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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 Dauphine on March 23, 2004, at 12:34:23
I recently started taking Effexor XR at 75mg/day and I'm on my 6th pill today. So far my side effects have been dry mouth, blurry vision, some mild stomach problems, and being simultaneously sleepy (yawning) and anxious (restless muscles etc.). I don't have trouble falling asleep, but I wake up frequently in the middle of the night. I still feel like my depression is very present, but I feel a little more stable than before I started the drug last week. I see a lot of posts regarding weight gain, but I have absolutely NO appetite and have been eating less than I was before I started the drug. Does anyone experience weight loss? I'm only 100 pounds and probably shouldn't lose too much weight. I know that Effexor may not start working for up to 8 weeks, but how long do side effects like anxiousness and dry mouth last? Are these things that are always present when on the drug, but lessen with time or become less important when you start to feel better?
Any encouragement or information on starting Effexor XR would be helpful -- I've never taken an AD before.
Thanks
Posted by awatts on March 23, 2004, at 14:09:06
In reply to Effexor -- How long do side effects last?, posted by Dauphine on March 23, 2004, at 12:34:23
> but how long do side effects like anxiousness and dry mouth last? Are these things that are always present when on the drug, but lessen with time or become less important when you start to feel better?
> Any encouragement or information on starting Effexor XR would be helpful -- I've never taken an AD before.
> ThanksIt varies between people so much. Some folks have few slight side effects while others have a lot of really bad ones. Most side effects get a lot better or go away completly in 2 or 3 weeks - maybe longer. Sometimes a side effect will not get better and will last as long as you take the drug.
Posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 23:38:19
In reply to Re: Effexor -- How long do side effects last?, posted by awatts on March 23, 2004, at 14:09:06
I too am wondering about Effexor XR. I started on a very low dose of only 37.5 mg for one week. I'm supposed to increase to 75 mg tomorrow. I have actually been feeling very little side effects that I would call "bad". In fact, I like the change. I'm sleeping better and feel much calmer. But, even though I've had this much success, I fully intend to discuss going off of Effexor XR with my doctor at my next appointment. I am totally freaked out by what I have read on this forum regarding Effexor withdrawals.
So, I'm not going to take any more chances.
Posted by zefdie on March 24, 2004, at 11:51:43
In reply to Re: Effexor -- How long do side effects last?, posted by Jeano on March 23, 2004, at 23:38:19
I'm interested in how long the SE last as well. I've been on Effexor XR 75 for less than a week and, while I feel much stabler and less hopeless, I am completely apathetic and numb. I could spend the whole day staring at the ceiling. This ain't quite what I'm looking for--I need to get motivated!
Posted by Dauphine on March 24, 2004, at 13:16:20
In reply to Re: Effexor -- How long do side effects last?, posted by zefdie on March 24, 2004, at 11:51:43
I also feel unmotivated, but I think I was pretty unmotivated before I started the drug. I have noticed that since I take it in the mid-morning with a light meal, sometime around 3:00 pm I start to feel stimulated i.e. restless, or a need to do something either physical or mental. That lasts till about 7 pm, when I start yawning and feeling more mellow, which is great since I'd like to go to sleep sometime in the next few hours. If you are not already taking it in the morning, maybe you should try that. I find that it generally has a stimulating effect, but not too much since I feel more stable and less frantic about some of the things going on in my life right now. I've also felt a little more numb/less concerned with whatever is going on, however, this might not be such a bad thing since I was WAY TOO upset and involved in stuff before I started on Effexor. I tend to spend a lot of time alone, and I have also found that if I talk on the phone, or go to dinner with a friend, I feel tons more engaged and less numb.
I'm interested in how long the SE last as well. I've been on Effexor XR 75 for less than a week and, while I feel much stabler and less hopeless, I am completely apathetic and numb. I could spend the whole day staring at the ceiling. This ain't quite what I'm looking for--I need to get motivated!
Posted by Angel Girl on March 25, 2004, at 15:22:50
In reply to Re: Effexor -- How long do side effects last?, posted by Dauphine on March 24, 2004, at 13:16:20
> I also feel unmotivated, but I think I was pretty unmotivated before I started the drug. I have noticed that since I take it in the mid-morning with a light meal, sometime around 3:00 pm I start to feel stimulated i.e. restless, or a need to do something either physical or mental. That lasts till about 7 pm, when I start yawning and feeling more mellow, which is great since I'd like to go to sleep sometime in the next few hours. If you are not already taking it in the morning, maybe you should try that. I find that it generally has a stimulating effect, but not too much since I feel more stable and less frantic about some of the things going on in my life right now. I've also felt a little more numb/less concerned with whatever is going on, however, this might not be such a bad thing since I was WAY TOO upset and involved in stuff before I started on Effexor. I tend to spend a lot of time alone, and I have also found that if I talk on the phone, or go to dinner with a friend, I feel tons more engaged and less numb.
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> I'm interested in how long the SE last as well. I've been on Effexor XR 75 for less than a week and, while I feel much stabler and less hopeless, I am completely apathetic and numb. I could spend the whole day staring at the ceiling. This ain't quite what I'm looking for--I need to get motivated!
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I'm taking 187.5mg/daily of Effexor XR and I'm feeling REALLY unmotivated but I too, don't know how much I can blame the Effexor for that. I've pretty much always been this way, although I'm defnitely much worse. I guess I contradicted myself. lol!!! I pretty much have to force myself to do anything, including leaving my apartment.Angel Girl
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