Hello everyone. I am new to this site but not to health boards.

I had severe anxiety/depression 9 years ago that was treated effectively and have been off medication for several years.

Well, it started to come back and my doctor prescribed effexor. I took it for the second time last night and I feel really really bad. My anxiety and nervousness is through the roof. I feel worse now than before I started. I feel sick to my stomach and I really can't eat. I can't sleep either. I am exhausted but I am only able to get about 3-4 hours of sleep.

The anxiety is really bad. Anyone else experience this in the beginning of taking this med.

Thanks..I am really scared
Debbie

You should call your doctor and ask for something else.

My 17 year old son was also put on effexor XR last week. He took it for 2 days and the side effects were very bad from headache and nausea to tremors and confusion. And bad anxiety attacks complete with face flushing and jumps in blood pressure. Mostly he just wanted to sit and stare at the wall and was VERY slow to respond when we spoke to him. Ten times worse ON the meds than off!

We called his doctor and he immediately took him off of it. Several days later he started him on Lexapro instead. So far, he's doing much much better. Side effects are minimal....a little nausea once in awhile, a little indigestion, and his pupils dilate occasionally, but I understand most of these go away after the first week.

Hi
I took Effexor for a few years.I remember the first week being horrible. I do know that after that first week or so ,the worst of the side effects were better ,if not gone.I was on a relatively low dose for about two years,until I felt they weren't working anymore.My doctor raised the dosage and my anxiety was much worse. I know a few other people that had this same problem with Effexor . I think all of these meds have miserable side effects at first, but if you feel like it's too much than tell your doctor.If he doesn't switch to something else ,maybe he'll at least build your dosage up more slowly. Good luck

Thank you for your responses. I went to my doctor today. I couldn't stop crying and shaking. I am still a mess. My best friend came to spend the evening with me since my husband is working. I just didn't want to be alone.

I am switching to lexapro. I have been on it before. Hopefully it will do some good.

Thanks again, Debbie

How are you doing on Lexapro??? Better??? :wave:
I couldn't take Effexor either--I had the same side effects you did...Hang in there!!!
Jitterrygal

severe reactions to a new antidepressant are common for anxiety sufferers but not accepted by some docs who think the patient is exagerating or hysterical
it helps to be cautions by having a very low starting dose and gradually working up
effexor is a different type of antidepressant to lexapro and does help many

effexor is prescribed more for anxiety problems that deppression. I have been on it for 3 weeks and have had no side effects. Thank goodness. I also feel like it is already starting to work. If I was getting sick from it or other side effects real bad, then I would definately get off of it. So far, for me, it has been working wonderfully. I was real close to admitting myself into a mental institution. I was pretty bad. I was prescribed it for my anxiety. I have had so much stitting my shoulders for so long and my body couldn't take it anymore. I have heard some people say to go to a therapist. I disagree. I was totally honest with my family doctor. Plus, my family doctor knows me pretty well. She has helped me so much!!! Thank goodness for her!!!!

Hope everything works out for you!

Thank you for your replies. I have been taking the lexapro for almost a week now. I haven't had much side effects from it. Just a little dizzy. Apparently Effexor just wasn't the choice for me. Made me 10 times worse. This week has been really really bad.

I am still at the point that I don't want to be left home alone. All I do is sit, shake, cry, and panic. I have 2 kids to look after. My sister stayed with me yesterday. Today I went and hung out at my Dads and tommorow I will do the same. I just need my med to kick in.

Hopefully I can get some sleep tonight. I have been getting up at 5 each morning. I wake up panicking. It's awful.

Have a restful night everyone..dbill

I have been on effexor for about 1 yr. it worked ok for me at first, but i have spoke to my doctor about getting me off of it because somedays i feel like i am going nuts i scream at my kids , i cant concentrate, i have vivid nightmares, i thought maybe it just was not working anymore but now that I hear your story maybe I should definately have it changed .