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Well, I have an issue that's been bugging me a bit, perhaps someone here can help?

I have depression, so I'm taking 150 milligrams of Effxor to help me along with it.
However, I've noticed a change in my sleeping patterns, which I know exsists with a medication, but not like this.

It was a month ago that I changed medication to 150 milligrams, and I experienced a period of sleepiness. Now, a month later, I am having troubles with sleep such as:

~When I'm not even tired at all, I put my head down on my desk at school, and BAM, in a matter of minutes, I'm asleep.

~I have a hard time falling asleep. I frequently twitch alot and have these strange nightmares just before falling asleep.

~After I go to sleep, I'll wake up, perky, at about 2 or 3 in the morning, then I cannot go back to sleep.

~I do feel tired alot, though.

Could someone help a little?

Could this be some sleeping disorder? Or does it have to do with my medicine?

Most meds nowadays do more harm than good with the potential side effects they carry. True, just becuase there are potential side effects, that doesn't mean you will get all of them if any of them at all, and of course different people will have varying degrees of the side effects they do get. You should talk to the doctor that prescribed your anti-depressant.

It is a common story: People on a drug, no matter what it is for (from anti-depressants to cancer meds), but they need it to be "normal", sometimes expirence harsh or weird side effects. The doctor's response is to either lower the dose or give other meds to counteract the side effects. In most cases, more meds just create more problems for which they give more meds and the cycle continues.

This happened to my mom's friend. She was on some anti-depressants becuase her hormonal therapy drugs she was taking after she had a masectomy (sp?) to remove breast cancer was making her screwy. The combo of the anti-depressants and hormonal drugs made her so up and down all the time. She had irregular sleeping habits as well and would cry without any reason. She stopped taking the hormonal drugs and lowered the anti-depressants. She went back to normal (well, normal for her before the cancer, lol). After a while, she lowered the anti-depressants even more and went back on a low amount of the hormone therapy. She was a little off for a bit, but then got better. She is done with the hormonal therapy but still uses a low does of the anti-depressants every now and then.

Doctors don't seem to understand that everybody's body is different. Different people need different amounts and even different timing of drugs and meds for it to have maximum effectiveness. I think they do know, but don't want to spend the time fine tuning each peitent so they hand out what the FDA says is the "normal" dose and see what happens.

You could try to do things such as calming routines and exercises before bed and such. NEVER adjust the doseage of your meds without a doctors approval first. You could do more harm that good to yourself. Then you will need more meds, lol.

Some things to try:

1) Change of diet - I don't mean diet as in "loose weight". I mean diet as in what you normally eat. Sometimes what you eat for breakfast alone can dictate what you will feel like eating or not eating for the rest of the day. You don't have to give up junk food, carbs, or sugar completely. Just try adjusting your diet so you feel like you have more energy throughout the day. true, sleeping better helps a lot, but proper eating does too. It is a cycle effect where one effects the other almost equally.

2) Exercise - Once again, i don;t mean to loose weight. Light to moderate exercise on a regular basis can help you feel more energized and even sleep better and longer when you do go to bed. You can do 15 mins of basic exercise a day (sit-ups, jumping jacks, a walk or job, so on). You don't have to do the 15 mins all at once either. 5 mins here, 5 mins there, so on. You should be doing basic exercises atleast once for 15 mins every other day.

3) Minimize streeses - Self explainitory. This, however, also includes finding healthy ways to deal with the stresses you can't completely or easily get rid of, such as school, work, friends, family, periods, so on.

4) Try relaxing things - Starrkey mentioned some great things to do! try herbal or aroma therapy stuff. Lavander has been proven as a calming scent. Try a lavander scented shower or bath before bed time. Or like she said, lavender scent on your pillow. Camomile (sp?) and warm vanilla sugar are also good calming scents. Try listening to calming music. Doesn't have to be nature sounds only, but music you know makes you feel mellow. Try reading, writing, playing games, watching some tv or a movie. Activities you know make you sleepy. If all else fails, just get comfy and lay there with or without your eyes closed and relax as much as you can. Sometimes just being still and at rest long enough will settle your mind and body enough to sleep.

5) Be social and active - It has been proven that those who are happier in their social life are just healthier over all. Whatever your prefered social level is, keep it up. Don't become completely reclusive or it will add to your depression and it's side effects. You don't have to force yourself out or be a social butterfly. Atleast have one good friend you enjoy talking to and spending time with. It will make your feel better and more fulfilled which in turn will help you feel better about yourself and you will sleep better and the cycle continues. The same with staying active. By active I don;t just mean exercise. I mean also just getting out and about on a regular basis, even if it is just going to the store for regular grocery shopping.

There really is all kinds of things you can do. Expirement! See what works for you. When it comes to adjusting your meds or taking other meds (including sleep helpers), always consult your doctor first.

It would seem that Effxor isn't working too well for you. Consult with your doctor and see if there is something else that might work better with your body. Your doctor definatly knows the best.

Well I don't really know much about this, but it sounds to me like it is a side effect of your medicine. Like you said it normally doesn't effect you this much, but maybe now it does. You should talk to your doctor about it.

Effexor....oh boy. My daughter was on that. Warning: DO NOT DISCONTINUE THIS ONE SUDDENLY. I'm not trying to yell at you, but make this noticable. This drug will give you withdrawls. My daughter suffered with this drug terribly. You have to plan ahead with this drug, and go off it gradually....very gradually. Talk to your doctor about this, please.

Look up the side effects:
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/index.html

My daughter had some muscle spasms with the Wellbutrin, but not with the Effexor. So I don't know what would cause that. She is on Prozac now, and doesn't have trouble with it.

Side effects should be taken very seriously. Please talk to your parents about this. You should probably be changing your med.

I had the same sleeping patterns when I was on that, too.

I'm guessing you've tried other antidepressants than Effexor?