"i am a woman nearing 40 who has dealt with a handful of health issues; degenerative joint disease in both tmj joints (20+ years), chronic migraines (20+ years), depression (20 years), and high blood pressure (6 years). i have been taking 250mg of effexor for many years. due to chronic pain my doc increased my dose to 300mg in spring. since then my life has fallen to pieces. i have such terrible nightmares both at night and when i nap that i wake my entire 2 storey house. i have cold sweats and need to be woke up. i am usually in tears because as soon as i close my eyes i am right back in the nightmare. this goes on night after night. i am in a vicious and scary cycle."