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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by KimberlyDi on July 15, 2003, at 17:59:19
In reply to Re: starting effexor @ 150 mg and climbing » bookgurl99, posted by Dasart1 on July 15, 2003, at 16:02:02
Hello Das,
I've been on Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, and now Effexor. Effexor has been the most powerful anti-anxiety AD that I've ever been on. I'm not sure how well it works on depression. My overall mood has lifted over the past 2 months (how long I've been taking Effexor). It also has the most noticable Side Effects of any AD that I've taken. Basic advice, Give it 4-6 weeks at least and if you decide not to take it anymore, taper off it slowly. Keep posting to Psycho-Babble. You'll get lots of information.
Good Luck!
KDi from Texas> Hi kids,
> I recently started Effexor XR @ 150 mg per day about two weeks ago. As of today I am up to 300 mg. Id’ like to say to those of you of which whom have been started at a much lower dose than this and that is not to worry too much. Beginning at such a low dose probably indicates a milder form of depression and the good news is that your depression is probably curable. As where mine is chronic and clinical and is not curable. I will always (for the rest of my life) need to be medicated for this (as well as many other) problems. I’d like to know if any one has hit the 400-mg dose yet. As I understand this drug...the highest dose recommended is at 425 mg. I fear that my dose will indeed be increased again in a week or so. As I am severely depressed and have been so for many, many years...If not my entire life (it’s a long story). So is any one up around 300 mg or 400 mg? I’d really like to know if some one is at this range and has previously been on a different antidepressant if they have noticed a difference between them. I am switching over from Paxil to Effexor XR and am rather curious to say the least.
> Sincerely, Das
>
Posted by mercedes on July 15, 2003, at 18:31:26
In reply to Re: To Suzy re: xanex....Zinya can u also help?, posted by Susy on July 14, 2003, at 15:48:04
Susy...you'd better hang in there okay? Don't give up, Susy. I think we all have been or still are..feeling like you. Most people when they are severly depressed, can't do anything. At least you are still reaching out through this site. That means that you want to get help and are not giving up. You have a lot to live for even though it may seem like you don't. There are positive things in your life. Maybe you couldn't go to your mother's funeral. Do you think she is mad at you for that? Her body is in Spain but her spirit is closer to you now, more than ever. I too lost my mother 3 years ago on valentines day. I was in my deepest depression and having so many anxiety attacks that I couln't drive. I still had to work with all this sickness. I cried for her alot. Now I talk to her in my mind. I also go through her cause she is closer to God, and ask for her to ask God to help me get well, and she is. My mother, who is in heaven now, know's all the secrets I kept from her (especially the rape) and I know she understands. For a short time, I was going to rape survivors meetings and I lied to mom and told her I was taking a class. I felt so guilty lying to her. She knows the truth now and is probably saying, pobre mija.
I wish I could kick that neighbor of your's. She cannot have you kicked out you know. If the landlord even wanted you out, you can live there free for three months, did you know that? As for your male freind, his humiliating you is not good for you at all. It only belittles you and makes you more vulnerable to getting depressed and anxious. Tell him you won't take his verbal abuse anymore if he wants to continue seeing you. You need positive in your life now. Not negative stuff. Okay.
Hugs and prayers,
Mercedes
************************************
> Mercedes, Thanks a lot for your interest and specially for all the help you are giving me, you are right I don't have a Health Insurance, I do have Medical but it is for emergencies only.
I think I am going to buy a health plan once I am able to work again. But meanwhile, thanks for the idea, I can make an appoinment with a psiquiatrist to see if he wants to continue touching bases with my case at least once per month. I will tell you that I think I am also a little bit depressed, my mother passed away last March 20 and I wasn't able to fly to Spain, because, crazy thing, I am affraid to fly, can you believe it? I came by plane to USA 20 years ago and now I can't take another one. All this because of the same, what if I have an attack in the middle of the fly....etc. Now, I don't even know if I want to go back again, because she won't be there waiting for me as I always dreamed.
Then, I live in a beautiful rented house but there is this neighbor who always puts a lot of pressure on me to the point of harrassment, I never met such an insensitive and selfish human been;and I lived affraid one day she is going to get the owners to kick us out and the rents these days are very expensive here in L.A.
Besides, I had this relation with this guy for around 7 years and he doesn't want to let me go. I do feel something for him. But it is just that he is continuosly humillating me, I think he is neurotic but he will never admit it, all the times something went wrong it was because of his bad temper and then he blamed everything on me.
I feel bad not to see him, but the last times I saw him I came back home thinking I was about to pass out, and praying God to please let me wake up alive next morning.
So, as you can see, there is nothing positive in my life at this moment, I have to deal with this anxiety, lack of energy and panic attacks and I think that make me even more depressed and anxious because I wish I could quit Xanax and feel like I used to be at least 2 yrs ago. Sometimes I don't even know if one day I will have my strenght back to continue and planning for the future....or just give up and see what happens.
