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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Lou Pilder on August 21, 2003, at 13:49:04
In reply to Lou, posted by Music on August 21, 2003, at 13:10:40
music,
I am a retierd teacher. Diagnosis BPD, around 15 years ago.
I represent an alternative here to taking mind/mood altering drugs . I do not want people to stop their drug(s) without their Drs supervision and the alternative is for those that have not overcome their depression via the psychpharmicological system of psychiatry and would be willing to go a different rout as a last-resort.
Lou
Posted by Emmy333 on August 21, 2003, at 14:13:11
In reply to Re: Withdrawl Advice? for Jenneh, posted by Jenneh on August 21, 2003, at 12:08:00
no, i haven't had any more advice regarding the zanex. i really want to try it soon--especially w/ the holidays around the corner (yeah, i am ALREADY wiggin' out about them...) i don't know if you read my other posting, but i am suffering w/ getting red, blotchy hives all over my chest, arms, and face on a near daily basis--it happens if i get nervous or worry--so now i worry about that all day long too.
Posted by Music on August 21, 2003, at 15:44:18
In reply to Lou's reply to music's post-INQ » Music, posted by Lou Pilder on August 21, 2003, at 13:49:04
Lou, What route would that be?
Are you male or female? I know Lou could stand for short for Lou Ann or for a male Luis? Just wondering?
Posted by Belle Rose on August 21, 2003, at 15:59:22
In reply to New to taking Meds period, posted by Music on August 20, 2003, at 17:16:09
Had to respond as I too am a pastor's wife or was until my husband stepped down from ministry because of MS. I too am a career woman with a demanding job, have two children and feel overwhelmed and depressed most of the time. I have been diagnosed manic and during the manic episodes I can accomplish a great deal which makes up for when I crash and do nothing. More recently, I am mostly overwhelmed so just go home and sleep. When my husband was in ministry, he always wanted me to attend Sunday night prayer meetings (3-4 hours) in addition to Sunday mornings, weekly women's study and was always encouraging me to be move involved. He felt my lack of interest was "spiritual rebellion". I am actually relieved that he is not in ministry anymore. The worst part is the total isolation that you feel. People say, "why are you depressed today?", like you know why you woke up that way and chose to. I was treated with Effexor for three years but did not feel better and had terribly side effects from withdrawal but from working in the medical field, I have heard that some have very positive results. My best of luck to you. I wish I could tell you I have found a solution, but I am just trying to get through each day.
Posted by Belle Rose on August 21, 2003, at 16:42:52
In reply to When they say take at the same time every day..., posted by lucylucy on August 20, 2003, at 13:45:24
Posted by Music on August 21, 2003, at 17:35:59
In reply to Re: New to taking Meds period » Music, posted by Belle Rose on August 21, 2003, at 15:59:22
Did you find it hard to even pray or feel like praying and being at church at times? I do. My husband and I are pretty young and we have only been in the ministry since Nov. 2000. But now he is going to Seminary full-time and we are pastoring two churhces. I hardly see him during the week. He is always busy with church and school things. I feel left out of the picture. We live about two hours from the churches because we live where he goes to school and where I work during the week and then on the weekends we live in the parsonage. Well, he goes back and forth I just live at the parsonage on the weekends. It is hard to go through this depression and aniexty I hate life most of the time. My self esteem is so low and lately I feel out of control. My husband does not understand fully, because I don't know how to ask for what I need and how to tell him. My therapist is helping me to overcome this. I feel so ashame to be in such a corporate setting and being a pastor's wife and why I can't just get over the depression. I feel very weak and lonely.
Posted by Jenneh on August 21, 2003, at 18:11:52
In reply to Re: Withdrawl Advice? for Jenneh, posted by Emmy333 on August 21, 2003, at 14:13:11
You poor thing. That must be hard. Have you ever tried cognitive or behavioural therapy? That might be a good thing to look into because I have been told that drugs on their own are just not that effective.
Feel free to talk anytmie. My personal email address is [email protected] so if yuo want to vent or talk inj private about things buggin you, please contact me. I am only slowly gettnig better but I haev been through it all. You could use a support, I know. I wish I had found this forum when I was at MY worse. Anyways, take care hon.
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 21, 2003, at 19:09:33
In reply to Lou's reply to music's post-INQ » Music, posted by Lou Pilder on August 21, 2003, at 13:49:04
> I represent an alternative here to taking mind/mood altering drugs .
