Posted by supersleepy on January 31, 2003, at 15:23:53
In reply to After 10 months I'm getting off, posted by sly on January 30, 2003, at 12:54:01
Finding this site has been amazing--both validating and a little frightening. I take a low dose (75 mg/day) and have not felt the need to increase. I had been taking St. John's Wort for several years, and I thought it managed my mild-to-moderate depression pretty well. But, after my mother died in June, I started having full-blown panic attacks for the first time ever. My dr put me on Effexor (37.5/day for one wk, then up to 75/day). She'd always been opposed to the Wort, and had been lobbying for some time to put me on "something real." At the time I came into her office, short of breath and weeping uncontrollably, I was in no condition to argue, object, or do research! The drug has been extremely helpful. After about five of days drymouth and sudden on-set sleepiness (like someone slipped me a mickey), everything felt pretty good. After about four months, I started noticing those far-out dreams that others have mentioned, and for the last month or so I have been amazingly sleepy and lethargic. I ALWAYS fall asleep if I find myself with any "free" time in the afternoon or evening. Not so bad for someone who has had some history of insomnia, but it certainly is impairing my productivity--and I really don't want it to get any worse. I started this drug in response to a specific life crisis, so now I'm thinking I should get more assertive about getting off. My dr will resist, since she won't want me to back to Wort. Any experience to share or suggestions? Thanks.
poster:supersleepy
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030130/msgs/138573.html