Please keep on writing Mercedes, and say Hi to Cher if you see her.Hugs, Susy
Posted by mercedes on July 15, 2003, at 18:47:38
In reply to Re: starting effexor @ 150 mg and climbing » bookgurl99, posted by Dasart1 on July 15, 2003, at 16:02:02
Hi kid...I like that
Anyway, I have been on 300 mgs now for about 5 months (started slow of course). I take it for depression and take Xanex for anxiety. being on 300 mgs has helped my mood alot. Really "feel" happy for the first time in years. Have some down days sometimes but I think that's normal. Keep us posted.
Mercedes
Posted by mercedes on July 15, 2003, at 19:23:34
In reply to Re: Has anyone experienced nightmares on Effexor XR?, posted by Susy on July 11, 2003, at 9:24:13
Susy, I remember you saying you had these zig zag lines in you vision or with eyes closed. Well, while looking up info from someone trying to help me out, I found this site. I am researching more on my illness, have been on the net all day but wanted you to know that maybe we have this 'basilar migrain' thing. Sorry I couldn't do a connection to the site but you can copy and paste.
Mercedeshttp://www.neurologychannel.com/migraine/#basilar
Migraine with aura is characterized by a neurological phenomenon (aura) that is experienced 10 to 30 minutes before the headache. Most auras are visual and are described as bright shimmering lights around objects or at the edges of the field of vision (called scintillating scotomas) or zigzag lines, wavy images, or hallucinations. Others experience temporary vision loss.
Nonvisual auras include motor weakness, speech or language abnormalities, dizziness, vertigo, and tingling or numbness (parasthesia) of the face, tongue, or extremities.
Posted by Susy on July 15, 2003, at 19:25:25
In reply to Re: To Suzy re: xanex....Zinya can u also help? » Susy, posted by zinya on July 15, 2003, at 13:58:24
Hi, Zinya, this is Susy again =)
I live in the city of North Hollywood, next to Universal Studios; I called a place in this city called MacDonald Carry but they say they just take more severe symptoms, meaning they don't deal with anxiety or panic attacks.
I can go during the evenings when my oldest son is here and he can help me taking care of the youngests. Lately I have been feeling very tired though,hopefully I can have some energy to go and don't feel too nervous about it. I know I do need help. Maybe is also the weather. But still my heart pounding fast.=(
I came from Spain to U.S.A. in 1981. But I went back in 1986 and my brother stayed here.
Then I came back here again in 1992 the last time.
And my brother went back to Spain in 1999 when m our mother started to be sick. I noticed in 1992 that everything changed a lot in California specially for aliens, like me.
But, as I was writing to Mercedes I wasn't able to go and see my mother last year because of this fear to fly; fear I didn't have years ago =(. But again I don't want to have an attack in the middle of the flight.
I will also like to know more about you Zinya, I see that you are always giving support to everybody but don't say much about yourself.
Right now I have to go to pick my son up from a program he goes with the Police.
I'll write back later on tonight.Hugs, Susy
Posted by Susy on July 15, 2003, at 19:51:49
In reply to Re: Anxiety, lack of energy, panic attcks, depr. » Susy, posted by mercedes on July 15, 2003, at 18:31:26
> Susy...you'd better hang in there okay? Don't give up, Susy. I think we all have been or still are..feeling like you. Most people when they are severly depressed, can't do anything. At least you are still reaching out through this site. That means that you want to get help and are not giving up. You have a lot to live for even though it may seem like you don't. There are positive things in your life. Maybe you couldn't go to your mother's funeral. Do you think she is mad at you for that? Her body is in Spain but her spirit is closer to you now, more than ever. I too lost my mother 3 years ago on valentines day. I was in my deepest depression and having so many anxiety attacks that I couln't drive. I still had to work with all this sickness. I cried for her alot. Now I talk to her in my mind. I also go through her cause she is closer to God, and ask for her to ask God to help me get well, and she is. My mother, who is in heaven now, know's all the secrets I kept from her (especially the rape) and I know she understands. For a short time, I was going to rape survivors meetings and I lied to mom and told her I was taking a class. I felt so guilty lying to her. She knows the truth now and is probably saying, pobre mija.
>
> I wish I could kick that neighbor of your's. She cannot have you kicked out you know. If the landlord even wanted you out, you can live there free for three months, did you know that? As for your male freind, his humiliating you is not good for you at all. It only belittles you and makes you more vulnerable to getting depressed and anxious. Tell him you won't take his verbal abuse anymore if he wants to continue seeing you. You need positive in your life now. Not negative stuff. Okay.
> Hugs and prayers,
> Mercedes
> ************************************
> > Sweet Mercedes, reading your post almost brought tears to my eyes. I am so sensitive lately. That I thank God for finding you guys and for understand me. I do try to understand about my mother, it is just now I do have more questions in my mind about death and all those things. I think you did ok by not telling your mother about your rape. She would be suffering for you, I have a daughter so is easy for me to understand that your mother had have feel very sad for you and with impotence of not being able to do anything to the people that made her hijita go through such suffering.
