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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by jacobs on February 17, 2006, at 15:13:17
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by 3djp on February 17, 2006, at 12:07:39
ok im trying to figure out the best time to take this, any sugestions? i take it now arround 6:00pm and cant go to sleep till arround 1 or 2 in the morning. thanks! tonya
Posted by demon_child_cin-666 on February 17, 2006, at 16:56:26
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by jacobs on February 17, 2006, at 15:13:17
I'm bipolar and my original phsychiatrist and I took more than 5 yrs to find a mixture of medications that was good enough to let me live my live again. In August of '04 he left the province for a new job. Both of us thought that I was doing very well, so he didn't bother to set me up with one of the people that were taking on his workload. At the time I was fine with this. I had been working since Jan of '03 and had already dealt with some issues that would have knocked me on my *ss just 2 yrs before. We both thought That I'd be fine, and I could always get a referal to a new dr, if I felt I needed to. In November of '04 I noticed that I couldn't do my budgeting, which for me is big, because even when I couldn't work I could always do my budgeting. I know that this episode of my bipolar started before I noticed this, so I started asking for help. Finally on April 1st of '05 I was seen by the new phsychiatrist that my GP had referred me to. (yeah, April Fool's Day, I shold have known better.) Immediately he took me off of the Gabapentin that I had been taking, and put me on the Effexor XR. He started at the lowest dose and after that there was an extremely rapid increase. Each time that I saw him I told him that the pills were not making me feel better, I was actually feeling worse; nausea, dry mouth, insomnia, hyperactivity, etc.. By Aug '05 I was getting sick(puking)almost everyday. When I told my dr this he sent me for a blood test to check my Lithium levels, which had not been done since before my other phsychiatrist left. He phoned me back that day and told me to stop taking the Lithium immediately, because my levels were toxic (hence the puking). Lithium is one of the best balancers that I have ever come across, in the 12 years that I have been treated for bipolar. I did not agree with this but I wanted to believe that he was doing what was best for me. He increased the Effexor XR again (4x150mg/day). My moods started to swing like an acrobat in the circus. Some days I was amazing, other days you couldn't even look at me with out me crying or tearing your head off. At the start of Feb '06 I made my husband take me to the ER because if I had stayed home I know I would have hurt myself or someone else. I had enough medication at home to kill an elephant, nevermind a person. I realized that it was the Effexor XR that was doing this to me. (it took you long enough, stupid). The mobile crisis unit came to see me and the ER dr. and finally my phsychiatrist. He said that he would take my file home that night and review it, We had a meeting on Monday. As of Sunday, I did not take any more Effexor and I also stopped taking the sleeping pills that he had to put me on to make me sleep, while taking that crap. I went cold turkey. On the Monday I returned all of my remaining trazadone and Effexor to my shrink and told him to write me a prescription for lithium and something to control my highs. The stupid *sshole had me on 2 Antidepressants and I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. Now that I'm off the Effexor I know that there was nothing wrong with me that couldn't be fixed if I only had a doctor that listened.
Cindy
> ok im trying to figure out the best time to take this, any sugestions? i take it now arround 6:00pm and cant go to sleep till arround 1 or 2 in the morning. thanks! tonya
Posted by pattyu on February 17, 2006, at 16:59:49
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Works Great for ME, posted by steve3590 on February 7, 2006, at 23:23:47
I have been taking 150 mg once a day for about 4 months, it just started really working about 2-3 weeks ago. I just woke up one day and was the old me and still wake up every day like that. I have lost 25 lbs., and my sex life could not be better.
Posted by crxsi on February 17, 2006, at 19:58:45
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by jacobs on February 17, 2006, at 15:13:17
I was the same as you but now I take it first thing in the am and just recently was able to go to bed at a normal time. I was going to bed between 1and 3. It took a week to get my sleep pattern back to normal.
Posted by bangersgirl on February 17, 2006, at 20:24:29
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by crxsi on February 17, 2006, at 19:58:45
definitely take your meds in the AM. That gives them a chance to work on you all day, hence the XR which is extended release, right?! I take mine in the morning but I do find that I could nap everyday around 5 to 6 hours after taking it. I have to really fight to stay busy. Seen a "mental health nurse". He suggested that I get my GP to also prescribe Wellbutrin to take in the evenings. He also suggested that I consider Prozac and talk to GP about it. Going to also request a referral to a psychiatrist.
