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Effexor Side Effects

Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.

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MedHelp Member's Question

Effexor Side Effects

by Cayuga Jones, Oct 13, 1999 12:00AM

Tags: alzheimer's, mental, Health, Mental Health, Depression, dose, weight

I have been taking effexor (37.5) for depression for the last week. I take my dose at about 9:30 in the morning. An hour after taking it, I feel shaky, jumpy, jittery. That lasts anywhere for an hour or two. Today I also all of a sudden started sweating for no reason.

1) Is this a normal side effect of effexor?

2) Can I expect that it will lessen over time?

On the positive side, my depression -- bouts of crying for no real reason, etc. -- has disappeared. So I guess that's a good thing. But I hate the idea of trading one problem for another.

Any advice you can give me would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Cayuga

Doctor's Answer

by HFHS M.D.-SW, Oct 18, 1999 12:00AM

Dear Cayuga,

I am glad you are feeling better. Depression is a draining illness.

Effexor is an effective treatment for depresion. The average therapeutic dose is 150 mg day, fortunately you are responding to a low dose.

The initial side effects you are complaining of are not unusual, they tend to decrease with time, 2-3 weeks. If side effects worsen or are intolerable, you may consider another antidepressant.

I recommend discussing your concerns with your psychiatrist, in order to provide the best management.

Best Wishes,

Sincerely,

HFHS M.D.-SW

Member Comments (6)

by PamD, Oct 13, 1999 12:00AM

I remember I felt a little jittery, too, when I first started Effexor. It took me about two weeks to get used to it. We kept increasing my dosage, so just about the time I'd get used to it, here would come the jitters again. I DID get used to it, though, and it has been the most effective anti-depressant for me. See if you can wait it out, and if it gets worse, call your doctor.

Best wishes!

by Susan, Oct 14, 1999 12:00AM

you need to talk with your doctor about the sweating. your dose is probally to high. i had the same problem also. i couldnt walk to the bathroom without breaking a sweat. as for feeling shaky, jumpy, jittery ........... this will go away with time. you need to give the medication atleast a full month to really begin to work. it has done wonders for me.

by Karen, Oct 14, 1999 12:00AM

It helped me a lot too... but watch your blood pressure... a raise in blood pressure is a documented side effect of this drug

by E, Oct 25, 1999 12:00AM

I experienced the same jittery, hyper, activation from Effexor the first 2 weeks. I'm in my third week and it has gone away for the most part. Unfortunately, some of the side effects that I considered worse than those mentioned have not gone away. I tried to look on the bright side of things and thought, "Well, at least it has not made me drowsy. I used to always be tired in the day. And also, I was one of those people that was always cold, and now I'm hot. Even though I'm a little warmer than I'd like to be, it is better than being cold." That got me through it, and they did go away. However, if it really bothers you, ask your doctor for some lorazepam pills to help. My doctor gave me some and said to try taking a very small amount (like half a pill) if the jitteriness was starting to bother me. It should help relax you, but can make you very drowsy.

by Penny, Jan 28, 2000 12:00AM

I have been on effexor for one year. I am concerned about a 20 pound weight gain. I haven't changed eating habits and still experience a loss of appetite. It's as though my body has changed. My past regimen to lose weight (prior to using effexor) doesn't work. It was discouraging when my Dr. said he wasn't aware of weight gain being a side effect. Has anyone else experienced this?

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