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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 58 to 82 of 85. Go back in thread:
Posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 20:00:54
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition, posted by notfred on September 29, 2006, at 19:53:22
Well, I have to say I'm doing pretty well on tianeptine. It is helpful, I leave the house, volunteer, I talk to people. This wouldn't have been possible before. But I'm still here. Another anecdote.
Posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 20:03:58
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition, posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 20:00:54
that tianeptine is not available here or approved.
Posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2006, at 20:25:26
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition, posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 20:00:54
What type of volunteer work and how often. I need to do the same myself. Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2006, at 20:26:40
In reply to I should add » Declan, posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 20:03:58
Declan what is it. You can e-mail it to me. Love Phillipa
Posted by SLS on September 29, 2006, at 20:52:47
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition, posted by notfred on September 29, 2006, at 19:53:22
> Some other lists I am on have a nice mix of those doing well and those not doing so well.
Are you on actual email lists (I forget what you call those thinge) or on bulletin boards like this one? It sounds like you lead a very active cyberlife.
- Scott
Posted by SLS on September 29, 2006, at 21:27:04
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition, posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 20:00:54
> Well, I have to say I'm doing pretty well on tianeptine. It is helpful, I leave the house, volunteer, I talk to people. This wouldn't have been possible before. But I'm still here. Another anecdote.
Don't fly away, then.
When you say tianeptine is helpful, about how far towards 100% are you?
What dosage are you at?
How long have you been taking it for?
What else are you taking?
People keep reminding me that this drug exists, but I keep getting distracted by other things.
If you aren't up to 100%, you might consider adding low-dose lithium or perhaps Buspar.
- Scott
Posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 21:45:27
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » Declan, posted by SLS on September 29, 2006, at 21:27:04
When you say tianeptine is helpful, about how far towards 100% are you?
This is real guesswork but from 30% to 60% (don't quote me).
Doseage? 3 or 4 tablets (12.5mg) per day
How long? Umm, maybe 3 months or a little longer.
What else? Valium 10mg/d or so.
I dunno about lithium or Buspar. Didn't like Buspar much.
My krebs cycle is very low at the glutarate level. Perhaps alpha ketoglutarate will help.
Sometimes lately I've actually been feeling quite nice (how about that). I am encouraged that tianeptine is banned in Singapore (no plans to visit).
Posted by SLS on September 29, 2006, at 22:04:18
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » SLS, posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 21:45:27
Hi Declan.
Thanks for the quick reply.
> Didn't like Buspar much.
That may not be insignificant. How did you react to it?
> My krebs cycle is very low at the glutarate level. Perhaps alpha ketoglutarate will help.
How do you go about figuring out something like that?
> Sometimes lately I've actually been feeling quite nice (how about that).
Well, I remember that it took a good 3 months for things to get real solid the one time I did respond well to medication. Maybe things are still cooking.
> I am encouraged that tianeptine is banned in Singapore (no plans to visit).
What's that all about?
- Scott
Posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 23:14:22
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » Declan, posted by SLS on September 29, 2006, at 22:04:18
The tests had to be done in the USA. You can see it (perhaps) at http://metramix.com Perhaps you might find it interesting because fatigue is so pronounced for you. Fatty acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, energy production and other stuff. No doubt some bright spark will say that this is all unproven, but I (like to) think that only through an understanding of our own individual chemistries can we get safe and effective treatments, or somesuch.
The thing I liked about tianeptine was that I knew from the first dose that it would most likely suit me.
Buspar? Well, I have/had a benzo habit, so it seemed expensive and almost useless.
They'll ban anything in Singapore. I take it as a sign that the drug is worth taking.
Posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 23:17:02
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » SLS, posted by Declan on September 29, 2006, at 23:14:22
Maybe try http://www.metametrix.com
Posted by Racer on September 30, 2006, at 12:54:49
In reply to Re: Sorry... » Racer, posted by SLS on September 29, 2006, at 17:24:57
> If you had to do it again, how would you discontinue Effexor?
>
>
> - Scottlol Differently?
How I'd go about it now... First of all, I'd talk to my doctor at more length, and I'd schedule more visits to get through it. That's the first part. (I didn't have insurance when I did it last time, so only saw the doctor when I had to -- twice a year, or less.)
Ironically, I think I'd taper faster than I did, too. When I stopped it four years ago, I took 8 months to taper off 225mg. That probably wasn't necessary -- I can't tell you why I did it so slowly, though. Can't really remember.
I'd also add in low dose Prozac, at least towards the end. My former pdoc offered it, but I just wanted OFF the dang drugs at that point, so wasn't really interested in adding Prozac back in. (I had been on a combo of the two, and stopped the Prozac first, since that was easier.) I'd probably also do smaller steps -- using 37.5mg capsules, rather than dropping 75mg at a time.
