Am I just plum nuts? Or is the med not right for me?

Currently I am on 300 mg of effexor xr, I took it before but at I believe 150 mg gradually increasesd to 225mg with relatively no troubles except severe withdraw when I would forget for more than a day to take it, severe enough to find myself in the emergency room swearing whatever was wrong was going tot kill me. I went off for a period, but as my life went haywire with divorce, surviving a sexual assault at work, a major relocation with a career move that turned out not to be what was presented I was put back on it and at the current dose of 300mg. Basically it has made me a more tolerable person to others, but I have gained 80 pounds, fatigue, and have become unable to work any longer do to the severe muscle pain and fatigue. I've lost all labido as well. I also have very severe effects if I miss even a dose now, headaches, severe nausia, dizziness, brain shivers, extreme weakness. Does anyone else out there relate? Is it me or the medicine? Are there better alternatives to try?

Am I just plum nuts? Or is the med not right for me?
Any time you go onto such high doses of anti-depressant, you are likely to suffer side effects like that. It numbs you basically. I am on celexa %26amp; I just want to sleep. I do nothing but go to work. Then right back to bed. My life is worse like this than before the medication. I would definitely try to switch meds. Zoloft was very easy for me to tolerate. No side effects except sexual, but those passed in time. You shouldn't have to suffer like that from a medication that is supposed to make you feel "better." Talk to your doc. They can help you. Have you been on other meds?
Reply:I agree with Mercedesml.



Mercedesml... IM me if you want to talk about happiness outside of drugs. ;)
Reply:Good God, girl. Try a different route!
Reply:i would bet it is the medicine. when my aunt had anxiety attacks, they -put her on a lot of meds, and she had a lot of the symptoms you described. my grandmother had them take her off, and she is much better now healthwise and mentally.

(however the anxiety was due to repressed sexual trauma)
Reply:effexor xr causes suicide but no study will admit it. Try Valium.
Reply:Ask this question.



If you got stuck in a cabin full of food and water in the middle of winter with lots of fuel wood to keep you warm and you had a dog or cat to keep you company and to shelf full of books...



Would you really need drugs to justify your life being better.



Drugs can help, but they are not an excuse. They are not an excuse for good or bad things happening.



They alter you mood and thoughts. Good or Bad, that is all they do. What you make out of your life is really up to you. If you keep using drugs as an excuse then that is all you life really is... just a drug taking body taking up space.



Buy a Journal book. Keep a journal for a year. Write down your thoughts and what you did each day and keep a record of your meds in the journal.



If you can keep a journal for a year and write in it every day then you are a success because you can control you life.



If you can not do it then it shows you have no will power and you are just another wasted life using drugs as an excuse. Then what is the point anyway.