Congratulations Nullpointer! You sound much much better than you did 6 weeks ago - stronger, more humour, more chatty (communicativeness is good!) and less enthralled by what your fearing wife thinks about your illness. Does she 'get' what your illness is all about now?? I hope so... I would like to think that you're coming out of a bad depression and, I guess, that much of the support comes from the Effexor - but I think that you're really making good use of this site and the Sessions. Keep talking!

NullPointer, Thanks for the update. It is good to hear that your side effects have subsided. Talk to your doctor about everything that you are experiencing. Brenna Bilingual Health Educator

Well, I guess I'm the only one on meds around here. I feel like I'm posting to myself. That's OK, I feel like I'm by myself all the time! Anyway, I'm sure that everyone wants to know how things are going with the effexor xr. It's been almost a month now and I've been on 150mg for almost 2 weeks. 1. If I am just a little bit late taking it, my head starts feeling like it's fuzzy and in a vice. 2. I'd say that I am feeling better than I have in years. I hope that it keeps working. I worry because I started crying last night for no apparent reason. Also, my head started feeling fuzzy too - almost like I didn't take the medicine. I tried to remember if I took it and I couldn't remember. I didn't want to take it again and then get in a mess from having too much, so I took a 75 just in case I really did forget. It seemed to help me feel better. I don't know why I forget things like that that happened recently and then I keep remembering things that happened a long time ago. It's really weird. I mean, memories are just constantly streaming through my mind... stuff from when I was 3 yo - 20 yo. It's not just bad memories either, they're more factual "what happened" memories, though there are some bad. There's really no good memories, but then again, I don't expect that I should have very many good memories anyway. 3. You're all probably wondering about side effects. Well, I hate to say it, but I had severe issues with flatulence for the first two weeks or so. I mean major stink. Now, the problem is gone and I (and people around me) am very glad. The only other side effects that I could say are (a) a "sore throat" feeling and (b)sometimes a "chemical" taste in my mouth. I've read that effexor can result in weight loss. I've lost about 2 pounds since I started. That doesn't seem like a lot to me. I guess if that trend continues I can say that's a side-effect too. That's it. I go to Doc next week. I hope I can keep my cool this time. Have a nice day!!

Hey thanks. I took 150 on Monday and Tuesday, then Tuesday night I had a really bad time & I said some mean things to my son and I really don't know why. I wonder if it's because of the medicine. Anyhow, I think I hurt his feelings and I apologized and all that, but I really never have had a problem with being mean, so it makes me wonder. I've been really sleepy this morning too. I'm not sure what's up with that, but I've been having to stand and walk around just to keep awake. I'll give it some more time, but if I have more trouble with being mean, I will probably go back to 75. As far as the VP goes, no, I don't really work for him directly, but if he wanted to, he could fire me I know. He was really mad and I was very embarrassed, so I need to make sure I do something about this problem of being sleepy.

hi nulpointer. congrats on the car! i now know what an important tool it is for one's sense of freedom and self-reliance! I am 18 yrs old with some experience (that adds up to a total of 35 years old) and I got my driver's licence in aug of 2006! Until then, I had to us public transport (not easy with sick kids) or beg, plead and threaten to get him to take me when I needed and wanted to go...It is not because he doesn't loove and want to be with me. It is because we have different body rythems. I am an early morning person, 8:30am is half of the day gone. My chouette-chouette, is an after-noon and early evening person; 8:30 am is still half of the night. So weekends were where we had some difficulties seeing eye to eye... mine being already outside and his still under the pillow. [b]NOW with me using the car on my own[/b] I can go when and where I want and do not depend on him. He can sleep, play video games and watch his car races as he wants. Our kids used to choose to leave with me, and recently our son has chosen to sleep in and play with papa! The Effexor XR 150mg (xr is for slow release capsuls) cause a lot of sleepiness for me... so I take it at 8pm go to bed at 8:30 and am dead by 9pm! I seem okay with it even if I am bi-polar :quest: . I do not have and problems with my liver so the medication is in my system for the recommended time-frame. And I am taking an anti-pychotic (seroquil 25mg) to help stablise the moods. See I am at my fourth major depressive episode and everyone is afraid I will begin to cycle rapidly.... become very manic and soon after fall very depressive / suicidal is the space of a few days. Talk to the pharmacist who can lookup the med's pharmacological information and see how it is affecting you. Recently, I went to healthyplace.com because I have a bit of chemistry in my back-ground. I can understand a most of the phamaco-bable. But originally I spoke to two of the brothers who are my pharmacists and they confirmed (separately) that I was in the slim chance it causes drowsiness. nullpointer, is the VP your boss or do you report to another person. I ask because if you report to someone else, the VP is allowed to be upset but doesn't need to know the details of your life and trials. It is usually [b]usually[/b] recommended that someone, either and immediate boss or h/r person or a close coleague, be aware that you are taking medications (not necessairly what or why but enough to tell Emergency Medical Persons to search your purse of medical information). This sometimes helps to explain why you are a bit off for a few days... which happens with diabetics often and even asthmatics (esp in cold and flu seasons). I think I am rambling now... so

I don't know really. I was just afraid to and I couldn't do it, but then it got past time and it's true that if you let go too long it makes you feel bad so I went ahead I took it. Seems like it made me way tired, but it could have been something else too. I fell asleep in the meeting this morning and the VP got very upset with me but I just couldn't help it and I didn't do it on purpose. See, I really don't know if 75 was working because I don't really have a reference. I do know that I've felt better than I have for at least over a year. Doc said to take 150, so I'd think he'd have a reason even though I think he's a pretty lousy doctor. Maybe I'll feel better at this level, but maybe not. I guess I'll try it for a while and see. It's only my entire life we're talking about, so surely it can't mess too much up. I got my car fixed for a couple hundred bucks but I didn't like spending the money but I like having my car back too.

If 75 mg works, I wouldn't go any higher

Hi nullpointer, is it difficult because of a phobia with medication? or because you are finally comfortable with the 75 dose?

Well, I'm supposed to take 150 today, but I am having trouble doing it. For some reason, I really don't want to. I think I should but I can't. Whats worse is that my car broke and I don't know what to do about that either. Other than that I'm ok. So, how are you?

when my dr started me on effexor she started me on 37.5 mg for a week, then up to 75 mg where I remained. At the time I was clinically depressed, felt my life was over, etc. and had a lot of bad things going on in my life.. I remained on 75 mg for 1 1/2 years feeling alert and "normal" and able to cope. By then things had sorted out and it was spring so I decided to wean off. I was OK until the end of August when a minor trigger sent me into a suicidal tailspin. Back on effexor in sept but it has taken til now to feel "normal" again. so patience with med is important. Am also trying the CBT because my daughter suggested it may help. I haven't tried any other anti depressants, ever. Until the past few years, I have always coped with my depression though the support of my hubby and positive self talk. I've been lucky.