Posted by Zo on June 5, 2002, at 23:12:20
In reply to Effexor - Is it worth increasing the dose?, posted by Denise528 on June 5, 2002, at 12:56:38
> I have recently gone up to 4 x 37.5 tablets of Effexor with fortunately no agitation but no uplift of depression either.
Denise, is this a typo? Because the normal minimum starting dose of Effexor is 3 or 4 SEVENTY-FIVE mg caps a day. . with increases up to 400mg and more, which is the level at which the dopamine effects kick in.
You may be in a stupor from being undermedicated. That is not uncommon with many ADs.
> I was wonder if it is worth my going up to 8 x 37.5mg as I've seen that some people didn't experience a therapeutic effect until reaching that level but I really don't want to have to spend another 6 weeks slowly tirating up to that level to no avail. It has now been over a year and I feel as though I have made very little progress.I'm very concerned here, that you have spent a year at this? And that you have a doctor who doesn't read the PDR?
>
> My Doctors next step is to put me on lactimal just to stop any potential seizures but I've already tried lithium and that didn't work so I am not convinced about this.Potential seizures? From what? Do you have a seizure-related condition? I am really concerned about your doctor's advice, at least as you have presented it.
Lamictal is a great drug, for a number of uses, and for many people easier to use and easier to take than lithium.
>and I really don't know what to do, there seem to be so many drugs available and sometimes this leaves me feeling more confused and indecisive than ever. My Doctor thinks that this is just my personality, in other words nothing will work but I've had such success in the past with tryciclics and SSRIs and surely your brain and your personality are one and the same thing.
I'm sorry, I don't understand this completely. All I can say is that if your doctor truly thinks and has said this is "just your personality". . and you are taking the amount of Effexor that you posted, no typos. . .You *desperately* need another, even minimally competent physician.
Zo
> I'd like to try Adderall but my psychiatrist doestn't want to go down that route yet because of a seizure that I had when he put me on a high dose of prothiaden, Seroxat and Zyprexa.
Whoa! Just read this last part! Adderall is *completely* unrelated to these other three drugs. . .it works *today*. . .and, please, *please* see somebody else.
> The only drug which seems to have helped is Zyprexa and I have found that taking a one off 10mg keeps me feeling quite uplifted for about 4 days but it's not the same feeling as I used to have with prothiaden and Paxil/Zooloft and this is the feeling that I hanker for as it was the right way to feel and I felt an improvement in so many ways.And hanker you should. Zyprexa is a terrific drug, if it doesn't cause massive weight gain, and there are some things to try--but they should be tried from the start--that can help ameliorate that. There's no reason not to combine Zyprexa and Adderall or Dex. I did my very best in many many *many* years on 10mg Dex, 325mg Effexor and 5mg Zyprexa. Eventually switched the Zyprexa to Lamictal and Provigil. . .still doing very well!
You hang in! What "feels good" is your best guide.
Zo
poster:Zo
thread:108787
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020602/msgs/108885.html