Posted by demon_child_cin-666 on February 17, 2006, at 23:18:11
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by bangersgirl on February 17, 2006, at 20:24:29
> definitely take your meds in the AM. That gives them a chance to work on you all day, hence the XR which is extended release, right?! I take mine in the morning but I do find that I could nap everyday around 5 to 6 hours after taking it. I have to really fight to stay busy. Seen a "mental health nurse". He suggested that I get my GP to also prescribe Wellbutrin to take in the evenings. He also suggested that I consider Prozac and talk to GP about it. Going to also request a referral to a psychiatrist.
I took 2x150mg in the morning and 2x150mg in the evening. Plus, 1-150mg Wellbutrin 2x a day. The first day that I started taking Effexor XR my appetite went from 60 to 0 in 3 hrs. I stopped caring if I ate at all, and sometimes I wouldn't eat for more than 24 hours without it bothering me in the least. I had to be put on Trazadone, it keeps you asleep (if you can fall asleep), and I had some Valium which my phsychiatrist told me to take right before bed. Some times I was so revved up, even though I took the Trazadone, that I'd be awake for close to 48hrs or more and not feel grouchy or tired. You are right though, I lost a lot of weight. Not eating definitely helped me shed pounds. I went from weighing around 198lbs to 137lbs in 10 months. I was NOT, I repeat NOT, exercising or on a proper diet. This drug is not safe for many people. Be careful taking it. Speak to your Pharmacists, they can help.
Posted by Patricia Risi on February 17, 2006, at 23:26:20
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by jacobs on February 17, 2006, at 15:13:17
> ok im trying to figure out the best time to take this, any sugestions? i take it now arround 6:00pm and cant go to sleep till arround 1 or 2 in the morning. thanks! tonya
I used to take Effexor(some in the morning and some in the late afternoon/evening) and when I took it I also found it difficult to sleep...even when I did fall asleep I found that i'd wake up throughout the night. Sleeping pills would make me feel groggy and i have a 9month old son. I was taking zopiclone and my doctor suggested taking half instead of a whole 7.5mg pill (just snap it in half) if this dosnt work I also take melatonin with it. I havnt had a problem since. It really is all about trying different options and not being afraid to speak up if something isnt working for you. I had heard the term "finding the right recipe" before and it is true. It takes a long time to get it right. I have had a brain tumor half my life and solid depression for the past 5 years....still not found the exact "recipe" but am getting closer. Having the responsibility of a baby has actually really made me feel both sick with anxiety and also almost completely free of depression at times. I think keeping the mind busy(both challenged and stimulated with things that get you excited to get up and outside) and sometimes the right "recipe" is needed on top of that...its all trial and error. I wish everyone good health and happiness!!
Posted by Patricia Risi on February 17, 2006, at 23:40:33
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by bangersgirl on February 17, 2006, at 20:24:29
> definitely take your meds in the AM. That gives them a chance to work on you all day, hence the XR which is extended release, right?! I take mine in the morning but I do find that I could nap everyday around 5 to 6 hours after taking it. I have to really fight to stay busy. Seen a "mental health nurse". He suggested that I get my GP to also prescribe Wellbutrin to take in the evenings. He also suggested that I consider Prozac and talk to GP about it. Going to also request a referral to a psychiatrist.
