Ava
welcome to DF.

The nausea should go away in a few days, maybe 3 or 4 (although you may get nauseous when you increase the dose). I didn't have dizziness, so I hope it doesn't last too long. I had some restless sleep but that was because I was taking the med at night, once I changed to the morning it was fine.

Most side effects will only last up to a week or so. I found that I got dry mouth in the first week or so, but that went.

I got weird dreams and those lasted all the time I took efexor, but then I looked forward to them.

Watch out for what side effects you are getting, if they last longer than 2 weeks then go back and see your dr or earlier if you find that you really can't tolerate them. For instance if the nausea is so bad that you can't eat, then you may need to go back sooner. My appetite went for the first few days, which I wasn't too unhappy about.

Some side effects you may get only once or twice, others will last a few weeks, some may last months (I used to get night sweats and always felt hot) others go. It just depends on how well you are able to tolerate them.

Do get used to the drug before you do things like drive or operate machinery. I'd also advise staying off of alcohol till you get used to Efexor.

WElcome to DF If you have any questions, just post them and we will try and answer them.

Eileen

Thanks so much for your help! i took my third pill a few hours ago and was only nausous for an hour and a half or so. the dizziness is quite unpleasant but i keep telling myself that it will get better. i took half an ativan lastnight and i felt stoned for the rest of the night so tonight i only had half of one...we'll see how it goes! I love this forum...there are people here that actually understand what i'm going through! I'm getting anxious about my dose doubling next week. Do you think upping the dose will give me worse side effects??

you may get some of the same side effects you are experiencing now. If the dizzyness is still affecting you I'd tell your dr and ask to delay putting up the dose. I hope it doesn't last long.

When I doubled my dose I did get some new side effects - twitching but these only lasted a few weeks and were really only noticeable by myself.

If its any consolation the doubling of the dose is the worst step to take because its a 100% increase.

I assume you are starting out at 75mg. Thats what I started at. My max dose was 225mg.

Eileen

Well I know it's been quite a while since you posted but I hope things are going well. I sure do also hate the med-go-round but, unfortunately I am very much on it myself. A week and a half ago, I went off Paxil and it's been a hell of a week (really). I was on Paxil for 4 or 5 years and, I know this is going to sound like a baby dose, but I'm real sensitive to drugs so I was on 8 mgs. I take liquid meds so that I can get the anti-depressant effect without unmanageable side effects. So, although I took 2 weeks to get off Paxil, I was and am surprised by the list of problems I've had since going off the drug. This and other web sites (and a few friends) have really helped keep me from feeling like I was going crazy. I'm still not sure if I am or not. Anyway, I'm seeing my doc tomorrow and I know I have to go on something else. I was planning on going ON Lexapro and I'm still not sure if all the symptoms I was having were due to starting on Lexapro or were due to withdrawal from Paxil. So why am I on the Effexor area? That's most likely what I'll try next. It's been helpful to read the range of reactions to it. It's also scary to think I might have more hell when I go off it but, then again, maybe not! I am going thru such a terrible time now--hard to decide whether to wait a few weeks and give my body time to adjust (I'm back on 2 mgs. of Paxil to ease the withdrawal side effects). I have been on Wellbutrin (my fave) but cannot go on that right now, Prozac causes hives and doesn't really work for me, Zoloft made me feel REALLY sick and like I'd been run over by a truck. I hope Effexor is a bit more gentle. Wish me luck!

I voted for two months, by then the worst effects of my depression were all gone although it took a while longer before I became fully functional again (makes me sounds like some kind of a robot :O )
On the other hand my anxiety was gone in 1-2 weeks so 2 months is a nice average of those two :)

Hi Everyone
I have been on various different AD's my last one was Floxetine (Prozac)
but they caused me serious panic attacks to the point where I was
too scared to leave the house

Ive now been on Effexor XL 75mg for a few months .... I would tell
you when I started them but my memory has deserted me, I have
trouble remembering anything! (Don't know if thats a side effect of Effexor?)

anyway I felt "better" fairly quickly when I started on these but I must admit
over a period of time I have been sinking slowly back into
depression, I had not really noticed how bad I had got until the other day
So I have just phoned the Doc and am going there this afternoon to speak
to him about my doseage or maybe it's time to try another one.

I'm now in the position where I cannot get anything done and I just sit around
listening to sad music, somehow it feels right to just sit and wallow in self pity
I have not slept for the past two nights and I have a serious tension headache

Will let you know what happens
Flo xxx

it can take some months for efexor to work properly after the initial 'up' feeling, at least it did for me.

Hope you get things sorted soon.

Eileen

it can take some months for efexor to work properly after the initial 'up' feeling, at least it did for me.

Hope you get things sorted soon.

Eileen

Thanks for your reply Eileen

I went to the Docs and they were happy to increase my dose
to 150mg.
This is my 4th day on the increased dose and I must admit
I feel terrible, I'm not sure if this can be attributed to the
increase or not and it's hard to describe how i'm feeling
but it's just generaly URGHHHH.
Does anyone know if this is normal ??

