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
70 Answers Page 5
I love Effexor. I take 150 mg daily for depression/anxiety. I currently am finishing clinical rotations for school and have forgotten to take it the past 2 days. I feel extremely light headed, nauseous and the only term I can use is "I just don't feel right". I can't describe it but I feel icky and not like I should feel. As long as I take it when I get home tonight I'll be okay tomorrow. I've never missed more than 2 doses because the effects of that were so unsavory that I was sure not to forget a 3rd dose. After this I will start keeping a few in my purse as well as at home
Yes, I quit taking Effexor for this very reason, amongst many other intolerable side effects! Worst antidepressant for me that I ever took. Gave me extreme anxiety and brain zaps and whooshing in my head, to name only a few.
But many people have taken it successfully for years.
"G"
To anyone reading this post, I'd be careful to think that these side effects are a reason to not take Effexor... They're exactly what you're supposed to expect when you stop taking the drug, and they (brain zaps, dizziness, whooshing, etc) are completely harmless. I'd try to suck it up, because if your overall mood is stabilized by the drug effectively without too many on-dose side effects (ED, weight loss/gain, etc), then you've probably found a good drug for you... anyway just my opinion.
I'm only on Effexor 75 mg extended release , but I've been on Effexor for years. When I miss one dose I become very dizzy, nauseated , and have diarrhea. This usually lasts for approximately 6-8 hours if not longer until next dose has been in my system for a while. I used to be on Effexor 300mg daily but weaned off that high of dose with psychiatrist help due to unwanted side effects.
When I was taking it, if i missed a dose I would get like adrenalin rushes. It was really weird to feel like that. That was the only thing that i felt that was noticeable.
I was on Effexor ER a few years ago..if i missed a dose..w/in 24hrs I started feelin the effects... crying uncontrollably was the major one... so major I cant member the other ones if there were anymore.
I got off of it cause the effects of missin or taking it late were so severe.
Hope you do better.
yes. I have missed doses (mostly due to not re-filling in time) and I have experienced dizziness. I mean, any movement of my head or eyes makes me "dizzy" (the best way to describe it) almost like seeing trails. Its hard to explain. Have you experienced this? My Dr says this is a common side effect and she noted effexor has some pretty marked/prevalent side effects, more than most others.
If you have a cell phone, you should have an alarm setting on it.
I use mine to remind me to take my pills. you can set them to go off every day at what ever time you need to take your pills. I have 5 alarms on my phone and can set 5 different settings. You can set your alarm for the times you need your meds.
I tell you, it work great, I haven't missed any pills sense I've did this.
I missed one dose yesterday because I have a stomach bug I can't move my eyes without being dizzy even though I took it this am. I didn't feel any symptoms yesterday
This is how I feel! Dizzy, nauseous. It feels like my blood pressure is low. Feels like my heart is beating behind my eyes. My son isn't able to go to daycare today as I'm to scared to drive him there feeling this way. Has anyone switched to another antidepressant with less side effects and good results?
I know this is an 8 year old post but I experience the same thing!!! Should I be concerned and switch meds?
This is exactly what I feel like when I miss a dose of Effexor!
I am on 150mg and if I miss 1 pill (which I take every morning) I suffer with a zinging in my my head, nausea and sleep paralysis. The last time I forgot I had repeated heart palpitations and had trouble waking up after each episode, it was really frightening. I’ve been on antidepressants for 10 years and can’t see myself ever coming off them.
It is the worst! I've missed due to running out. I had to call out of work because I can't get out of bed. Feeling sooo dizzy and strange like I can't hold my self together. No one should ever drive if ever feeling like this! It's like feeling worst kind of drunkenness. I came here to see if I was the only one experiencing this. I need to make sure i get automatic refills this time because I definitely don't want to deal with the side effects.
i'm the same, i can't miss a dose. it's like a pain behind my eyes, that makes me feel sick ,
This is exaaaactly what I feel when I miss a dose. DON'T WORRY THOUGH! It's a completely harmless side effect. Yea it feels a bit strange, but I always find that exercising or participating in some activity which draws your attention gets me to stop noticing it as much (if I don't have ready access to another dose). Honestly, having these side effects when I miss a dose reminds me that "oh yea, I guess this drug IS in my system and doing its job so much so that I can tell immediately when it's not there"
well it usually takes about a week before you start to go through the withdrawls from it..thats why it is important for you not to miss a dose.but if you do dont double up just wait till your next time to take it and stay on a schedule try to take your meds at the same time every day..and if you are having trouble remebering to take it keep it right on your cofee table that way you will see it and remember..good luck
Just as another question, what do you mean by take it at the same time everyday? Does that mean to wake up everyday (including weekends) i get up at 545am on weekdays and whenever on the weekends.. Does that mean I should try to wake up at 545 on the weekends too? Or is it going to be okay if I just take them when I wake up on the weekends?
Sorry I just realized you posted this about 7 years ago but I'm new to effexor
Cooper21,
You don't have to take it at the exact same time every day, but I wouldn't take it anymore than a couple hours off from when you usually would. I've been on Effexor for two years now and it works better for me to take it at night before bed so usually anytime between 9-11pm I'll take it every night and I've never had a problem that way. Hope this helps!
I have the easiest time remembering by using a weekly pill organizer I keep in my purse on work days, and then by leaving it in plain sight at home rather than the cabinet and when I see it, stop everything I'm doing and taking it right then and there so I don't forget again.
I'm only new to this thread. I'm on 225mg Venlafaxine in the morning with 40mg Propropanol, 10mg Ramipril and some others for blood pressure. In the evening I take 150mg Venlafaxine and 120mg Mirtazapine.
