Does Effexor help with motivation?

In this guide we will discuss the use of effexor to treat motivation related problems in mental health disorders like depression. 

We will also take a closer look at the impact of mental illness of motivation and how effexor works to treat demotivation and other symptoms of depression.

Does Effexor help with motivation?

Yes, effexor does help improve motivation for patients who are depressed. It helps in the alleviation of symptoms such as lethargy and demotivation in some users.

However, relying only on effexor to help cope with the lack of motivation might not be the best strategy in fact, many studies claim that pharmacological treatment is best paired with professional therapy and lifestyle changes.

 

Motivation and depression

Depression is a major mental disorder that is characterised by low or depressed moods which is persistent over a long period of time and can affect a person’s functioning in various parts of their life- their jobs, their relationships, and their sense of self. 

One of the telling signs of depression is fatigue and demotivation that persists for more than two weeks and that which makes it difficult for you to meet the demands of your life and take charge of your responsibilities. 

Demotivation in depression can make you feel low, and unwilling to do anything- it can even make getting out of bed a huge challenge. This particular symptom impacts recovery from depression seem almost impossible. 

A person who is depressed and lacks motivation may not feel the drive to meet his needs- they may not be able to eat well, sleep well, they may even not want to keep up with their loved ones.

Struggling with demotivation, in individuals who are depressed, has been found to be related to neurochemicals and brain structures related to executive functioning, emotions, and behaviour. 

Neurotransmitters that are connected to depression and demotivation include serotonin imbalance and dopamine imbalance in the brain. These chemical messengers contribute to depression- especially the perception of motivation and joy.

For treating these chemical imbalances, people diagnosed are usually prescribed drug treatments to help restore the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain. One such drug treatment is Effexor.

 

What is Effexor?

Effexor is the brand name of the drug Venlafaxine which is an antidepressant of the Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI) class first introduced by Wyeth in 1999. 

It inhibits the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine, thus increasing their levels in the brain, in order to help combat major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder. 

Effexor is considered one of the most effective drug treatments for depression and is more motivating than its alternatives. It is often recommended when SSRI treatments fail.  

Side effects 

Side effects of Effexor may include drowsiness. It may also affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. 

Other side effects also include sexual problems,loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping or change in sleep habits, Tremor, dizziness, sweating, feeling anxious, headache. 

Usually these effects are mild, and they go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. However, if they persist or severe symptoms aise, it is advisable to talk to your physician.

Risks and cautions

Venlafaxine  or effexor come with several warnings that highlight groups at risk when it comes to the use of the drug.

People with allergy to Venlafaxine can suffer a severe allergic reaction- leading to trouble breathing, swelling of your face, tongue, eyes, or mouth. rash, hives, or blisters, alone or with joint pain or fever.

The drug is also not to be taken with alcohol and other substances as it raises the risk of sleepiness. It may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, and react quickly. 

People with liver or kidney disease may not be able to process the drug leading to build up. It is also advisable that people with heart diseases be cautious when taking the drug as it increases heart rate that may lead to heart failure or heart attacks. 

For people with a history of seizures Venlafaxine may increase the risk of seizures. The drug was also found to be dangerous for pregnant women and the unborn baby. Similarly, for breastfeeding mothers, effexor is not recommended as there is a likelihood that the drug will pass on through the breastmilk and cause side effects in the child. 

The drug is also to be administered with extreme caution for seniors as there is an creased risk of all common and severe side effects while for children, the drug is not prescribed to anyone below 18 years of age.

Effexor and motivation 

Effexor has been found to be effective in treating depression and in some cases anxiety related symptoms. It has been regarded as one of the top SNRIs that is often prescribed to clinical patients as part of their treatment plans. 

A study to review the efficacy of venlafaxine based on a number of clinical trials conducted found that venlafaxine has been evaluated to be effective in a broad range of depressed patients, particularly for the severely ill. 

The pharmacological features of venlafaxine, which benefit the patient include rapid action and subsequent reduction of symptoms such as lethargy and demotivation-. Some patients who took the drug also showed some form of energizing effect in users. 

The efficacy of venlafaxine has also been studied on a total of 538 outpatients aged 20 years or older with a primary diagnosis of MDD. The population consisted of people who experienced single or recurrent episodes.

The results of this meta-analysis support the efficacy of the treatment of MDD in those patients with either low or high severity of anxiety symptoms and the longer the illness (more than two years) the greater the treatment benefits.

Another study on venlafaxine across various users also highlighted that while users might experience apathy, change in dosage and continued use leads to allievations of the side effects and patients “ reported a gradual return of both motivation and emotions.”

The efficacy of venlafaxine to reduce or alienate the symptoms of depression have been well studied but the impact of effexor on motivation lacks more research- however, the results of various clinical studies on the drug gives promising results as to its positive effect on motivation. 

Conclusion

In this guide we discuss the impact of effexor on depression related symptoms- demotivation. We also discussed the side effects of the drug and how likely the drug is to help energize and increase motivation in it’s users. While there are not many studies done on this specific variable, there is considerable evidence that effexor is effective in treating depression.

Frequently asked questions related to “Does effexor help with motivation?”

Will Effexor give me energy?

Effexor is the brand name of the drug venlafaxine which  has high rates of success when treating depression related symptoms. It has been observed to improve one’s mood, motiaton, and interest to engage in daily life actitiesites. 

It has also been observed to decrease fear, anxiety, unwanted thoughts, and the number of panic attacks. 

Which antidepressant is best for motivation?

Prozac (fluoxetine) and Wellbutrin (bupropion) are some drug treatments which are observed to be more  “energizing” antidepressants.

Does Effexor improve concentration?

Effexor works by boosting the level of specific neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine and dopamine, in the brain by inhibiting their reuptake. Balancing the levels of these neurotransmitters have been found to help improve mood, promote better sleep, and boost your ability to concentrate and focus on tasks. 

Is it better to take Effexor at night?

One of the side effects of effexor is that it can impact your sleep cycle by disrupting your ability to sleep- some severe side effects even include nightmares and tremors which can make it hard to get good sleep. 

Because of it’s motivating or energizing effect, it may be best to take it in the morning.

How do you know if Effexor is working?

The effects of effexor can be observed when you feel there are some changes- improvements- in your sleep pattern, energy level, and appetite in the first two weeks. 

Nothing changes that is taking your well being in a positive direction is one way to estimate that the drug is working.