I've was on Effexor 37.5 for a week and just started 75mg for the last 3 days. I've had terrible anxiety, digestion issues, and can't sleep. Please tell me these will go away soon. I'm Also afraid to go out but still do. Please provide with any helpful input. Thanks
When do side effects of Effexor go away?
Question posted by Hopefrog23 on 6 July 2016
Last updated on 4 January 2019
6 Answers
meatthemoment
12 July 2016
Hi HopeFrog.
I started Effexor in February of this year, and man, the side effects were rough. I called my doctor at least once a week asking if it was normal, he said stick with it. I went in to see him after three weeks desperate to stop and he said stick with it. I spent almost two months living in a haze of nausea, dizziness, unable to concentrate, terrible dreams, exhausted, anxious, until one day... the symptoms disappeared. (All except the weight gain).
It was almost a spiritual experience to have mage it through purgatory and reached the point where the medicine helped. My panic attacks stopped and my anxiety level dropped. It was literally "Amazing Grace".
To my great distress, only a few months later I now have to stop taking the Effexor. I have no gall bladder, and the weight gain from the Effexor is damaging my liver. So now I need to go through all of that hell once again, to get back off the drug...
TKMarsh711
18 April 2018
I just read this post. I've been on Effexor for 2 weeks, I'm up to 150 mg. My only side effect is nausea. I'm switching after 10 years on lexapro pooped out. Your statement about not having a gallbladder caught my attention because I don't have a gallbladder either. I don't understand the connection.
Cxs395
5 Dec 2018
How much Effexor were u taking. I’m still feeling nauseated and still need Xanax 1mg twice a day. I’m on 75mg. Which I was on for years. Afraid to go up as these side effects are horrible just stopped shaky feeling a few days ago.
Hopefrog23
10 July 2016
So Friday I had a good day. Then Saturday was horrible. I'm still not sleeping well and have no appetite. I hope it starts working soon!
Dani926
6 July 2016
hi hopefrog, my name is dani and i have been on Effexor XR for close to 2 years and am at the highest prescribed dose of 300 mg. i remember my starter pack like it was yesterday. As I increased my dose from 37.5 mg to 75 mg, I remember thinking Effexor was not for me and that I was going to have to go off of it - due to the anxiety and restlessness it gave me!!
I of course told my doctor about this since she had given me the sample to try. I had only taken SSRIs up until then, Zoloft, Lexapro, and lastly Celexa. They all had worked well for me initially but after about 18 months on each of them, it were as though I hit a plateau and they just leveled off and stopped being as effective as they were.
Effexor as you know is an SNRI, so it really is quite a bit stronger then what you may have been used to with a previous medication you were on if it was an SSRI. Keep that in mind and know that these unpleasant side effects you are experiencing now are really just temporary. I know it is easier said then done, trust me. I can only tell you from my own personal experience that Effexor has worked much better for me in the long term as it has now been close to 2 years and I no longer experience the extreme lows of depression that I used to experience when my other meds stopped being as effective.
I am not sure of the nature of the relationship you have with your doctor, but hopefully it's a good and open relationship. I say this because I understand how uncomfortable and debilitating anxiety can be, to that point to where you almost feel paralyzed in fear and can hardly breath. If you feel this way and it continues over the next several days, I would think it to be very well within reason for you to tell your doctor and ask if there is something he or she can prescribe you to get over the hump until your body adjusts itself to your increased dose to 75 mg - such as a very low dose benzo like ativan or xanax. I know these meds often get a bad rap, but when taken correctly they absolutely do the job of which they are intended! It's been over a year since I have needed it, but in my first year of Effexor I had the lowest dose of xanax at .25 mg that I only used as needed to offset any extreme anxiety I experienced. Because I didn't make a habit of taking it, the .25 mg dose always continued to work for me and I never felt the need to take more, which of course was a relief to me!
I hope you are able to hang in there and get through this adjustment period you are having - I think you will come to find it is well worth it and that Effexor is going to do wonders for you!
Email me if you like, with questions or anything!
Have an awesome day and don't forget to take deep breaths!
Your Effexor friend,
Dani
dmarin70 at gmail
Hopefrog23
6 July 2016
Hi Dani! Thank you so much for your response! I really needed the encouragement. I have take Effexor xr in the past then went off of it Bc I was doing good. But then I had some things happen and a lot of the anxiety I had before came back and I was getting depressed. I remember when I started it the first time I had bad side effects. It's just hard to remember that they will go away and I will get better. Thank you for the reminder. Also thanks for sharing about the Xanax. My dr has given me some too and I try not to take it Bc I don't want to get hooked on it. But sometimes I need it to get me through. I take a low dose to .25 to .5 sometimes one to two times a day as needed. I just can't wait until I'm able to sleep and not worry about everything! Thanks again! Glad to hear you are doing well and that Effexor worked for you!
Tgeorge411
8 Dec 2018
Super helpful info for someone just starting on Effexor. I had a similar experience with Lexapro as it kind of stopped working. But concerned about the jittery feeling I’m getting from Effexor. Glad to know those feelings can subside!
Elmtree
4 Jan 2019
Hi Dani.
I am new to Effexor Xr. I started out on 37.5 mg which was prescribed for the first 7 days. I had discussed with my pharmacist that I was concerned about upping it after 7 because it was smack in the middle of Christmas and I had a house full! I had a bad experience on Cipralex when taking the full dose so was that made me very anxious to try upping to 75 mg. Pharmacist suggested I take the 37.5mg longer than 7 days to get over Christmas period. I did that. So I took 37.5mg for 15 days and started 75mg. I am on day 7 of 75mg. Am still feeling jittery. Have had headaches and appetite is minimal. Went to my dr. yesterday and she said to keep going! The only way I get through a day is by taking .5 Ativan. I save it for the afternoon and just try to get through the mornings. I also have a sleeping aid at night. Me, who hates pills and now am popping 3 a day! I suppose my attitude has something to do with it also but am no impatient for this to kick in.
Do you think because I've only been on the .75mg for 7 days it will take longer to take affect? I wasn't clear on what my dr. said yesterday.
WildcatVet
6 July 2016
Hi, Hope! Generally, side effects from initiating therapy last just a few days to a week or two. You were on the 37.5mg dose for a week so hopefully that will minimize any effects from the dosage increase.
Best of luck!
Hopefrog23
6 July 2016
Thanks cat!
Shallow
16 Dec 2018
Hi. I took my first dose of 37.5mg yesterday and now thinking stopping it.
I cant sleep, now restless and nauseus and feeling light headedness. Is this normal but how can I function with these side effects.
I am planning to discontinue and now worried about how long it will be away from my system.
Reading withdrawal symptoms makes me more anxious.
Any comment will greatly appreciated.
Thanks
WildcatVet
16 Dec 2018
These side effects are "normal" for some people when starting an antidepressant and usually only last a few days... and get better each day. You just have to try and get through a slight rough spot to start feeling the benefits. It's worth it.
If you really want to stop already you shouldn't have any discontinuation symptoms after just one dose.
arabianhorselover
6 July 2016
It can take some time for your body to adjust. Especially since you have now increased the dose. Speak with your doctor, and try to give it time.
Hopefrog23
6 July 2016
Thank you!
Hopefrog23
6 July 2016
Anybody out there?
Related topics
effexor, anxiety, sleep disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, side effect, sleep, sleep disorder, digestion
Further information
- Effexor prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Effexor (detailed)
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