About my neighbor it is a long story, but It hurt me a lot because I was the Manager here and at the beginning she pretended to be my friend and came to my home, once she knew all about us then she went ahead and stabbed me in the back. That never happen to me before. And I swear to God that I didn't make anything bad to her. Then the owner believed all her complaints and now she is the Manager and she yells at my children everytime she wants and that hurt me even more.
I think she doesn't like us because we are a family and she lives alone, but, I offered to her my house, my friends, my familiy and she rejected me. I know she writes me letters and do all this because she wants us to move out, but Thanks God that is not official yet, I haven't received any 3 or 30 days notice.But I lived always affraid that will happen sooner or later.I know what you say thay we can stay here for 3 more months but then I would have an eviction in my credit.
Besides rents are very expensive. And why do we have to move only because she doesn't like us?
We haven't done anything to her. But I live with this fear one day I will receive this 3 or 30 days notice and she will be laughing happy while I will have to see where I can go with my children specially now that I am not working.
About this guy, I gave him a lot of opportunities I allways told him I needed somebody to treat me with love and respect and he did exactly the opposite, to be honest, I don't want to see him anymore. He really makes me feel very confused, he is always looking for something to fight and he is able to be arguing for neverending hours and then blame everything on me and said that I said what he did say, if I continue like this I am going to really get crazy. I feel very sad because I realized love is not the perfect feeling I thought it was. But now, I don't even think about love anymore, all I want is to feel better again, and work, and think about the future, maybe somewhere far from here. But also, I have lost trust in people and that is not me again, I always loved to have lots of friends. But yet, I don't want to suffer more.
I make it long again eh?
If you don't get tired I'll keep on telling you in the next one.Big Hugs for you Mercedes
Susy
Posted by redman on July 15, 2003, at 20:08:56
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Whats everyonr paying for effexor XR . I'm paying $174.00 for 60 37.5 ..Is that to much?
Posted by bookgurl99 on July 15, 2003, at 22:02:57
In reply to Re: Had terrible attack. Any 1 have these symtoms? » bookgurl99, posted by mercedes on July 15, 2003, at 16:26:35
Mercedes,
interesting that you ask how i cope, as i just went to the doctor _and_ therapist today. the dr. confirmed that my last attack is not evocative of seizure disorder (something my pdoc was concerned about), and said that the treatment _is_ prevention. Good prevention prevents more attacks, accumulation of damage, and allows you to heal.
This is . . hard to deal with emotionally. I just had a serious attack 2 weeks ago that left me with slower thinking, some word-finding difficulties, and some blurred left-eye vision. My dr. basically said the damage has been done; hopefully things will heal with time.
(btw, my dr. called this 'familial hemiplegic migraine,' which may be in the BAM class)
This is really tough for me, as I was always a 'brain,' and have developed most of my identity around my intelligence. I find it hard to find myself lovable when I need extra help. Plus, I am really frightened about being able to meet my career goals.
I guess I have faith in healing, as in the past, I had a much worse BAM attack (trouble recognizing faces, even), and recovered within a few months once I began preventative treatment.
Right now, I take a calcium-channel blocker that is used to lower blood pressure. it's verapamil, 80 mgs, 3 times a day. I think you will be surprised to see how effective it can be once you get over the initial dizziness caused by it.
I am starting on effexor to see if it helps. I have had the worst attacks when I have _not_ been on a med. I have also had my worst attacks prior to menstruation, and after consuming a lot of coffee.
My dr. has suggested depakote to me, but I am wary of trying it. The side effects seem so powerful.
I would say, basically, avoid doing anything that would also encourage stroke -- quit smoking, quit coffee, and work to find a preventative med. If your dr. does not believe you on this dx, then you need to find one who does.
Keep me posted,
books
Posted by mercedes on July 16, 2003, at 3:16:19
In reply to Re: BAM/familial hemiplegic migraine, posted by bookgurl99 on July 15, 2003, at 22:02:57
Books, fhm is in the BAM family. I looked it up. I feel for you because I can also relate to the loss of words after an attack. The more attacks I have the worse I get. I too considered myself very intelligent, being in the acctg field my entire career, getting promotions regularly until 7 years ago. Really feel sorta dumb now. I have trouble comprehending/short term memory loss. I think I mentioned this before, can't remember.
I was on Depakote (prescribed by a neurologist) about a year ago. Took it for about two years. I still had the attacks and it made me very sleepy and lathargic but, I was also on xanex which could have contributed to the SE. For me, the depakote didn't do a thing for the attacks. I stopped the depakote when I started taking effexor. Effexor has not stopped the attacks altogether but they are less now.
Again thank you for leading me in the right direction re: BAM. I have to do more research on it but will surely mention it to my Dr.
Have faith okay? I do. I used to have the attacks monthly, even weekly. Now it's just sporadic. Something will eventually work, I know it will.