For all that it didn't do for me, though, let me say again: Effexor was far better for me than the other drugs I'd been on at that time. It wasn't earth-shaking as an antidepressant, but it was far friendlier in terms of how it made me feel. There wasn't that horrible feeling of wading through gelatin that I had on Paxil, for instance, nor the jumpy sleeplessness on nortriptyline.
Anyway, that's my thinking on how I'd taper if I had to do it again...
Posted by tizza on September 30, 2006, at 16:05:20
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » tizza, posted by SLS on September 29, 2006, at 6:04:04
I tapered from 150mg to 75mg for a month, then I opened up my 75mg caps and took a few out pellets everyday for 6 weeks until I was down to nothing. I felt totally fine during this process, but after my last cap with about 6 pellets in it I totally lost my mind. I was bed ridden for 2 weeks, scattered for another 2 weeks and then started feeling better after about 6 weeks. My short term memory is gone and it has been 1 year now since I took an AD. Thanks for asking scott, I used benadry for the vertigo which helped a bit but if I had of known about the prozac thing I would have done it for sure. You're right too many doctors are clueless about this and need to get informed about it NOW. Thanks again for asking. Paul
Posted by tizza on September 30, 2006, at 16:14:26
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition, posted by notfred on September 29, 2006, at 7:59:59
> >
> > Notfred you were one of the lucky ones, IMHO
>
> I have worked very hard at this, I do not think luck is part of this.
>
> Telling your story is fine. Demonizing Effexor, I feel, goes too far.
>
>
I have the right to demonise this drug because as I HAVE SAID before it made my life hell, please don't discredit my story again. It is very dismissive and it hurts me that you would do this. I want to tell my experience with this drug and you keep trying to disreguard what I went through. Please notfred, I find it very hard to deal with the fact that you keep trying to keep me quite about this and I find that disrespectful.
Posted by SLS on September 30, 2006, at 16:54:31
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » SLS, posted by tizza on September 30, 2006, at 16:05:20
> I tapered from 150mg to 75mg for a month, then I opened up my 75mg caps and took a few out pellets everyday for 6 weeks until I was down to nothing. I felt totally fine during this process, but after my last cap with about 6 pellets in it I totally lost my mind. I was bed ridden for 2 weeks, scattered for another 2 weeks and then started feeling better after about 6 weeks. My short term memory is gone and it has been 1 year now since I took an AD. Thanks for asking scott, I used benadry for the vertigo which helped a bit but if I had of known about the prozac thing I would have done it for sure. You're right too many doctors are clueless about this and need to get informed about it NOW. Thanks again for asking. Paul
That is absolutely horrible. You know, I hear stories like yours, and they are almost too brutal to believe. However, I have come to accept these stories. Either receptor densities are not reverting back to pretreatment levels or there is a kindling effect going on somewhere. 20/20 hindsight, but using a flexible-dosing strategy at the end would have been interesting, if not humane. Prozac, too.Sorry.
- Scott
Posted by tizza on September 30, 2006, at 16:56:42
In reply to Re: Sorry... » SLS, posted by Racer on September 29, 2006, at 17:14:37
> > > and withdrawal was hell.
> >
> > How do you account for that?
> >
> >
> > - Scott
>
> I guess I don't know what you're asking? How do I account for withdrawal being hellish?
>
> Ah, you know what I didn't mention in all that? The most hellish parts of withdrawal wasn't so much the final taper -- that wasn't a lot of fun, but certainly wasn't enough for me to demonize a drug that allowed me to function when I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. And even then, if I hadn't refused my then-pdoc's offer of Prozac to help with the taper, I probably wouldn't have experienced even that much trouble.
>
> What was really hellish was a couple of periods when I ran out and had to go cold turkey for a few days. (Once because I couldn't afford the drugs, but two or three times because my then-pdoc hadn't responded to the pharmacy's calls for refills. If I knew then what I know now, I would have gone in there and stood at the counter begging for just a couple of capsules to tide me over...) Those cold turkey periods were pretty bad. I didn't even realize it was withdrawal the first few times, which made it worse.
>
> Guess this is a case where you just can't say that ignorance is bliss, huh? *g*
>
> Anyway, I'll stick with what I said to begin with: I think Effexor is a good drug, and that a smart taper schedule can minimize the discomfort of withdrawal. I certainly wouldn't discourage anyonne from trying it, because if it works, it works...Racer I agree with you on that, it works well for my sister but not for me, I wish it did but it didn't. As we all know every drug works differently for everyone but effexor was toxic to my system. I have lost my memory and I don't think it's ever going to come back and I blame effexor for this. It's been a year now and things haven't gotten better in the memory stakes, but what most people out there don't realise is that when you have to come off it, you don't know what's going to happen.
notfred had a reasonably smooth discontinuation which is great, but not many people do and I think that there are so many people out there, that have stopped this drug and have had no idea that is why they got so sick. There are more reports on the internet about stopping effexor than any other psycho-active drug.