This board is supposed to be for medication-related issues, so I'd like to ask that follow-ups regarding alternatives be redirected to Psychological Babble, Psycho-Babble Faith, etc. Thanks,
Bob
Posted by lianne on August 22, 2003, at 12:02:32
In reply to Re: I'm a newie to Effexor XR, posted by Bronwyn on December 7, 2000, at 9:47:14
I am a newie and have taken Effexor RX 37.5 mg for one week. I am now starting another week with the 75mg. The point is, I don't feel my mood lifted or my energy level go up. Instead I am more tired all the time and on some occasions I feel like a zombie. Worst of all I have chills a lot and it's getting increasingly hard to spend more time at the office because I can't stand the air-conditioned building. Is it okay for me to quit now or go on takig the medication and expect some relief in the near future?
Posted by Helaine on August 22, 2003, at 12:13:45
In reply to Re: I'm a newie to Effexor XR, posted by lianne on August 22, 2003, at 12:02:32
Dear Lianne;
I was a newbie on effexor 37.5 too. I was on it for 1 month. I felt worse on it then I was before I started taking it! I weaned myself off of it with very little withdrawel side effects! I feel lucky about the withdrawels .. after reading some posts.
All I can say is everyones body chemistry is different. I wish you the best of luck. All I can suggest is if you don't like the way it's making you feel, and it's getting in the way of your everday life..I would talk to your dr.
You know your body best. If you do not agree with your dr..then I suggest see another one.
Best of luck to you!
Helaine
Posted by BJL on August 22, 2003, at 12:46:05
In reply to Re: I'm a newie to Effexor XR » lianne, posted by Helaine on August 22, 2003, at 12:13:45
These medications often take a couple of months to really start noticing the effects, so I wouldn't give up on it yet. If you don't notice any improvement in a couple of months, then I wouuld suggest talking with your doctor about switching or quitting. Good luck!
Posted by lavender on August 22, 2003, at 15:07:45
In reply to Re: I'm a newie to Effexor XR, posted by lianne on August 22, 2003, at 12:02:32
don't quit too soon, give it at least 4-6 weeks, I know what you mean, I've been there, it does get better!
Posted by KimberlyDi on August 22, 2003, at 17:39:47
In reply to Re: Effexor down the hatch » KimberlyDi, posted by zinya on August 20, 2003, at 18:06:53
Zinya,
I had one night of the night sweats. I also alternate between sweats & chills during the day also. Not sure if it's the Effexor or that I'm coming down with the flu.Actually, I've hit a slump after my crying jag. I don't know if it's situational...? Or if I've been lying to myself that I can handle all the stress. I almost got into a fight with my worst sister-in-law, practically yelled at my boss, and almost quit my job. If I'm not angry, I'm crying. I see my pdoc early Sept and I'll get her opinion if I need a med change or if I need to just wait it out.
Take care!
KDi in Texas> gosh, Kim, that sounds rough but also, as you say, surely very 'satisfying' in a way too that the appropriate tears flowed... I hope it is leading to whatever you seek in regular communication too...
>
> that was very good advice re Efffex you just gave. I'm still frustrated at lack of energy even at 150, with something of a setback this past week.
>
> I forget: did you or do you have the sweating problem? I thought it was tapering off and then 2 nights ago woke to such a puddle of sweat i had to change nightshirt and everything ...
>
> with hugs,
> zinya
Posted by ELENI4 on August 22, 2003, at 17:53:03
In reply to Re: Effexor vs Prozac » LynnPerley, posted by Mariec on January 23, 2003, at 14:27:53
It has worked very well for me. I've tried many antidepressants (always a "grass is greener on the other side" kind of person), but always seem to come back to Effexor. It lessens my rage, calms my mood swings, and helps lift my depression in addition to lessening my anxiety and stopping my panic attacks. For me, the main difference between Effexor and Prozac was that the former seemed to give my mind a boost while the latter made me feel a little dippy. Effexor also upset my stomach a bit when I first started taking it, but that quickly faded. Other than that, the withdrawl from Effexor is MUCH worse than Prozac, so just be aware and taper off slowly.
> Thanks for the input. Prozac is just not working I am more aggitated now and more aggressive. Do not want anyone around or to touch me! My friend is on Effexor and said I should try it.
