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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nat A. on October 3, 2001, at 8:37:46
Hi, I started taking effexor ex seven days ago. I am not really having any really bad side effects other than not being able to sleep at night.
I was wondering if this goes away? If not are there any meds that help without more "bad" side effects? I was given a few ativan after my first visit
to my gp to help as I start the effexor ex. This is the first time I am on any meds for gad and depression. Thanks so much to anyone that responds.
Any help would be wonderful!
Posted by Diane J. on October 3, 2001, at 19:34:51
In reply to Effexor EX No Sleep!!, posted by Nat A. on October 3, 2001, at 8:37:46
Dear Nat,
I have taken Effexor for several years and I have had the same problem. My doctor gave me some Trazadone to help me sleep at night. I only took half a tablet and it knocked me out. I used the Trazadone for 2 or 3 days and then I didn't need it anymore. Apparently I had adjusted to the Effexor.
Of course everybody is different, but you could ask your doctor about it if you don't adjust to your Effexor pretty soon.
Diane J.
> Hi, I started taking effexor ex seven days ago. I am not really having any really bad side effects other than not being able to sleep at night.
> I was wondering if this goes away? If not are there any meds that help without more "bad" side effects? I was given a few ativan after my first visit
> to my gp to help as I start the effexor ex. This is the first time I am on any meds for gad and depression. Thanks so much to anyone that responds.
> Any help would be wonderful!
Posted by Noa on October 4, 2001, at 15:21:24
In reply to Re: Effexor EX No Sleep!!, posted by Diane J. on October 3, 2001, at 19:34:51
It has that effect on me too. It seems like some people feel sedated on Effexor, and others, like me, get insomnia.
I also used trazodone for a while, but then switched to serzone, to complement the effexor. For me, I take a fair amount of serzone for its antidepressant effect as well as for sleep. If I didn't need the extra AD effect, I probably would have stuck with trazodone. I only needed a very small (non-therapeutic) amount to be able to sleep.
I have also found that cutting out caffeine helps a lot. Once in a while, I still have restlessness and inability to sleep, so my pdoc gave me sonata, which definitely works, but I find that using it for more than one night at a time causes more depression, so I use it rarely.
Posted by galtin on October 4, 2001, at 22:49:19
In reply to Effexor EX No Sleep!!, posted by Nat A. on October 3, 2001, at 8:37:46
> Hi, I started taking effexor ex seven days ago. I am not really having any really bad side effects other than not being able to sleep at night.
> I was wondering if this goes away? If not are there any meds that help without more "bad" side effects? I was given a few ativan after my first visit
> to my gp to help as I start the effexor ex. This is the first time I am on any meds for gad and depression. Thanks so much to anyone that responds.
> Any help would be wonderful!Nat- I don't have sleep problems with Effexor. But when I was severely depressed and awake all night I took a low-average dose of Trazadone. It worked well, helping me get and stay asleep. Previously, I tried Xanax but it made me feel loopy in the morning.
Good Luck,
galtin
Posted by Daniellah on October 6, 2001, at 12:45:12
In reply to Effexor EX No Sleep!!, posted by Nat A. on October 3, 2001, at 8:37:46
It never went away for me and I have been on the meds for 9 months.
My doctor prescribed Trazadone and it does wonders to help
me sleep. However, if I miss my nightly dose I toss and turn
with night sweats and crazy dreams. Without the Trazadone
I would have stopped taking the Effexor. Good Luck.
Posted by Cazzie on October 7, 2001, at 19:08:19
In reply to Re: Effexor EX No Sleep!!, posted by Daniellah on October 6, 2001, at 12:45:12
Hi :)
I have been on effexor for 3 years, 75mg XR. I find that the time I take the dose affects my sleep. I have to take it mid afternoon, if I take it in the morning I get the yawns by late afternoon and often take a nap, if I take it late night I get weird dreams and trouble sleeping.
As I am withdrawing from xanax, slowly. I am noticing it's a bit harder to get to sleep so I take an over the counter antihistimine to make me sleepy.
Cheers
Caz> It never went away for me and I have been on the meds for 9 months.
> My doctor prescribed Trazadone and it does wonders to help
> me sleep. However, if I miss my nightly dose I toss and turn
> with night sweats and crazy dreams. Without the Trazadone
> I would have stopped taking the Effexor. Good Luck.
This is the end of the thread.
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