Mercedes
Posted by mercedes on July 16, 2003, at 3:39:44
In reply to Re: Anxiety, lack of energy, panic attcks, depr., posted by Susy on July 15, 2003, at 19:51:49
Susy, you can make it as long as you want. I will keep listening. Your pain is felt by others that have experienced the same as you and in case you don't know it, YOU are helping others on this thread, just by being you. I'm glad you wrote back. You already sound a little stronger than your previous note. We will all try to help each other. Thank you for your kind words about my mother and me not telling her. You are right, she would have not been able to help me and would have suffered more for me. She was in her 80's and very frail.
Hugs and Prayers,
Mercedes
*************
I make it long again eh?
If you don't get tired I'll keep on telling you in the next one.Big Hugs for you Mercedes
Susy
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 16, 2003, at 8:02:08
In reply to Re: starting effexor @ 150 mg and climbing » Dasart1, posted by KimberlyDi on July 15, 2003, at 17:59:19
Sorry, I meant to post that I'm now at 200mg daily and think she'll have to bump me to 300mg or prescribed another AD to work in tandem with the Effexor. Effexor has raised my blood pressure somewhat and we have to keep an eye on that.
Good Luck
Kim> Hello Das,
> I've been on Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, and now Effexor. Effexor has been the most powerful anti-anxiety AD that I've ever been on. I'm not sure how well it works on depression. My overall mood has lifted over the past 2 months (how long I've been taking Effexor). It also has the most noticable Side Effects of any AD that I've taken. Basic advice, Give it 4-6 weeks at least and if you decide not to take it anymore, taper off it slowly. Keep posting to Psycho-Babble. You'll get lots of information.
> Good Luck!
> KDi from Texas
>
> > Hi kids,
> > I recently started Effexor XR @ 150 mg per day about two weeks ago. As of today I am up to 300 mg. Id’ like to say to those of you of which whom have been started at a much lower dose than this and that is not to worry too much. Beginning at such a low dose probably indicates a milder form of depression and the good news is that your depression is probably curable. As where mine is chronic and clinical and is not curable. I will always (for the rest of my life) need to be medicated for this (as well as many other) problems. I’d like to know if any one has hit the 400-mg dose yet. As I understand this drug...the highest dose recommended is at 425 mg. I fear that my dose will indeed be increased again in a week or so. As I am severely depressed and have been so for many, many years...If not my entire life (it’s a long story). So is any one up around 300 mg or 400 mg? I’d really like to know if some one is at this range and has previously been on a different antidepressant if they have noticed a difference between them. I am switching over from Paxil to Effexor XR and am rather curious to say the least.
> > Sincerely, Das
> >
>
>
Posted by bookgurl99 on July 16, 2003, at 8:20:24
In reply to Re: BAM/familial hemiplegic migraine » bookgurl99, posted by mercedes on July 16, 2003, at 3:16:19
> Have faith okay? I do. I used to have the attacks monthly, even weekly. Now it's just sporadic. Something will eventually work, I know it will.
> MercedesMercedes,
thanks for your post and the touch of hope. yes, i find that having become educated also makes me more anxious -- but perhaps that is good. i just can't get the image out of my mind of repeatedly drowning, my brain not getting enough oxygen.
i am trying to change that image to something more positive.
thankfully, i started the effexor last night, and -- maybe it's psychosomatic -- but my brain feels different, like it doesn't want to start 'migraining.' i'm not even having the optical migraine that i normally would.
i jerked a couple of times last night, seizure-like jerking, but no head involvement. (electrical feeling not in head) i mentioned it to my dr., but now i want to try it for another few days.
books
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 16, 2003, at 8:25:09
In reply to Re: Anxiety, lack of energy, panic attcks, depr., posted by Susy on July 15, 2003, at 19:51:49
Sweet Susy,
Love and a feeling of security are 2 important needs, not unimportant wants (a cute pair of shoes in the store window that you wish you could buy is a *want*.) I've lived in fear also of a husband who changed the locks on the house when he went into a rage and he wouldn't give me my stuff or let me in until he calmed down days later. I feel helpless, vulnerable, and afraid. Psychobabble helps. Very nice people to talk to. Effexor also helped tremendously. But a good anti-depressant doesn't cure everything, not when you are living in a bad situation. Good luck! Kim
> About my neighbor it is a long story, but It hurt me a lot because I was the Manager here and at the beginning she pretended to be my friend and came to my home, once she knew all about us then she went ahead and stabbed me in the back. That never happen to me before. And I swear to God that I didn't make anything bad to her. Then the owner believed all her complaints and now she is the Manager and she yells at my children everytime she wants and that hurt me even more.
> I think she doesn't like us because we are a family and she lives alone, but, I offered to her my house, my friends, my familiy and she rejected me. I know she writes me letters and do all this because she wants us to move out, but Thanks God that is not official yet, I haven't received any 3 or 30 days notice.But I lived always affraid that will happen sooner or later.I know what you say thay we can stay here for 3 more months but then I would have an eviction in my credit.
