Posted by SLS on May 23, 2003, at 11:20:24
In reply to Apathy,,,,,blank stare, posted by tina on May 23, 2003, at 10:33:54
> Effexor is taking away my panic quite nicely but the side effect is apathy. I can't seem to care what happens to me or around me. I can still get stressed about work but I don't care what the outcome. I watch myself ballooning in weight but don't care what I put in my mouth, relationships with other people are falling apart but I don't care to fix it and I can sometimes just stare into space doing nothing for hours. there's a voice in my head saying "what are you doing? why are you just sitting there" but still I sit and stare.
> It's like I'm outside of myself watching and waiting for this other person I see to do something about all of this but she doesn't. Is this a normal side effect of this drug or should I change meds? I also have extremely itchy skin. I can't stop scratching to the point of bleeding.
>
> Is it time to get off effexor and try something else?
Hi Tina.What dosage of Effexor are you on? How long have you been on it?
When I first started Effexor, I experienced a foggy, stare-at-the-wall state that disappeared after a week or two. However, I would not characterize it as apathy.
When I took Lexapro, the apathy produced got worse over time, not better. Everyone reacts differently to the same medication. It is possible that you would not experience apathy with every serotonergic drug you take. Perhaps Zoloft or Lexapro would be valid alternatives.
Between the apathy and itching, it sounds like you would be better off with another drug. However, you must take into consideration the length of time you have been on Effexor. Very often, the side effects that appear within the first two weeks disappear completely. Effexor is a good drug that can help people for whom the SSRIs do not.
Good luck.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:228565
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030520/msgs/228586.html