Hi, I am a 22 year old suffering from depression. I have Just got off of effexor because it was not helping me and now i am experiencing halusinations. Has anyone else experienced this? It happenend to me a few weeks ago in my bed at night, i thought i saw a women and last night the bed was shaking and then i heard voices and it scared me and i tried to call out for my mother but i coulnd't get the words out and finally i yelled mom and she heard me. I do not like these halusinations, i can't control it and it scares me and seems and feels so real, ANYONE RELATE?

I hope you didn't just stop taking it . It took me 3 mos to wean off my effexor ,and I know some people on here who are taking even longer to wean off. It must be done slowly and safely and preferably under a Dr's supervision. Some of the side effects from tapering too fast are pretty horrendous. Vivid dreams can be one of them ..

I was only on effexor for a few weeks, b4 that i was always on prozac and that was fine it just didnt help me after a while, i weaned myself off but i wasn't on it long nor was i taking a lot either. So i'm just wondering why this happened, if it's from getting off the effexor.

Effexor is the polar opposite of effexor in terms of the time it stays in your body. Prozac is in your system for a long time, so it's supposedly one of the easiest medicines to get off of. Effexor is only in your body for a short time, so it is one of the most difficult medicines to withdraw from. That is why you had a relatively easy time withdrawing from prozac, and a much harder time with effexor.

I missed one day's dose and experienced the most horrible nightmares. On the plus side, it's hard to forget for too long!

As Kathryn suggested, it's a real good idea to taper very, very, very slowly.

Effexor is not something you should try to go off of on your own or cold turkey. It will only get worse. I tried on my own, and have decided to remain on it. anyways I never had hallucinations but chills and sweats, nightmares, nausea, ect. I miss less than a day and my concentration is shot.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INPUT, I KNOW EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE TOLD ME, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAD HALUSINATED THINGS, I DON'T THINK I WAS DREAMING, I'M NOT REALLY SURE ALL I KNOW IS IT FREAKED ME OUT AND I COULDNT MOVE OR TALK AND THINGS WERE SHAKING AND I WAS SEEING THINGS, BUT MAYBE I WAS HAVING A NIGHTMARE, IVE BEEN OFF THE EFFEXOR FOR A WHILE NOW THOUGH. IT'S WEIRD. i WASNT EVEN ON IT LONG.:dizzy:

Hi, I took Effexor XR for over a year and it worked well to control my pain level from fibromyalgia....but, it caused lots of strange problems. Both when on it and when going on, or off of it. I had an hallusionation during the day..saw a cat that wasn't there. I also had time loss and very vivid dreams like you describe. I stopped taking it when the last straw was that I pulled out in front of an SUV and totaled my car. I looked right at the vehicle, forgot it was there, and pulled out in front of it. I was very lucky I didn't get more hurt.
I stopped it when that happened. I have not ever had these problems before or after taking this drug. I would not recommend it to anyone.

SInce you were only on Effexor for a few weeks, I really doubt that's the problem - it takes longer than that to get addicted and have withdrawal symptoms. More likely the Prozac, or the combination of the two.

Aaaaanyway, to answer your question, hallucinations are a rare but not unknown withdrawal symptom of SSRIs such as Prozac. Not many people have them, but chances are it's nothing to worry about and should go away soon. But tell your doctor anyway, just in case.