>
Posted by Helaine on August 22, 2003, at 18:52:15
In reply to Re: I'm a newie to Effexor XR, posted by BJL on August 22, 2003, at 12:46:05
With all do respect I have been on other anti-depressants before..but for me the SE I was getting from the effexor was making me feel so sick..Hot flashes,depression, jittery,But the worse was my memory losses. I kept saying..my body will adust "just give it another week"
I just knew I had to stop..my SE were too much for me. Then to read how many people had to go through awful withdrawel was the icing on the cake. But like I said we are all different. I hope others have better success then I did.
But, one good thing came from this experience..I felt so bad while taking the effexor I realized my other symptoms weren't all so bad!
Best of luck!!!!!!!
Helaine
Posted by Lianne on August 22, 2003, at 22:01:18
In reply to Re: I'm a newie to Effexor XR, posted by lianne on August 22, 2003, at 12:02:32
Thanks guys, I really appreciate all the responses I got from my posting this afternoon. I am really hoping that things get better soon with the Effexor I am taking i.e calm me down. This is because right now I feel like I am more of a pain to my husband and family members. Sometimes I over-react to things that are of little or no significance. When the anger passes then I realize my reaction was totally unnecessary but I cannot take back all the pain I caused everyone. I really wish I did not feel so angry all the time or that I can control my reactions to normal things around me. Anybody have any idea on how I can calm myself down when I feel so tense.
Posted by Lianne on August 22, 2003, at 22:33:23
In reply to Re: I'm a newie to Effexor XR, posted by lavender on August 22, 2003, at 15:07:45
Does anyone have an suggeston on what time of the day is best to take Effexor in order that its side effects do not interfere with one's daily activities? I have been taking mine at night before going to bed and I feel like hell the next morning and once I took it in the morning but I was drowsy most of the day.
Posted by Salty_dog on August 23, 2003, at 15:26:43
In reply to Re: I'm a newie to Effexor XR, posted by Lianne on August 22, 2003, at 22:01:18
I think an exercise program (cardio) like running/jogging or walking briskly by yourself would slow down your reactions and let you meditate a little. I found that exercise worked in channeling my agitation into something positive. Zanax is a possibility, but, it's highly addictive and realy hard to withdraw. You may need to have a sit down meeting with your significant others and tell them what is happening, they may be able to help by reminding you at the time of an episode or in other ways.
Posted by choltz22 on August 26, 2003, at 0:58:35
In reply to quitting effexor, posted by helena on February 1, 2001, at 10:33:10
I have been on effexor for four months and I have recently tried to stop taking it. I asked my doctor to prescribe me zoloft, because I was taking paxil before the effexor and it had been working, but I had been getting sexual side effects from it. He didn't inform me on the possible withdrawal effects and I stopped taking it all together and felt like I was dying. It felt like a combination between a bad hangover and a heart attack. I couldn't breathe, had rapid heart beat, tingling sensation, dizziness, and my anxiety came back ten times worse than it had ever been. I am beginning to think that I should have never had my primary care physician prescribe me anything, because after I told him about the withdrawal symptoms, he prescribed me a medicine called zyprexa, which is an anti-psychotic used mainly for schizophrenics and acute bipolar disorders. Being a psychology major, I know I have neither of these. I really believe that regular doctors need to stop trying to act like psychiatrists. You wouldn't trust a dentist to do brain surgery on you, would you? I have decided to take this into my own hands until I can get into see the psychiatrist. I'm currently on 300mgs, which I think was too much for me to be taking anyways. I am 5"6' and only 125lbs and have a small build. Has anyone found an effective way to slowly get off of effexor with minimal withdrawal effects?...if so, please contact me at [email protected]...
Posted by bsho on August 26, 2003, at 1:54:15
In reply to Withdrawals from Effexor....., posted by choltz22 on August 26, 2003, at 0:58:35
I tapered off (accidentally at first) going every other day on my original dose of 150 mg. At night on the second day, I would get dizzy. That's when I realized about the side effects.
Then, I tapered every day at 75, then 37.5, then every other 37.5, then every other dumping out more and more of the grains inside the capsule. Now, it has been 3 days since I had about 10 mg of Effexor. I still got the dizziness last night and tonight. However, I didn't get it in the day (I don't know why).
