Posted by detroitpistons on March 20, 2006, at 9:24:58
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES! , posted by Shel on July 18, 2000, at 1:35:45
The first time I took Effexor, it was a wonder drug for me too. It was a complete 180 degree change. My depression was gone, I had feelings of well being, my anxiety was completely eliminated, and I had confidence for the first time in my life. I felt transformed. Then Effexor pooped out after about a year and a half and I was back to my old depressed self again. If you've ever read the book Flowers for Algernon, that's exactly how I felt. I went from feeling transformed to deteriorating back to my original condition.
After that, the next two SSRI's (Paxil and Lexapro) didn't really work. Last August I started getting depressed again and then finally crashed hard. That's when I got back on Effexor. However, this time it was different. My depression lifted, but I felt "weird." I was extremely agitated, nervous, anxious, irritable, quick tempered, more aggressive, had high energy (but nervous energy, not the good kind), required less sleep, and was somewhat impulsive.
My doctor said I was hypomanic and diagnosed me Bipolar II and put me on Lamictal which is a mood stabilizer. I've responded pretty well to the Lamictal. It's calmed me down a lot and and improved my mood. But I'm not convinced of the bipolar II diagnosis. I'm thinking that maybe this was an isolated event, just a bad reaction to Effexor. Effexor is very strong and acts on Norepinephrine. I think a norepinephrine overload may have caused these symptoms.
take care
> I too have had problems with depression for the last 7 years. Crying for no reason, could not sleep, couldn't eat, feeling out of control of my life, turning mole hills into mountains.
>
> I first on Zoloft for about a year was just fine, then quit (thought I could handle life without "having to take drugs" and slowly went down hill over the next 6 months.
>
> Went back on and was on it for a couple more years, felt great and decided I was all better and went off of it and crashed again- this time in 3 months. Tried Zoloft again, this time-no relief. Then tried Wellbutrin for a month, felt a little better, but not like before. Then tried Efferox XR.
>
> Started slow and built up to 150mg per day. Wonder drug! I love it! Have been on it over a year. No side effects to speak of. During the last 9 months I have managed to survive a move from Indiana to Austria (no kanagroos here) for a 3 years ISP assignment with my husband's company. We had to sell our house, cars, leave family, friends, my job and our horse behind with less than a 2 month notice. Stranger in a strange land and they don't speak much English in these parts. Yes I have had to learn German. Sprechen sie Deutsch?
>
> I have survived! Have had some down days over the last 9 months that I attributed to more of loneliness and boredom and winter blahs than from depression. Summer's here and I am great!
>
> Work with your doctor for the right level- give it time to build up in your system- a month prehaps and you should see positive results as I have.
poster:detroitpistons
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060315/msgs/622454.html