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/17/2014 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Karen. I felt strange at work, almost disconnected. Certainly not anxious. Just got home and took 2 tabs of the Effexor 37.5. It's going to be trial and error to figure this out.

Faith
Posted 11/17/2014 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Yes it takes time to see where you are at with the medications. I take pristiq now. 150mg a day. That is as high as it is suppose to go. They say nothing higher than that is more therapeutic. Though I have heard on people being on more. I am feeling pretty good. It is a cousin to Effexor I guess. When Effexor went generic, I switched to pristiq.

It is cold here today. Snowing a little. Windy. I will stay in and hibernate today. Make a roast.

I hope you are having a good day today.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/17/2014 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Well...I know not to take it after work. Had the hardest time getting to sleep and am now up after only 3h! I am glad you are feeling good. I know it will take time- just wish it was a little bit simpler.

Enjoy your dinner!

Faith
Posted 11/17/2014 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
I know, depression and anxiety are so complex. It isn't one bit cut and dry as something's are. We are all different and experience things in different ways. Meds work different on each of us. So it is hard to say one thing or another about them. We can only share what did and didn't work for ourselves.

I have been struggling with depression and anxiety for over 30 years. I have been on different meds for depression, basically Xanax for anxiety. Though some of the depression meds have anxiety fighting properties.

I think I have found that it takes a combination of therapy, medication and self talk for a lot of it. When I can control something without medications though, it feels really good. Speaking of the mindfulness and the meditation both. It helps tremendously to ward off anxiety. The depression takes a good attitude on top of everything. Controlling your thoughts. Which isn't always easy.

I would try to take things one day at a time as much as possible. I feel like I have a lot going on right now, so that makes it harder. Thinking about taking a nap and starting over today. Ha!!! Maybe that will make things better. Seems like today is "one of those days" for me. Things just don't always go right. Oh well, better days ahead I guess.

I hope you have a good one and that you get some probably much needed sleep today. And I hope you have a good day tomorrow (tonight) at work.

Hug, Karen...
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