> Besides rents are very expensive. And why do we have to move only because she doesn't like us?
> We haven't done anything to her. But I live with this fear one day I will receive this 3 or 30 days notice and she will be laughing happy while I will have to see where I can go with my children specially now that I am not working.
> About this guy, I gave him a lot of opportunities I allways told him I needed somebody to treat me with love and respect and he did exactly the opposite, to be honest, I don't want to see him anymore. He really makes me feel very confused, he is always looking for something to fight and he is able to be arguing for neverending hours and then blame everything on me and said that I said what he did say, if I continue like this I am going to really get crazy. I feel very sad because I realized love is not the perfect feeling I thought it was. But now, I don't even think about love anymore, all I want is to feel better again, and work, and think about the future, maybe somewhere far from here. But also, I have lost trust in people and that is not me again, I always loved to have lots of friends. But yet, I don't want to suffer more.
> I make it long again eh?
> If you don't get tired I'll keep on telling you in the next one.
>
> Big Hugs for you Mercedes
> Susy
>
>
Posted by bookgurl99 on July 16, 2003, at 8:28:27
In reply to starting effexor, posted by bookgurl99 on July 15, 2003, at 14:53:26
> Starting effexor xr 37.5 mgs today for migraine prevention. Watching this thread.
>
>Started effexor last night. Had 3 seizure-like jolts in bed. One just my head twitching back and forth, one my spine jumping, very electrical feeling, and one my shoulders and arms, which was very frightening. it's almost like the normal falling-asleep jolts, except electrified.
I woke up today feeling like my body really likes this med -- i can feel the back of my neck not wanting to go into migraine; i'm having slightly less optical migraine than usual. so i don't want to give it up if i don't have to.
i'm calling my dr.
has anyone else experienced this, and if so, did it go away with time?
Posted by CherC68 on July 16, 2003, at 9:10:58
In reply to starting effexor @ 150 mg and climbing-Das, posted by KimberlyDi on July 16, 2003, at 8:02:08
Susy, Mercedes, Zinya, Kimberly and Everyone,
I want you all to know that I have posted recently two empty emails and somehow screwed up in sending. It took me a while to post and Zinya gave me a hint to write it out first and save as I go then if something goes wrong I can just cut and paste and resend.The Email was just a sappy I love you guys kind of email, thanking you all for your love, help, understanding & support.
Nobody in my life seems to understand what I'm going through and I understand all of you, so completely and I know you understand me.
Writing is becoming harder for me because of the carpal tunnel I am having (I see the surgeon Thursday afternoon and he will let me know if and when I'm going to have surgery on my hands)and...everything I do these days is so slow and the energy level is down to almost nothing. I do read all the posts and most of the times it brings me to tears, but I have been working more lately and I must save my hands for typing and the numerous dictations by shorthand at work I have been doing.
I am taking nothing right now but an occasional Xanax (.25 mg) and those are more precious to me than Gold. I will try AGAIN to speak to my Doctor (with Susy's help - the article on Xanax was AWESOME) - I am hoping he will see things my way and give me a prescription. Funny, all I would need is .25 mg whenever I'm having problems. On the days I take the .25 mgs twice a day - my eye tick goes away.
I have had a severe eye tick for over a year and when I was on Zoloft (for only 4 days) - my eye tick went away. Then I started the Effexor XR (for only 6 days) - now my eye tick is back. The only time it goes away for more than 8 hours is when I take the Xanax.
To all of you, thank you so much for your support - I know I'm not taking any of the meds and I'm on the Effexor posts - but you all mean so much to me - and I'm sorry I don't write with support as much as I used to.
Please take care of each other, and as soon as I am able I will be posting more.
As always, my heart, my prayers and my good thoughts go out to everyone on here.
With Love & Hugs,
Cher
Posted by zinya on July 16, 2003, at 14:23:14
In reply to Re: Hi everyone Zinya, Susy, Kimberly, Mercedes, posted by CherC68 on July 16, 2003, at 9:10:58
Dear sweet Cher!
As hopefully you know by now, my thoughts and spirit are with you! big time! ...
I do think you need to preserve your hands and i'm glad it seems the pre-writing helps to make sure you don't lose a whole post, cuz that can only add too to a sense of despair as well as pain to your hands...
I'm just amazed that you're coping as you are, working where you have to use your hands so much...
I haven't commented on the Xanax cuz i've never taken it, but i think and hope you will feel strong in making the md understand just how much even a modest but regular dose of it has made a difference to you.
I do think, not so much for the ticks maybe as for the concern you had with floaters, that it would ease your mind if you could see an opthalmologist too. But i also know you have to feel on overload and what's REALLY important is to congratulate yourself (and hear my congrats!) for how you're tackling these things one by one, dentist, surgeon, etc.)
