[jfocker]

Hi everyone. I was taking Pristiq 50mg for about a year. Then I moved, and CA won't pay for it. So I was put on Effexor XR 225mg a day(two 75mg in morning, and one 75mg in evening). I've never taken Effexor before this.

I took it yesterday, and had to take a nap for three hours!! Then today, I got soooo sleepy again, I fell asleep for over an hour. Is this side effect gonna pass??? I have a toddler who does not appreciate my naps lol! I also take 4mg of clonazepam a day, 1mg four times a day. I took the clonazepam like an hour before the Effexor, but I still got super sleepy.

I must say though, just in two days, I feel happier on Effexor. Is this just temporary, I thought Pristiq was supposed to be the same thing.

Any thoughts, opinions would be greatly appreciated! I'm so tired right now. It's only 5pm where I live, and I feel like just laying down and going to sleep again. But I can't, I have a toddler who is SO full of energy lol!

[Carole07]

Hi jfocker. How long have you been taking the clonazepam? 4mg seems like a lot and it might make you sleepy. I took Effexor about 12 years ago and I remember sleeping about 2 or 3 hours a night. I also had these strange jolts throughout my body, especially in my arms and hands, when I was on Effexor. But I'm sure that everyone's reaction will be different. You probably need to tell your doctor about the sleeping if it does not change in the next couple of days.

[pgrundy]

I take the same dose of Effexor XR but all three tabs in the morning. The side effects did seem to pass after a week or two.

Effexor works great for me but it's really hard to get off it if you ever want to. Since I can't ever get off it and stay well anyway, I've reconciled myself to that drawback. I've tried Lexapro, Zoloft, and Prozac and Effexor is the only one that seems to work for me.

That does sound like a lot of clonazepam though. Do you take it for panic? I wonder if, once the Effexor builds up in your system, you will still need it? Have you told your doctor about the drowsiness?

Effexor is one of the SSRIs that works on anxiety too, so it might help you in the long run if you give it a chance. Good luck!

[jfocker]

Thanks. Yeah, 4mg of clonazepam is a lot. I've been taking it for ten years now. Maybe the mix of effexor and clonazepam is making me sleepy? I thought about cutting back on the clo., but the last couple of days I started getting this weird fearful type of feeling! Close to what I'd feel before I got a panic attack. The effexor xr is still working great on my depression though, much better than Pristiq(which is weird I think!).