Effexor and vivid dreams

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 had no trouble coming of Effexor 6 years ago. No side effects, nothing. In past attempts, I'd merely suffered recurrence of depression, but this time, not even that. I was on Effexor-XR, 75mg and Wellbutrin-SR 100mg and went off both.

At the time, I was receiving neurofeedback to try and overcome ADHD (which is what the wellbutrin treated for me). It seems that this method of re-programming brain wave patterns might have reduced or eliminated any withdrawal effects from these drugs. Can't guarantee it, though, since I'm my own guinea pig here.

Just started back on after being off for 6 years. Hopefully short term. This depression is reactive due to several losses. So far the only side effects are appetite loss and vivid dreams, and I had vivid dreams in the first go around too, so I'm not too concerned. They went away in time.

I have fibromyalgia and started taking Effexor xr last fall to help combat fibro symptoms as recommended by my doctor. I am also prone to SAD. I have found that my fibro symptoms are worse if anything. I crave junk food and sweets. My doctor told me the drug could not be causing the cravings or the resultant weight gain. I finally five days ago told the doc I really didn't feel I was benefiting from the drug and she agreed that I should stop 'cold turkey'. Wellll! since then I am having nausea, chills, very vivid dreams, bordering on hallucination. I feel I have been sleeping for hours during the night and find it's only been two or three hours. I'm still not refreshed, but I can't get back to sleep. I find myself crying for no reason at all, feeling anxious, feeling angry at the least provocation. Chills, runny nose. While I was on Effexor my libido was non-existent. Now it's increased greatly. What is up with this drug. how long can I expect the after-effects to last? I had to stay home from work today for the nausea and tiredness and just general over emotionality.

Calgon take me away

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 3 years ago. My doctor had put me on Wellbrutrin, Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil, and probably a couple of others without great results. But Effexor did work for me with some sideffects. I have gained over 40 pounds since I have been on Effexor, have had no energy, over slept a lot and had the most vivid dreams. If I missed one or two doses by accident I would feel shitty. I have now quit since 3 weeks ago ( somewhat gradually). Right now I feel pretty angry and wound up most of the time. I also have a cough that won't go away.

Thank all of you for your candor. I too had been on anti-depressants for the past 3 years. I finally said enough is enough, each med had different side effects.I had lost interest in my "life" didn't want to exercise, work or really do much of anything...unless I "had to" & was becoming quite the actress going through the motions...this was NOT the ME I had known for 30+ YEARS & will not BE ME. I have the blurred vision, confusion, forgetfulness to name a few of the side effects. It has been 1 year since my divorce (reason I started it)... I no longer felt "situationally depressed" and assumed the unusual feelings I was experiencing was due to the drug and that I needed to get off of it to get my life back. So I stopped Effexor cold turkey.After two weeks & unusal side effects I got on line to see what other experienced. I too have experienced the vivid dreams / nightmares, where I literally felt as though I was "drugged". I have the cotton mouth, when tired "spaced out", mood swings, tiredness, night sweats, flu like symptoms, my appetite has increased, I had no sex drive on Effexor, 2 weeks off and it is coming back at least I'm thinking about it....I can identify with most of what I've read others have experienced on some level.

Bottom line...if I had it to do all over again. I would NOT take any anti-depressants, I suppose I was depressed divorcing & I should have been it is a major change in ones life. In hindsight I should have let my mind and body go through whatever the "natural process" was to be... because the experience going on, waiting to feel "normalcy" (which neve happened) and coming off has been awful. My point of view, there is no "magic" pill that is going to make us get up and go like the TV commercials portray. Life is difficult & I will survive without a "pill", I definately feel better over all getting the Effexor out of my system ...I'm hopeful the side effects will be short lived.

I felt that the Effexor did what it was supposed to while I took it. It helped my anxiety and slight depression, and I felt very happy the three years I took it. I did not have weight gain or any other side effects, other than crazy, vivid dreams that actually were funny to me. However, withdrawing from this drug was the worst I have ever experienced. I spread it out over 6 months, and it was still horrible. I was nauseated, disoriented, weak, had constant vertigo, felt electrical shocks in my head. I missed a week of work thinking that I was seriously ill, and then realized it was the Effexor, but it took another month until I felt like it was completely out of my system. I am back to feeling like my anxious and slightly depressed self again, but no way am I going back on Effexor knowing what the withdrawal symptoms are. I will find a way to feel better through diet modifications and lifestyle changes instead.

I have been on the effexor for about 2 months now. I was really having bad anxiety and constant things on my mind. I was always feeling sad and depressed. I would want to cry for just no reason. I am 27 years old and basically felt this way for about 8-9 years. I knew it was time for a change. I have had no side effects except for vivid dreams. I used to never remember my dreams until now. It seems like they last forever, but they are not bad dreams or anything. I finally feel normal, and I would suggest effexor to anyone. I am nervous about getting off it, due to reading previous side effects from other people, but right now I am happy!!

So far so good with me. I didn't know what I was dealing with everyday until I started taking this. Sometimes you are so busy you don't take the time to realize you have a problem. Sexual side affects are the only real problem. I sleep well and have vivid dreams. Also take Xanax 1/2 to 1 tablet for anxiety attacks, which aren't often now. Have gained some weight but small sacrifice for feeling good.

NIGHT TERRORS FROM THIS DRUG! I was on it over 2 years and put up with it. I was afraid to withdraw because of the horror stories, but finally I couldn't take the nightmares and vivid dreams anymore, and I withdrew myself slowly. I have been off it one month now and I feel so much better. I asked people why I didn't get the horrible withdrawal effects and was told probably because I was on other drugs. (I take Depakote for Bipolar, and I purposely took Valium while I withdrew from the Effexor).