Effexor

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So I'm having side effects from the Effexor (Venlafaxine), like tremors, sleepiness, loss of appetite, dizziness and yawning. They are going to take me off of it soon when I see my doctor next. It's kind of sad since I was so much more alert while on it (at least until a week in when I started getting the effects).

Has anyone else been on Effexor or it's generic form Venlafaxine? What did you experience? Did it help you or did you have side effects while taking it?

http://drugs.healthdiaries.com/effexor- ... fects.html

I'd forgotten about the huge yawns. I always felt like I was some kind of sleepy dog when I was on Effexor. I've been on it several times, it has a lot of unpleasant side effects doesn't it. Can be quite hard to come off as well. I hope you manage to get off without too many problems.

If you do have any difficulties, the best way I found of coming off it was to take Duloxetine for a short time. Its a very similar med. It means you can come off Effexor (venlafaxine) straight away, and the withdrawal effects from Duloxetine aren't too bad.

I was on Effexor and it made me Very manic and mean. If you don't like the side effects of it, then I'd reccommend getting off of it. How about Zoloft? Maybe that will work for you?

I was taken off of effexor after about three weeks because one day I had the feeling of having thousands of tiny mites crawling over me. I could even feel them in my eyelashes. It was weird. Other side effects that my doc considered acceptable were dizziness, no appetite, stomachache, tremors, forgetfulness, lack of give a damn... I think I yawned on that one also, but it has been awhile and I confuse meds. Anyhoo... I detoxed for three days when she finally took me off of effexor.... I was violent, sick, and would randomly fall down or pass out. I am prone to severe side effects though. I was the same way with all of the SSRI's I was on as well, minus the mite thing. But SSRI's and SSNRI's never helped me anyway. All I ever got were side effects. Same with anafranil... all ick, no benefits.

I went on to Effexor for the wrong reasons (the doctors thought they were treating depression, but I only agreed to them because I read a side effect is anorexia--sounds awful, but I have had eating disorders for nearly 20 years so....), and when it didn't help me with that nor did it change my moods (because they misdiagnosed me), I wanted to get off the medication. After my experiences coming off of that, when they told me these pills were not addictive, I vowed never to use that kind of medication again. I came off in stages. I think I was taking 3 pills, then went down to two, then to one, then off. Every single stage, for the first week or so, I would have AWFUL brain zaps as if I was being electrocuted. Every time I would move my head I could feel it. Then I would adjust to the two pills, and would have to go through it all over again in another week or two. That happened three times. It was AWFUL. Sorry I can't be more optimistic or have good things to say about it. The only good part of that entire experience was once I was off them and was completely detoxed from them.

I'll never take medication again, I don't think (for "mental" conditions). Medication improves chemical imbalances. So it can help some comorbids that come with autism. I don't have any other true diagnoses as the result of a chemical imbalance which is why I don't think any of the medication I took as a child, teenager, or adult was successful. I don't believe medication can help just straight autism. If Effexor is working for you, then that probably is because you do have a true comorbid condition. Still, I don't like Effexor after what it did to me, and I never recommend it. There must be a medication out there that doesn't feel like death when you are coming off of them.

Effexor has helped me a lot and I have not experienced any bad side effects.
However, it is one of the worst drugs to stop taking. It must be done very slowly.
Even if I miss a dose I can feel the start of the withdrawal the next day.
so, Do Not Miss a Dose!

I have a huge issue with missing doses, as I have a bad memory. :S I didn't know that Effexor was the one that gave you brain zaps. But I've heard about it. I'll try hard not to miss doses until whatever happens with my doctor.