Social Anxiety Support

GracieTiger · 11-14-2008, 11:28 AM

after taking the starting dose of effexor xl, the first day, i experienced the worst panic of my life. my heart rate and blood pressure were sky high for like six hours. i was also having a great deal of trembling and muscle twitching, electrical sensations in my body, and i was so incredibly panicked.

i do have another medical condition which is suspected to involve my norepinephrine. however, i am wondering if anyone else experienced this??

Jaydensmama82 · 11-14-2008, 11:55 AM

Ive been on effexor for a week now, Ive had side effects from no appetite to insomnia, sweating, feeling completely hopeless and suicidal, feels like only negative thoughts have entered my brain....I know everything is different for everyone but how are we supposed to just deal with that shyt?

KILL__JOY · 11-14-2008, 12:27 PM

Welcome to my life, almost every antidepressant Ive tried has done that to me.

Foh_Teej · 11-14-2008, 01:13 PM

This is a situation you need to bring to your doc's attention asap. That definitely sounds like symptoms high levels of norepinephrine and/or serotonin syndrome. Some of those symptoms you describe can be caused by either and impossible distinguish between the two on the net. Do you have a temperature or dialated pupils as well?

GracieTiger · 11-14-2008, 04:26 PM

yea i did have a temperature.

i have an autonomic nervous system dysfunction, which none of my doctors understand, but did agree the effexor reaction was STRANGE. i do not take it. i am just wondering if anyone else has this - like if it is a reaction that can happen in people who suffer from anxiety - or if it is likely related to my medical condition.
i am very sensitive to norepinephrine, we think. my heart rate is always really fast, and goes crazy at the littlest stimulation.
hence, lots and lots of panic and anxiety. whenever i get even a little stimulated, i'm immediately in panic-mode.
i need some kind of medication for this, but am scared to death to try an ssri for fear of going through that experience again. it was honestly the worst of my life!

dax · 11-14-2008, 05:02 PM

I had something similar happen to me the first time I took Paxil. I took effexor as well and it didn't seem to do anything but the withdrawal from it is hell.

CoconutHolder · 11-14-2008, 05:32 PM

I had horrible reactions to SSRI's every time. LOTS of anxiety. It usually starts dissipating after about one week. Paxil sent me into a HUGE fit. I don't remember how much my doctor gave me but I literally felt like I could kill someone with my bare hands. I punched a hole in my brother's wall at his old house. (trailer, so it wasn't that hard) It was one of the most horrible days of my life.

Zoloft, well, that made me feel like things were crawling under my skin. I felt like I was REALLY shakey inside, yet my hands were completely still. I had rasing thoughts and tons of anxiety, so I stopped that right away.

I've had succes with Lexapro at a low dose. I find 5 mg works well for me. I got the 10mg and would split it in half then split it again until it was only 2.5 mg. I stayed on that dose for a week or two, taking things very slowly. Then started the 5 mg. I did find it slightly stimulating, but it wasn't bad. I'd wake up once a night but I was able to fall back asleep. I tried 10 mg but that caused bad insomnia and more unwanted side effects.

Good luck with everything. I hope you find something that will help you.

11-14-2008, 11:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
GracieTiger Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 28	bad reaction to effexor after taking the starting dose of effexor xl, the first day, i experienced the worst panic of my life. my heart rate and blood pressure were sky high for like six hours. i was also having a great deal of trembling and muscle twitching, electrical sensations in my body, and i was so incredibly panicked. i do have another medical condition which is suspected to involve my norepinephrine. however, i am wondering if anyone else experienced this??

11-14-2008, 11:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jaydensmama82 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3	Effexor Ive been on effexor for a week now, Ive had side effects from no appetite to insomnia, sweating, feeling completely hopeless and suicidal, feels like only negative thoughts have entered my brain....I know everything is different for everyone but how are we supposed to just deal with that shyt?

11-14-2008, 12:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
KILL__JOY Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: USA-MO Age: 20 Posts: 217	Welcome to my life, almost every antidepressant Ive tried has done that to me. __________________ Watch out for those *** bats man.

11-14-2008, 05:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
dax Status: Losing Ground Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 2,044	I had something similar happen to me the first time I took Paxil. I took effexor as well and it didn't seem to do anything but the withdrawal from it is hell. __________________ My Youtube Page I just don't fit in this place Their thoughts cast me out of here Their home has run out of space My mind's already out of here Won't you come along dear? Won't you come along?

11-14-2008, 05:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
CoconutHolder Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: U.S. Age: 29 Posts: 6,685	I had horrible reactions to SSRI's every time. LOTS of anxiety. It usually starts dissipating after about one week. Paxil sent me into a HUGE fit. I don't remember how much my doctor gave me but I literally felt like I could kill someone with my bare hands. I punched a hole in my brother's wall at his old house. (trailer, so it wasn't that hard) It was one of the most horrible days of my life. Zoloft, well, that made me feel like things were crawling under my skin. I felt like I was REALLY shakey inside, yet my hands were completely still. I had rasing thoughts and tons of anxiety, so I stopped that right away. I've had succes with Lexapro at a low dose. I find 5 mg works well for me. I got the 10mg and would split it in half then split it again until it was only 2.5 mg. I stayed on that dose for a week or two, taking things very slowly. Then started the 5 mg. I did find it slightly stimulating, but it wasn't bad. I'd wake up once a night but I was able to fall back asleep. I tried 10 mg but that caused bad insomnia and more unwanted side effects. Good luck with everything. I hope you find something that will help you. __________________ "I've grown certain that the root of all fear is that we've been forced to deny who we are." ~Frances Moore Lappe

11-14-2008, 01:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Foh_Teej Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2004 Age: 29 Posts: 378	This is a situation you need to bring to your doc's attention asap. That definitely sounds like symptoms high levels of norepinephrine and/or serotonin syndrome. Some of those symptoms you describe can be caused by either and impossible distinguish between the two on the net. Do you have a temperature or dialated pupils as well?

11-14-2008, 04:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
GracieTiger Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 28	yea i did have a temperature. i have an autonomic nervous system dysfunction, which none of my doctors understand, but did agree the effexor reaction was STRANGE. i do not take it. i am just wondering if anyone else has this - like if it is a reaction that can happen in people who suffer from anxiety - or if it is likely related to my medical condition. i am very sensitive to norepinephrine, we think. my heart rate is always really fast, and goes crazy at the littlest stimulation. hence, lots and lots of panic and anxiety. whenever i get even a little stimulated, i'm immediately in panic-mode. i need some kind of medication for this, but am scared to death to try an ssri for fear of going through that experience again. it was honestly the worst of my life!