Has anyone discovered they don't REM sleep while on 225mg of Effexor XR?
Question posted by josephsmaw on 8 April 2022
Last updated on 19 April 2022
I had began to fall asleep while talking to people and wanting to fall asleep behind the wheel. At my therapist appointment I nodded off 3 times in 45 minutes. I already was established with a sleep specialist for severe Restless Leg Syndrome so I was sent back to him and he orded a sleep study. The findings showed my leg movements were minimal taking 2 MG of Requip 3 times a day and 1.5 MG of Klonopin at night. My sleep study did show that in the 6.27 hours of straight sleep I never achieved REM sleep once. Upon follow up visit he insisted I be titrated off the Effexor because it is known to keep people from achieving REM sleep and more than likely causing my exhaustion. Effexor also is known to make Restless leg syndrome worse in patients.
I am curious to know has anyone else had same problem.
I’m in a similar situation with Cymbalta. I don’t have RLS, but I’m always tired and oversleep. My sleep study shows that I’m not getting enough REM sleep and the doctor claims that all antidepressants cause this.
Votes: +0
WI
WildcatVet
19 April 2022
I've been on Effexor, Lexapro, Paxil, Zoloft, and now Wellbutrin without any problems with sleep. Wildcat
PU
Purple_Unicorn
11 April 2022
I have been on many different antidepressants until I discovered Effexor was the best for me. I am on 300mg of Effexor, 300mg of Trazodone and 2mg of Klonopin to help me sleep. My sleeping patterns change on me so it’s rare that I ever complete a full REM cycle. It’s probably worth noting that my insomnia pre-dates my use of ALL of those drugs. Trazodone is a great drug I was prescribed for insomnia. I don’t think I would be able to sleep without it.
I, too, have a horrible case of Restless Leg Syndrome. I have psoriatic arthritis, which only makes things worse. I started out on the same dosage of Requip as you. I know I have a rapid metabolism when it comes to medicine. My psychiatrist noticed it, but unfortunately these days they treat everyone like a junkie. I’ve never even smoked a cigarette and I’m 45.
It sucks that the people who really need the medicine can’t get it because all these idiots are misusing them. Sorry, I got off track there.
The Requip didn’t do anything for me. It might as well have been a placebo. I told my rheumatologist about how frustrating it was getting. I’m sure you know how hard it is to go to sleep when you feel like you have to keep moving around and no position makes it better.
Have you tried Gabapentin? I am on it, taking 1800mg/day. I had been prescribed a higher dose originally, but I told them they could scale it back after a while since it didn’t help at all either.
I discussed the restless leg syndrome with my rheumatologist. He just looked at me and said there wasn’t anything else he could do so I was just going to have to find a way to deal with it - not quite the answer I was looking for.
I wish I had a better answer for you. Just wanted to let you know about the Gabapentin I’m on. Just because it doesn’t work for me, doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t work for you. I think it may be worth mentioning it to your doctor.
Wishing you the best of luck in finding something to help your RLS. Please share if you do.
Votes: +0
SK
Skpierce
8 April 2022
I take Effexor XR at same dosage as you’re taking. The Dr had recently bumped mine up to this. I have restless leg syndrome. This has only begun since the Dr put on a 225mg dosage. These last couple of weeks have been severe As far as the RLS is concerned. Never knew that Effexor could be the cause. Sleep is elusive. I wake up multiple times at night. Some nights I literally cannot sleep. It’s exhausting!
