Back pain

Posted , 4 users are following.

Anybody on this med feel spaced out and have lower back pain? I went from 75mg to 150mg a week ago.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi John.

    I've been on Effexor xr 75 for over 12 years, and never experienced those things. You may feel spacy because you increased your dose recently. I do experience dizzy spells if I go past an hour of taking it. But the back pain, I can't say.... Right now, ironically, I am having back spasms, but that's due to over straining. But I always have low back pain. I don't know if that's a side effect, but that's weird that you bring that up!

    Anyway, I think the spaciness is from the increase. If it doesn't settle down, please call your doctor! Take care!

    • Posted

      53 year old

      Height 5'11"

      Weight 240 lbs

      Diabetes type 2

      Obesity

      GAD

      DEPRESSION

      WENT TO DOCTOR FEBRUARY 3, 2017 BECAUSE I WAS URINATING MORE THAN I THOUGHT I SHOULD. THEY PERFORMED A URINALYSIS.  THEY FOUND MICROSCOPIC HEMSTURIA IN MY URINE. 3-10HPF.  THEY SENT ME TO A UROLOGIST.  THEY DID ANOTHER URINALYSIS,  RECTAL EXAM, PSA BLOOD DRAW,  CYSTOSCOPY, AND A CT SCAN OF MY ABDOMINAL AND PELVIC AREA.  THEY SAID MY PSA WAS 2.  THE ONLY FINDINGS WERR FATTY LIVER AND GALLSTONES.  THIS REASSURED ME FOR A FEW DAYS. THEN I STARTED THINKING THEY MISSED SOMETHING. I STARTED RUNNING TO THE DOCTOR EVERY OTHER DAY THINKING I HAD CANCER. I EVEN PASSED OUT A FEW TIMES. I'VE HAD A COLONOSCOPY A FEW YEARS AGO WITH ONE POYLOP THEY SAID WOULD NEVER BE CANCEROUS.  I'VE HAD TWO CT SCANS OF MY HEAD. SEVERAL CHEST XRAYS AND PLENTY OF BLOOD WORK DONE. I ALSO HAVE BILATERAL HERNIAS. NOW MY DOCTOR THINKS I'M SUFFERING FROM ANXIETY AND PUT ME ON VENLAFAXINE 75MG IN WHICH A PSYCHIATRIST THEY SENT ME TOO UPPED IT TO 150MG. NOW MY QUESTIONS ARE, 1. DO YOU THINK THEY'VE DONE ENOUGH TO RULE OUT CANCER? 2. DO YOU THINK I SHOULD TRUST THEM?

    • Posted

      Hi John, YES, I think they ran a good panel of tests, and YES, trust your doctors. I think you are suffering from anxiety. And I believe you're going to be okay. Anxiety can do terrible things to our psyche. It makes us imagine things, we have a bazillion what ifs, we sometimes feel paranoid. I felt all of this and more. The bad news is there isn't a cure for anxiety or stress. But it is totally manageable. You will feel better! I promise.

      If you've recently started this medication, it takes 4-6 weeks to build up in your brain. You will have set backs here and there, but for the most part, you should be feeling better in about 3 weeks and even better after. And once you reach that point, your other aches and pains and worries will not seen like a big deal.

      I also think you should seek out a therapist. Mine has helped me greatly. I've also made big lifestyle changes. I walk a lot, I try to do my hobbies, even when I don't want to, I pray a lot, enjoy going to church, given up sugar and caffeine.I've downloaded the "calm" app. You can purchase it for full access, but there free version offers breathing and relaxation techniques that will help you. You have to be proactive in managing your anxiety but posting yourself forward. Medication is only party of the battle. But you'll be okay. Just take it day by day and remember to breathe. You're not alone!!!

    • Posted

      You have helped a lot Tammy. Just did my one year follow up lab with the urologist and they did another UA and PSA. Everything came back normal.
    • Posted

      That's great news John!! So you're health is great. Something to be thankful for!!! Take your recovery one day at a time. See, you made it this far and I bet you're feeling a little better, at least not as bad as you did a week ago. I used to dread going to bed because it meant sleepless nights, worries, anxiety. But during my recovery from this, going to bed meant I made it thru another day and I convinced myself that tomorrow was going to be a little bit better.

      I hope you're sleeping and getting fresh air every day! You're going to make it! God bless you always!!!

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