I have missed mulitple times (seperately) and was wondering how it has affected others as well as how they overcome these effects.
Anybody experience effects of missing a dose of Effexor?
Question posted by Bsteinbrueck on 18 Jan 2010
Last updated on 5 March 2024 by kimbrella4452
70 Answers Page 3
Yes! I lost my medication once and missed it for 4 days! by the 3rd day I was so overwhelmed with anxiety and panic that i couldn't function normally. I felt like I was on edge and under extreme pressure the whole time. My mind and thoughts felt all out of control and i went into a panic, yelling and screaming, hyperventilating. Depression and anxiety went haywire! I did also have constant headaches but not overwhelming pain.
Yes I’ve Forgotten to take it for about 3-4 days and I got so “weepy”!! I’m wondering if I double up on it today, will that get me out of this depression??
I take a total of 185mg Extended Release daily. I’ve been on it for about two years; and absolutely begin to notice withdrawal effects within the first 24 hours of missing a dose. I usually take it at night (same time every night). Rarely, but sometimes, I’ll forget to take it. I will usually end up sleeping heavily, but sweat profusely throughout the night. This tends to act as a reminder “oh crap, forgot to take it” and I’ll take it first thing in the morning.
The times I’ve forgotten, or haven’t noticed until later in the day, I’d say the most prominent feeling is a sort of “fogged” up head. It’s tough to describe exactly, but it almost feels like you’re mind is a half a second behind your body (head specifically) when you move. It’s uncomfortable, and a bit disorienting, but not something I would consider “severe”.
There is a general feeling of being “out of it” , and I have difficulty concentrating on things like studying. I’ve also noticed an increased sex drive, or just general arousal when I’ve missed a dose.
I know this is an old thread; but wanted to give my two cents in case anybody comes across this having missed a dose. Don’t freak out. If it’s closer in time to when you normally take the medication, wait and take it normally; if it’s closer in time to when you missed the dose go ahead and take it. If you’re feeling woozy or out of it, don’t worry it WILL pass. Best thing I can recommend is (if you can) take the Effexor and Kay down for an hour or so. And drink
Plenty of water.
I started 75mg 5 days ago and have just missed a dose. I woke up with really bad upper back ache, has anyone else experienced this?
Funny that I should come across this post today. It seldom happens but I have missed my Effexor (max dose 300mg) for the last 2 days. It hits me by giving me flu-like symptoms. I am nauseous, woozy headed, headache... feel like death.
Hiya,
I've been taking Venlafaxine for 9 months now, currently on 225mg. As much as I hate the withdrawal symptoms this drug has been incredible for my depressive episodes, although has done very little for my anxiety.
I experience pretty strong symptoms of withdrawal, often when I take my dose around 5/6 hours later than scheduled, although it took longer when I was on lower doses. The worst part is the electric zap feelings I get in my head and occasionally hands, alongside dizziness and occasional nausea.
I missed my dose by 24 hours yesterday (stayed at a friends and forgot my meds) and experienced the worst withdrawal symptoms yet - found it incredibly difficult to sleep, with constant trembling and sudden jarring shivers. I have pretty bad anxiety atm so this obviously could be unrelated.
I've become a lot better at dealing with withdrawal symptoms by being more vigilant about taking my dose. I've asked my boyfriend to remind me and also encourage me to take it when I'm refusing. I also use multiple alarms on my phone and make sure to have spare meds at work, at my boyfriends and in my coat.
I have been on Effexor for proly 20 yrs... tried many antidepressants in the beginning. I do well with this one. EXCEPT once in a while I might forget to take it before I go to bed. Side effects are pretty bad!! I get that whooshing that I just read here. (Great way to explain it). I also spend more time in the bathroom... ugh!! I can tell I missed my dose as soon as I wake up because I have felt like I slept like a rock and have had very vivid dreams!! But all day I still feel that "rock". I do feel more emotional throughout the day and just yucky!! If I hurry and take my missed dose or even just half of my normal dose I usually start to feel better about 4,hrs or so later! But YES side effects/withdraw from a missed dose are NOT good.
I realize this was over 8 years old but I’m writing this Incase it helps someone in the future. I’ve gotten better at not missing more than one dose but in the past when I was more active and busy I would miss up to 3 days when I felt good. I just completely forgot about my day meds. FYI. I take 300mg a day. Anyway what made me remember the meds was I began to get irritated at things and it would escalate quickly to anger. I found myself wanting to beat the living hell out of my own brother! Thankfully I’ve gotten better at taking my meds and I’m seeing a therapist once a week. Good luck!
I have been prescribed Effexor xl 300 mg daily for seventeen years now. Prior to Effexor xl ,I was prescribed Celexa,which has no effect, and Zoloft which triggered a massive sugar craving and weight gain. Effexor xl works well for me but I have missed doses on several occasions. On the first day that I miss a dose, I can still function well without side effects. However, if I do not take my dose by midnight ,I know that I will wake up with a massive headache .Plus, emotionally, it will feel like I'm being flattened by a tsunami of every depressive symptom I have ever had. I cry ,I yell, I feel angry , hopeless and alone. I tend to feel exhausted but I have never experienced the brain "zaps" that some people have experienced. I feel my best when I take my medication around the same time everyday.
