Effexor and headache

The only side effects I am having, and I have only been on Effexor XR for about 2 weeks are: bad headache, anxious feeling (but getting better), and I loved my vivid dreams (good or bad) I have had all my life. For the past 2 weeks, IF I DO dream, I don't remember a thing about them. My family is probably happy about that because they get tired of hearing about my silly dreams everyday, but I enjoy retelling them since they have always been so real and deep! But now, nothing! Before Effexor XR, I was on Zoloft for 14 years! It was great, and no side effects, but all at once, after all these years, it was like it just QUIT WORKING. NOTHING. It was like the drug store had begun giving me placebos or something. I so hated to change, but had no choice. Depression, crying spells, and "going off" had come back after 14 years with a vengeance! Wish me good luck because I am going to try and tough this out and give the Effexor more time. Otherwise, doctor is going to put me back on Zoloft and just up the dosage from 1 100 mg tablet to 1 100 mg in the morning and 1/2 tablet in the afternoon. Too bad they don't just make a plain, "ole" happy pill!!!

I was put on Effexor because of anxiety and panic attacks, and all I have to say is that this medication increased more so than it alleviated any of those symptoms. I was not even feeling very anxious at the time of my taking the first (37.5 mg) dose.

I took the capsule around 2 in the afternoon and by 4pm I had a severe headache. This was followed by nausea and strange thoughts. When I returned home that evening (last night) around 7pm I called my roommate a profane word (way out of character) and made her cry. We resolved the conflict, and I went to bed without any discomfort.

But I awoke around 3 am feeling strange sensations coursing through my body, anxiety, strange thoughts (again), and a sense of "overheating." I wanted to get up but I felt like I could not will myself to act, I felt as though I was in an "out of body" state. My paranoia and anxiety reached an apex at which I decided that I must not be "okay," and called my mother.

My mother assured me that I am okay and just that I must be on "too much stimulant, call the doctor tomorrow." I truly felt like I was having an awful hallucinogenic nightmare. I wanted someone to tell me that I would be okay because at certain points I had a fear that maybe I was having an allergic reaction to the stuff and might die.

Had I not researched online boards beforehand I would have called "911" no questions asked at the first onset of my symptoms last night. One of the scariest things I have been through in awhile. Still don't feel quite right, but the feeling is not as intense.

I have been taking Effexor for around 2 to 3 years for depression. I am currenty taking two 150 mg at night, though I was told to take one in the morning and one at night... I found it easier to take them both at night. The only side effect I am sure comes from the Effexor is the reduction in my libido (and I am female). Effexor is the only anti-depressant I have been on, and I think I got extremely lucky in that I found the one that works for me on the first try. I also see a psycho-therapist, and between the two, I feel I have managed to get a better hold on my life. I am a thirty-five year old mom (married, and with a seven-year-old daughter) and I have "almost" nothing but praise for Effexor.

HOWEVER, I do know that the withdrawal side effects are terrible... I have missed it for up to three days when I went out of town and forgot my medication. I can usually miss one day and the side effects will most likely just be a bad headache, and maybe a little nautious. But when I missed three doses:

Missing one dose at night: I had a headache the following day.
After missing two doses: The headache became worse, I would occasionally get dizzy spellls, and I started getting very emotional - swaying between sad and cranky.
After missing third dose: The headache became worse still, and was aggravated by light - I wanted to just keep my eyes closed. I felt dizzy and nautious - nautious to the point I couldn't tell if I was going to throw-up (never did).
Oh... and I should add that the dreams while I was off the medication were incredible... like watching movies... so detailed and complex. I usually don't remember my dreams... but these I could recall... not in perfect detail... but they were amazing.

After I got back home and took my dose that night: I missed three days of work while being back on the medication. I was nautious, had a terrible headache, wanted to just stay in bed, I was no longer ultra sensitive emotional-wise - but I was ultra-pissed-off. I became very angry that I was on a medication that was addictive after having been told it was "not addictive". I was angry that I have never had an addiction before, but now suddenly I was addicted to a prescribed drug. I don't smoke, I only drink a couple of alcholic drinks in a month (socially), no canabis (pot... is that an out-dated term? ... everyone here says canabis), or any other illegal or legal addictive drugs... the only other drugs I take are allergy (Clarinex) and birth control (Nuva Ring), neither of which are addictive.

That whole experience was months ago, and now that I have had time to calm down and get a clear perspective on the situation... I wouldn't stop taking Effexor for just being addictive... and YES... it is addictive... I don't give a rat's ass what any "expert" says about it. If you can't stop taking something without your body freaking out... then IT IS ADDICTIVE.

