Effexor

[Deleted member 33023]

I have recently been given Effexor along with Gabapentin(sp?). I have been on it one week now. The effexor is 37.5 and Gabapentin 300 during the day as needed and 2 in the evening for sleep. So far the bad thoughts have slowed like there is a block so my mind doesn't fly in all directions but the electricity shaky feeling up and down my body hasn't stopped. Thinking about taking a little more Gabapentin to see if that helps. Still not able to sleep through the night but better than before the medication. I've lost four pounds in the past week due to loss of appetite and crazy electrical feeling making me pace. Does anyone else have this too?

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I was put on effexor and I loved it but I did not read the warnings. Now my doctor has reduced my med by not taking one pill so I only take three a day now. I feel weird kind of hard to explain but I can feel the difference but so far no brain zaps luckily. I have gotten a couple of really bad headaches but they go away all by themselves very quickly. So far so good.

 

[barefoot]

I took Effexor for a year or so about 11 years ago. I don't remember whether I had any side effects when I was on it (sorry - not helpful!) but, yes, coming off it....sweats/shivers, aches and those brain zaps. Very unpleasant. I was still having the odd random zap months later. And missing a day's dose also prompted significant withdrawal symptoms.

Did it help ease my symptoms of depression? Yes, I think so. And it seemed to do that more effectively than a couple of others I'd tried. Would I want to go back on it again? No. Because the withdrawal was so tough.

 

[Sandstone]

I was on it a while ago, and saw no beneficial effects, but lots of digestive problems, which was the case for all the anti-depressants. Like others, coming off was dreadful, with the brain zaps and chaotic racing thoughts. If someone convinced me it was necessary to try another anti-depresssant, I'd flat out refuse Effexor and Duloxetine.