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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mellymel_d on August 28, 2005, at 19:45:56
My doc decreased my lexapro from 20 to 10 and started me on effexor 37.5 for 2 weeks with no difference. Then 1 week ago she upped me to 75mgs I've still been feeling the same: depressed, anxiety, hopeless, etc...BUT TODAY AND LAST NIGHT HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE. Last night I felt like I was on some form of speed, trying to force myself to sleep at 2:30am was very hard. I'm usually in bed by 10pm. Then I wake up at 7am with the same feeling: jittery, wirey feeling,increased heart rate and EXTREME emotional Highs and lows...I go from one extreme to another (mostly feeling very low) Is this a side effect anybody knows about. I feel so very alone. My husband does not understand this stuff at all and I hate being this way around my kids. I feel like everybody must think this is an exaggeration, like no way could this be normal.
This is not like any other side effect I've ever felt. With zoloft I had headache, tiredness, a little increased anxiety and with lexapro just increased anxiety. But this seems extreme. If this is a side effect, does anybody have any idea how long it lasts?
I don't mind having a little extry energy for motivation but this is BAD. Really makes me feel like I've done some sort of speed or something. I don't like this feeling at all. I feel like I have no control. HELP SOMEBODY PLEASE. TELL ME I'M OKAY!
Posted by spriggy on August 28, 2005, at 20:05:18
In reply to HELP-Somebody tell me it's just the drugs!!!!, posted by mellymel_d on August 28, 2005, at 19:45:56
I felt the exact way you describe on Wellbutrin. I know Effexor targets norepiphrine which can cause anxiety/racey feeling in some people (does in me).
I think it's from the Effexor increase. I would call your doctor and tell her right away.
If you feel more agitated (weird feelings like you want to crawl out of your skin), you could have akathasia. I had that from Lexapro and I thought for sure I was going insane.
Call your doctor, you may need to go back down to a lower dose or stop the Effexor altogether.
Posted by mellymel_d on August 28, 2005, at 20:23:51
In reply to Re: HELP-Somebody tell me it's just the drugs!!!!, posted by spriggy on August 28, 2005, at 20:05:18
I did talk to my doc and she had me take a xanex. It helped a little, I took about a 20 minute nap and woke up feeling a little more calm. I still have the dry mouth, sweats, & a little wirey but not near as bad as before. However, I still have the outstanding question of if this is a side effect how long does it usually last????
> I felt the exact way you describe on Wellbutrin. I know Effexor targets norepiphrine which can cause anxiety/racey feeling in some people (does in me).
>
> I think it's from the Effexor increase. I would call your doctor and tell her right away.
>
> If you feel more agitated (weird feelings like you want to crawl out of your skin), you could have akathasia. I had that from Lexapro and I thought for sure I was going insane.
>
> Call your doctor, you may need to go back down to a lower dose or stop the Effexor altogether.
Posted by DoYouKnowHim? on August 28, 2005, at 21:28:24
In reply to Re: HELP-Somebody tell me it's just the drugs!!!!, posted by mellymel_d on August 28, 2005, at 20:23:51
But you should call or go see your doctor first thing on Monday.
Posted by mellymel_d on August 29, 2005, at 1:09:20
In reply to Re: Those are common side effects, posted by DoYouKnowHim? on August 28, 2005, at 21:28:24
Whats real, whats not, whats in my head??? Whats actually physical??? I've been up and down so much today, never stable though...I've now gone from feeling wired to having a stomach ache (bad) and a pain in my head that just shoots up the left side and out of my head. I wanna keep saying "it's the pills, it'll go away soon." But my mind keeps thinking, oh no, what if it's something else? What if it's serious? Should I go to the hospital? HELL NO- they'll think I'm really crazy, like probably everybody else does. I hope these side effects go away soon. My daughter is starting her first day of kindergarten tomorrow. I want so badly to be able to enjoy it. Without these worries...
Please somebody, tell me it's okay to have these feelings...and to cry...I wish my family could understand whats going on but they don't. I just want to crawl in the corner right now and hide.
Posted by marleenm on August 29, 2005, at 9:41:24
In reply to HELP-Somebody tell me it's just the drugs!!!!, posted by mellymel_d on August 28, 2005, at 19:45:56
You are okay. I can't say for sure but it sounds like your medicine is causing mania. For me, when I take too much prozac, my anxiety goes up, my mind can't settle down, racing thoughts, my skin feels like it is crawling. So it could be the dosage of your meds, could be you are manic, could be that you are having major anxiety. You need to call your doctor's office and tell them what is going on. You need to be your own best advocate. You need to voice what is going on so you can finally get stable on something. You are not alone. We have all been there and we are there for you now.
Posted by med_empowered on August 29, 2005, at 19:39:18
In reply to Re: HELP-Somebody tell me it's just the drugs!!!!, posted by marleenm on August 29, 2005, at 9:41:24
Sad, but true: this kind of thing is frightening common on antidepressants. So...don't feel bad. What's happening is awful, and hard to go through, I know, but it is most likely directly related to the change in meds and will stop once your doc fixes the medication regimine. Sometimes, the thing to do is withdraw the offending med (in this case, it is most likely Effexor) and give something to help you calm down...the bipolar stand-bys like Lithium, Depakote, and the antipsychotics are an option, but Klonopin or Ativan work just as well for a lot of people. That should help you calm down a bit and sleep, which is *very* important. Just please call your doc, and be very, very specific and emphasize that this situation *cannot* continue. Good luck!
Posted by Chairman_MAO on August 30, 2005, at 12:52:57
In reply to HELP-Somebody tell me it's just the drugs!!!!, posted by mellymel_d on August 28, 2005, at 19:45:56
It's PROBABLY the drugs.
I Feel more and more each day that most "modern" antidepressants do more harm than good in many people. Sometimes I wonder whether or not more docs would Rx MAOIs if they actually knew what they _felt_ like vs. SSRIs. Following a diet is a small price to pay for being able to have a rewarding life.
Posted by denise1966 on August 31, 2005, at 7:06:53
In reply to HELP-Somebody tell me it's just the drugs!!!!, posted by mellymel_d on August 28, 2005, at 19:45:56
Hi,
I hate advising anyone on what do as I am no means an expert and because we're all so different.
But I've experienced some of the things you describe on ADs, especially on initial start-up, and Zyprexa 10mg just now and then has always really helped me.
Ask your doc to let you try Zyprexa as and when needed, just don't take it regularly.
I hope you feel better soon as I know how it feels and it's awful.
Denise
Posted by mellymel_d on August 31, 2005, at 11:26:10
In reply to To Mellymel_D, posted by denise1966 on August 31, 2005, at 7:06:53
Thank you Denise- I'll look in to that and talk to my doc about it. Right now she's given me xanex for the side effects. However the worst side effect I have now is I'm so tired. I can't be motivated at all. I wish I knew how long this was all going to last...
This is the end of the thread.
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