Posted by MINNIEP on August 26, 2003, at 6:39:56
In reply to Re: Effexor down the hatch » zinya, posted by KimberlyDi on August 22, 2003, at 17:39:47
Hi this my first post. Just got out of hospital a week ago was finally diagnosed after 4 months of agony. It seems the effexor i was on for about 10 months was slowly debilitating me. I in the last 4 months have been to at least 4 specialist none of which could diagnose me correctly But did proceed to draw every ounce of my blood and scan every part of my body. My oncologist seemed to think i had a blood born cancer. my neurologist diagnosed me with essential tremors. Well when i did finally ended up in hospital i slept for 3 days. I was cked for arsenic and sionide poisining.my general practitioner finally figured out what was going on and i am on my way to recovery not an easy task.I am being told i will not be able to take SRI's again. Tough call when i have been diagnosed with manic depression. My doctor has put me on some herbal cocktail to help with dts. I am goin to post my symptoms in order they appeared in case this can help anyone else.1. bruising lots and lots even under toenail.2.shortness of breath which progressively got worse. 3. night sweats oh gynocoligist ruled out midlife.sweats were 2 and 3 times a night. Got a lot worse with dts 4.memory confusion. 5.speech 6. dizziness at end when being weaned of it got where i couldn't stand up without breaking out in a cold sweat. I WAS MISERABLE But I cant forget the weird electrical shocks shooting through my head face arms hell my whole body at one time or another the shocks came towards end of weaning process and still appear. Good luck beginners. Hopefully I was just a fluke case. I have taken antidepressants for 8 years. Now I am wondering what to do
Posted by MINNIEP on August 26, 2003, at 7:03:16
In reply to Withdrawals from Effexor....., posted by choltz22 on August 26, 2003, at 0:58:35
Can relate to the heart attack feeling my doctor had upped me to 300 mg also but made me to tired and went back to 150 but still had problems. Tapering off did not help me just bit the bullet in the end and am still suffering side effects after 2 weeks since last pill which was only 50 mgms for a week.
Posted by kaza78 on August 26, 2003, at 11:22:03
In reply to Re: anyone else get tremors on effexor? » lovemybabies, posted by Napaba on April 28, 2003, at 9:06:32
I havent had a problem on effexor. As a matter of fact its done a lot of good for me. That is until I lost my pills over a 2 day period. I though I would be ok. I have missed a day before and all I got was dizziness. On the second day I thought I was going to die!!! I was fine one minute and unbearable the next. I felt like my skin was crawling. I had to call my doctor IMMEDIATLY. I was also dilusional. I will NEVER forget/loose these pills again. Because of that I think I will have to be on these for the rest of my life!!!!
Posted by Harlock on August 26, 2003, at 20:55:04
In reply to Re: electric shocks proper stopping of Effexor, posted by Lise811 on August 12, 2003, at 16:14:29
>
> Why is all this being discussed on an obscure web site and not on 20/20 or Dateline? Why would a drug be made available to already depressed persons, that will ultimately make them more depressed and unbalanced? Why does asking these questions make me the insane one?---
Hell no. I agree with you 100%. I'm actually having pretty severe withdrawal effects from Lexapro. I had NO idea these were withdrawal effects.. well, I had a theory that might be what was causing me to feel so bad, but now that I read all these posts, I'm sure that is what was/is going on.
Anyway, back to the point... It's shocking that there are so few doctors that are unaware of the withdrawal symptoms from these medications. I asked a few doctors and none of them knew what was happening to me! I LUCKILY found this web site, and now I know.
I would love to see a 20/20 or similar type media broadcast discussing the *dangers* of these medications.
I'm not a fan of the sue everyone for everything mentality, but I would love to see the makers of Effexor (and other meds) slapped with a major lawsuit. By law, these guys have to list the side effects of the medications they advertise. Well, on the Effexor commercial, I didn't hear anything about withdrawal symptoms.. nor did I read any in they documentation I got at the doctor's office.
It sounds like some of you have had better experiences than I have as far as medical treatment has been concerned. I'm seen *many* doctors, and I got say, the average Kindergarten student is more informed.
Posted by EmmaL on August 26, 2003, at 21:29:03
In reply to Re: electric shocks proper stopping of Effexor, posted by Lise811 on August 12, 2003, at 16:14:29
You, go Harlow! I was enlightened by your message. Take care!
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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