Can Effexor trigger or worsen seizures?

I too began having seizures

Submitted by DerrickS on Fri, 2019-08-23 - 17:12

I too began having seizures after being prescribed Effexor XR, along with other medications. The psychiatrist attributed my seizures to anything but the prescribed drugs. I was misdiagnosed as having epilepsy by a neurologist who claimed to not know the specific causation of my seizures. He too never considered them to be caused by brain-altering psychiatric/psychotropic drugs. I had 6 seizures in total. And they changed my life forever. Upon discontinuing all of the prescribed drugs, I have not had a single seizure and have regained my health. It has been 13 months of freedom. Much love.

Like those below me, I too

Submitted by NessAmber on Tue, 2019-03-05 - 12:58

Like those below me, I too needed to respond to this. I was prescribed Effexor XR in 2005. I was only on it for 3 months. Within the first 2 days of being on the medication, I began getting focal seizures in my head. They would last 15-30 seconds and sometimes came in clusters. I had NEVER had them before being on this medication. After speaking to the doctor, she UPPED my dosage. I was getting 6-8 seizures a night and not getting more than 30 minutes consecutive sleep. I quit cold turkey after 3 months (I don't suggest quitting cold turkey). The seizure activity continued, but the the number lessened as years went by. Now I only get them when I have a couple nights of insomnia in a row. Effexor changes things within your brain, and sometimes on a permanent level. It is dangerous and I would never recommend to anyone. I'm quite certain that it has a harmful effect on the mitochondria. 

Re: Can Effexor trigger or worsen seizures?

Submitted by emashmom on Mon, 2008-02-25 - 22:19

Hello Miranda,

I just had to respond to you.....I just joined because I read this post as I am looking fro information on this medication. I had some major issues with this medication, it did make me have seizures. I was seizure free for 5 years I had completly stopped taking all antiepliptic medications while I was pregnant with my daughter BOTH TIMEs (and this was cold turkey, no weekng  off the medication) I really knew my body and understood my limits with my epilepsy and it was not severe then. I suffered post partem after I had my children which is where the Effexor came into the picture. Once the dose reached 225mg is when the problem arose I had one seizure grand mal and two days later I had another one which I ended up in hospital. It was really bad resulting is major injury. Since they have had a very  difficult time regulating my seizures and needless to say it has made my depression worse. So the moral of the storey....yes it has happened to another person out there it is an awful thing I now experience different types of seizures I am not sure if it is a result of injury or what but just get checked out! 

Good luck!