I was taking 225mg of Effexor XR in the morning along with 200mg of Wellbutrin in the morning and 200mg of Wellbutrin in the evening (I took it in two separate doses because there is a seizure risk and I have seizures from brain surgery. Anyone else could probably take the whole dose in the morning) Along with a lot of other meds that I take (celexa, dexedrine, tegretol cr, topomax,zopiclone) I take my celexa effexor, half the wellbutrin in the morning - and when I was taking the effexor I also took that in the morning. I felt fine as long as I didnt take any of my meds right before bedtime (even the zopiclone I took an hour before bed and not after 11pm). So basically after all that what I meant to tell you is that Wellbutrin is a great med to be on...I dont notice any bad side effects....effexor...well thats another story...I took myself off of that one....did more harm than good for me. Its worth it to try everything for yourself at least once though (assuming your doctor has prescribed it for you!) You never know...one drug may be your nightmare and might end up saving the next persons life. My doctor also told me that being on Celexa before being on Effexor helps with the nausea....I had tried Effexor before and stopped it after 2 days because of the nausea...this last time (after being on Celexa for over a year) I ended up staying on Effexor for at least 5 months before the side effects are what led me to go off of it...not its ineffectiveness. So if Effexor is hard for you to start but you'd like to start it...then try Celexa beforehand for a few months...it might make it easier. Sorry...I tend to ramble on....I know I got off the topic a long ways back but I just remembered that about Effexor.
Posted by tizza on February 17, 2006, at 23:55:15
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by Patricia Risi on February 17, 2006, at 23:40:33
effexor sucks, it should be illegal. I hate it.
Posted by Patricia Risi on February 18, 2006, at 3:01:58
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by tizza on February 17, 2006, at 23:55:15
> effexor sucks, it should be illegal. I hate it.
I dont blame you...i said the same thing. I phoned my doctor and left a msg on his machine saying I was taking myself off of it and within a week I was off. I had lots of bad side effects...its by far the worst i've ever been put on. How can eczema, vision problems and absolutely no memory be in any way a good thing?? Its not thats why it sucks and no one should take it unless there is absolutely no alternative
Posted by Graceneeded on February 18, 2006, at 8:39:15
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by Patricia Risi on February 18, 2006, at 3:01:58
Effexor and Wellbutron both have a similar chemical make up. I used both and had bad experiences. I am on a new med that seems to do the same as they did but without the side affects. It is called Cymbalta. I am also on Lexapro but may be comming off if the Cymbalta does its job. Danny
Posted by demon_child_cin-666 on February 18, 2006, at 12:43:31
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by Graceneeded on February 18, 2006, at 8:39:15
> Effexor and Wellbutron both have a similar chemical make up. I used both and had bad experiences. I am on a new med that seems to do the same as they did but without the side affects. It is called Cymbalta. I am also on Lexapro but may be comming off if the Cymbalta does its job. Danny
I have been on so many different drugs for my bipolar that I have lost count. My cocktail before the effexor was added included Lithium (1200mg/day), Wellbutrin (300mg/day), Lamotrigine (50mg/day) and Gabapentin (it's been almost a year, I think 4 of the orange capsules/day). The doctor substituted the Gabapentin for the Effexor and each time I saw him after that (every 2 weeks) he increased the Effexor after 4 1/2 mos. My side effects were getting worse. With all of the other drugs that I have tried (too many to list) the side effects were either gone or unnoticable in the first couple of weeks. The Effexor had made the Lithium levels in my blood hit toxic levels, and that's why I thought that my side effects were getting worse. In short, if you are bipolar and are taking Lithium do not mix it with Effexor, if you do make sure that your doctor is checking your levels at least once every couple of weeks. Cindy
Posted by Bets43 on February 18, 2006, at 12:51:54
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by Graceneeded on February 18, 2006, at 8:39:15
Hi Everyone....It makes me sad that so many people have problems getting on the right combo/med. My step daughter is scheizo-affective (sp?), she had her first break at 15. We watched her go through alot and it was really hard on us. Even today she still has 3 different meds she takes. I myself take effexor. I had 5 continuous years of high stress which really did a number on me. I started out with Paxil which made me a zombie! I got off that and eventually ended up taking zoloft which was much better for me but after awhile it lost it's affectiveness. I was on 50m and did not want to take a higher dose however my thinking was torturing! The effexor helped that immediately, however I have not found it as affective on my depression. I take 150mg which is ironic after I got on it because I didn't want to take a higher dose of zoloft....A friend of mine takes celexa and has suggested I try it. She tried effexor and did not like it.
