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What Causes Severe Sleep Apnea, Snoring And Disturbed Dreams While On Effexor?
Question: I am taking Sifrol and Effexor, sifrol for restless legs syndrome, Effexor as an anti depressant. I have been taking sifrol for several years. I have been taking Effexor for about four months. Since taking the Effexor I have been dropping off to sleep several times a day when sitting or lying down. I suffer from severe sleep apnoea (central and mixed apnoeas) with snoring and a severe deficit of REM) I am also since taking Effexor having increased disturbed dreams. I have read that Effexor may cause sleep apnoe. How can I address the daytime sleepiness?
Brief Answer:
The obstructive component needs to be taken care of.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HelathcareMagic.
Indeed Effexor is known to be associated with the side effect of sleep apnea of central cause. Side effects occur in very few individuals (one in a few thousands) and hence it is not necessary that the sleep apnea is due to Effexor. Your sleep study shows that you have both central and obstructive sleep apnea hence you probably had the symptoms even before you started taking Effexor 4 months back. For this I need to know how long the symptoms have been there. Visiting an ENT specialist will give you an idea if the obstructions (for which the snoring is occurring) can be taken care of. Relief of the obstruction will ease your symptoms.
You need to talk to your treating physician for dose modification or modification of treatment regimen in order to take care of the daytime sleepiness. Effexor is known to cause sleep disturbances and unless you sleep sound, the daytime sleepiness is not unusual.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
The obstructive component needs to be taken care of.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HelathcareMagic.
Indeed Effexor is known to be associated with the side effect of sleep apnea of central cause. Side effects occur in very few individuals (one in a few thousands) and hence it is not necessary that the sleep apnea is due to Effexor. Your sleep study shows that you have both central and obstructive sleep apnea hence you probably had the symptoms even before you started taking Effexor 4 months back. For this I need to know how long the symptoms have been there. Visiting an ENT specialist will give you an idea if the obstructions (for which the snoring is occurring) can be taken care of. Relief of the obstruction will ease your symptoms.
You need to talk to your treating physician for dose modification or modification of treatment regimen in order to take care of the daytime sleepiness. Effexor is known to cause sleep disturbances and unless you sleep sound, the daytime sleepiness is not unusual.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have had sleep apnoea for at least 10 years but I have not had this sleepiness during the day as nearly as seriously until I started taking Effexor. Could the sleep test results have been as serious if I had not been taking Effexor?
Brief Answer:
Sleep disturbances are known to be associated with Effexor
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Yes, Effexor is known to be associated with sleep disturbances and could be associated with the daytime sleepiness that you are experiencing. That is the reason I suggested for you to discuss with your treating physician about modification of the treatment regimen.
Even if you had not been taking Effexor, your sleep study would have given similar results. I am not sure about the central component but the rest are likely to have been present. However, when not on Effexor, the REM changes would probably not have been present.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
Sleep disturbances are known to be associated with Effexor
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Yes, Effexor is known to be associated with sleep disturbances and could be associated with the daytime sleepiness that you are experiencing. That is the reason I suggested for you to discuss with your treating physician about modification of the treatment regimen.
Even if you had not been taking Effexor, your sleep study would have given similar results. I am not sure about the central component but the rest are likely to have been present. However, when not on Effexor, the REM changes would probably not have been present.
Let me know if I could help further.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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