Any Effexor Experience?

[Oneb]

I took one of these pills, and it put me to sleep and hurt my stomach for two days. Anyone have experience with it?

 

[Lemuza]

It made me feel like I was very loaded and losing my mind. I only took it once.

 

[Pobar]

I don't think you can judge a med just by taking it once.

Most meds I've taken have initial side effects that go away.

I say give it a good try and decide for yourself.

If you're looking for reasons to not take it, well you can do that with any med so why not just give up on all medications if that's what you're doing.

 

[Rojafo]

I had a severe reaction, not a mild one. Mild reactions you can work through, severe reactions you can not.

 

[Osi]

Yes, gave me pernicious anemia and 8 months on I'm still trying to recover. It is poison. So don't take if you have low iron already please.

 

[Valis]

I took it years ago and it made me super mean. But everyone is different.

I agree that most orginal issues fade away in a week or so of taking most meds but if you cannot handle the orginal side effects or have a bad reaction then stop taking it, call your Dr and ask for something else.

 

[Ele]

Effexor was one of the worst for me, I just couldn't make it through the trial period to see if it would work, and going off it was just as horrible as being on it (and if I remember correctly, I was on it less than a week). Best to nip it in the bud before it can cause more problems.

 

[Oneb]

Thanks so much for your replies everyone.

Most meds I've taken have initial side effects that go away.

I get this, but I don't think I can afford to be passing out and nauseous for even a week or two. There's work for one thing....

 

[Ine]

I cannot think of a reason why someone with PTSD should be trying effexor - not unless they have very pervasive depression and have already tried at least two other medications.

Meds for PTSD sufferers will address symptoms, but they do not address PTSD. They can make it more possible for the individual to keep functioning while addressing the PTSD, and then, the general notion is they are tapered off of.

Effexor is not a drug that you go onto and plan to discontinue in a year. It's remarkably difficult to get off of. It's a drug for treating major depressive disorder, which can be co-morbif with PTSD but is different from having depression associated with PTSD.

Of all the SNRIs, Effexor is one of the oldest. This is actually a good thing - it means there's a lot of data. But it's a kind of 'Thor's hammer' sort of drug. So, if all you need to do (metaphorically) is tap a finishing nail into the wall, using Thor's hammer is really not necessary.

And if you don't have major depression? Effexor can make you feel like shit.

To the OP: is your depression pervasive and deep, and how many drugs have you tried before effexor?

 

[Ese]

Yes. One word for Effexor: vomitrocious.

 

[Ici]

I slept 20 hours a day. I got off that stuff ASAP.

 

[Oneb]

To the OP: is your depression pervasive and deep, and how many drugs have you tried before effexor?

Thanks for the great post.

I would say my depression is pretty pervasive--I have suicidal thoughts pretty regularly, no social life, withdrawn. But I also have a lot of hyper-vigilance and anxiety due to PTSD. I struggled with depression before I ever had PTSD. Now, there is more constant fear and agitation.

I tried Prozac, which was decent, but made me very tired. I took one Abilify pill ever, which also made me sleepy and sick.