I have really strange dreams and suicidal thoughts. I'm also under the mental health team (due to loss of my partner and daughter) but seem to be struggling as no one really understands how I feel. Sorry to be a mean but just wondering how other people feel on the drug.
David1305B,
I get crazy dreams on effexor too, not to mention a whole host of otherside effects like nightsweats all the time! I also have serious lows if i miss doses (sometimes when im on it to.) These are normal side effects, I think its a pretty hardcore antidepressant and perhaps leads to more intense withdrawals or sideffects than others (I have only ever been on effexor so im not sure) but ive found that after my first few months it has really helped me get out of the debilitating depression and anxiety I was experiencing before I took it, im much more stable now. My advice is to stick with it, but also be very open about problems with it with your doctor and any counsellors or psychiatrists.
Wrong. I feel horrible withdrawal effects 25- 48 hours after my last dose.
Wrong. I feel horrible withdrawal effects 25- 48 hours after my last dose.
I’m on 150 mg Effexor I’m diagnosed bi polar, if I miss a dose even just one I become manic it seems to me that it happens offilly quick. Is this normal? I’m a very forgetful person as well and worse so when I miss a dose lol I know how that sounds lol. So my hubby does my meds for me gets it all together and I’ll get frustrated at him to because I feel like an idiot but if it wasn’t for him I’d be in way tougher shape.
Anyways I recently forgot two days in a row I didn’t get manic but last night I kept waking up and felt like I had been standing on my head all night just felt like my body was going to explode more uncomfortable then pain. Has anyone experienced this. I took a robaxocete as well I’m type one diabetic so a lot of factors I’m trying to rule it out. And to boot I can’t take any allergy meds my blood sugars go extremely high I end up in hospital.
Sorry for the novel but ty to anyone willing to answer me or share about them.
I'm commenting even though this is an old post. People still read them years later...
It only takes hours for some people to experience physical withdrawal symptoms from Effexor XR. Especially those of us who experience brain zaps, headaches and nausea from missing or being late with a dose. If you experience these things, look up the thread about whooshing sounds in your head when you move your eyes. Doesn't affect everyone taking Effexor but it happens within just hours of being late with a dose.
I am on Effexor XR 225 mg. When I have missed doses, I am usually fine on the first day, but by the second day I will be very depressed and feel like I have no energy. I know you know this, but it's best just to try not to miss it. My therapist said that Effexor has a particularly short duration of its effectiveness when you miss doses, so if you have a problem missing them a lot, maybe it would be better to try another medication? What helped me was having my prescriptions automatically refilled because I usually missed doses when I ran out. It helped me a lot to make sure I filled my prescription before I had missed any doses because once I had missed one, I found it difficult to get myself to pick up more. I hope this helps
I am also on effexor xr and I do get weird side effects if I miss a dose. Somtimes I get strange headaches. What sort of things r happening to u?
I get very tired and unmotivated the day after. I'm trying to figure out how to get myself out of it next time without just sleeping the day away.
I feel tired and unmotivated while taking the blooming tablets!!! its not a nice feeling when you have missed a dose though, i feel drowsy, sick, confused and even struggle with my speech!
Yeah sometimes I have trouble with my speech too! I also get very nauseous and feel super dizzy and unstable. Similar to when I'm drunk! It's very unsettling and unpleasant. I got very nervous because I didn't know why I was feeling like this. I originally thought it was a side effect of missing a day of vyvanse because I thought I felt weird because of the sudden increase in the medication in my system, so I felt weird and dizzy when I took it the next day.
I also get these feelings! On top of that though, I feel my heart beating faster.
If I somehow skip ONE single dose of Effexor - I am a total MESS ! I get very tired, super emotional, I cry uncontrobally, headache... It's not worth the side effects! It's worse than anything.. I do not recommend chancing the possibilities of missing a dose!! Nothing to mess around with.
Im taking 225mg. For the past 3 months.. each time I miss a dose worse and worse side effects occur for me. The first time I missed one I got brain zaps (a weird funny feeling you get that makes me twitch my head uncontrollably) then the next missed dose was the same as the first except nausea was introduced.. then third dose I missed I was super nauseous disoriented, and felt out of place. And now currently experiencing my 4th missed dose side effect (due to running out) seems like depression.. so don't miss a dose would have to be the best advice I can give anyone on this medication. It's not worth it!
I am on Pristiq 200, I have very high clinical depression as well as chemical depression I also have post traumatic stress my psychiatrist says I have a lot of dark stuff . this will never come outta my brain. I went away for two days this weekend and could not find my tablets. I started hearing noises in my head and hallucinating its usual on the first day noises in the head bad headaches and on tenterhooks. on the second day try that 4 times worse I do not recommend it to anyone.
when i take my meds regularly I am fine, my anxiety stays away unless I experience a stressfull time.
so for me Pristiq is good.
Providing I take them.
Really you should try to avoid missing a dose. But keep in mind that it will stay in your system for at least 14 days. I always say do not push your luck.
To Good Health
Yeah, trust me i know. :) I'm just looking more for how it's dealt with when a dose has been missed... Any thoughts?
You will be fine : )
It will stay in your system for 14 days, but I can attest to the fact that I feel significant side effects from missing a dose by as little as 5 hours.
Effexor does not stay in your system for 14 days. It stays in your system less than 36 hours. Do not miss a dose. If you do, take it as soon as you remember. I have been taking Effexor for the last 15 to 18 years.
In my experience you’ll start feeling a little depressed on the 2nd or 3rd day of not taking it. The depression got a little bit more each day and the depression will get worse and worse. If someone looked at me wrong I would cry. I’m wondering if I double up on it for a day or 2, will that help me get out of this funk???
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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