Posted by blue downunder on June 27, 2005, at 5:07:21
In reply to Re: Effexor and energy/motivation, posted by Meri-Tuuli on June 27, 2005, at 3:06:45
I have been watching this site for some time now and decided it was time I put my experiences down with Effexor XR hoping it may help others on this drug. It has been two years now, started with 150mg. Two hours after taking first capsule it hit me like a Mac truck, totally spaced out, high as a kite, walking on thin air. Coupled with this I had waves of nausea and splitting headaches but the high was so good it overrode the negatives. For two weeks this feeling waned slowly but for three days I could not drive a car as it was too dangerous. I drove to work after day three but it was like driving while drunk, very scary. The following side-effects have continued throughout; dry mouth and lips, excessive sweating, occaisional wheezing and shortness of breath, fidgity (keep shaking my right leg), tightly clenching my jaw, very tired and sleepy by early afternoon, (may have triggered sleep apnea which I will be assessed for shortly), vivd, powerful, clourful dreams, often sexual in nature and able to contiune them if woken up, ravinous apetite especially for sweets (stacked on 7kg in two years), forgetful, touble thinking of words at times, little if any motivation with no sense of urgency for anything,(she'll be right mate do it tomorrow attitude), no sex drive and when it happens it seems to take forever. It may sound bad but if it was not the drugs I would be in a box 6ft under the ground by now. Over the two years I have had a couple of depressive relapses after the medication was dropped to 75mg. The drug seems to take the edges off the downs and the highs off the ups and very little worries me like it used to. I am more self centred than I used to be which is a negative cause I don't realise it.
One of the side effects which is a real positive is my hair has gone about three shades lighter (nearly blonde again) and grey hair deminished. For the first month urinating was difficult and the urge frequent with dribbling at the end a real issue. This is no longer a problem but Idon't wear light pants anymore. At times when the dose is lowered I end up with severe headaches for 10 days and have to have an afternoon sleep. I suppose I will have other effects when I come off the drug completely as described by others in this forum.
Overall though, I have a lot to thank for this drug giving me the reason to keep going
poster:blue downunder
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050627/msgs/519741.html