My Experience with Effexor XR

My friend and I have been through a lot of things together, including sharing secrets we never tell anyone else. His secret was depression, and thoughts of suicide. I urged him to get medical attention, however I wasn't in the position to force him to get help. I waited, and worried when he would disappear for weeks on end, with his parents searching for him, his employer looking for him, and the very real fear that harm had come to him. I was concerned that he may be harmful to his own well being, as were many of our mutual friends. We have all known each other for many years, and are more like brothers and sisters than just friends, so we freely speak about one another's problems.

The day my friend returned to our lives, he simply called and told us he had been to a doctor. The doctor told him he was suffering from severe depression, and prescribed him medication. We asked him why it took him so long to call us, and his reply was "I just didn't feel like it". It was then that I learned he had been taking Effexor XR for approximately 5 weeks...seemingly long enough to "feel better" so he could actually start talking to people again. He told me that he simply had the feeling of not "really caring about anything" during this time. It is a known fact that it takes up to four weeks for most antidepressants to make a difference, so this is understandable.

As I saw my friend get better, become more outgoing and beginning to laugh again, it pleased me. He told me that the medication was helpful, however the side effects were very unwanted, especially his loss of libido. It concerned him that he no longer wished to have sexual relations with women anymore, that it felt as if he were "less of a man" because of this. Of course I reassured him that this was simply not true. During the course of his treatment, which he continues to this day despite the side effects, most of these unwanted symptoms lessened and he was better able to cope with them. He has a girlfriend now, and they seem to manage just fine, so his interest may have improved after the initial uncomfortable side effect.

A potential user of Effexor XR can experience many common side effects, including constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea, nervousness, sexual side effects, sleepiness, sweating, and weakness. These are the same side effects of many antidepressants.My friend tells me that when he does not take his Effexor XR at the same time every day, he becomes lightheaded, and sometimes gets a headache. This can be easily remedied by making sure you take medication as prescribed daily. He leaves his at the kitchen sink, because it seems to be the first place he goes in the morning for water.

I have personally seen my friend come out of his shell again, become motivated and happy, and he is now on a plan to lose weight...in fact he has lost 80 pounds simply by cutting out some fats and breads, and reducing his alcohol consumption. As always, alcohol consumption while taking antidepressants must be avoided, to avoid potential worsened side effects. Alcohol can even reduce the efficacy of the antidepressant, which would be counterproductive.g

Many times the side effects of a drug such as Effexor XR will lessen within a few weeks of beginning to take the medication, and they then become more manageable. As with any newly prescribed medication, chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling of lips and tongue, difficulty breathing, and rash should be reported immediately to your prescribing physician, as these are life threatening symptoms and are not common.

For dryness of mouth, drink plenty of fluids, chew gum, or use lozenges. Constipation can be managed with a stool softener if okay with your doctor, as diarrhea can be managed with immodium, however always check with your physician or pharmacist first to see that it is okay to do so. You should notice a lessening of the side effects within a few weeks of beginning the medication.