Side Effects and Risks with Effexor

By Pamela Burns Wednesday, January 02, 2008

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When I was in college, I was diagnosed with generalized and separation anxiety and put on Paxil. After I started getting migraine attacks more regularly, I was talking to my neurologist about it and how I heard that it was very hard to ever quit taking. He suggested putting me on Effexor instead. I knew nothing about it at the time.

A LOT of things happened in my life around that same time. I got engaged, got a new job and moved to a new city. It was around that time that my sex drive completely quit. I'm only 26 now and my husband and I have just been married a year. I didn't know if the Effexor had anything to do with it - any other experiences?

I have also been told that Effexor is a VERY addictive drug. That its in the same class of medications as cocaine or something and that getting off of it is next to impossible. I've also been told that its not addictive and that your symptoms simply come back when you quit taking it. I'm not sure what to believe. My chiropractor and physical therapist are totally holistic and think that drugs are what are causing people to die early. My neurologist and other doctors say differently. Does anyone out there have any helpful information related to this? Wacko

Migraine-free Day

Comments (12) | Add comment

Sherry

1/ 2/08 11:52pm

Hi. I have never heard that Effexor is addictive. I am on it now and was on it before,too. So I do know that coming off of it is hard and it has to be done slowly. But that is true of most anti-depressants, I think. The Effexor is most likely the culprit for your low sex drive, though. It has the same effect on me. But you have to decide if it helps you enough to over look that side-effect. The only anti-depressant that I have ever heard of that supposedly does not have that side effect is Wellbutrin. But it did not help me at all with my migraines or depression. You should talk to your doctor about your concerns and see if he wants to try you on another one. But make sure if you come off of the Effexor, you do it under your doctor's care, and taper down slowly. Good luck,

Sherry

Cindy

1/ 3/08 12:24am

I'd also like to add my 2 cents about coming off of an anti-depresent. I am not being taken off of Effexor, but Nortriptyline and it's not been fun. It was not helping my migraines and I was not depressed, so I did not need to be on it. Plus due to weight gain, I wanted off of it. But man is it difficult. Weird dreams, mood swings. I think my kids and boyfriend would like to send me out of town!!

Cindy

1/ 3/08 12:18am

The www.webmd.com site had some seaming very straightforward information on Effexor, including side effects and drug interactions. You might want to read the inforamtion and discuss it with your doctor or pharmarcist. It certainly sounds like there could be an issue. While this site does not always have the indept information I would like. I find it's a good starting point for information.

The people on the site here may also have some additional information for you.

Good Luck on finding some factual information.

Cindy

Pamela Burns

1/ 3/08 9:03am

Thanks everyone! I have started discussing it with my doctor. I just wanted to know what anyone's real life experiences were so I could tell myself I wasn't imagining things!

jennyc

1/ 3/08 3:40pm

Hi Pamela!

I'm currently taking Effexor XR as one of my preventatives. I don't have issues with depression, but my HA specialist prescribed this med for my migraines alone. I know for a fact that it can cause decreased sex drive!!!

Also, my HA specialist and I have discussed at length just how tough it is to go off of Effexor. It MUST be decreased very gradually, over a LONG period of time, according to a doctor's plan and with your doctor's supervision! I know I've accidentally missed just one dose and--MAN! I felt sick and had those "brain zap" sensations in my head!!

It can be a very effective drug for both depression and migraine. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be doing much for me...I've been on it for 2 years now (along with other meds) and haven't seen much change in my migraines.

I've talked with many doctors and pharmacists about Effexor. From those discussions, I've come to the understanding that my body is dependent on the Effexor at this point. Taking it away too quickly can lead to SERIOUS health problems!

Heart jenny

Pamela Burns

1/ 3/08 3:56pm

Thank you so much for the comments Jenny. I didn't think it was doing much for my headaches since I've been on it for 3 years and have been having headaches 5 or more times per week during that time period. I tried getting off of it twice and had horrific headaches - lying on the bathroom floor wanting to kill myself - and constant panic. I suppose I either need to be on it or it will take LOTS of time to get off of.

