After 4 years my trusty Strat has finally begun to become ineffective in with helping me with focus and being a bit impulsive. I’ve been a wreck for a few weeks, just a whirlwind of scattered mental and physical energy. I’m at 60mg 2x . I take a <st1:time minute="0" hour="7">7am</st1:time> and <st1:time minute="0" hour="13">1pm</st1:time>. By 9am and 3pm I’m back to getting the fog-head and it’s off to the races again. Stimulants are a last line of defense due to some past abuse history.
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So the trip to the Doc on Friday got me an additional Rx for Effexor. 75mg for 10 days then up to 150mg.
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So far at 75mg I’m finding it better to take at around <st1:time minute="0" hour="15">3pm</st1:time>.
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The effects so far haven’t been too bad. But I still don’t have a lot of focus. It’s just slowed me down a bit. I feel a little blah. My appetite has gone way down. I’m able to fall sleep better, without taking any Trazadone, and appear to be sleeping well. And luckily, no bad side effects south of the border. ;)

However, I’m missing my “edge.” It’s hard to explain. It’s like I’m cruising at 55mph instead of 70mph. My mind is a bit slow. I'm used to whitewater, not pond water.
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This isn’t a bad thing. I’m in need of a little R&R. Beside full time work, full time family, and two kids with an extremely high amount of extra-curricular activities, I’ve been back in college ¾ time as well. (A 4.0gpa, btw. :DNever could happened without the meds.) I’m taking the summer off to catch up on projects I’ve left lying around for the past couple years while in school. Yea, I need a little break.
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From what I can tell, the Effexor is supposed to “kick-in” once I’ve gone up to 180mg.
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Does anybody know much about this drug? Or how it will combine with the Stratt?
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Not sure how it combines with Strat.

I have used this medication (Effexor) in the past and had a relatively bad experience. This anti-depressant more than any other can cause dependence and 'discontinuation syndrome' aka addiction and withdrawal.

I found it took away my 'edge' but kept increasing the dose with my doctor, hoping it would start to kick in. I think the main effect it had on me was stabilizing my mood and not allowing me to feel really sad. On the flip side it didn't allow me to feel really happy either. It was kind of like being in a daze, not being able to feel any emotion (some people would consider that a good thing ). Something else - these meds effect everyone differently.

It also slowed me down a bit, made me tired, increased appetite (weight gain) and many other things I can't remember at the moment :)

One thing most doctors don't know is that you grow a dependency to this drug after you've been on it a while. Some people find it extremely hard to stop - even under a slowly decreasing dosing schedule from their doctor. I found it very hard to stop using because if I missed or reduced a dose I would get 'brain zaps', dizzyness, headaches, stomach aches, insomnia, extreme tiredness..it basically felt like a really bad flu. If you google effexor you'll find hundreds of people who have experienced these problems and were not aware of them when they first started taking the drug.

I'm not trying to scare you..just trying to give you all the information so you can make an informed choice with your doctor (I wish someone had told me this stuff when I first started). If Effexor is helping you heaps and you have no problems staying on it for some time then I say stick with it :)

I'm not trying to scare you..just trying to give you all the information so you can make an informed choice with your doctor (I wish someone had told me this stuff when I first started). If Effexor is helping you heaps and you have no problems staying on it for some time then I say stick with it :)

A search on this forum revealed a lot of negative comments about Effexor. Especially about discontinuing it's use.

I suppose the real test will be once I move up to 150mg.

Right now, I just feel lazy.

I think the main effect it had on me was stabilizing my mood and not allowing me to feel really sad. On the flip side it didn't allow me to feel really happy either. It was kind of like being in a daze, not being able to feel any emotion (some people would consider that a good thing ). Something else - these meds effect everyone differently.


I've been on the Effexor at 180mg for a few days now. Combined with the Strat, I'm not really pleased with the effects.

I've slowed way down, and my focus is good. That's a plus.

However, I feel a little zombie-like. Not sad, or upset, just... blah. I'm trying to recall one time that I've felt "happy" and nope, not a one. I'm missing my "drive" and enthusiasm.

I haven't lost my keys, or my glasses, or anything since I began the Effexor. I'm staying on task at home and work, but there is a lack of enthusiasm for anything I'm doing. Appetite has gone down, as well.

I picked up my daughter from school the other day, and after quietly driving to the house with barely a word spoken among us, she says to me as we are going into the house "I don't like the new medication. I miss my old hyper Daddy."

I'm going to give it a bit longer, but I don't think this is going to work out.

I've been trying to switch things around a bit in when/what I take.

Originally it was the Strat at 7am and 12 noon. Then the Effexor at 3. This has left me zombie-like in the evening. Just blah. Like I'm simply observing everything around me instead of participating. Nope, don't really like it. On the other hand, I've been sleeping real well.

I'm switching it around. Now I'm taking Effexor at 7am, and see how things work with the the Stats in the afternoon. It's currently almost 12 noon, and I can feel my head get a little foggy. Again, I've been fairly calm this AM, not tired, but not energetic.

Took the first 60mg Strat at noon. I had a little headache for about an hour. But feeling better, decent focus. It's about time for the second one.