I just started taking effexor on Thursday for depression, anxiety, muscle pain, and migraines. Before I started taking it I would always wake up early in the morning (6 to 7 am) and not be able to fall asleep but now I also am waking up about 4 times throughout the night and having a hard time falling back asleep. My question is will this go away after the 1st couple weeks of taking this drug or will I continue having insomnia the whole time?
I have always avoided taking pills but my depression/anxiety got so bad I just lay on the couch and watch tv day from the physical pain it causes me.

Chosen Answer:

I had that too when I first started taking Effexor. After about 10 days my sleeping patterns were back to normal, and after a month the benefits of taking it far outweighed the first couple of weeks of insomnia. If you’re still sleeping badly in a couple of weeks you should see your doctor, as with any other side effects that haven’t gone away by then. God luck!
by: Rain Dogs
on: 20th February 09

I notice that I have insomnia which is something that I have never dealt with before and it is making it hard for me to go to sleep. I have heard that Sleeping pills are bad because they make the body dependent on them later on but I feel like I have a hard time going to sleep.

Chosen Answer:

benadryl (diphenhydramine) is a great drug to help you sleep. It is sold over the counter (OTC) in most pharmacies. The best part is that it is non-habit forming, so your body will not get dependent on it.

Another drug to try is melatonin. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. Taking it medicinally can help with insomnia. Do not take melatonin if you have high blood pressure (can raise BP), diabetes (can raise blood sugar), depression (can make symptoms worse), or a seizure disorder (can potentiate seizures)

One more option could be Valerian root extract. This has been shown to help treat insomnia. Do not drink alcohol with this drug, or other CNS depressants because they could increase each others effect in the body
by:
on: 24th October 11

Please describe the severity of your insomnia, and how regularly you take the drug.
@ I do care: Are you in Australia too?

Chosen Answer:

I suffer severe insomnia.
I had a sleep study done a few weeks ago.

It is currently 4:30am here and I’m still wide awake.
I sometimes won’t fall asleep until 6:00am.

I DON’T sleep my day away either.

I have had insomnia for 5 or 6 years. It’s hard to tell. It ‘feels’ as if it’s gone on forever.

At night, I try my hardest NOT to take ethe meds unless I need to. I have been prescribed Seroquol 200mg XR. Initially it was 200mg immediate release. But I got so hungry and couldn’t stop eating. Gaining 15kg’s although I am still active.

I am also prescribed Temazepam 20mg.

My Endep, an antidepressant that works on neuropathic pain, makes you tired.

With my hey-fever and head cold I have now, I take 2 to 3 Phernergan.

I have now been started on 100mcg of Catapress. So far that’s working. But I have no idea why I am so awake tonight.

I will ONLY take this if I try and get to sleep doing relaxation and still can’t go to sleep.

Insomnia sucks!

EDIT: Yep I am.
In Victoria.
by: I do care!
on: 10th August 10