Posted by Patricia Risi on February 18, 2006, at 16:38:01
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by Bets43 on February 18, 2006, at 12:51:54
> Hi Everyone....It makes me sad that so many people have problems getting on the right combo/med. My step daughter is scheizo-affective (sp?), she had her first break at 15. We watched her go through alot and it was really hard on us. Even today she still has 3 different meds she takes. I myself take effexor. I had 5 continuous years of high stress which really did a number on me. I started out with Paxil which made me a zombie! I got off that and eventually ended up taking zoloft which was much better for me but after awhile it lost it's affectiveness. I was on 50m and did not want to take a higher dose however my thinking was torturing! The effexor helped that immediately, however I have not found it as affective on my depression. I take 150mg which is ironic after I got on it because I didn't want to take a higher dose of zoloft....A friend of mine takes celexa and has suggested I try it. She tried effexor and did not like it.
I have been told that if you take 100mg of one medication the equivalent dose of another medication may be 200mg(or something to that effect) So you shouldnt really get caught up with the numbers (mg) of medications...also a doctor told me that if, for example, I was taking 500mg of one medication and someone else is taking 100mg of the same medication...it dosnt mean my condition is worse than theirs...it has to do with the way my body metabolizes the drug. So dont feel like you are embarassed if you are on a high dose of medication...it dosnt mean you are alot worse than anyone else...it just means your body is different...the same goes for the different meds...you cant compare the mg of one medication to the mg of another....DONT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE NUMBERS!! This is your health and although it may be a bit of a shot to the ego to have to slow down and force yourself to deal with the issues...at least you are doing it....I think everyone in this world has issues!!! AT least we are strong enough and smart enough to deal with ours!
Posted by damian on February 18, 2006, at 19:57:49
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by damian on January 23, 2006, at 23:29:45
Hi, its damian . For scott who asked if i am seeing a phychyatriste, accually no i am not and i dont think my doc knows how i REALLY FEEL because as far as the suicidal thought i have not told her. I am afraid to because i cannot go to the hospital. I just cant go. i dont want my family to know i dont want my kids to know and i dont want my husband to know to what point i feel sick. I dont want to hurt anywone with my problems and all i think about is how to get out without hurting anyone. anyway got to go now i am not well tonight and i really dont want to bore anyone. damian
Posted by dancingstar on February 19, 2006, at 9:24:56
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by tizza on February 17, 2006, at 23:55:15
I agree with you! Too many of us have been hurt too badly by it. It's ruined so many lives.
Posted by dancingstar on February 19, 2006, at 9:39:18
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by Bets43 on February 18, 2006, at 12:51:54
Bets,
This is just my opinion, but I think it's really important for everyone that has been under a tremendous amount of stress to have complete blood work done. A lot of doctors are prescribing ADs without realizing that our hormones may be out of whack. The way some of the ADs work, especially in large doses, can make the problem worse, though I know that so many doctors are using them instead of hormone replacement.
In my own case, Effexor caused a huge deficit in my body. My thyroid, adrenals, even pituitary functions have been damaged, and my doctor is giving me natural hormonal supplementation in an attempt to bring my body back to balance.
I don't know if anyone can use this information, but I hope it will help someone.
Posted by Patricia Risi on February 19, 2006, at 22:16:08
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » damian, posted by damian on February 18, 2006, at 19:57:49
> Hi, its damian . For scott who asked if i am seeing a phychyatriste, accually no i am not and i dont think my doc knows how i REALLY FEEL because as far as the suicidal thought i have not told her. I am afraid to because i cannot go to the hospital. I just cant go. i dont want my family to know i dont want my kids to know and i dont want my husband to know to what point i feel sick. I dont want to hurt anywone with my problems and all i think about is how to get out without hurting anyone. anyway got to go now i am not well tonight and i really dont want to bore anyone. damian
Hi Damian...I know exactly how you feel....its the weirdest thing...I had the exact same feeling a few weeks ago and I was so embarassed to phone the hospital and my husband dosnt quite understand depression and the suicidal thoughts that go through our heads....my family has absolutely no clue...they dont want to hear whats happening to me...they want to "fix" me so THEY feel better....anyways...what I ended up doing was phoning my psychiatrist and leaving a message asking for a sooner appointment...of course I couldnt hold it together on the phone but just that little release actually made me feel better....my psychiatrist phoned the next morning and we booked an appointment for the following week. The way he put it to me is this" Just think of as going to the hospital as a little break for yourself so you can be taken care of for once...just recharge your battery and then you will feel better....something to that effect...it sounded pretty damn good. I know its hard with all the guilt and social unacceptance that go along with depression but these people who work at the hospital in the psych ward deal with our situation and much worse