Is this a normal side effect of anti-depressants?

lighten up

Well, you say you're "experiencing quite an improvement in general well-being, mentally and physically." In addition, you say that the one side-effect you have you're managing it, which is great.

So the big problem is that your PMS symptoms have worsened. I'm not sure how a doctor would address that specific concern, because PMS lasts for such a short period when compared to the times outside of PMS. Maybe your doctor can add a benzodiazepine (i.e. Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin) to help you manage the "hyper-bitchy" and "easily annoyed" feelings.

Hope this was helpful. I wish you the best of luck as you figure out your next move.

Stay away from OTC remedies that are not approved by your doctor. There could be bad interaction effects with your prescription meds. Next, are you seeing a psychiatrist or family doctor? If it is the latter, seek help from a psychiatrist. After finding a good medication or combination of medications then follow up with your family doctor for refills. Family doctors don't know enough about psychological disorders to be able to treat them.

Also, keep a written log of your mood and your cycle so you can present written evidence to your psychiatrist and possibly Gyn doc if necessary. Get them both to work together to help you solve this problem.

Anti-depressants often have side effects. You probably should talk to your doctor about this right away. I have never heard of "Lovan." And I work in mental health. The best answers for depression are found in only the place: The Bible.

Tell your Doctor post haste. The side effects of powerful drugs can be quite alarming but realizing that they exist demonstrates an awareness that you are not part of the side effects, try to keep them separate. Good luck and keep yourself separated from the side effects until a better answer is found, if any. I have been fortunate in finding the proper mix of medications. Not everyone is so lucky and it may take a few years. Holistic approaches did not work for me, personally. It may be due to our chemically contaminated culture, I don't know. We no longer live in an "Organic" world.

Yeah, i had this issue. What happenes is, you didnt notice the changes in your mood around the time of your period before - because you were so used to it ALL the time... you didnt notice the pattern. Now, that you have your emotional hormones under control, you are having reactions like a normal person to monthly hormone fluxuations.

When i was on Wellbutrin - my doctor had me increase my dose for 10 days before my cycle every month. When my cycle started, i cut it back to normal dosage. Pain in the butt, but it did the trick. Having taht lil extra bit in my system to help with the extra drop in stability. Talk to your doctor about it... i dunno if it works with Effexor.

If you do not have enough money, you could take drugs, like alcohol or crack, to feel better and many do. But that does not cure it. The cure is to make more money. If you are depressed, the cure is not to take a drug, like Prozac. The cure is to be happier. If you have panic or anxiety, which everyone feels at one time or another, the cure is not to take drugs. The cure is to feel more tranquility, calmness and peace of mind. See site below for more on this. Peace be with you.

Kevin Trudeau says in his best selling book, Natural Cures They Do Not Want You to Know About, "All illnesses and diseases are caused by the same things; (1) too many toxins in the body; (2) nutritionally deficiencies; (3) electromagnetic chaos exposure; (4) mental and/or emotional distress." "The most effective way to cure and prevent disease is by getting the toxins out." "One very powerful cleanse is, of course, fasting." "Drugs only suppress symptoms, and they cause disease because they are toxic." In More Natural Cures Revealed, Kevin Trudeau says "The facts are clear, drugs, both prescription and non-prescription, do not make you healthier, they make you sicker. Drug companies are not interested in your health. Drug companies only want you to buy and use more drugs. If you want to cure yourself of any disease you have and remain healthy, you must eliminate all non-prescription and prescription drugs."

http://www.phifoundation.org/heal.html

I'm not on any meds but I always feel like that before my period. It sucks but I am sure it is normal. I don't think it is a side effect of the meds I think it is just your hormones.

i was taking anti-depressants for 3 years, I needed them. Now I'm not sure if I'm better than before coz I just don't care about anything.

better to just face your problems than take pills

Doctors are stupid and don't care about you, or me. or the person sitting next to you.

Edit: What WhizKid said!!!

The drug companies dont' care about you, or me, or the person sitting next to you! they're f*cking CRIMINALS

They can be tricky and the doctor should be told,

effexor made me manic