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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Effexor side effect?
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.
Effexor side effect?
by Anonymous, Jun 23, 2000 12:00AM
I originally started taking Zoloft a few months ago to treat depression.
After no success at all with it, my toxipharmicologist switched me to Effexor XR.
I worked my way up to 150mg/day, and I am now up to 225mg/day, and it has had no effect.
Should I ask for my dosage to be increased again, or ask for a different medication (and if so, which one? I've already tried two).
Also, I belive I am having hallucinations as a result of the Effexor. I can hear people yelling my name every once and a while but when I turn around there is nobody there.
After no success at all with it, my toxipharmicologist switched me to Effexor XR.
I worked my way up to 150mg/day, and I am now up to 225mg/day, and it has had no effect.
Should I ask for my dosage to be increased again, or ask for a different medication (and if so, which one? I've already tried two).
Also, I belive I am having hallucinations as a result of the Effexor. I can hear people yelling my name every once and a while but when I turn around there is nobody there.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS-M.D.-HG, Jun 24, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Anonymous
Patients on Effexor (venlafaxine) usually respond to a dose range of 150 – 375 mg/day. However, doses more than 225 mg/day need to be carefully monitored for side effects. There is a possibility that people on Effexor can experience hallucinations. Depression it self can be associated with psychotic features (hallucinations). Anti depressants such as Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Serzone and several others are available at this time. You may want to consult your doctor about hallucinations and for discussing the other available treatment options.
Sincerely
HFHS-M.D.
Patients on Effexor (venlafaxine) usually respond to a dose range of 150 – 375 mg/day. However, doses more than 225 mg/day need to be carefully monitored for side effects. There is a possibility that people on Effexor can experience hallucinations. Depression it self can be associated with psychotic features (hallucinations). Anti depressants such as Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin, Serzone and several others are available at this time. You may want to consult your doctor about hallucinations and for discussing the other available treatment options.
Sincerely
HFHS-M.D.
My doctor decided to try double the dose first and within 2 weeks I felt great.
I am doing wonderful now and I hardly take the Ativan.
I would talk with your doctor on either trying a higher dose or adding a benzodiazepine with the Effexor, such as Ativan.
I hardly have any side effects except for dry mouth,vivid dreams and head tightness/aches.
I wish you well,Julie
good luck with getting well,
morley