everyday...they are not in that profession to judge us. I mean i'm not one to talk...I called my doctor...maybe if you cant quite make the step yet....get a phone number where you know you wont be talking to someone person to person and you can just leave a message. Would that help? Is it too much to deal with someone live on the phone when you are feeling down? Does writing help you? If its the same feeling I had...and it sounds like it was...wanting to call the hospital but a sort of pride(dont know how else to put it...embarassment?) made me turn away from that idea...but in a panic...I knew I had to contact someone who could help me....and having a therapist is a really good idea...you trust them and you know you can turn to them when you need to. Maybe there is a phone line you could call when you arnt too depressed...and maybe get that set in place in case you need it for another time...its always different looking at things when you arnt in the moment. I was told that when you are depressed its like looking through sunglasses...everything is darkened. My therapist told me this after I told him that I didnt think I had ever not been depressed. Anyways...I really hope my rambling will help you in some way...maybe we can help each other....I have a 9 month old son and have just gone through post partum depression on top of my major depressive disorder. You dont have to do it alone....you cant! I will always forward any advice that is given to me if you would like...hopefully it can help you feel your best!...take care Damian
Posted by CEK on February 20, 2006, at 5:33:48
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR » Graceneeded, posted by demon_child_cin-666 on February 18, 2006, at 12:43:31
I too took Effexor for five years and had to stop because of side effects.( weight gain, loss of emotion, and still depressed.) I tried several times to taper off but the side effects of tapering off were unbearable, I felt like i was loosing my mind. My doctor got me off of Effexor by putting me on Cymbalta at the same time. I took both for ten days, until the Cymbalta was fully in my system, then began to taper the Effexor until I was off of it. Took about three weeks. I got off of the Effexor without withdrawl, but the Cymbalta is worse. Now I suffer from anxiety, aggitation, major depression and manic episodes, decreased urine output, swelling, excessive night sweats, touble swallowing, and suicidal thoughts that sent me into the hospital. Some web sites that might help, www.bipolarworld (they get to the bottom of what all of these meds are really doing to us),www.neurofeedback.com( this is very promising.) I'm starting my first session next week. Neurofeedback also called biofeedback with lifecoaching is supose to cure the problems in our brains causing us to take these meds.All these antidepressants do is enable us to deal with our lives, not live them to our full extent. Do any of you on antidepressants feel like your brain works anymore? I live in a fog and until the Cymbalta, when i was on the Effexor, I lived with the "oh well, whatever" attitude. Whatever people did to me, it more or less rolled off my back. Good? Maybe sometimes. But in the end we all end up being dumped on a treated unfairly and don't even have the ability to stand up for our selves because of our drugged state. This situation going on and on,keeps getting pushed down inside ourselves until eventually meds of no meds we snap. That's what happened to me. It's not a bad thing to get angry sometimes. It's not a bad thing to stand up for ourselves. And even depression sometimes is a normal response to issues in our lives. But without being able to feel these things (because of being highly medicated) we are not able to change the contributing factors that may be causing us to feel this way. When these changes don't take place, the depression goes on and on and we feel like we are flawed for good. Imagine waking up one day and finding out that you lived your life with a lot of excess b.s. thinking good was good enough, and just then realizing that it wasn't and that if you wouldv'e changed some contributing factors in your life, your life would have indead been happier. I do believe that the meds at times are useful, but at others, restrictive. Keep researching. Find out all you can. Don't just depend on what your doctor tells you. It helps to be well informed. Also, I have found that a true psychologist is much more helpful than a councilor or psychiatrist. Psychologist try to get to the root of the problem and enable you to learn to to forward. They spend more time with you and don't just write out prescriptions like pyschatrists do. Fifteen minutes with a patient, and they think they know how to fix you. Councilors don't have the education that a psychologist has, seems like they just listen,don't offer any solutions. Also, go to the lifecoach health group on Yahoo. There are so many inspirational stories and quotes that would give even the person in the deepest despair hope. There is hope. There are other alternatives to medicine. Make sure you check them out. As for those on their last rope, ALWAYS talk to someone. Your husband, mother, father, sister, brother, your preacher, your primary care doctor. So many people love you and when at your darkest moment, the sun is still there, maybe behind a cloud, but still there. We can all get through this! It just takes one day at a time, but we will. Love and caring from one sufferer to the next, CEK
Posted by TinMan on February 20, 2006, at 9:33:40
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » damian, posted by damian on February 18, 2006, at 19:57:49
>>>>i really dont want to bore anyone. damian<<<<
Hi Damian,
Yeah, I know what you mean. But, really, what you are posting is not boring. I certainly can relate to the suicidal thinking and the deep, dark depression. I think most that post on this Board can to some extent.
