... do to how tired I get if I'm not working. On my days off I just want sleep. I'd rather be sleepy then crazy if it means staying on it. This was my second bout with anxiety. I heard that your chances increase of having more so am I just better off staying with it because It took me a couple months of pure hell to finally get to a good place
5 yrs plus on effexor xr which helped me through a horrible anxiety issue. Contemplating getting off
- Posted:
- 24 Nov 2011 by ranull1560
- Topics:
- effexor, effexor xr, anxiety, sleep disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, sleep
Details:
Answers (3)
LaurieShay24 Nov 2011
Of course, only you and your doctor can decide if you need to continue on the Effexor XR. I have been on psychiatric medication for many years and honestly prefer the sleepiness to the alternative, as you mentioned. Maybe a little exercise on your days off would help increase the metabolism to overcome the sleepiness some. I could also recommend an antidepressant that is very similar to Effexor but causes less drowsiness. It is called Pristiq. I have been taking it for over a year now and have gone from sleeping 14 hours a day to a normal 8 to 9.
Just some suggestions,
Laurie
papasam24 Nov 2011
As I am sure you already know , make sure you wean off slowly and monitor your progress. I know that I don't have to tell you what to expect, my doctor pulled me off cold turkey to see if the effexor was causing my dizziness problem, that was many days of pure hell and I do not want to repeat it. I have comtemplated both sides, I am not going to be crazy in order to sleep, I will sleep when I get tired enough. I don't want to be locked up somewhere.
Best of luck to you and Happy Thanksgiving
lmariani5528 Nov 2011
Ranull,
I don't have any personal experience with Effexor XR, but I do have years of experience with Cymbalta 60 mg daily for approximately 8-9 years. I will tell you that I attribute that medication with saving my life. It is in the same class of medicine as Effexor, a SNRI, which is a seratonin, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Along with it's anti-depressant activities, it also has anti-anxiety activities as well. Before I started Cymbalta, while maxed out on Prozac, all I did was cry and wish I were dead. Two weeks on Cymbalta, along with Depakote and Klonopin, my life turned 180 degrees. I felt like God was finally smiling on me. I never got tired, always full of energy, raised goats, chickens and Jack Russell Terriers. I was truly happy. You can bet I don't miss a single dose and never skip a dose. I don't seem to have any adverse side effects.
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While I know this will not be of any help, I wanted to note that I too was introduced to Pristiq as an alternative to the Effexor XR. I have mixed feelings about it so far, it has been about a month. The Pristiq doesn't seem to give me to overall/general lowering of my anxiety nor depression that the effexor did.
I know every single human being out there is different and will react differently. My Psych seemed very impressed with this medication and I understood that it was an excellent medication for many people. I have said before on this site, my reactions to medications are dramatically different anyway.
I'm sorry if this is all unhelpful babbling. I just wanted to note that I too was told that Pristiq could very well be a good substitute for Effexor XR for various reasons.
Thanks
I agree with itsagoodday, i was switched from effexor XR to pristiq and it did not work well for me at all... here i am 6 months later 3 different meds and still batteling depression and anxiety, i just recently went back to effexor XR on saturday, hoping to get back to normal soon. Everyone is different so good luck :)