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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JC on July 31, 2001, at 8:32:38
Hello. I started taking Effexor 5 days ago, and although I feel more grounded emotionally, the drowsiness that I'm experiencing is extreme. I feel like sleeping all the time, and have to fight to stay awake at work. Is this sort of drowsiness normal? And if so, how long should it last? Any advice/insight would be appreciated. thanks.
Posted by Simcha on July 31, 2001, at 8:39:07
In reply to Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness, posted by JC on July 31, 2001, at 8:32:38
When I began Effexor it made me sleepy too. As I stayed on it for about 4 weeks I found it activating. I don't know what it will do to you. I would suggest sticking with it for a few weeks unless the side-effects become unbearable or dangerous.
Much of this seems to be trial and error.
> Hello. I started taking Effexor 5 days ago, and although I feel more grounded emotionally, the drowsiness that I'm experiencing is extreme. I feel like sleeping all the time, and have to fight to stay awake at work. Is this sort of drowsiness normal? And if so, how long should it last? Any advice/insight would be appreciated. thanks.
Posted by JC on July 31, 2001, at 10:13:14
In reply to Re: Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness » JC, posted by Simcha on July 31, 2001, at 8:39:07
Thanks for your post, I appreciate it. -JC
Posted by AKC on July 31, 2001, at 10:36:02
In reply to Re: Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness » Simcha, posted by JC on July 31, 2001, at 10:13:14
This makes me wonder if the opposite happens when you go off Effexor. I have been extremely tired since reducing my dosage from 75 mg to 37.5. Is this typical? Yes or no?
Posted by Simcha on July 31, 2001, at 10:38:51
In reply to Re: Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness » Simcha, posted by JC on July 31, 2001, at 10:13:14
JC,
No problem.. ;-)
You may want to surf the previous installments of this board. Effexor seems to be a well-discussed drug around here. There are many different opinions and many different experiences attached to this drug.
For me it worked but it took away any chance for sexual intimacy. Others found that there were no undesirable side-effects. It seems that this is another case where one size does NOT fit all....
:-)
> Thanks for your post, I appreciate it. -JC
Posted by Simcha on July 31, 2001, at 10:40:43
In reply to Re: Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness, posted by AKC on July 31, 2001, at 10:36:02
AKC,
In my experience, yes.
However I have not been sleeping as much lately. (My partner has been keeping me up lately in light of my returning libido and functioning.)
*wink* *wink*
> This makes me wonder if the opposite happens when you go off Effexor. I have been extremely tired since reducing my dosage from 75 mg to 37.5. Is this typical? Yes or no?
Posted by Willow on July 31, 2001, at 10:55:52
In reply to Re: Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness, posted by AKC on July 31, 2001, at 10:36:02
> This makes me wonder if the opposite happens when you go off Effexor. I have been extremely tired since reducing my dosage from 75 mg to 37.5. Is this typical? Yes or no?
AKC
I found the side-effects lasted about three weeks whenever I upped the dose, so it may take three weeks for them to disappate when I lower it. Hope my logic has some sense to it?
Willow
Posted by Firebabe1 on July 31, 2001, at 12:20:34
In reply to Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness, posted by JC on July 31, 2001, at 8:32:38
Effexor usually takes 4-6 WEEKS to kick in, are you sure it isnt something else that is making you tired??
Posted by JC on July 31, 2001, at 15:35:13
In reply to Re: Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness, posted by Firebabe1 on July 31, 2001, at 12:20:34
> Effexor usually takes 4-6 WEEKS to kick in, are you sure it isnt something else that is making you tired??
Wow, I didn't realize that Effexor took 4-6 weeks to work, because I feel better already. Now that you mention it, I was prescribed something (the name is escaping me) to help me sleep. I took my first full dose of this sleep aid last night (the half doses I took for the last 4 days weren't doing anything to help.) No wonder I now feel like a zombie. Thanks for helping me realize the source of the problem.
Posted by AKC on July 31, 2001, at 17:57:51
In reply to Re: Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness, posted by JC on July 31, 2001, at 15:35:13
You have to be a little careful about what "effects" you are talking about. Most ADs tend to not show much an effect on depression for a few weeks, however, it is my (poor) understanding, that if you have already been on another med in the same classification, you could get a quicker response.
However, you can have immediate side effects -- such as nauseau, sleepiness, etc. Then, combining meds can create their own mix of "effects." There is a wealth of information available on this board (both old and that you can get by asking more questions) and of course, by searching the internet. I am not surprised that you are experiencing extreme drowsiness if you are taking both Effexor and a sleep aid. It could be one, the other or both combined.
AKC
Posted by afatchic on August 1, 2001, at 13:00:35
In reply to Re: Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness, posted by Willow on July 31, 2001, at 10:55:52
For me Effexor is a very activating drug. I've developed problems getting to sleep since I started taking it and have had to increase my Trazodone at bedtime. It's fascinating how people respond differently.
> > This makes me wonder if the opposite happens when you go off Effexor. I have been extremely tired since reducing my dosage from 75 mg to 37.5. Is this typical? Yes or no?
>
> AKC
>
> I found the side-effects lasted about three weeks whenever I upped the dose, so it may take three weeks for them to disappate when I lower it. Hope my logic has some sense to it?
>
> Willow
Posted by Cindylou on August 1, 2001, at 13:26:55
In reply to Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness, posted by JC on July 31, 2001, at 8:32:38
Hi JC --
I got off of Effexor a few months ago. I had been taking 150 mg for 8 months. I was a zombie the whole time. Even in the beginning it was horrible: Although it is true that the drug doesn't fully kick in until 4-6 weeks, you can definitely feel side effects immediately after you start taking it, since you are putting something foreign in your system. I do believe you can feel some benefit from it in the first week or so, as well.I know that for a lot of people, the side effects wear off in time. For me, they never did. That's why I had to get off of it.
Best of luck to you! I know how horrible that fatigue is. I hope it subsides soon.
-cindy
> Hello. I started taking Effexor 5 days ago, and although I feel more grounded emotionally, the drowsiness that I'm experiencing is extreme. I feel like sleeping all the time, and have to fight to stay awake at work. Is this sort of drowsiness normal? And if so, how long should it last? Any advice/insight would be appreciated. thanks.
Posted by JC on August 1, 2001, at 15:02:05
In reply to Re: Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness, posted by Cindylou on August 1, 2001, at 13:26:55
Thanks CindyLou, and everyone for their feedback. JC :-)
Posted by Else on August 3, 2001, at 12:39:55
In reply to Effexor and Extreme Drowsiness, posted by JC on July 31, 2001, at 8:32:38
That really amazes me. On Effexor, I couldn't sleep for days. There's an indication that YMMV if I've ever seen one. Obviously, I can't really help you, though. I just thought that was fascinating.
> Hello. I started taking Effexor 5 days ago, and although I feel more grounded emotionally, the drowsiness that I'm experiencing is extreme. I feel like sleeping all the time, and have to fight to stay awake at work. Is this sort of drowsiness normal? And if so, how long should it last? Any advice/insight would be appreciated. thanks.
This is the end of the thread.
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