Effexor and ecstasy

I've been suffering from insomnia for 4 years on and off (the off when I used cannabis/alcohol). I took ecstasy every weekend for about 19-20 months, that ended two and a half years ago. And since then i've also suffered depression. Anyway I've been pescribed effexor XL 75mg, the first night I took it I'd been to the local pub (or bar for the Americans) I had a couple of pints of larger and went home. About 2:00am I still wasnt asleep and I felt like I had taken ecstacy. I kept thinking that someone had spiked my drink with XTC, got about 1 hours sleep. My pupils were very dialated and I looked like I was on drugs (the illegal ones). But it turns out it was the Effexor. I'm on my second day with it and feel like i'm on a downer and my head kills, my teeth hurt, my stomach kills, and my eyes look very starnge. Is this normal should I stop or just grit my teeth and bare it (pun intended). There is alot of bad comments about this drug but there is good ones aswell. I start college in less than a week this will be my 4th attempt I only hope I can sleep properley by then.
Stu (Beverley nr Hull, England)