Effexor and nightmare

I first started Effexor 6 years ago I tried coming off it twice,the 1st was a nightmare but took the 2nd time real slow.Trouble is I had to go back on it as its the only one that has worked for me and my doc says i might be on them for life!Its either have a crap life of take something that helps the quality of my life and effexor is the only thing,and I take 225mg's a day.Its made me put on 3-4 stone and took my sex drive away also had to give up booze as it sent me loopy with the effexor.Going to have a review soon with a new psychiatrist so will see.

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 was put on Effexor because of depression. My husband was going to be going to the middle east and I was so worried and depressed as well as experiencing separation anxiety. I started it a month before he left and IT WAS HORRIBLE.! Getting on it was just as bad as not having it! The side effects were like everyone else. No sex drive (mind you...my husband was leaving to the middle east!), cotton mouth and nausea. He left and that is when little by little it got worst. I GAINED WEIGHT and felt even more depressed because my husband was coming home to a PIG! Hubby got out of the military and I had went home to wait for him. (VA is where I was getting the meds and home is CA) When he got home I decided to get off the meds. I had gained over 30lbs! I was always petite and athletic. 5'2 120lbs and size 3 or 5. I was at 152 and size 9,11 and EVEN 13!!!! I have 2 kids and even pregnat never gained that much weight! I called my Dr. and they said I would have to come in to get off the meds! I live in CA now and cannot go to VA just to get the ween off pills so I did it COLD TURKEY!!! BIG MISTAKE!!!!! One disagreement with my husband made me FLIP OUT!!!! I was out of my character! I attacked him and became physically violent and angry! This is not like me! He could not control me and called the police thinking they were just going to calm me down. Because he told them the truth, but did not want to press charges, they still arrested me and I went to jail that night! I have NEVER went to jail and I never thought I would NEVER be somewhere like this. It was so embarrassing! As a result, my charges were dropped, but because my son was there CPS got involved, my husband and I were separated (although we didn't want to be apart, but if we did not do as they wished they would've taken our children!) for 6 months 1 month after he got back from the middle east! I was made to attend 52 week domestic violence classes! THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE!!!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE TAKE THIS MEDICATION!!!!!

Hello,
I started taking Effexor about 4 weeks ago for social anxiety disorder. Initially I experienced some side effects such as dry mouth, trembling, feeling light headed, nausea and drowsiness. These side effects diminished and my doctor increased my dose to 75 mg, I then experienced other side effects for example very vivid dreams like watching a movie played out before me which was kind of interesting until I had a very vivid and disturbing nightmare. I also experienced weightloss. Currently I am having trouble sleeping which causes me to feel very tired in the day, and have been troubled by mild depression which I'm trying to conquer. On the positive side, i find that I'm not as anxious as I used to be however I'm a long way from complete recovery. It takes about 12 weeks to feel the full effect of the treatment and I am impatient to be rid of this horrible anxiety disorder. I'm happy to be on Effexor and can tolerate the side effects, they are nothing compared to what it's like to live with social anxiety disorder and insignificant in comparison to enduring the pain of depression.

I started taking Effexor 75 mg in 2003 because of stomach problems- my doctor thought I maybe was experincing stress, so he prescribed it and Prontonix. The Prontonix worked great, but the Effexor- I never should have gone on it, as I wasn't depressed until AFTER I started taking it. Either I was depressed, or I was a zombie. My life was like a nightmare that I didn't even realize I was in until after I stopped taking it cold turkey in September of 2006. Everytime I used to miss doses, I would have this horrible dizzy feeling, but then I would make sure I got it ASAP so that the feeling would go away. When I wasn't able to get the drug due to a change in my insurance deductible, I came very close to losing my mind. My job suffered, the repercussions still in existence and I almost lost my marriage of 5 years before we even celebrated our 5th Anniversary, but then once the withdrawal symptons finally stopped about 60 days later, I now have a clarity on life that I never had before. My husband said that he finally had his wife back. I promise to never ever go on another drug that is an anti-depressive for any reason.

I have been on effexor for just order 6 months, before that i started on prozac which made me sick.

I started on 75mg xl just once a day, but it has been nightmare i have the follwing problems:
* can not sleep for more than 2-3 hrs, i just toss and turn during work i could fall alsleep
*have a foul temper
*have gained more than stone and half
*feel pissed and sick in a morning
*need the loo more often
the list is endlist

i have been back to my doctors as want to come off these wicked evil tablets

now have to take 37.5 g twice a day reducing it by one tablet once a week.
i am finding it a nightmare

if anyone can help me please email me at wkdemma@fsmail.net

i am 24

I went into full blown menopause 5 months ago. I could not sleep at nights, unbelievable hot flashes every 15 minutes throughout the day (I couldn't go anywhere without my hand-fan), crying over the silliest things, thinking people were purposely being unkind or cruel to me, - the entire situation was a nightmare to say the least. My doctor put me on Effexor and within 2 weeks, all symptoms (above) had completely dissapeard. It is the first time in my life I feel balanced and normal (even better than before I went into menopause). The only side effect I have experienced is that I cannot lose weight - I have not gained any, but seem to be remaining at the weight I was before going on Effexor.

I'm sooooo glad to be off this "nightmare" drug. I had to stop it cold turkey almost 4 years ago because I found out I was pregnant. The withdrawals had me in bed for 2 days, crying, unable to sleep, wanting to die....it was horrible. Not to mention the 50+ pounds of weight gain over the two years I was on the stuff. If I was even a couple hours late with my dose, I (and everyone else around me) noticed that I would get very angry and mean. Here is some advice for anyone out there taking Effexor and having bad side effects....go back to the doctor and get him/her to prescribe something else...there are MANY good drugs out there that have minimal side effects.