You know, I spent some time (72 hour hold) in a psychiatric hospital. And honestly, it was a rich experience for me. I wouldn't trade it. I am glad that I went even though at the time, I didn't want to. It was such a learning experience for me.
Yes, there is the social stigma. It is difficult at times, but for me, not unbearable. Many of my siblings are not understanding. One sis thinks that if she criticizes, confronts, yells and threatens to tell others that I will somehow just "snap out of it". It doesn't work that way. Hence the Effexor for me.
So, Damian, hang in there. You are not alone. I am hoping that you find a therapist, psychiatrist or doctor that you can trust. Because, you are worth it!
~TinMan
Posted by drac on February 20, 2006, at 9:49:09
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » damian, posted by Patricia Risi on February 19, 2006, at 22:16:08
Hi, I am glad I stumbled accross this website. Since I have been taking Effexor I had noticed some weird things. I tried hard to ignor them as they happened because my depression seemed to be waning.
Without going in to whole diatribe of why I ended up on Effexor suffice it to say I am taking in in lieu of Luvox for the treatment of Panic Disorder and Seasonal Affect Depression.
Since I have been taking Effexor I have also been waning from some other prescriptions to see if I can reduce the amount of drugs. Over a period of 6 months I have successfully reduced the amount of Clonazapam I take four-fold, and Wellbutrin in half. Having done this in the past with Luvox, I know what withdrawal normally feels like and let me tell you this ain't it.
I read through many of your posts and finally find that I am not alone in these feelings. Here is a list of things I am going through:
- no energy (I normally have reduced energy, but I have trouble getting up off the couch without losing my breath and heart racing - feeling like I'm gonna die)
- elevated BP. My Bp was slightly elevated before taking Effexor, but now it has been climbing despite my GP's efforts to reduce it with a angiotension inhibitor. Don't see any interaction warnings but I have to wonder.
- Nightmares,
- body spasms in my sleep,
- yelling/screaming, moaning in my sleep
- poor sleep
- restlessness
- memory problems - whoa can I talk about this
- feeling like I'm out of body
- inability to concentrate
- extinguished (not diminished) sex drive
- difficulty distinguishing dreams from reality
- suicidal thoughts (although not accompanied by depression)
- shaking
- sweating
- the list goes onLately the effect that is taking hold of me is the difficulty distinguishing reality from my dreams. I don't know what to do about this one. My memory seems to be toast. Although I have noticed this for some months, I thought it would go away. This morning (in a meeting) I couldn't even piece together thoughts from my co-workers. It was like every word out of their mouths was random. Reading has become the same for me. I don't retain anything. But more significant to me seems to be that when I try to recall things, I don't know for sure if I am recalling dream information or actual information. Several times I was caught talking about things in dreams with my partner as though they were reality. I was irritated with my partner because he did not follow-through with somethings I had asked him to do. Turns out I had never asked it, but dreamed it. yeah I know - spouses can be forgetful, but this has also happened with coworkers. It is geting kind of debilitating. I have to write down everything. This really is not like me at all - my peers have been jokingly saying that it's my turning 40 that is the cause. The fact that they have noticed gives me pause.
Ramble ramble - I'm really surprised that I managed to say as much as I did in this message. I guess the point I was really trying to get across is "thanks for posting" to everyone, I now know that I'm not alone. Where in the side-effects on the product does it describe the side-effects that we are feeling. Some of them are there. What about the others?
