Effexor For Anxiety and Depression: Indications, Side Effects and Warnings

From time to time, I'll review some of the more popular antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications to help you make more informed decisions when treating your disorder. Today I will take a look at Effexor.

Effexor (venlafaxine hydrochloride) is indicated for the treatment of major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, OCD and panic disorder.

Common Side Effects

Nausea
Insomnia
Headache
Sexual Dysfunction
Dizziness
Dry Mouth
Agitation
Vivid Dreams

Some Warnings

Effexor should not be taken by pregnant women as the prenatal effects are unknown

Effexor should not be taken by children and adolescents due to an increase in suicidal thoughts.

Effexor has been linked to hypertension.

Discontinuation of Effexor can lead to SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome

Effexor has been linked to memory loss

This is not a comprehensive list of either the side effects or warnings. I urge you to do your own research and talk to your doctor about all your concerns.

Can Depression Present With Anxiety Symptoms?

Anxiety is a common symptom of depression. In fact, it is so common that doctors often have a difficult time discovering the correct diagnosis.

At the height of my battle with depression, anxiety symptoms were so profound that my life became difficult to manage. After finally seeking help for this problem, my doctor at the time told me I was suffering from a Generalized Anxiety Disorder, for which he prescribed Klonopin. Now if you've been following my blog, you already know how strongly I oppose this drug as a solitary treatment. Klonopin is a narcotic with a high rate of abuse, and in my case the dependency was almost immediate. It worked well for awhile, but as my system grew accustomed to the drug. For me, the drug caused more problems than it addressed. But I'm getting off the subject.

After switching doctors and undergoing a very uncomfortable "detox" from Klonopin, I was diagnosed with Major Depression w/ anxiety. Unfortunately I had the double whammy as far as emotional illness goes, but at least I was finally knew what I was dealing with. With the help of my new doctor, I became educated about my illness and learned that anxiety is a very common symptom associated with depression, and to treat one, I needed to address both.

Learn from my mistakes. If you are feeling anxious, and you feel it may be part of a larger problem, check with your doctor and have him/her explain all available treatment options. It can save you a lot of grief down the road.

Anxiety and Your Relationships

At the height of my anxiety, while I feverishly paced around my house, my girlfriend would often ask, "What's wrong?" My answer was always the same, a lamentation of how my anxiety was torturing me, and I knew she was growing tired of hearing the same old story. What could I do? I certainly didn't want to lie. Even if I did she'd know I wasn't being honest and that would just create more problems.

Gradually my anxiety began to worsen, and as it did the relationship with my girlfriend (along with every other relationship) quickly headed south. I was no longer the "whole" person she had met, rather a nervous, shaky shell of a man. With each day I isolated myself more and more from everyone who cared about me, and I stopped every activity in which I previously participated. I just didn't want to continue explaining what I was going through to people who had no idea how it felt.

Looking back, one of the most infuriating bits of helpful advice those people tried to offer me was a simple two-word phrase: just relax. What a joke. Didn't they understand that the inability to relax was the most painful attribute of this illness. It's like telling someone with lung cancer to please quit coughing. Don't get me wrong, every single person that uttered those words meant well, they just didn't understand, and I realized there were no words I could say to make them feel what I was feeling. I realized my best strategy was to just be honest.

One day I sat my girlfriend down and said, "Listen, I realize that my illness has effects that extend beyond the way I feel, and I'm sorry for what you must be going through. I'm not sure how long this is going to last, but I am determined to beat it. I cannot make promises relating to my mood or the effects of my symptoms, but you have my word I am attempting every possible solution available to me. I recognize your sacrifice and you are appreciated."

I left it that. No "poor me" pity party, just a level of honesty and candor that was truly genuine. No promises, that if unkept would cause me more anxiety. Those were "getting old," and it wasn't what she needed to hear. What she needed was an explanation and some recognition.

Anxiety makes us feel we have to withdraw and work everything out alone. This is extremely selfish. Believe me, the people who love you truly want to help in any way they can. Failing to involve them is not being brave, but self-centered. Avoid the mistakes I made. Don't shut them out. Keep the channels open. With time these crummy feelings will ebb, and there is nothing better than celebrating their departure with the people you love.

Two Sleep Tips For Those With General Anxiety Disorder

For those living with General Anxiety Disorder, sometimes called GAD, sleep problems can be an unwelcome companion. Difficulty falling asleep, and staying asleep, are so common that many turn to unhealthy habits, trying to get a sufficient amount of winks. Many turn to alcohol or other depressants to help "knock them out," a dangerous tactic that causes many more problems down the road.

So what to do when that much needed sleep refuses to come easily? According to doctors, there are two habits that are essential to practice, habits that you can begin today with very little effort.

1. Wake up at the same time everyday.

Right now, you may not be able to control what time you fall asleep, but you can certainly have a hand in what time you wake up. Choose a time early enough to complete all you need to do in the day, and stick with it. Waking up at the same time is the first step in resetting your body's clock.

2. Don't go to bed until you're tired.

Lying awake in bed, tossing and turning, actually only adds to your sleep problems. Staying up the extra hour or so will help you to fall asleep naturally. Although the first few days may be a bit rough, your new scheduled wake up time, will gradually allow you to tire earlier, and you'll begin getting the rest you need.

Alcohol, caffeine and sleeping pills are a dangerous form of temporary relief and could make your anxiety worse.

Remember, according to doctors, 8 hours of sleep is not a hard and fast rule. Practice the two rules above, eat right and get plenty of exercise and your body will begin to regulate itself. This is going to seem difficult at first, but don't abandon the plan. Give it some time.

The Best Anxiety Book I Have Ever Found

I do a lot of reading, it helps relax me. There is one book, however, that I find to be superior in its soothing quality--The Holy Bible.

Now I'm certainly not trying to force religion, of any sort, onto people who'd rather not hear it, and I apologize beforehand if this suggestion offends anyone. But I don't think this book recommendation is necessarily religious, nor do I think I'm violating any code in the "polite blogger's handbook." This is just another post to let readers know what has helped me in my battle with depression and anxiety, and I would feel guilty for not passing this information along if I thought it could help even one person.

The Bible is much more than a pious symbol of my faith. It is a handbook for living that always seems to say just what I need to hear every time I pick it up. I'll admit, after the first couple of times, I thought it might just be a fluke--a coincidence of sorts--that this book seemed to be speaking directly to my problem or situation. After a while though, I was a believer (pardon the pun). This book was dead-on every single time. When I was anxious, it calmed me, and that was no small task.

I won't go on and on about this, but I'll be satisfied and sleep better knowing I passed this information along to you. This blog wouldn't be completely honest if I only posted articles that I knew would be accepted by everyone, in fact, it would probably be blank. Take some time and make up your own mind.