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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jojobird on November 9, 2005, at 20:33:58
Hello
I have been treated successfully with Effexor XR now for 4 months.. my dose was gradually increased slowly to what feels like a therepeutic level for me at 300 mgs/OD. I also see my psychiatrist weekly for psychotherapy..
My depression started after my brother's tragic and unexpected death over two years ago...I couldn't cope and was very suicidal in my ideation. I was put on Zoloft which helped but eventually caused worse depression because of a 45 lb weight gain over a one year period!!!
I started seeing a new doc last July and he put me on the Effexor.
My question is are herbal supplements safe to take with Effexor?
Anyone have experience with this?Jojobird
Posted by blueberry on November 9, 2005, at 20:33:58
In reply to Effexor XR and Herbal Supplements, posted by jojobird on November 9, 2005, at 10:30:07
Generally speaking, herbs are not safe to take with psychiatric medications, mainly because not enough is none about how they affect the plasma levels of meds. Most are probably safe, but the main problem is that many of them affect the metabolism of other drugs, either increasing the blood levels of ongoing meds or decreasing the levels. There isn't enough research done on them to really know what an herb will do to an ongoing medication.
That being said, I took st johns wort along with low dose prozac and low dose zyprexa. But it definitely screwed with the meds. And when I stopped the sjw, I went through some horrific scary withdrawals, somehow related to interaction with the other meds.
As far as safety goes, I think they are all fairly safe, with careful dosing, go low and slow. I'm sure many people have mixed herbs and meds. It's just that you are in uncharted waters, and you can't predict what might happen, either good or bad.
Posted by Phillipa on November 9, 2005, at 20:33:59
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and Herbal Supplements, posted by blueberry on November 9, 2005, at 16:57:22
St. John's wort shouldn't be taken with an antidepessant. Have you asked larry Hoover about the other herbs? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by jeminiwmn on November 16, 2005, at 1:23:18
In reply to Effexor XR and Herbal Supplements, posted by jojobird on November 9, 2005, at 10:30:07
> Hello
>
> I have been treated successfully with Effexor XR now for 4 months.. my dose was gradually increased slowly to what feels like a therepeutic level for me at 300 mgs/OD. I also see my psychiatrist weekly for psychotherapy..
>
> My depression started after my brother's tragic and unexpected death over two years ago...I couldn't cope and was very suicidal in my ideation. I was put on Zoloft which helped but eventually caused worse depression because of a 45 lb weight gain over a one year period!!!
>
> I started seeing a new doc last July and he put me on the Effexor.
> My question is are herbal supplements safe to take with Effexor?
> Anyone have experience with this?
>
> Jojobird
I took a certain herbal weight loss supplement while on effexor for quite some time-I only took one a day as opposed to the recommended 6 a day though. That's all my body required. The Ma Huang 10mg is what was part of the eca stack-unfortunatey the FDA stepped in and took control and removed this product and many others. The one I took was the best and didn't make me "crazy" or irritable. I even asked my pharm. and he agreed at that time that it should have no interaction w/ the anti-dep at the time. THAT WAS ME-AND REMEMBER-I WAS TAKING ONLY 1/ PLZ TALK TO YOUR PHARMACIST OR EVEN CALL/ OR TALK W/ YOUR PSYCH/DR. WHATEVER-GOOD LUCK.
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