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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by leegirl on December 30, 2003, at 16:09:30
I've been on Prozac for 8 years, and was switched to effexor XR 7 months ago. I've lost 15 pounds on Effexor, have weird mood swings, and sometimes just feel emotionless. Anyone else have side effects like this on the med?
Posted by antigua on December 30, 2003, at 19:42:33
In reply to Effexor XR, posted by leegirl on December 30, 2003, at 16:09:30
Yes, my reactions have been quite similar, except I have no mood swings because I don't feel anything. Strange dreams though, that I usually can't remember--very frightening sometimes.
I've been on effexor for almost 7 months. I've lost 35 lbs, which is probably 15 more than I needed to, and I have no appetite. I can go a day or so w/o eating and not even be bothered--quite unusual for me because I used to love to cook. My emotions are very stable now, but I do feel very flat and emotionless. For me, flat is good right now, I don't want to deal w/anything. Everyone says I'm much calmer.
antigua
Posted by leegirl on December 30, 2003, at 21:02:31
In reply to Re: Effexor XR » leegirl, posted by antigua on December 30, 2003, at 19:42:33
Exactly! You pegged it! I feel nothing.....and the weight loss....while my friends are always joking about how they want to go on Effexor too so they can lose weight....well, for me it's just like same old same old...nothing seems to matter... not weight loss, not bad news, not anything at all....I wonder if this oblivion is better than real life....It gets scary....like there are only 2 choices: feel it and deal with it, or feel nothing and enjoy the ride in La La land.....no worries, no nothing!
Posted by antigua on December 31, 2003, at 10:42:40
In reply to Re: Effexor XR » antigua, posted by leegirl on December 30, 2003, at 21:02:31
I don't know... do you think oblivion is better than real life? I've been working on some things in therapy this past year that make me want to be numb in the rest of my life, but if I wasn't faced w/all this drama I don't know if I could accept being numb. I used to be a real crybaby--tears would flow at the sound of certain music or even commercials! I haven't really cried since I started the effexor, and I don't know if that's good or not. It's protective, I know, but I would like to feel again someday.
antigua
Posted by leegirl on December 31, 2003, at 14:19:24
In reply to Re: Effexor XR, posted by antigua on December 31, 2003, at 10:42:40
In my opinion feeling nothing can be worse. I mean, everyone needs a respite from pain and particularly harsh emotions, but this numbness I'm getting from Effexor...this absolute apathy is hard to accept. I still am in pain, a different pain. The pain that comes from not being myself anymore and finding no pleasure in anything.
This is the end of the thread.
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