Effexor

[ahalo]

[Dee]

Hi Ahalo,

I find Effexor to be pretty speedy, so I take it first thing in the morning with food.  I have never been a milk drinker, but I have started drinking milk a couple of times a day and it keeps the nausea away.  You can also ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter anti-nausea meds.  I take Gravol, but it's not available in the US.  It also helps with sleeping and anxiety. 

I have always been an insomniac, but I am sleeping alright (not great, but it's getting better).  So definitely try mornings. 

I've been on 75 mg now for 2 days and the side effects are much better than they were that first week.  I am still getting the odd headache, but it's bearable.

xoxoxoxox

[Shakti]

Another thing I've noticed is strange changes in my appetite. I feel a little nauseous and I know people have talked about losing weight on this medication, but I didn't expect it to be like this. I don't feel hunger but I don't feel fullness either. Today I was drinking water and drinking and drinking and eventually I started to throw up in my mouth (yeah gross, I know). I think I was full but didn't know it. That has not ever happened to me!

[emmalyn]

I started Effexor on Friday after a really awful week. I am not sure whether to attribute my problems last week to:

1) PMS / PMDD

2) Anxiety / Panic Attacks -- new problems I've had in the last 2 months

3) Wellbutrin -- and its worsening of #2

4) All of the above

But immediately on Saturday I awoke feeling calmer, not an emotional wreck like I had been.

I have been very tired. I don't seem to sleep as well. I have been taking the pill at around 8-10 pm. I might change that to the morning. It seems like mid-day I suddenly become really exhausted and from around 1 pm - 7 pm I have to lie down 2-3 times for a quick 15 minute rest, at least. I don't know if the medicine is effecting my sleep which hits me the next day, or what.

Another thing I've noticed is strange changes in my appetite. I feel a little nauseous and I know people have talked about losing weight on this medication, but I didn't expect it to be like this. I don't feel hunger but I don't feel fullness either. Today I was drinking water and drinking and drinking and eventually I started to throw up in my mouth (yeah gross, I know). I think I was full but didn't know it. That has not ever happened to me!  Weird. So I will have to keep that in mind when it comes to mindless snacking.

Well that is it so far. I haven't had a panic attack this week so I'm thankful for that. I still feel incredibly anxious/worried about all kinds of things that could go wrong, but at least there's not the added stress of panic attacks.  I just need to figure out how to deal with the exhaustion.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi ahalo,

I take mine in the morning as well. That's odd about how you couldn't tell you were full - I bet it's dry mouth that's making you so thirsty? I have found sugar makes it a lot worse, so I've been avoiding sugar, even though I'm getting candy cravings.

The exhaustion can't be helping your state of mind either. It's good to hear that your panic attacks seem to be under control though, and maybe switching to effexor in the morning will help with the tiredness.