side effects of effexor

I have been taking 75 mg. of effexor for several months under the supervision of a psychiatrist. However, I have developed dysphagia. After ruling out any organic disease, it seems as if the dysphagia is caused by the effexor. Has anyone heard of this reaction and if so, what can be done? what alternatives are there for depression and anxiety. I am a 59 y.o. post-menopausal woman also taking natural estrogen/progesterone.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

There are many different medications for depression and your psychiatrist should know about them...You might talk to your doctor about lowering the dose and see what happens.

[MamaCTR]

I am also taking Effexor and I have nioticed since I changed over from Prozac I am having panic attacks lately. They put me on an anti-anxiety med called Lorzapam but I do not notice a difference. Is this a noted side effect of Effexor?

[runhawk]

I started taking Effexor less than two weeks ago after coming off of Celexa.  I have been suffering horrible insomnia since that time.  Is this a side affect?  Has anyone else gone thru this?  Will it go away?  I want to give Effexor a fair shot because I think it is helping, but I need to sleep as well!!!

[MsManda]

I have been on Effexor ER for some time now, I am now taking 150mg in the morning and I suffer from sever insomnia. I was on seroquel, but my doctor just changed it to Resperdal and Depakote, and I get anout 3 hours a sleep a night. I dont know if this is like most other drugs where you have to let it get into your system, but lack of sleep is making me a very unhappy person. Any one else suffer from this problem.

thanks

P.S. I am also BipolarII

[confusedwife]

My husband has been on Effexor for a year and a half now, He suffers from sever depression and anexiety, He hates the side effects that it is causing him to have and want's off of them. His doctor started him on 150mg and has since boosted him to 225mg. He hates the fact that he is having rectial dysfuction because of it. It is making him nuts. He has gone as long as a month with blueballs, with no relief. Can anyone suggest how he can wing himself off of his meds? His psychiatrist isn't being much help. And he keeps going off of them by himself, which is driving ME crazy. Please help. Sincerly Confusedwife