I don't know that I will ever be able to stop the medication. I go back and forth as to how I feel about this. At times it bothers me being so dependant on a medication... but on the other-hand, I'm dependant on the allergy medication, and that doesn't bother me, so why should I let being dependant on an anti-depressant bother me? Who cares what everybody else thinks, right? - - Boy, that's loaded...

Effexor has helped me tremendously. My thoughts about death are very infrequent. I don't feel like crawling into a hole and disappearing all the time. I have found "my voice" with the help of this drug and my therapist to voice my opinions more often to help me from not feeling so trapped and helpless in situations. It does cut down on emotional sensations... I don't feel overwhelming sad at all the terrible things I hear on the news. And I don't cry at sappy commercials and movies any more (Thank you!). For the first time, I feel much more in control of my feelings and my life.

So, I can understand the anger in a lot of these postings, but I would like to add, that I don't think the people who have benefited from Effexor are posting here. They have no reason to be looking for this site. I found this site when I had been angry over finding out it was habit-forming. I believe Effexor has probably helped a lot of people - and it isn't an "evil" drug... it's just a drug. For some, it just isn't the right drug.

I should add, that I'm on here today because I've recently started experiencing night sweats, but I wasn't sure if it was a side effect of Effexor or not. I hope that it is a side effect of Effexor and not a symptom of menopause... cripes... I'm only 35! The first site that popped up after searching under "Nightsweats" was about nightweats being a symptom of perimenopause or menopause... ugh!

But if I have to weigh the benefits I have experienced using Effexor, with the downfalls: addictive, sexual side-effects, and maybe night sweats... I still am of the mind that it is a good drug for me.

I wish all of you luck in finding what helps you most to be happy with your life.

I STARTEDD TAKING EFFEXOR FOR DEPRESSION BY TAKING 75MG. THEN I WAS UPPED TO150MG. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE MY ENERGY LEVELS. I QUIT TAKING EFFEXOR 150 LAST THURSDAY(7/14/05)BY FRIDAY I WAS FEELING DIZZY BY SATURDAY I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH BALANCE AND JOLT'S TO MY HEAD. I HAD A BAD HEADACHE AND TROUBLE WALKING STRAIGHT. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE WHAT THE SIDE EFFECT'S WERE FOR THIS DRUG AND WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING THRU THE SAME THING. MY DOCTOR NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS OR HOW ADDICTIVE THE DRUG WAS FOR IF SHE (THE DOCTOR)HAD,I WOULD NEVER HAD STARTED THEM FOR DEPRESSION. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I HAVE DEVELOPED WAS A PERSISTANT COUGH THAT AT TIMES WOULD END IN A COUGHING JAG AND I WOULD THROW UP. I DIDN'T DO THIS BEFORE THE PILL.
I HAVE NOW BEEN OFF THEM FOR 4 DAYS AND IT'S BEEN HELL BUT I AM FEELING BETTER. FOR ME COLD TURKEY IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET OFF. IF THERE IS A CLASSACTION LAW SUIT GOING I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT.
CONTACT ME PLEASE.
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I have been taking effexor xr for about 3 weeks now. Started on 37.5 and then a week later went to 75 mg. I was taking lexapro prior but freaked out one day on that stuff....so my dr. changed me over to effexor. I have taken everything from prozac, paxil, celia, lexapro, zoloft, & buspar. So far the only side effect I have experienced has been a headache the first week and a half, which subsided. I take it for GAD and social anxiety......I was very timid about taking it after reading all these horrible things, but with any drug you have side effects and what works for one may not work for another, you just need to listen to your body and give the drug the appropriate time to get into your system and do what it is supposed to. I plan to continue to take it, so far so good!

I was started on Effxor XR 35 mg last week. I took the 7 days worth and I have never had a headache like I have had with this medicine. I have had severe headaches, sleep disturbances, increased sweating, night sweats, suicidal thoughts, compulsive behavior. The doctor's office had me repeat the 35 mg again this week and the headaches are still there (very bad) the compulsive behavior has subsided, be the other effects are still there. I was on Paxil 30 mg a day then switched to the Effxor. At first I thought the headaches were due to having the paxil and the effxor in my system at the same time. I now think it is the Effxor and it wouldn't matter if the paxil was in my system or not.
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My hubby has been on efexor for about 2 years, before that he was on prozac. Due to liver function tests my huband was told to start cut down his dose until he was down to 37.5 only" over a 2 week period". Hubby has now been on the 37.5 for about 2 months. He is in bed now cos w was feeling sick,dizzy and a migrain type headache." this same thing has happened alot now. He is always very tired moody and can sleep up to 3 hours in the day At night he wakes every 2 hours but does manage to go back to sleep after awhile but 2 hours later he's awake again. He itches till he bleeds but his sweating is much better. All in all I can see him going back down hill. He is very short tempered , tired and fed-up with everything.