I'm with you in heart and spirit and WHEN you can write again without causing pain to your hands, I and we all look forward to hearing your news ... (and, please, you know you have zero need to be concerned about whether you are taking effexor or not as a 'license' to write here. You are one of our support group here as much as any of us!)
with warm hugs (or would cool hugs feel better? I think i heard it's muggy there today?)
love,
zinya> Susy, Mercedes, Zinya, Kimberly and Everyone,
> I want you all to know that I have posted recently two empty emails and somehow screwed up in sending. It took me a while to post and Zinya gave me a hint to write it out first and save as I go then if something goes wrong I can just cut and paste and resend.
>
> The Email was just a sappy I love you guys kind of email, thanking you all for your love, help, understanding & support.
>
> Nobody in my life seems to understand what I'm going through and I understand all of you, so completely and I know you understand me.
>
> Writing is becoming harder for me because of the carpal tunnel I am having (I see the surgeon Thursday afternoon and he will let me know if and when I'm going to have surgery on my hands)and...everything I do these days is so slow and the energy level is down to almost nothing. I do read all the posts and most of the times it brings me to tears, but I have been working more lately and I must save my hands for typing and the numerous dictations by shorthand at work I have been doing.
>
> I am taking nothing right now but an occasional Xanax (.25 mg) and those are more precious to me than Gold. I will try AGAIN to speak to my Doctor (with Susy's help - the article on Xanax was AWESOME) - I am hoping he will see things my way and give me a prescription. Funny, all I would need is .25 mg whenever I'm having problems. On the days I take the .25 mgs twice a day - my eye tick goes away.
>
> I have had a severe eye tick for over a year and when I was on Zoloft (for only 4 days) - my eye tick went away. Then I started the Effexor XR (for only 6 days) - now my eye tick is back. The only time it goes away for more than 8 hours is when I take the Xanax.
>
> To all of you, thank you so much for your support - I know I'm not taking any of the meds and I'm on the Effexor posts - but you all mean so much to me - and I'm sorry I don't write with support as much as I used to.
>
> Please take care of each other, and as soon as I am able I will be posting more.
>
> As always, my heart, my prayers and my good thoughts go out to everyone on here.
>
> With Love & Hugs,
> Cher
>
Posted by zinya on July 16, 2003, at 14:39:02
In reply to whats everyone paying for Effexor XR, posted by redman on July 15, 2003, at 20:08:56
That sounds about right without insurance (which i don't have now either) but it might be a little high. I go to Costco (which of course means $40 a year to join but their prescription prices are enough better that it's worth it in long run) and i just paid $80 for 30 Effexor 150 mg (just to let you know, the mg. levels don't effect the price much - you pay almost as much for 30 at 37.5 mg as you do for 30 at 75 mg or 150 mg.
What's odd to me is that your prescription was for 60 capsules at the 37.5 mg level. Didn't your md. give you a starter pac for the first month's capsules? And does he/she think you only need that 37.5 level as a long-term level? Most people only stay at 37.5 for a week or two and then go to 75.
This may depend on your diagnosis as to what you're taking them for and what level is then appropriate.
hope this helps,
z.> Whats everyonr paying for effexor XR . I'm paying $174.00 for 60 37.5 ..Is that to much?
Posted by zinya on July 16, 2003, at 15:13:26
In reply to seizure-like jolt on effexor?, posted by bookgurl99 on July 16, 2003, at 8:28:27
Are you taking it on a pretty full stomach?
I find that when I am at a new level, it's usually actually days 2-4 that i notice the most side effects but then they pass so you might want to give it a week at the same level before starting to draw conclusions, unless of course you have some SE that is too frightening or intolerable.
It also could be that, while nightime is best for me, some people here have to take their Effexor in the a.m. If the jolts bother your sleep too much (but it sounds like you slept well after they passed?), then that is an option too, to shift time of day.
(By the way, you may have read my post to mercedes about migraines - i was the first one who responded to her symptoms by saying it reminded me of my own migraines in my 20's, and the 2nd one was a hemiplegic with temporary loss of verbal skills and motor too... In those days (the 70's), the only prescrips were cafergot for onset and periactin on daily basis... I used to get a clue one was coming cuz i'd start getting what we now call dyslexic (like adding numbers in my checkbook and instead of writing 19, i'd write 91, etc)... For me, in retrospect, it seems like it was hugely a factor of stress. I was in a horrible marriage (worse than I was admitting to myself as i struggled to try to make it work, and when i left after 6 years (having migraines chronically for the last 4 of the 6 yrs), i had the last migraine about a week later, after having to recount the history of my marriage to a friend of his trying to get me to return and i felt i had to make him understand (what he wound up instead was to say my story had made him realize how much he needed to change his own ways in his marriage) .. After that 5-hour talk, i had a 3-day migraine but it was the last one i ever had. I think unverbalized stress is a real 'killer" and must have been at least a factor in my own ... But of course there are genetic and other predispositions and i'm not suggesting it's all just stress or for some people may not be related to stress at all (although for each of us stress does its own damage).
