Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Effexor Side Effect
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
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.
Post a Question Back to Forum
MedHelp Member's Question

Effexor Side Effect

by jen2020, Mar 21, 2004 12:00AM
Hi,



I developed a severe rash on my stomach and down one leg after about a week and a half of being on Effexor.  I stopped the medication the other day, but I still have the rash.  It hasn't gotten any worse and it does look like its getting lighter and starting to go away but my question is how long will it take the rash to go away completely?  How long will the Effexor still be in my system and could it be possible for it to spread to another area until it completely goes away?  I had my dermatologist look at it and he thought it was probably the medication.



Thank you,

Jen
Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D., Mar 22, 2004 12:00AM
I think that now that you have stopped it there should be no more problem. All the medication will essentially be out of your system by 6 days, but this is probably dose related, and you are already below the threshold since it is getting better, and I wouldn't expect any spread at this time.
Member Comments (19)

by Baby123, Mar 22, 2004 12:00AM
jen2020

Was dose of effexor were you on and have you taken it before.  I have been on it for about 9 weeks now and still have some nervousness.  I'm hoping it goes away.  Did your Dr. put you on another med?  I take 75 mg. a day of the extended release.

by jen2020, Mar 22, 2004 12:00AM
Hi,



I was only on 37.5mg of Effexor and my doctor is going to put me on something else.  The rash I had was very severe and only getting worse.  The depressing thing was that I didn't experience any side effects other than that and it was working so I'm really upset that I have to try something else.  The SSRI's cause horrible sexual side effects for me but I don't think there are any other meds to take.

by ontherecord, Mar 22, 2004 12:00AM
Try Wellbutrin SR, 150mg, B.I.D. (twice a day).  It's neither an SSRI or an SNRI (Effexor), and pharmacologically different.  Relatively free of systemic side effects, this antidepressant is both well-tolerated and effective.  I used to take it, but it lost it's efficacy after a while.  Currently, I'm on Effexor 75mg and am going to up the dose to 150mg.  Since Effexor works like an SSRI (it also inhibits the reuptake of serotonin), I am having some sexual side effects, and I am convinced that the difficulty will increase with the dosage (as often happens), but it's a choice between the lesser of two evils.  If Wellbutrin continued to work for me (and it may continue to work for you -- people react differently) I would have been on that for a very long time.  It's a potent antidepressant.  

by deb723, Mar 24, 2004 12:00AM
I am currently doing research for an upcoming book which deals with the side effects and withdrawals people have experienced from Effexor XR and other (like) anti-depressants. I am interested in receiving any information current or former users would like to share concerning their experiences with these drugs. Please email me @:

beach-***@****

and thanks!

deb

by ladyofdhouse, Mar 25, 2004 12:00AM
I weaned myself off of effexor in too short of a time and also had the problem with seeing things through the corner of my eyes. I had flu like symptoms and was freezing and burning up all at the same time ( IF THAT IS EVEN POSSIBLE). Strange feeling.

by hollywd33, Mar 31, 2004 12:00AM
To: Sleepy on Effexor XR
I have been on Effexor XR 75mg for about three months.  Although my anxiety has decreased I am finding that I am EXTREMELY tired when I miss a doss.  I never used to take naps but I am finding that I am needing them all the time now. It gets worse when a doss is skipped. I read here that some other people are experiencing the same thing!!!! What is going on with this!!??  I'm glad to know Im not just imagining these symptoms!

by Gingin123, Mar 31, 2004 12:00AM
To: Hollywd33
Hey, I take Effexor XR 75 mg. also.  About 3 months.  I have read and heard that effexor has such a short half-life that missing even one dose can cause withdrawal type symptoms.  Maybe that is what is happening in your case.  I have tried to be very careful to take mine the same time every day because of withdrawals.  How long did it take to start helping with your anxiety?  I still have some breakthrough anxiety and just wondered if I may have to change to something else.  I don't want to have my dose increased because I have already lost 10 pounds, 5 of which I did not need to lose.  I'm afraid increasing it will cause me to lose more.  I would like to find out more about lexapro.  It is very good for anxiety as well.

by Timmy256, Apr 08, 2004 12:00AM
It is not good to miss your dose of Effexor.  I was on this for about 5 months and everytime I missed the dose I felt like hell.  You start to cry and become dissoriented.  It is good to take it at the same time everyday.

by lissa7, Apr 09, 2004 12:00AM
Compared to other meds I'v taken , Effexor XR has had the shortest shelf life.I currently take 300mgs but even on lower doses I felt ill within several hours of missing a dose(even after taking it for 3 years!!) Firstly nausea , headaches , tiredness ......

