Posted by dsm3r on November 21, 2006, at 22:29:22
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by KristiVegas on November 20, 2006, at 19:46:27
Hi, I'm new so please forgive the intrusion. I saw this website and this post regarding Effexor XR and my heart felt compelled to reply. I have Bi-Polar D/O with Psychosis, PTSD, Seasonal Affective D/O and OCD. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago.
I am currently on Effexor XR 300mg at night as well as Seroquel 300mg at night. These medications work for me. I have been on these meds for 4 years and have not cycled out of them, and continue to remain stable. Do I like these meds? No. I don't like any meds, but considering the alternative, I take my meds.
Does it make you gain weight? I have- over 70 lbs. Libido - almost zero. My teeth are falling out of my mouth - side affect for me. So why? Because I'm alive and I'm happy. If you have time, here's a short story:
1st suicide attempt at age 4. Self mutilating - in the teens. Hospitalizations- 2 psychosis/suicide attempt, psychosis. Dissociative D/O, there are huge chunks of my life I have absolutely no memory of. Like I was asleep and then woke up.The depression was beyond painful, it was cold and numbing. Then the mania would set in with the racing thoughts and irresponsible behavior, fast forward until I smacked into a wall. Not only do I or did I have the major systems of cycling - depressions for months on end punctuated by bouts of mania, but I had mini cycles during the DAY.
I have been through the litany of meds, Haldol, Respiradol, Lithium, Wellbutrin, Buspar, Depakote, Trazadone, Perphenazine, Mellaril, etc. I was a zombie, I was fat, I was skinny, sick, tired, depressed, hateful, spiteful, remorseful, lost, confused, and dazed and so on.
So here is what I can say -
The treatment of mental illness is not a science. There are no hard and fast rules. It is trial and error.Only you know how you feel. If something is not working or doesn't feel right, change it and keep changing until something does work. The best way to get from the darkness into the light is to know yourself. Then arm yourself with as much information as you possibly can and keep learning. YOU dictate the treatment. This is YOUR life. If Depakote doesn't work, say so and try something else until something does work. Don't be ashamed, nor afraid. Keep fighting, because the reward for all the crap is a life you want to live.
And when you have no strength, remember that we mentally ill people keep good company. I.e., Abraham Lincoln, Salvador Dali, Albert Einstein, Van Gough, Mozart, Beethoven, Poe, Hemingway,Robin Williams, etc.
There are those of us who will help you when you fall, carry you until you walk, hold you hand when you are afraid. And then we will let you go to walk that part of the journey that only you can do, and we will be waiting for you with open arms when you return.
I will keep you in my prayers. Please don't hesitate to contact me.
Blessed journeys,> Gabbie - I feel like cristyleigh - you don't want to have to go thru all the bad stuff to feel good. I don't put up with it either. If something doesn't feel right, I'll tell my doc. They're the ones with the medical degree but YOU are the one that knows your body best, right? The best way to deal with the docs is to read, read, read about all this stuff. Know what you're talking about when you go in there. My doc has become alot more attentive since I got a little more educated.
> Good luck and let me know how it goes.....
> Kristi
poster:dsm3r
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061117/msgs/706034.html