Posted by black03vegas on June 9, 2005, at 18:07:22
In reply to Re: EFFEXOR AND TEMAZEPAM, posted by Kodie on June 8, 2005, at 20:00:55
Kodie wrote:
"To make a long post shorter, here are the facts. I use Effexor XR 75MG once a day. I also take Ambien 10MG at night. I've used Ambien for nine months and Effexor for eight months. Both have been great for me. I've had no side effects, but that's just me. Others might have side effects."
...and I couldn't agree more! I had some pretty rough anxiety, which helped lead to depression, and then couldn't sleep AT ALL! I was _extremely_ reluctant to seek any type of help but, after a LOT of nudging by friends and family I finally went to my family doctor. Long story short...he started me on 37.5mg/day for the first week and then up'd it to 75mg/day. During the first several weeks he gave me 10mg of Ambien (as needed). Hell, I think the Ambien did more for me than anything!!! I was FINALLY able to sleep...somtimes only 4 hours on some nights. That was some of the BEST darn rest I've had in years!!! The Dr. mentioned I could break the Ambiens in half if the 10mg was too much...so I would take 5mg when I went to bed and the other 5mg if I woke up at night. Getting a _SOLID_ 8+ hours of sleep...without feeling "groggy" in the mornings did wonders for the rest the day!!!As for the 75mg of Effexor XR a day...Lord help me if I ever forgot to take it 2 days in a row! If I didn't miss any doses, everything was fine and dandy. But, if I missed 2 doses/days...I felt like my head was swimming, was about to explode, I was always dizzy, and in general it felt like I was going to have a panic attack (at least as I understand them from other peoples descriptions...because I don't think I've _truely_ had one). All of this would start within 3 hours of missing the 2nd dose and quit about 4-5 hours after taking it again. I'd usually have to take one and lay on the bed for the 4-5 hours. I couldn't _wait_ to get off of it...especially since counselling was definately helping me in other ways! I expressed my concerns about how I felt missing doses so quitting "cold turkey" was NOT going to happen!!! He agreed to slowly back me off of it...alternating 75mg and 37.5mg, then eventually 37.5 mg/day, then 37.5mg every other day. I eventually got off it...with roughly 20 lbs added to my frame! LOL!!! But, everything (counselling, Effexor XR, and Ambein) _definately_ worked for me!
Glad to hear that it's working for Kodie too! Just beware be careful about coming off the Effexor XR too fast, you may experience the same feelings/things I did...and _that_ is not fun!
poster:black03vegas
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050606/msgs/510169.html