Effexor Xr

[sami cat]

Ive been taking effexor xr for a few months. My dr just upped my dose to 300mg. I have read that people taking effexor have memory loss. Does anyone know if this is true and does it affect everyone that takes it? I also take other meds I dont know if that contributes to it?

 

[Truthful_Whispers]

I have had short term memory problems for many years. Not sure if it was/is caused by meds, or something else. It is frustrating, I know. One time, I looked for my baseball cap for almost an hour..and it was on top of my head. lol (P.S. Nice kitty picture. I take care of rescue cats)

 

[Blackbird89]

I had memory loss on effexor (which I combated with list making and entirely too many post its.) The Paxil memory loss was the worst for me.

 

[KwanYingirl]

I had memory problems on Effexor and the damn shrink just upped my dose. It wasn't doing a thing for my depression.

 

[Truthful_Whispers]

I had memory problems on Effexor and the damn shrink just upped my dose. It wasn't doing a thing for...

I know. Isn't it crazy? You are already having issues with a med, and they want to give you even more. I know some medications have to be at a certain dosage to be effective, but geez..

 

[Fadeaway]

I have a pretty bad experience with effexor. I once had to tear my house apart because I lost my rent money. $1,200 cash. I found it in the trash can. I did not remember doing that. I had only been on it for a very short time, but I quit taking it that day because I couldn't think and was doing things (like throwing money away) without paying attention to what I was doing.

If you have been on it for a while and haven't noticed anything extreme, it is possible it is the other meds.

 

[Truthful_Whispers]

They should rename it Itf*cksyouup-ffor

 

[joeylittle]

I'll be the dissenter - I'm on 375mg and have never had memory issues with it, but I do ok with that class of med in general. Now, topomax and lamictal just about wiped my memory clean - so I avoid that zone.

If you've been on the increased dose long enough to know that it's not helping, I'd definitely encourage you to talk with your doc about coming back down to the minimum functional dose (for you).

 

[Friday]

To the best of my knowledge, no side effect is universal, with any medication... Even if it is a common side effect.

To use ballpark (ie made up) numbers, roughly 80% of people respond 1 way to a medication, while 10%, 5%, 2.5%, 1%, 1%, o.5% respond 6 different ways. Some in the exact opposite way, others in completely different ways. Our neurochemistry is all different. As yet we have no way to tell how any individual is going to react to a medication before they take it. There are trends, but it really boils down to trial and error... And seeing how your own unique brain chemistry responds.

 

[Green pastures]

I'm on 150 mg of effexor xr and I have to say I'm not sure if it is the medication or my disease sickness.. ptsd with dissociation or both but my memory sucks to say the least. I agree with your statement @Whispering_Truth

They should rename it Itf*cksyouup-ffor

Then again I started this medication 2 days after my first session with my therapist and it was increased ? A month ago in think. Anyway I do honestly think it is helping me but if memory loss plays any part plays of my current life I could do without that. I lost my daughters glasses and it took us over 40 minutes to find them. They we're beside my bed... on the ground. Thank God they we're not broken. However I know this also is I am in active healing of getting to know myself so that plays a huge part also and unfortunately they started at the same time I have to just keep the course for a while. Here's to healing and leas forgetting. I pray all of us remember all we need too without much trouble!

 

[Truthful_Whispers]

I'm on 150 mg of effexor xr and I have to say I'm not sure if it is the medication or my disease...

Many meds I have tried didn't work out well at all. I couple of them made me seriously sick. One did some damage to my liver, ended up in the ER because of that.

 

[Green pastures]

YIKES! @Whispering_Truth I am blessed to not have had those side effects - however, my tolerance for most things - as in I can drink - like 9 shots of a hard liquor in less than 2 hours and still not black out and function for the most part (I am overweight but I am only 5' 1" and a woman) plus I can take any medication - that should make one tired and rarely get tired unless I am supposed to be tired - it is weird I can tell myself what to do and I do it? I had to do this my entire childhood - act a certain way - to keep myself from getting in trouble - or hurt even more - so feelings and myself - rarely act together - and when I take a medication - if I tell myself I will get high - I get high. I feel like I am a liar saying that but - that is because it makes no sense on a logical level - however, for me - I just KNOW it is true looking back on my life. Hence why I cannot drink more than two drinks right now and only once a week at most - or if I go out to eat with my husband - and I cannot take my xanax or ritalin before I drink. It is an agreement (verbally I made with my therapist) - so I will not do what I have done my entire life _numb myself. I see that is why I could do what I did - and why medications - to me are more like a cognitive choice that they are helping me - (even if they actually are - that is how I view them). Okay this is enough self reflection of myself. lol