It sounds like serotonin syndrome. I read about it on the info sheet with my Effexor prescription. Here is a wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin_syn drome

Or perhaps you should have told your doc the truth when they asked you if you drink or do any drugs? 37.5mg is a VERY low dose. The lowest. You will probably have to increase that dose a few times, so if you're having problems now, I'm sure you can expect worse if you keep smoking weed while taking the meds. They are barely even in your system yet and you are having problems. And it states right on the bottle not to consume alcohol while on this medication. I've been on my fair share of meds and trust me, they aren't kidding when they say not to mix alcohol with the meds. Downer Downer = Major Downer

I'd knock off the substances if you expect to feel any better, assuming you are on the Effexor for depression. It won't help unless you help yourself.

Any advice for someone who is smoking marijuana, cigarettes, drinking and on Effexor? He throws up just about every day in the morning, and sleeps until late in the afternoon. But doesn't think there is anything wrong. He was taking sleeping pills, and may still be. Also, we have suggested going to a physciatrist, but he says there is no need. He has gone to a MD at least once to be prescribed effexor, and once more to get it re-prescribed. In the beginning the effexor was working well for him, now he is sick all the time. He lives five hours from any family and doesnt communicate with any of us regularly at all, he is in college (dropped all classes this semester supposed to be his last semester) and doesnt leave his room much. Any advice?

But some people are very sensitive. I was on Effexor a few years ago, and I was quite comfortable on a very low dose. When my Doctor increased my dosage to 100mg, I started having bad side effects. It felt like I was on speed, racing heart, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. (and I was already underweight) That's when I weened myself off the meds. The side effects felt worse than the depression. I was able to get past the depression with lots of B vitamins & some amino acids.

The electric shocks you describe are not seretonin syndrome (which is a severe and often fatal reaction) but the effect of neurotransmitters in the brain that are influenced by Venlafaxine (Effexor). It is extremely important not to mix alcohol or drugs with Venlafaxine. This is not because they interreact to cause fatal or dangerous conditions but because they alter the way the medicine is metabolised.

If you have not been on Venlafaxine very long you are probably suffering the electric shocks as side effects, however they are more common during withdrawal. Venlafaxine has a very short half life and withdrawal symptoms can start within 12 hours of a missed tablet. Could you have missed a dose?

The dopamine levels are unlikely to be what is causing this as dopamine causes you to feel relaxed and happy, not sweaty and racey. The cannabis is making you sweaty and panicky, the Venlafaxine is causing the shocks through your central nervous system.

You can drink on Venlafaxine eventually. But don't while you're getting used to the medication. It'll just make you feel ill. Don't take any drugs whatsoever while you're on antidepressants or while you are suffering from depression/anxiety. You will make your condition ten times worse. Both alcohol and drugs have a severe effect on mental illness and will just defy the point of you being treated at all. Drink moderately after a few months of being on Venlafaxine (but not before then) and quit drugs altogether.

What you have experienced is not dangerous but you should take it as a warning as to just how strong the medication is and how it effects your brain and central nervous system. Messing with Venlafaxine will make you feel very ill, much worse than other antidepressants.

The moral of the story? Don't screw with your central nervous system or your central nervous system will screw with you

Good luck.

Effexor Marijuana Is a Bad Idea!! It causes Seizures!! YOU ARE HAVING SEIZURES!!