Flo xxx

jumping from 75mg to 150mg can make you feel urgh. I felt queasy and a bit headachey and a few other things. It does go soon. So I think that it is normal. Least ways I hope it does for you, since we don't all react to meds in the same way.

Take care.

Eileen

When I used to take it it started helping in about a month. It worked really well for a while.

I have been a various medications for the last 16 years. For me effexor xr (extended release) has worked excellent for me. It took about a month for me to start feeling the difference

Gee I hope effexor helps me within the month. I have been on for 6 days and although I do feel better I am still irritable and tense and unhappy I guess. I really want to get on with my life but this depression and anxiety really sucks. I am crossing my fingers. Oh I have not energy, I don't feel like doing anything. I guess that goes hand in hand with depression.

No matter what you read on the net, it does take a month to start feeling the effectsof effexor..Hang in there Guy.

I started taking Efexor this morning (75 mg). I think I'm feeling the effects right now. I noticed that I'm feeling happier so I think that's good. However, I find it a bit hard to think straight. I also feel restless and my attention is all over the place. I hope this stabalizes soon!

This post has been edited by dementia: Oct 5 2006, 10:45 PM

it might take a few days dementia for you to stabislise. Maybe a week or so. Unfortunately, it does take 6 to 8 weeks to start feelling better. Some people have reported it taking less time. Hope this happens for you.

Eileen

1st week was at 37.5mg and week 2 and 3 at 75 mg and today starting my 4th week at 112.5. All I know is that I still feel irriatable and down. I don't feel like doing much. How much longer does this take again? Oh patience is not my specialty.

you need to be at the correct dose for it to have beneficial effects.

Does the constipation thing go away eventually? Oh if I only had the motivation to run like the panther. Also head tension, is that a side effect from the med ... I guess it comes from my jaw. Thanks Lindsay!

This post has been edited by theguy: Oct 9 2006, 10:03 AM

Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and that should sort out the constipation. I think it does go. Well, I'm not constipated.

eileen

Thanks, I will definitely up my intake of good, natural, healthy foods. Thanks!

I have a question for those whom this has helped. Did it just starting working all of a sudden after a month or however long it took to help you, or did it slowly develop within like a couple weeks after you started it and then it just got better and better or what? I always have high hopes for the medications I go on and I always wait the usual month or 2 for it to kick in, eventhough it feels like it would have to completely sudden 180. I've been on effexor for just over 2 weeks now, and I could actually feel a difference within the first 2-3 days which was very surprising but that went away after about a 4 days. Now i'm on 75mg and it seems all that has slowly diminished. How long do you think it will take for me to start feeling the effects ( I know it's different for everyone, but i'm looking for a rough estimate) and is it normal to feel good right away and then have it go away?

Well my guess is when you find the right dosage, after about 6-8 weeks you will feel good. I believe you can have ups and downs during this time but less so as you near the 8 week mark. I am on 150mg of effexor and today I am totally depressed, did the crying thing because of losing my girlfriend I had for 6 months which we are now broke up for 5 months. Anyway, I used to be on celexa after my divorce about 5 years ago and I did not beleive it could beat my depression and make me feel good but it did but it took the whole 40mg and 8 weeks to make me feel good. So I guess it really depends on how depressed you are also. My doc has given me permission to up from 150 to 225mg in 37.5 increments. I hope this is going to help because like you I am eager to feel better and to move on with my life but it is difficult when stuck in a depressive rut. Well I also remember when I was on 75mg I also felt better and actually good for about 3 days then nothing. Who knows you may need to go on a higher dosage eventually to help with your depression but that of course is something you discuss with your doctor. Anyway I hope this helped a little.

thanks a lot, I really appreciate the help! This is my 5th different medication so i'm really hoping this one works, it's just hard at this point because I always drag myself through the estimated time for it to work and then I get completely let down because it always ends up not doing anything so it's just hard for me even believe it will work. Thanks again for your reply!

For me it started to work very slowly, gradually over a quite a few months. For me it took about 6 months for me to feel slightly better, but then I have a type of depression where drugs are only marginally helpful.

The increase in mood you felt in the first few days, I'm afraid was just an initial side effect of the drug and it does go away after a few days.

A lot of people expect miracles from their antidepressants but it takes time for the drug to work. For some it helps within a month but this is dependant on what is the correct doseage for them. For you it might be 225mg and that might take you a few months just to get up to that dose and then it will take a few months from that time for it to 'start working'. But I'm afraid to say that it won't be a miracle cure, no AD is, it takes time.

I have good but weird situation right now. So I was on 37.5mg for a week which I felt good within the first few days but it dimished after a few days and then I upped my dosage to 75 for 2 weeks which I didn't feel a difference. So I met with my doctor last tuesday and he said when people feel that initial start up "good" effect that means they usually just need to get to the right dose to get my body to adjust to it so he moved me up to 150mg. The first 2 days I didn't feel anything, but ever since the thrid day (friday) i've felt my mood lift dramatically, like the meds gave me a huge boost of happiness and excitement that I haven't felt in about 2 years. And i've been really social, almost overly-social. Is this common for it to start working so fast, and will it start to balance out into a normal mood, like when I was before I was depressed? I guess I really can't complain too much, it just feels kinda weird and still not really me. Input would be greatly appreciated!