Maybe a "quality of life" study is needed.
Posted by kmm on February 20, 2006, at 10:16:49
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by TinMan on February 20, 2006, at 9:33:40
Hi Damian,
I can really sympathize with your need to keep your problem under wraps however, by attempting to hide your depression you are certainly adding more stress to your system at a time when it absolutely does not need another problem. In addition, I can almost guarantee that your spouse, and possibly your chidren, depending on their ages, can sense that something isn't right with you already. Honesty is always the best policy. As someone who has walked in your shoes, I was surprised at the support that I got from most family members when I shared my situation - including stories of similar struggles. Also, I will be proud to tell my children, when they are older, that I struggled with depression and sought treatment. No one goes through life without battles and wouldn't you like to show your kids that you are an excellent problem solver?
Another thing to consider is that when you are depressed, your decision making skills are usually very diminished. I had to trust my spouse on this one, many times, when I was very unwell.
Posted by TinMan on February 20, 2006, at 10:30:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by drac on February 20, 2006, at 9:49:09
Drac,
I have had the problems you have listed as well. However, not quite as bad. Is your dose too high?
Here is a list of things that have helped me:
For lethargy: Try splitting your dose. I take one 150 mg pill along with 7.5 mg of Remeron (mitrazapine) at night.
I take two 150 mg pills in the morning.For sex drive: I have added DHEA and Ginko Biloba
For memory: Ginko Biloba
For sleep: 7.5 mg of Remeron
I am due for a physical with my MD and will find out what my BP is. I, like you, get off of the couch and am winded sometimes.
It does help me. However, I am also on Hormone Replacement Therapy (birth control pills) for my periomenopause. If I miss taking a bc pill, I get really down and depressed. I am wondering after reading another post, if the Effexor is messing with my hormones.
~TinMan
Posted by drac on February 20, 2006, at 12:40:07
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » drac, posted by TinMan on February 20, 2006, at 10:30:24
> Drac,
>
> I have had the problems you have listed as well. However, not quite as bad. Is your dose too high?
>My psychiatrist's approach to switching meds is to stop one and start another (only if the patient is in agreement with it). I don't usually have problems changing meds, so that is how I went from Luvox to Effexor. Although I went from 100mg (day 1), 200mg (days 3-6), and 300mg (day 7 onward).
I'm currently maintaining 300mg first thing in the morning.
> Here is a list of things that have helped me:
>
> For lethargy: Try splitting your dose. I take one 150 mg pill along with 7.5 mg of Remeron (mitrazapine) at night.
> I take two 150 mg pills in the morning.Because of the potential for sleep disturbance my psych advised me to take it in the am. My panic is often brought on at the point of falling asleep so I do as much as possible not to mess with my sleep cycle.
But I like the idea, and will speak to him regarding this possibility.
>
> For sex drive: I have added DHEA and Ginko Biloba
>
> For memory: Ginko BilobaGood idea. I will have to check and see if there are any known interation problems with the BP meds I'm taking. I'm still trying to figure out the physiological implications of taking a selective noreinephrine reuptake inhibitor in conjunction with an angiotensin inhibitor.
>
> For sleep: 7.5 mg of Remeron
>I was on a regimin of taking Clonazapam .05mg of clonazapam before bed, but have weaned off it unless I get twitchy legs, feel agitated, or anything that would otherwise allow me to fall asleep normally. I don't take it that often anymore.
> I am due for a physical with my MD and will find out what my BP is. I, like you, get off of the couch and am winded sometimes.
>It's crazy. I am out of shape, and trying to start an exercise program. Yeah I know - for anyone thinking that being out of shape can cause the shortness of breath. But although I'm out of shape, I'm no more out of shape than before I started with Effexor and my energy level was higher (all things considered) than it is now.
> It does help me. However, I am also on Hormone Replacement Therapy (birth control pills) for my periomenopause. If I miss taking a bc pill, I get really down and depressed. I am wondering after reading another post, if the Effexor is messing with my hormones.