Thanks again - Pamela

brittany7799

1/ 4/08 11:16am

Just a quick comment on AD withdrawal. I have been on Paxil for almost 4 years for generalized anxiety and have tried to taper twice. The first time was way too fast and I went back up to my original dose. The second time I weaned down to 5 mg and quit cold turkey. Felt great for 3 weeks, then BAM!, horrible w/d, including emotional lability, confused thoughts, etc. I broke off my engagement 3 times. I am now back on 5 mg of Paxil and if I do come off this small dose, will still wean VERY slowly, probably only cutting 10% of my dose every 4-6 weeks. From all my research on AD w/d, Effexor seems to be the hardest of all because of its short half-life, etc. Please be careful when you decide to get off the Effexor and wean VERY slowly, probably even slower than your MD recommends. Some people come off with little to no w/d, others have severe w/d which can incapacitate them.

MACDOODLE

1/ 4/08 11:41am

you can read about most of the side effects in the drug store print outs or on the internet the drug company warnings and alerts.

there are many other unpaid references.

i personally was on a paxil study where i began serious panic attacks and hand tremor and more. granted bad crisis things were happenign but.. it was the drug. then they said its good for social anxiety?! us drop outs didn't show up in the study?! i nearly hit the roof.

beware of anti depressants given to treat anxiety. opposite conditions, i say.

check what meds affect various forms of migraine. and double check on the drug interactions list on your migraine med printout.

have you looked into buspar? not an anti depressant an anti-anxiety med. there are others too.

many meds require weaning instead of sudden removal. All can be changed.

i say Never believe you can not stop any drug or treatment.

sodevine3

1/ 4/08 11:57am

I was on effexor for a very long time and my doctor wanted to try different drugs so i had to wean off of effexor first. i dreaded it! if i skipped a pill...i knew it! and i had to go 4 to 5 days with out any type of meds of that type!!! i had done this before so i knew what i was in for. i did have a hard time of it but i managed! maybe you can plan to take some time off and just relax. thats what i did.

B Kinder

1/ 4/08 11:21pm

I, too, took Paxil first and then changed to Effexor as a migraine prevention drug. I have experienced loss of sex drive, sleep problems, and the migraines have only gotten worse. When I tried to get off Effexor by gradually reducing the dosage and trying to get to every other day, I became severely depressed - not suicidal but very noticeable to others and my doctor: loss of outside interests, stay at home, sleep and do nothing with anyone kind of depression. I take two 150 mg capsules daily (one morning and one evening) and if I miss a dose by 6 hours, I get strange, dizzy and disorienting feelings in my head that don't go away even when lying down. It is horribly frustrating to know that this drug is not helping me but I can't stop taking it. For the first time, I can appreciate what drug users feel with withdrawal and this was done legally in the name of medical help!

The Effexor Pioneer

3/27/09 10:31am

Exactly! I can't miss a dose or add extra time in between my dosages by a few hours or i get VERY VERY ILL! Actually at the moment.. I just woke up and realized that last night i accidently took my pill twice before bed. I have been on effexor for 9yrs! I have tried to come off of it 3 times, i wean myself very slowly each time.. but SERIOUSLY i get SO SO SO ill that it would require me to be in bed miserable for about a month.. and as a mom and someone who works i just can't. I know how addictive this drug is. When i miss a dose, OR accidently double up and the next day, or try and lower dosages, i get VERY moody (no patience), photophobia, nausea, dizzy, my head has strange zapping feelings, my ears are sensitive to sound, and i usually don't want anything except chocolate milk LOL

I kind of have excepted that it is just not in the cards to ever NOT be on effexor. Which is sad because for one it is outrageously expensive, and two because my depressive problems have resolved long ago, have been on it for 9 yrs, and i would like to imagine a life without it, but I just don't think it can be.

I'd like to warn everyone to PLEASE try other medicines first, YES, it will work great, but you may get stuck using it.

God Bless : )

~ The Effexor Pioneer ~

tony

6/ 7/09 4:10pm

Thanks for everything .now im not the only one .if i knnew Effecsor was goin to be so bad i would never take it,now im goin to slowly stop take in it.this med is nasty.

Side Effects and Risks with Effexor

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