I have been on 150mg for about 20 days and I didn't get that feeling and I am still not really social with people so I guess I am still depressed and the med has not worked yet for me. If this stays then you are lucky. I hope it works for you.

dang, yeah I've never gotten such quick results from a medication so i'm like waiting for it to give out, but hopefully it's not a fluke!

OK, I did have a good day today and I was somewhat social. I have this silly pull on the right side of my neck that pulls into my ear. It feels like some nerve gets pinched sometimes. Anyways this gets me anxious for some reason. I hope tomorrow is a good day too and hopefully my muscles will relax enough that these muscle spasms go away. I hope the med continues to work for you Kingof the Thing.

Kingofthething
yes it can start working as early as what you feel. I hope it continues for you.

Eileen

sorry for so many questions haha, but i got another one. I'm pretty sure that me feeling good wasn't a fluke so that's definitely awesome, but I feel like I'm still not completely back to myself. Is this as good as it gets, or does it take a few more weeks to feel like the full effect?

it may take a wee while longer to get the full benefit, remember that depression can take a long time to recover from.

takecare.

Eileen

i have a question about how long it takes to help. When you guys say it took you a month or two months or whatever for it to work, do you mean from the first day you started effexor? or from when you got to the "correct dosage?" And how how do you know if ur at the right dosage if it takes you that long to feel a difference?

I don't know about that, as mine hasn't started working yet.
(maybe somebody else can answer that).
I'm on week five and had a bad day yesterday, today started off ok,
but I feel like going back to bed now. (it's 2:15pm).
I'm gonna force myself to have something to eat and then go to the gym.

(my cat just fell off the TV. ) He sleeps on top,
but the back is slanted, and he sometimes slides down.

I think it can help a little from the time that you take it, so yes it could be a month say at 75mg and upping it after 2 weeks. Or maybe a little longer.

The most therapeutic dose is 225mg, so if you start at 75 and up it every 2 weeks you'll be at 225mg in a months time and from them it should only be a few weeks to start feeling better. But everyone is different and the meds may take longer or shorter to work for you.

It seemed to take a long time for me, maybe because meds only marginally help me.

Eileen

I'm now on day three and feel a lot clearer in my head, whether that is because I am no longer taking zispin and the side affects of that drug have faded, or because the effexor have kicked in I don't know.

All I do know is that it is nice to wake up at 7am and feel like getting out of bed, rather than playing games with my mind as it races from one excuse to another to keep me in it.

within 4 weeks to 5 weeks, I noticed it really starting to help. But I also went from taking 20mg of Lexapro and two daily doses of Wellbutrin Sr 150mg. I stopped those one day and my Dr. started me with 37.5 mg of Effexor XR. After a week, I went up to 75mg for 4 weeks. Currently I am at 112.5 milligrams and by the end of the week I will be up to 150 mg. This has been the best anti-depressant by far. The only side effect so far that I don't like is the constipation. Hopefully it will resolve itself eventually. Apart from Lexapro and Wellbutrin, in the past I have taken Zoloft.

Hey, I thought I'd share my experience.

I had been on Aropax/Paxil for 20 months, and felt it was becoming too sedating at the time. Last October I switched over to Effexor starting at 75mg for the first 2 weeks. I noticed no positive effects what so ever during those 2 weeks, and my emotions became flat, I was basically a robot emotionally. I told my doctor about this, he said stick it out, and upped me to 150mg.

After about 4 weeks or so, my emotions did return and I feel its working pretty well. It cushions the lows for me, and helps keep me level. Sure I still have the ups and downs but i'm not getting any major side effects really.

This post has been edited by calisto: Jan 9 2007, 12:24 AM

Hey everyone!
This is my first post - I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety about a month ago. I was on edronax (i think its reboxetine) for a couple of weeks with pretty bad side effects (insomnia and hot sweats). Effexor so far has been pretty good in terms of side effects, im on 75mg, but im not too sure how im supposed to be feeling. I havent sunk as deeply as I have in the past, but I get really frustrated all the time. I feel like im caught between wanting to lie in bed and just avoid everything and everyone in my life, but then I get really frustrated and bored with doing that. Its like im caught between wanting to get better and dropping out of the world completely. I think Ive had depression/anxiety for so long Im not actually too sure what 'happy' and 'normal' feels like. I got help because I was in such a bad place with suicidal thoughts, but I think the anxiety/depression stuff is so ingrained in me I think its just become who I am. Im sorry if im unburdening all this in the wrong area, I dont really have a lot of people I can turn to with all this stuff. The one person I can talk to Ive dumped so much stuff on them already thats its really not fair :) I guess as well its nice to share thoughts and stories with people who understand and who dont feel like they have to try and fix you. Sorry again for rambling!
laz x