>I wouldn't rule it out (although I'm no expert). It appears that there is a great number of unknowns with this drug. I would like to come off of it, and had planned to after reading the many similarities in this BB. But then I thought, am I being overly impulsive - yet another side effect of Effexor. : )
Actually I have always been overly impulsive. It appears that this is one side-effect that alludes me. I seem to be able to keep this in check while taking Effexor.
Posted by Patricia Risi on February 20, 2006, at 14:19:30
In reply to Re: My non-success on Effexor XR, posted by CEK on February 20, 2006, at 5:33:48
I > I too took Effexor for five years and had to stop because of side effects.( weight gain, loss of emotion, and still depressed.) I tried several times to taper off but the side effects of tapering off were unbearable, I felt like i was loosing my mind. My doctor got me off of Effexor by putting me on Cymbalta at the same time. I took both for ten days, until the Cymbalta was fully in my system, then began to taper the Effexor until I was off of it. Took about three weeks. I got off of the Effexor without withdrawl, but the Cymbalta is worse. Now I suffer from anxiety, aggitation, major depression and manic episodes, decreased urine output, swelling, excessive night sweats, touble swallowing, and suicidal thoughts that sent me into the hospital. Some web sites that might help, www.bipolarworld (they get to the bottom of what all of these meds are really doing to us),www.neurofeedback.com( this is very promising.) I'm starting my first session next week. Neurofeedback also called biofeedback with lifecoaching is supose to cure the problems in our brains causing us to take these meds.All these antidepressants do is enable us to deal with our lives, not live them to our full extent. Do any of you on antidepressants feel like your brain works anymore? I live in a fog and until the Cymbalta, when i was on the Effexor, I lived with the "oh well, whatever" attitude. Whatever people did to me, it more or less rolled off my back. Good? Maybe sometimes. But in the end we all end up being dumped on a treated unfairly and don't even have the ability to stand up for our selves because of our drugged state. This situation going on and on,keeps getting pushed down inside ourselves until eventually meds of no meds we snap. That's what happened to me. It's not a bad thing to get angry sometimes. It's not a bad thing to stand up for ourselves. And even depression sometimes is a normal response to issues in our lives. But without being able to feel these things (because of being highly medicated) we are not able to change the contributing factors that may be causing us to feel this way. When these changes don't take place, the depression goes on and on and we feel like we are flawed for good. Imagine waking up one day and finding out that you lived your life with a lot of excess b.s. thinking good was good enough, and just then realizing that it wasn't and that if you wouldv'e changed some contributing factors in your life, your life would have indead been happier. I do believe that the meds at times are useful, but at others, restrictive. Keep researching. Find out all you can. Don't just depend on what your doctor tells you. It helps to be well informed. Also, I have found that a true psychologist is much more helpful than a councilor or psychiatrist. Psychologist try to get to the root of the problem and enable you to learn to to forward. They spend more time with you and don't just write out prescriptions like pyschatrists do. Fifteen minutes with a patient, and they think they know how to fix you. Councilors don't have the education that a psychologist has, seems like they just listen,don't offer any solutions. Also, go to the lifecoach health group on Yahoo. There are so many inspirational stories and quotes that would give even the person in the deepest despair hope. There is hope. There are other alternatives to medicine. Make sure you check them out. As for those on their last rope, ALWAYS talk to someone. Your husband, mother, father, sister, brother, your preacher, your primary care doctor. So many people love you and when at your darkest moment, the sun is still there, maybe behind a cloud, but still there. We can all get through this! It just takes one day at a time, but we will. Love and caring from one sufferer to the next, CEK
I agree with you 100%....it is absolutely true....we are basically being drugged to be kept quiet and to make people money! My psychologist also told me that psychiatrists arnt trained in therapy(I see both a psychiatrist and a psychologist) but psychiatrists definately can answer questions about medications and maybe give you a direction to head in medication-wise...you dont necessarily have to go that way but you can certainly research it. Psychologist really get you to learn to open up and help yourself by being good listeners...eventually you can teach yourself to solve alot of things on your own with the skills you learn from them. Every time I went for a psych evaluation I found every psychiatrist arrogant *ssholes who think they are god. If you think about it they control peoples minds so it would be easy to get that complex. They do know their medications but they are also very cold and clinical at times...psychologist are alot warmer and compassionate. Sometimes we need that.
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