One other thing: In '93, I was on Depakote and had a reaction much like Mercedes'. I only stayed on it for 5 months even cuz they swtiched pdocs on me in the middle and the new one insisted i give it longer to see his own observations, but finally after 5 months i just quit. It was making me feel logey until noon every day no matter how early in the evening i took it before bed, and it was not relieving anything i took it for. But it did not have what i would call "horrible" side effects. Like every one of these ad's, i'm sure it's totally variable by person. IF it turns out that Effexor doesn't work for you and your pdoc has some good reason to think Depakote suits your diagnosis, I wouldn't assume that its side effects would necessarily be any worse than any other. It's just so individual, that much is clear from the months of reading others on this website.
good luck!
zinya
Posted by Bridget on July 16, 2003, at 15:19:47
In reply to Re: whats everyone paying for Effexor XR » redman, posted by zinya on July 16, 2003, at 14:39:02
I have Pacific Care insurance and I have a 20.00 co-pay?.Does your insurance not cover it?
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 16, 2003, at 15:29:47
In reply to Re: Hi everyone Zinya, Susy, Kimberly, Mercedes, posted by CherC68 on July 16, 2003, at 9:10:58
Oh Cher, it's great to hear from you. If your hands hurt too much, use the eraser end of a pencil to peck out one letter at a time! My husband types slower than that with all 10 fingers!
Let me bore your ears with my ordeal today. The DENTIST. da da da dummmm. I have a phobia of dentists that I *thought* I had overcome... getting to the point of needing only laughing gas. There I was in the waiting room (they were behind schedule as usual), getting more agitated by the minute. When they gave me the laughing gas, it wasn't helping. By the time he gave me the shots of novacain, I was shaking, my heart was racing, and I could hardly breathe. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. It was awful because I couldn't control my body's panicked reaction. I couldn't even take deep slow breathes because I couldn't exhale correctly. It was ragged and that alone scared me. I need to talk to my pdoc about alternatives. She won't prescribe benzo's because I'm a non-practicing alcoholic. I survived the ordeal but it has taken me all day to calm down.
Chin-up. There will always be trials and tribulations. Everyday presents new hurdles. We're here for ya! {{{{{hugs}}}}}}}
KDi in Texas
Posted by Susy on July 16, 2003, at 16:01:31
In reply to Re: Hi everyone Zinya, Susy, Kimberly, Mercedes » CherC68, posted by KimberlyDi on July 16, 2003, at 15:29:47
> Oh Cher, it's great to hear from you. If your hands hurt too much, use the eraser end of a pencil to peck out one letter at a time! My husband types slower than that with all 10 fingers!
>
> Let me bore your ears with my ordeal today. The DENTIST. da da da dummmm. I have a phobia of dentists that I *thought* I had overcome... getting to the point of needing only laughing gas. There I was in the waiting room (they were behind schedule as usual), getting more agitated by the minute. When they gave me the laughing gas, it wasn't helping. By the time he gave me the shots of novacain, I was shaking, my heart was racing, and I could hardly breathe. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. It was awful because I couldn't control my body's panicked reaction. I couldn't even take deep slow breathes because I couldn't exhale correctly. It was ragged and that alone scared me. I need to talk to my pdoc about alternatives. She won't prescribe benzo's because I'm a non-practicing alcoholic. I survived the ordeal but it has taken me all day to calm down.
>
> Chin-up. There will always be trials and tribulations. Everyday presents new hurdles. We're here for ya! {{{{{hugs}}}}}}}
> KDi in Texas
Hi to everybody, I have short time now, I have to live in 5 mins. But I will come back in the night to answer Zinya, Mercedes and dear Cher, Cher I do envy you!!!!!!
KDI it happened exactly the same to me when I went to the Dentist I am still dealing everyday with this teeth bothering me and I can't find the courage to go ahead and take it out =(
Another thing, I have been taking Xanax for about 4 or 5 years now, it is the only med that help me with my panic attacks since Paxil is too much for me to stand. Just want to let you know, that I am also a non-practicing alcoholic. I haven't drink alcohol for 10 years now. But if you suffer anxiety and panic attacks you do have to take something, believe me it is not ease to have an overdose with benzo's about the addictive factor,well a lot of people with not alcoholic past have been taking it for more than 10 years!!!Hopefully you understand me and my terrible English didn't bother you.
Got to go now,
Susy
Posted by mercedes on July 16, 2003, at 16:58:55
In reply to Re: Hi everyone Zinya, Susy, Kimberly, Mercedes, posted by CherC68 on July 16, 2003, at 9:10:58
Cher, I was so worried about you. I was concerned that I had caused you to not write cuz I mentioned you probably did not "submit" on those two blank postings. I said to myself, "Self, she probably killed herself and I'm to blame cause I'm the last one that wrote to her". I really did! It's a horrible thought. I've blamed myself for so many things in my life. Good thing that therapy helped. Well I was so glad to see your name. CHER! I love you, you're back! I'm so happy. Like everyone says, you just keep on writing and keep us informed of how you are doing. I congrat you on still working while feeling the way you do. I'm not working now but did for a long time when i had so many symtoms.