My question is simple, why is that? So many people don't realise what the hell is happening to them because of a lack of information from their doctors and drug companies. I read heaps of effexor horror stories before I started taking it but I thought if it's going to help me I'll give it a try, it wasn't until I stopped it that I realised that it was too late, the damage was already done. I thought my short term memory would come back but it hasn't and it been a year now.
I know it works for some people, but wait till they have to stop it. Thanks for your posts, they will help people realise what is happening to them if they miss a dose or can't afford to buy it, which is terrible, I'm sorry that you had to go through that. Paul
Posted by tizza on September 30, 2006, at 17:04:08
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » tizza, posted by SLS on September 30, 2006, at 16:54:31
Posted by tizza on September 30, 2006, at 17:23:56
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » tizza, posted by SLS on September 30, 2006, at 16:54:31
Also, I decided to come off effexor by myself, When I finally told my pdoc what I had done and how I had come off it he said, *you took to long, you should have done it over 2 weeks* I was gob smacked, I honestly believe that if I had done it his way I would have gone insane OR not be here today. Honestly everyone, I don't want to go on about this anymore but I had to speak up about it. I couldn't let it be hushed up anymore, I had to tell people about what it did to me.
Posted by SLS on September 30, 2006, at 19:51:04
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition, posted by tizza on September 30, 2006, at 17:23:56
Hi Tizza.
What is your current mood state?
- Scott
Posted by tizza on September 30, 2006, at 23:54:03
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » tizza, posted by SLS on September 30, 2006, at 19:51:04
I'm going through a rough patch again, I'm trying everything I can to stay off meds although I do take valium for anxiety and mogadon for sleep.
Posted by SLS on October 1, 2006, at 1:38:56
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition, posted by tizza on September 30, 2006, at 23:54:03
> I'm going through a rough patch again, I'm trying everything I can to stay off meds although I do take valium for anxiety and mogadon for sleep.
What is it that makes things rough? What do you experience?
- Scott
Posted by tizza on October 1, 2006, at 4:32:50
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » tizza, posted by SLS on October 1, 2006, at 1:38:56
> > I'm going through a rough patch again, I'm trying everything I can to stay off meds although I do take valium for anxiety and mogadon for sleep.
>
> What is it that makes things rough? What do you experience?
>
>
> - ScottI'm experiencing bouts of depression again, but my major problem is my sleep. I'm having a MSLT next weeks so I'll see how it goes, long story, if you would like more info, babble mail me or get my e-mail from Jan.
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 1, 2006, at 17:01:32
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » notfred, posted by tizza on September 30, 2006, at 16:14:26
> I do think it's evil and vile
> I have the right to demonise this drug because as I HAVE SAID before it made my life hell, please don't discredit my story again... I want to tell my experience with this drug
You have the right to tell your experience with the drug, and I'm sorry that it was hell, but IMO being evil is a separate issue, please don't exaggerate or overgeneralize.
But please don't take this personally, either, this doesn't mean I don't like you or think you're a bad person.
If you or others have questions about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please first see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#enforceFollow-ups regarding these issues should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration. They, as well as replies to the above post, should of course themselves be civil.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by notfred on October 2, 2006, at 1:15:12
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition » notfred, posted by SLS on September 29, 2006, at 19:50:13
>
> For how many of those 10 years did you find it effective?One or 2 beakthrouh depressions, fixed with dosage adjustment. It was effective throughout the 10 yrs
though I did not need the SRI part of Effexor. It raised mu BP (140/95-105)>
> How are you doing now?Really well. I see a top psycopharm guy. New job, twice the $$ as b4. Been there 7 months and just got a 10% increase.
>
> What are you taking?Wellby XR 300 mgs, Provigil 400 mgs, Lunesta 6 mgs (which I just took so this may be sloppy !) Atavin
1-2 mgs/day PRN.Dx of Major Depression in full remision, inattentive ADD, dyspraxia, insomina, anxiety
>
> (Personal questions)
>I posted my full 20+ year med history a while back. If you did not see it I can look it up.
Posted by notfred on October 2, 2006, at 1:21:41
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition, posted by notfred on October 2, 2006, at 1:15:12
>
> I posted my full 20+ year med history a while back. If you did not see it I can look it up.
>
>Here it is:
Posted by SLS on October 2, 2006, at 4:42:37
In reply to Re: I signed the BAN EFFEXOR petition, posted by notfred on October 2, 2006, at 1:21:41
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