On the plus side ,it has been the most successful drug.

Do other people feel a sense of detatchment though? It is as if my mind runs on auto pilot. Thanks

by Timmy256, Apr 12, 2004 12:00AM
I also felt detatched from alot of things.  You do seem to float in and out I have found.  I took this due to Obsessive compulsive thoughts, but it did not seem to help.  Does anyone know what medications does help with OCD.  Thanks.

by bjerk, Apr 13, 2004 12:00AM
I have been on Effexor XR (225 mg per day) for several years and it began to lose its effectiveness about two weeks ago.  Since I have had depression problems since I was very young and did not know of meds until about 10 years ago (I am 62 yrs old)this med has been good for me.  My doctor had me on different kinds through the 10 years.  At one time I tried to cut down on the dosage and went downhill quite fast - crying, thoughts of suicide, "zings" going through my head (felt like someone was giving me an electric shock).  After all the years I'm usually able to feel the change in myself.  My doctor has added Welbutrin (150 mg) to the Effexor-that was four days ago and it has helped tremendously and my attitude and mental health are almost back to what I call normal.  I don't know yet what my doctor is going to keep me on - should find out this week.  There have been no side effects that I can pinpoint regarding Effexor - just know that it saved me.

by qtbarb, Apr 24, 2004 12:00AM
I have been on dosages from 225mg down to 75mg but each makes sweat profusely.  I give up wearing makeup because it jest runs.

Does anyone have this problems.  How do you deal with it.

by simonsays, Apr 25, 2004 12:00AM
Please Help!!  I feel like I am going crazy, itchy itchy itchy! Here is my situation:  I was on effexor for about 6 months or so, started with 75mg, but after 4 mos, upped the dose to 150mg.  I decided to go off of effexor due to weight gain and my doctor prescribed Wellbutrin.  I first was weened off too quickly and had to go back up to 75's...so I took a few days of 75's, one week of 37.5, got really sick, went back to 75 for two weeks, then just started on the 37.5 again (is everyone following?).  On day two of taking 37.5's I felt a bit dizzy, but it wasn't too bad, I also started itching.  It has gotten gradually worse over the past 3 or 4 days and is now almost unbareable.  It jumps around all over my body.  It will itch on my feet, then an hour later it will be my fore arms, then my thighs, then my chest, my ears...it just keeps going.  During this time of weening off of the effexor, I have also started the Wellbutrin.  I have taken one week of 150mg Wellbutrin XL and about 10 days of the 300 mg. My question is, is the severe itchig due to withdrawl from the effexor?  Or is the itching due to the Wellbutrin (like a very delayed side effect).  I am not sure.  I really don't know what to do and could use some insight.  I am going mad from the itching.  HELP!!!

by aglet, May 19, 2004 12:00AM
I have been on Effexor XR 150mg for only a few months now, it has helped my depression and my anxiety but in a terrible way. The medication has taken my conscience away. I don't care anymore about anything that used to be important to me. I have forgotten what it feels like to feel real pain or real happiness--I'm just numb. I wake up, pop a pill, and go through the motions. I feel euphoric and invincible. Running my car off of the road seems tolerable, because in my mind, I know that I wouldn't feel anything, and somehow these pills make me think that it would be fun. The only way that I feel real is through my vivid dreams that effexor has caused. The emotion in my dreams is the only emotion that I am able to feel. Is it really worth being happy if it is merely a numbness cast over you by this little pill? I want to feel again and think again and get butterflies in my stomach. My doctor prescribed a dose way too high for my condition and has caused me and my not that severe case of depression to be totally out of control. I am now weaning myself off of effexor and am feeling pain in the 10 fold. But all I have to say is that it feels great to feel again. Make sure that the doctor that gives you effexor knows what they are talking about and gives you the right dose. Effexor XR is powerful--so make sure that you are ready to give up free thought and feeling before you decide to take it.

by MsCricket67, Jun 13, 2004 12:00AM
Hello There!! I am so glad that I came across this website.  I have so much to say...  LOL! I had so much trauma in my life and prone to feeling SAD. The doctors put me on Effexor and Clonozepam (sp?)a few years ago.  I have now been off the Clon. for 5 weeks.  I itched like mad, felt emotions I still don't know what to do with - especially the anger.  I have wild dreams.  I am now wanting off the Effexor. I am very afraid of trying to come off this drug.  I can't miss an hour without feelinig like I am going to passout due to being so dizzy and I get so sick to my stomace.  It is so bad, I get scared and cry that this has gone to far.  Within 20 minutes after taking my dose of