Back to business, I had that eye twitch up until a year ago. However, it goes away with the xanex. When my eyes were tired from working on the computer or I just felt nervous about a deadline or something, my eye started twitching and it actually was a reminder that it was time to take my xanex cause sometimes when working I would get so involved in a project that I would forget to take my dose. It was like an alarm clock to me. It's time....twitch, twitch. It's so irritating. I know what you mean. It is sometimes caused by eye strain. Try to rest your eyes and put a cool compress on them. This might help. Ever try the cucumber thing? Me neither.
Anyway, I missed you and now can rest assured that I didn't kill you. :)
Huggggggs, mercedes
Posted by mercedes on July 16, 2003, at 17:08:41
In reply to seizure-like jolt on effexor?, posted by bookgurl99 on July 16, 2003, at 8:28:27
I had those jolts but in my awake hours. If I'm not mistaken, they are a side effect. I only remember having them in the begining or when I started on 75 mgs. Think I only had them on one or two occasions. They go away. not to worry.
Mercedes
********************
> > Starting effexor xr 37.5 mgs today for migraine prevention. Watching this thread.
> >
> >
>
> Started effexor last night. Had 3 seizure-like jolts in bed. One just my head twitching back and forth, one my spine jumping, very electrical feeling, and one my shoulders and arms, which was very frightening. it's almost like the normal falling-asleep jolts, except electrified.
>
> I woke up today feeling like my body really likes this med -- i can feel the back of my neck not wanting to go into migraine; i'm having slightly less optical migraine than usual. so i don't want to give it up if i don't have to.
>
> i'm calling my dr.
>
> has anyone else experienced this, and if so, did it go away with time?
>
>
Posted by mercedes on July 16, 2003, at 17:39:48
In reply to Re: Hi everyone Zinya, Susy, Kimberly, Mercedes » CherC68, posted by KimberlyDi on July 16, 2003, at 15:29:47
Kim, I had a similar reaction last year at the dentist. No laughing gas though, I was going straight for the needle. Anyway, I've always enjoyed the dentist, at times falling asleep while they so thier thing. Anyway, this one time I went, I was on Depakote at the time and with Depakote, you have to tell the dentist you are taking this med. Anyway, he shot me and in 2 seconds, the left side of my body was shaking uncontrolably (gosh, wish they had spell check on here). Anyway, I think my eyes got as big as golf balls. The dentist asked if I was ok. Yea right! I just kept shaking, my hand, arm, leg, not trembling, I was shaking about 10 inches up, down & sideways..I thought I was going to die for sure.
This shaking lasted what seemed to be about 5 min. He kept telling me to breath, easy for him to say. He told me it was a reaction to the novocain and the nerve he hit with the needle. My next visit, I was so scared, but nothing happened. I took my nap as usual.Pls keep sharing your stories. They are not boring at all. Luv to hear them.
Mercedes in CA
**********************
Let me bore your ears with my ordeal today. The DENTIST. da da da dummmm. I have a phobia of dentists that I *thought* I had overcome... getting to the point of needing only laughing gas. There I was in the waiting room (they were behind schedule as usual), getting more agitated by the minute. When they gave me the laughing gas, it wasn't helping. By the time he gave me the shots of novacain, I was shaking, my heart was racing, and I could hardly breathe. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. It was awful because I couldn't control my body's panicked reaction. I couldn't even take deep slow breathes because I couldn't exhale correctly. It was ragged and that alone scared me. I need to talk to my pdoc about alternatives. She won't prescribe benzo's because I'm a non-practicing alcoholic. I survived the ordeal but it has taken me all day to calm down.Chin-up. There will always be trials and tribulations. Everyday presents new hurdles. We're here for ya! {{{{{hugs}}}}}}}
KDi in Texas
Posted by bookgurl99 on July 16, 2003, at 23:45:32
In reply to Re: seizure-like jolt on effexor? » bookgurl99, posted by zinya on July 16, 2003, at 15:13:26
>>For me, in retrospect, it seems like it was hugely a factor of stress. . . .i had the last migraine about a week later.. After that 5-hour talk, i had a 3-day migraine but it was the last one i ever had.
This is so fascinating. And it suggests that things may change for me in the future.
I think part of the problem here, on top of genetic predisposition, may be my job. I look at a computer for 10-1/2 hours at my position at a relay operator, and the work environment is quite negative.
But, when I just took Zoloft earlier this year (quit for side effects of out-of-it-ifness, poor short term memory, and eating like an elephant), I did well for long periods of time with no serious attacks. So we'll see; part of it is medical.
I also had a major headache/migraine on effexor today. First day on, you know? Not sure if it's worth risking again -- the last few migraines left quite a bit of residual 'damage' I'd like to see repaired.
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