Hi, I also have missed doses and generally don't get side effects but this week l was sick with gastrointestinal and ended up dehydrated. my body didn't absorb my 225 of effexor and 1000 mgs of valporate and the worst is the sweating and hot tingly sensation all over.. The low feeling of wanting to cry and feeling despair. My health professional says I have the rapid withdrawal happening until l get a steady dose of my meds back in my system, which I'm hoping is soon cos this is horrible to go through again. It's happened once before when l was sick about 5 years ago. But that recovery took a long time and my psych doc mucked around with my meds which l won't do again. Hope you're going well.
I take 75mg every evening, it is rare that I miss a dose but I get this glitch in my brain (the only way I can describe it) that only goes away once I get more effexor back in my system. It is very unpleasent and feels as if my brain is trying to reset... But everyone should discuss their own changes with their doctors as everything effects everyone differently.
When I miss a dose like today I feel horrible. I did not have it yesterday. I ran out and my transmission in my car went out. I usually take it later in the day around four or so. Well the first day was fine till one thing set me off. I was so mad at the world. My bipolar disorder was horrid. I felt so mad and was mean because I felt like I had no control over myself. I was so embarrassed. When I was angry at first the other symptoms we're manageable. Then around four o'clock I started feeling like my brain was being shocked. I don't know how else to discribe it. I keep losing my train of thought so sorry if this is jumbled a bit. Anyways! Every time I miss my does of 150mg Effexor / venlafaxine I feel this shocking in my head and have muscle spasms. I also am so sick to my stomach. Today is day two. I can not find my spare bottle I had put up!
I understand how you feel. I get the brain zaps, headaches, and I get very angry, after missing a dose of my effexor. I've been on it for many years, probably about 15, or so. I only take 75mg, per day. But, I'll probably be on it for the rest of my life. I take my dose every night, before bed. That way, I never miss it.
Yes I have and it can be extremely uncomfortable. I have had my mouth abd tongue feel well, just weird. But the most disconcerting is what I would describe as brain zaps. It is like your brain is getting shocked. I don't know if others have experienced this as I am new to this community. I take my missed dose as soon as I realize I have missed it. That usually stops the symptoms within an hour, provided I have only missed one. I take mine at the same time everyday to avoid these symptoms. Try not to miss a dose.
Brain zaps are very common with missed doses or stopping antidepressants. You should take a missed dose as soon as you remember as long as there's at least an eight hour interval before your next dose is due.
I'm lucky (?) to be very OCD about taking my meds right on schedule, but for those who forget easily perhaps you can set an alarm on your watch or phone?
WildcatVet,
You always seem to have great advice and you are very knowledgeable. I appreciate your dedication to helping people. Thank you.
I just realized I missed my morning Effexor because I got one of my telltale missed dose symptoms- swollen feet?? I also get the normal irritability and dizziness, and sometimes it’s gets hard to find words, but the worst thing is the nightmares. I saw that some people mentioned vivid dreams or nightmares, but if I go to bed after a missed dose I get full on night terrors with what can best be described as sleep paralysis. Like it’s very late now, but there is no way I’m going to bed until I’m sure the dose I just made up from the morning has taken hold because “sleeping” on a missed dose is excruciating. Does anyone else get this? Or the swelling in feet and legs?
If I miss a day of my Effexor XR, the dreams I often have are so powerful that I feel compelled to talk about them to anyone I can get to listen. This morning I woke up from a dream in which I was waiting for the atomic bomb to drop and almost everyone around me was a corpse of some kind already. I also recognize the "electric clicks" in my brain that are mentioned by so many others. The dreams are not always nightmares, however; they are always very intense and stay with me well into my waking hours. Sometimes I wonder if I should not plan to have certain days without Effexor just so I can experience these trips into the dreamworld.
But with such strong impacts on our lives, aren't we wondering what this molecule is doing to our brain/neural system? I can't help but wonder if the pharmaceutical community is using the population as a testing environment to try to figure out how our neural systems actually work. While we certainly seem to understand things now that we didn't know about in previous years/decades/centuries, the understanding and treatment of mental health leaves much to be desired - particularly when criminal activity is explained away as the result of mental health.
Set an alarm on your watch, phone, or on the internet and it'll remind you. No excuses!
I missed two days of 300 mg/day of Effexor and my symptoms were:
1. Cold Sweats;
2. feeling hot; and
3. Most notably, I have the same feeling you get when you go over a hill fast in a car. This started about 36 hours after my last dose.
4. Also had depressive thoughts and was easily angered
Related topics
effexor, depression, bipolar disorder
Further information
- Effexor prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Effexor (detailed)
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