Depression Support Group
Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.
Folks, I joined this group because my husband has many bouts with depression. We've been married for 39 years and he has always had problems. He has just started taking the generic of Effexor. He is having a lot of trouble nausia. He also has tremors in his hands and gets dizzy. Tonight he scared me because he almost passed out. He said he just suddenly got sick at his stomach and dizzy. He also has an extra blood pressure med and some meds for an enlarged prostate but he feels like it is the Effexor that is causing the symptoms. I'd like to hear some of the adverse symptoms and experiences that anyone has had with Effexor. I want him to get better but maybe Effexor is not the right med. He has also tried the generic for Celexa and he couldn't take it. It made him worse. Any info would be so appreciated. I just want him to feel better. He is so unhappy all the time. But I don't want the medicine to hurt him.
I'll be the first person to sing the praises of Effexor, as it's the only antidepressant that has ever worked for me without side effects. The important thing to remember, though, is that psych meds affect everyone differently. What works like a charm for me could be poison for your husband.
If that sounds a little dramatic, well, it was meant to. I can tell you from my experience with mental illness that it might take shuffling through a few (or more) meds before your husband finds one that does the job it's supposed to do without intolerable side effects. I've worked as a mental health crisis counselor for many years, and I've talked to countless people who had to experiment a bit before finding the right fit.
Depending on the side effects - in my case, Effexor made me sweat excessively when I started taking it - your husband's doctor may recommend that he try to "ride it out" and see if the side effects go away once he gets used to the drug. That's what ended up happening with me, and after about two weeks, the sweating stopped.
In your husband's case, though, you're talking about serious nausea, dizziness, and near loss of consciousness. The tremors are also a big concern. My recommendation is that you call your husband's doctor right away and ask to try a different medication. If he didn't have these symptoms before starting Effexor, I agree with him that it's the Effexor causing them.
I looked online for side effects of Effexor, and the symptoms you describe him having are all listed at the top, under the warning to call the doctor immediately if they occur. So, first thing in the morning, I recommend calling his doctor's office and getting a nurse to give you instructions for how he should stop taking the Effexor. Once that's done, the nurse can prod the doctor for a prescription for something new and get back to you later.
Good luck! Let me know if you have any remaining questions I can try to answer!