After years of trying different medications to treat my depression and anxiety, my doctor prescribed Effexor. Effexor is also known as Venlafaxine. It comes in a tablet form and extended release. I was given the minimal dose of 37.5 milligrams to start with. Upon my next visit, my dosage was increased to 75 milligrams.
Though the Effexor didn’t immediately help, I could start feeling its effects after about two weeks.
The side effects that I dealt with the most were sweating, sleepiness, headaches and yawning. The sleepiness and yawning were the first to go away. I also felt like my nose was stuffy for the first few weeks. I had a hard time falling asleep because of my nose being stuffed.
The sweating was the most annoying side effect for me to deal with. It only happened at night when I was asleep. I would wake up in the middle of the night and have to change clothes because they would be damp. This kept up for about a month or so. Eventually my body regulated itself and it stopped.
Another common side effect of anti-depressants including Effexor is a lack of sexual desire. This is one side effect that is more easily treatable for men than women because of all the drugs currently on the market for men.
I know quite a few people who take this medication for generalized anxiety and depression. Though I haven’t experienced these symptoms personally; I have heard complaints of ear ringing, dry mouth, nightmares and spontaneous muscle twitching. The majority of people I have spoken with have had great success with Effexor. I am one of those people.
I do know of one person who had a bad reaction. They became severely agitated, restless and irritable. With the help of a doctor, treatment with Effexor was discontinued. Sometimes antidepressants can make symptoms worse.
I know I was warned of suicidal tendencies when my healthcare provider prescribed Effexor for me. I was also asked about mood changes during my follow-up appointment. Thankfully I didn’t have this problem and Effexor has worked better for me than any other antidepressant in the past.
A good support system is very important when dealing with mental disorders and medication. Family members should be aware of the serious side effects in event of the occasion should occur that you yourself cannot recognize or get help for yourself.
It is very important to keep taking the medication even if you start to feel better. Do not stop taking Effexor without the consultation of your doctor. Slowly weaning off the medication is usually necessary to discontinue usage. Side effects of stopping “cold turkey” will be much worse than taking it slow.
I stopped taking my Effexor during my pregnancies. My heart pounded and my blood felt like it was “vibrating” through my veins while the medication was leaving my system. After a couple of weeks everything went away. This is not the case for all people though.
Care should be taken while drinking alcohol and taking Effexor. Alcohol will increase the drowsy effect of the medicine.
