Posted by sly on May 22, 2002, at 8:16:13
In reply to Re: how long until you felt better? » sly, posted by Spencer on May 22, 2002, at 4:13:23
Thanks Spencer, it's nice to know someone else feels the same way.
It was actually my family Dr. that prescribed Effexor, I went to see him after I met with a counsellor who told me to speak to my Dr. about medication, she said therapy might be easier if I was on meds. because it would give me more energy and help me feel better about myself - no one really prepared me to deal with the possibility that it would get worse before it got better. My family Dr.'s ok, he follows up with me every 2 weeks, I have to go in and meet with him and let him know how I'm doing. So far I've just been seeing a Social Worker, but this week I'm starting therapy with a Psychologist - I'm up in Canada, the wait for a Psychiatrist is too long and besides, Psychiatrists don't talk (from what I've been told) - I know this depression won't lift until I deal with some of the issues that send me to bed crying at night.
Thanks again for your help!
> Sly
>
> What you describe is exactly what I experienced, but I eventually came right.
>
> When I first went to my GP with severe depression (August last year), he put me on Prozac and warned me that it would take 6-8 weeks to feel better and that things would get worse before they got better. After a week of no sleep (following about two months of very little sleep) and feeling much much worse that when I first went to him, he sent me to a psychiatrist who started me on Efexor XR (37.5mg building up to 150mg) also with the warning that I would get worse before feeling better. They were right......I was desperate. Somehow I dragged myself out of bed and to work every morning, but actually didn't do anything for about 2 months. But then things slowly slowly turned around....I went to a psychologist for therapy and eventually I felt fine and better than I had for many years. The whole process took about 4 months including the therapy, although the Efexor was working properly after after about 2 months. I also had very good family and friend support.
>
> I was on the 150mg XR until a week ago and am now weaning off ...I take 75mg XR plus 35mg plain Efexor...so far so good.
>
> Don't give up, Sly.......it may take another 2-4 weeks and if you don't feel better, you may need a higher dose. Get help from somebody who understands the medication. There seem to be a lot of people who are seeing doctors who are ignorant of what happens with Efexor and the subsequent withdrawal.
>
> Good luck and please keep us all informed of how you get on.
poster:sly
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020517/msgs/107261.html