I only started on Effexor Monday, but have been on Lexapro for about 1-2 years. And am taking the two right now per doctors orders.

The strange thing is that I feel a bit better, not quite as depressed and the anxiety is better, but I feel like I am surrounded by a cloud and am watching the world, but not apart of it. I feel kind of disconnected, like I am living in my own little world and not really apart of the real world.

I know this sounds strange, but has anyone else ever felt kind of detached?
It was so strange today because I decided to drive to the mall to walk around for a few minutes and I went into my favorite store Nordstrom, a store that I go to all the time, I always park in the same spot, did nothing different, but I went into the store went upstaris on the escolater, walked around for a few minutes and thought to myself, "what am I doing here"? and decided to leave, so I went down the escolater and got to the bottom and totally forget where I was, and could not remember which entrance I had come in or where I parked my car.

I sat down for a few minutes and my head cleared, and I remembered where I was and where I parked and went to the car and drove home.

It was the strangest feeling. Is it a combination of the anti-depressants or everything that has been happening to me?

Any comments from any of you would be very much appreciated.

You are the best!!

Beachlady

Hi Beachlady,

was on effexor or 9 years, and i found that all the time, also the feeling of being discontent with things that usually made me fulfilled. I put it down to my body getting use to the med. Remember meds effect people in different ways.

Funny thing is i have just switched to Lexapro, still in my first month but am feeling better than i have in a while, took me 18 months to wean myself off the effexor, was on 375mg per day so i had to take it slow.

Good luck and let us know how you progress.

Nel

Well THERE YOU ARE!!!!

I have been wondering about you and wondering whether or not to worry about you! I'm glad you're back on here.

I haven't been on Effexor or had that detached feeling either, but I think there was a thread about it a couple of weeks (or shorter) ago. It sounds like depersonalization or derealization (but I only know the names pretty much, not much about either at all). I believe I read it can be meds related, as Nel mentioned. I think too, there are conditions that have this as a part of the condition. That doesn't sound like what's going on with you though, as it began since you started the Effexor.

Is it like when (before effex) you might be driving on a regular routine route and you get to where you are going but then don't even remember (clearly) driving there? Like highway hypnosis? That might be fine on the highway, but I bet your experience felt a bit disconcerting! Maybe check with the pharmacist to see if it's a potential side effect, or call your rx'ing doc about it, if it really bothers you. Oh, or I know you have close resources.....to ask.

Don't be a stranger, k? We miss you when you're not around.