I'm having problems with Effexor!!!!!!

[ahardroadtowalk]

I've been on and off antidepressants for years and nothing seems to be working. My doctor finally suggested effexor. I've been on it for little over 5 months and am having problems. I can no long function from day to day.  I feel a pulse in my head and have blured/jumpy vision. I can only walk a short length before i get dizzy and cant see straight enough that i have to sit down.  My vision bounces all over the place even when i sit.  The only thing that seems to help is if i eat. I've gained 40lbs in the last 4 months. I have major headaches which excedrin doesnt help with. I have what seems like bipolar moments where i sit and cry and cry and think everything is horrible and life is so depressing. Crazy dreams. no problem sleeping tho, I seem to be tired a lot and i wear out quickly. I twitch allll the time to the point i do it in my sleep and i feel like i have a disorder. I cannot concentrate. Driving scares me sometimes cause i seriously can not focus on the road. I have to pull over.
I'm a very young mother of two with a boyfriend who loves me and has to wrap his arms around me sometimes and just tell me this mood swing will pass and everything will be ok. Home and job are good. I have nothing to be depressed about...

Here's my question:  My insurance ended a few months ago. I've been paying out of pocket for the refills but now i'm almost out. The free clinic downtown wont accept me cause i'm not homeless. I dont have the money to keep buying out of pocket and i cant afford a doctor. This is majorly affecting my family. my children even know something is wrong and i need help.  WHAT DO I DO???
Thank you.

[roktta06]

Sorry  but forgot to ask…how is your diet??? I feel excellent when I get off Carbohydrates and really really bad when I abuse them. Try getting on a South Beach diet regimen it is life changing for me!

I really hope you find to happy medium…my worst depression was when my children were very young 8, 6 and 4…. and I know how difficult it is to manage. Thank God for your loving boyfriend!

[roktta06]

I sympathize with you….could it be maybe you were started on a very high dose?  After going through 7 antidepressants I was at the end of my ropes and was given Effexor …but started on a very very low dose…That same day I felt like I had been born again!!!! For me Effexor saved my life! My husband told my doctor that it had been a long time since I had had a full conversation with him during a whole day. I started laughing again. Just with the first dose!!! 9 years later I have tried changing antis  because of ups and downs, but I now know that this IS  the disease. I know medication does it 60/ 70% and I have to do the rest. I do not depend solely on med to do the whole job for me ….

BUUUUT if you would to  ask me personally I do not think what you are feeling is due to Effexor…hormonal maybe??? Get a good blood work done maybe something is really off!

[sara12345]

P.S.  "You said that you have been on and off anti-depressants for years and nothing seems to be working."  

According to a high level psychaitrist, if you've suffered from depression for years, you really hurt your chances of an anti-depressant working when you go back on one.  It takes longer and more of the anti-depressant to get the same results.  It's really a shame that none of your prescribing physicians ever told you that.

[sara12345]

Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear about your problems.  It sounds like you desperately need medical help.  Do you even know that the Effexor is causing your symptoms?  

One suggestion that I have for you is Medicaid.  It's automatic to get if the person has no more than $2,000 to their name.  And I think that you can own a car.  So if there is someone that you trust, you could give them your money and then be eligible.  You can even get it if your husband is rich.  It's you individually.  Then you could get your medical attention for next to nothing.

Keep in mind that to even decrease Effexor can cause major emotional and physical problems.  My doctor said that when he tried to get off of it, he experienced terrible pain.  In advising me how to switch from Effexor to another anti-depressant, he wrote out a gradual switch, but said that if I felt like "I was going to die", add back in more of the Effexor.   Just to WARN YOU.

It would really be helpful if you could answer back about how you are doing.  
Others have taken time to try to help you.  Let us hear back from you.

[emmsalos]

these side effects your getting sound like you are behind with them or thinning them out.  ive been on these for years and they dont really work much for me any more.  however i really do know how awful it can feel trying to get off them.  let me tell you that by forgetting even one can give these exact side effects.  to the T.  and goodness knows how you might feel if you stop them suddenly.  be prepared for he side effects if you ever do have to give them up.  i know how hard it is depending on them when you have small children in toe.  i wish i could help...but i really don't know how.  we pay a minimum in england...with a national health service and don't need health insurances to pay into to qualify fro these drugs.  hoever now i am in canadan...i have to pay a percentage for this drug.  but still not he full amount.!! it must be killing you to dish out the dollar for this drug. the only other thing i can think of is are you mixing it with any other drug lately.  read the inside leaflet and read the lists of doe's and don't.  the coming off this drug can also mimic the depression itself.  beware... the bad dreams and heady thing is exactly like missing a couple .  have you had tummy problems...could the tablet be going straight through you for some reason.  it really does sound like you ar'nt taking the darn things...or they are passing through. try to take them at night ...for god sake not in the mornings...or you will be falling asleep.  they will also help you to drop off at night.  i repeat these are the exact symptoms of withdrawal .  ive been on them for 8 years or more..eeeek.  they kinda pooped out for me.  and i am maxed out.   just cant get off the darn things.  my body would have such a darn shock with all the horrid side effects.  but listen...if it gives you your life back and you sure as hell need to be well for the kids right.  can you not talk to your doc over the phone for some free advice.  good luck xxx

[gofio]

Effexor works for me, seems you need something else. There's a plethora of ADs waiting to be dispensed to you. In UK we have a much maligned Health Service, but everyone gets help when needed ~ no cost. Young folk (under 60's) have to pay for their meds. Am sure some American will be kind enough to tell you how to get meds when you're broke.As you'll know already all drugs have side effects, perhaps the bad effects are not due to effexor, but some drug you've had in the past? Tri-cyclics gave me bad shakes which persisted for years after I'd switched to SSRIs. Ask for help from anyone that's sympathetic there. You will attract support on this site for sure.