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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Veronica21 on February 22, 2004, at 11:11:47
Hi, I am new to this website, but have found it to be the only helpful thing out there for information on meds from real people...not the usual 'medical crap.'
My doctor just prescribed me Effexor XR and I have been on it for about three weeks. He said it would help my anxiety, mild ADD, and sleep issues. While it seems to be helping my concentration and anxiety, the sleep has actually gotten worse. I now can fall asleep, whereas before I could not. But once I fall asleep, I only stay asleep for a period of 3-4 hours. I wake up instantly feeling completely alert and awake and cannot fall back asleep. If I am lucky and get to fall back to sleep, it's extremely light sleep and I wake up every hour. I'm growing very weary of this pattern! Will my sleep problems ever level out after taking this for a month or so...or am I doomed for dealing with little sleep while on this medication?? I am so frustrated that I want to just stop taking it, but then I'll have to put up with all my anxiety bullcrap. Please help.
Posted by damselflygirl on February 22, 2004, at 14:35:05
In reply to Effexor XR and SLEEP!, posted by Veronica21 on February 22, 2004, at 11:11:47
Hi I wonder if you could ask your doctor to augment Effexor with some Clonazapam. I am currently taking Cipralex (15 mgs) and 1 mg of Clonazpam twice daily. I find the combination to be very good, especially for anxiety and a peaceful sleep. Good luck.
Posted by Veronica21 on February 22, 2004, at 14:50:00
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and SLEEP!, posted by damselflygirl on February 22, 2004, at 14:35:05
thanks for you reply...I'm going to see my doctor tom.
Posted by damselflygirl on February 22, 2004, at 14:59:42
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and SLEEP!, posted by Veronica21 on February 22, 2004, at 14:50:00
Posted by laurie_lu on February 22, 2004, at 23:07:56
In reply to Great! Let us know how it goes:) (nm) » Veronica21, posted by damselflygirl on February 22, 2004, at 14:59:42
I really think this will go away for you. I had similar sleep patterns early on with Effexor XR. Now I sleep well. I take my Effexor in the mornings.
Laurie
Posted by rainyday on February 23, 2004, at 7:55:08
In reply to Effexor XR and SLEEP!, posted by Veronica21 on February 22, 2004, at 11:11:47
I take effexor xr twice a day and it really disrupted my sleeping pattern. My p-doc bumped up my buspar dosage at night to 20mg and it helped immediately. I have to say that messing around with sleep is one of the most annoying side effects of effexor for me! But it's getting better (been on it for about 8 weeks now, currently taking 150mg).
Posted by djsarah on February 23, 2004, at 17:35:14
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and SLEEP!, posted by rainyday on February 23, 2004, at 7:55:08
I wouldn't be too worried if it's only been three weeks. Give it at least five or six before you make any decisions about how it's working. I also found it helpful to take it in the mornings (with breakfast, if you eat breakfast regularly).
good luck.
djs
Posted by snarley on February 24, 2004, at 14:06:05
In reply to Effexor XR and SLEEP!, posted by Veronica21 on February 22, 2004, at 11:11:47
I have been on effexor xr @ 150mg/day for depression and mild anxiety for a little over a year, and had sleep problems for the first month or two. My pdoc gave me trazodone to help with the sleep, which it did very well (put me out within a half hour or so of taking it, and got 8+ hrs of sleep no problem, whereas before i was waking up every few hours). After a month or so taking that, i stopped, and the sleep problems had resolved themselves. I've been sleeping fine on the effexor ever since.
This is the end of the thread.
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