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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Lyrical13 on January 4, 2004, at 7:00:30
In reply to Re: effexor changes in brain funxn. Help? » mom_cheeks, posted by zinya on January 3, 2004, at 21:53:18
Thank you for your post. Very good point about overgeneralizing, etc and listening to your own body. I think that is a very important thing to remember in any circumstance...listen to what your body is telling you, whether it be re: med effects and side effects or feeling run down in general. I've had a much healthier fall because I think I listened to my body...when it was telling me I needed more meds because the depression was so bad...and also when I was feeling kind of crummy and wiped out...I stayed home from yoga a couple times because I was so wiped out I felt I needed to just chill out and rest...that was a difficult choice..I had this inner dialog about deciding which healthy thing to do...yoga was good for me from a stress-reducing exercise point of view...but how smart would that be to go out in the crummy weather feeling icky already? I think I made the right choice by staying home and resting because I was able to avoid colds and flu when many others all around me were sick as dogs (I work in a school.. cold and flu central!) Taking that extra vitamin C probably played a role too.
I too experience sweating, though not to the degree that you experienced, thank goodness! It is very annoying though. I have tons of beautiful sweaters that I can't wear because I am so hot all the time. Long sleeve shirts are too much sometimes. I live in MI with its share of cold crummy weather..people all around me are in turtlenecks, sweaters and winter coats and I'm sweating in my long sleeve shirt. I will say that the sweating is much worse after increasing my dose and then abates some after a few weeks but it's still there. Also, my heart rate has increased some but not to the alarming rate yours did. Sounds like you're smart to get off of it (and slowly..your system seems VERY sensitive, at least to this med) I just keep tabs on my heart rate when exercising (10 second count at Curves...rate is usually up a couple beats more than usual) This helps me modify my amount of activity to stay within a safe zone. Luckily my BP and pulse are usually at the low end of normal so I don't have to be as concerned as someone with higher BP...just monitor and make sure it doesn't get too elevated. My resting heart rate and pulse are higher with Effexor than without based on stats at various dr visits.
But good point about the posts. I think it's very important for folks on this site to remember to not just blindly take the info as gospel...read it and think about it...do a little of your own research and/or read several posts from several different people to get an overall picture of how different body chemistrys react, then discuss with your pdoc and decide what's right for you.
Posted by Lyrical13 on January 4, 2004, at 7:24:59
In reply to Re: effexor changes in brain funxn. Help? » zinya, posted by Zellie on January 3, 2004, at 23:28:27
I just started with a new doc in Sept and am so glad I switched. In the past my pdocs gave me a little info about a couple different meds and then asked what I wanted to do. I felt like I was being an informed consumer with that info but was always struck by how much more info I got off the little Rx insert from the pharmacy. I thought maybe the pdoc didn't want to alarm me (a person who already had anxiety issues) with info about SEs that only rarely occured. But I also felt I should know about serious SEs that could occur and what to do about them, esp given my past hx of rxns to meds.
My new pdoc gives me info sheets on each med he mentions and tells me to check it out for myself on the net before making a decision. He explained the current thinking on treating chronic depression and various treatment options and then asked what I wanted to do. I admit it was overwhelming given my state of mind at the time and then info I was used to getting from a pdoc, but now I find it very refreshing and empowering. I feel like I am truly part of my own treatment team and that my thoughts and concerns are valid and important. I have always been followed by monthly appts during rough times with instructions to call if there are any questions or problems in the interim. When things are better, my appts are further apart (3 months max) but still occur to check status and progress.
I just recently learned that my sister doesn't have regular appts to check on meds with her doc. He is a pediatrician (she is 14) who is well-respected in the community. I checked him out with a few other mental health professionals that I know and they all said he was very competent and well-read, kept up on current data etc and had experience with dealing with these issues. Also has no qualms about referring pts on if he feels it's more difficult to treat than he has experience with. I felt reassured by that info, esp since it came from 3 separate sources. But I am concerned that she doesn't have regular appts to follow her on meds. She was able to get in to see him within a few days when she was having a great deal of difficulty. He upped her meds but there has been no follow-up since. I brought up this concern to her and my step-mom. Told them that she should be having regular appts. I feel that her meds are not doing as much as they should be for her. She's still having difficulty, albeit not as severe, but I don't think either of them realize that she doesn't have to settle for feeling "a little better" I don't know if she needs a higher level or a different med combo. I am hoping that they will take my advice to A) contact doc and get in for another appt to discuss progress and B) get back into counseling and stay in counseling.
Before I started with my current pdoc, I didn't realize what I was missing in terms of info and participation in treatment decisions. My pdoc was floored that no one had given me such info before. He says that he takes the same approach with every pt. He believes that an informed pt is a valuable part of the team. It's very empowering and I feel that approach gives the pt the most dignity. Feeling some control over the situation definitely makes dealing with mental health issues easier. I think that the feeling of powerlessness and helplessness that I often feel when I am going through a rough time is one of the most frustrating an debilitating aspects of this illness...also fear of the unknown.
Posted by Larry Hoover on January 4, 2004, at 8:09:03
In reply to re: atypical NMS, posted by Lyrical13 on January 4, 2004, at 6:40:27
> Lar
> Thank you for the detailed info re: NMS. I was starting to get very concerned based on Maxx's posts...they sounded alarmist but you never know. Your very readable, yet very knowledgable post debunking Maxx's post in detail put my mind at ease. I appreciate that your post was backed up with extensive citations of research. I am not a scientist by profession but I have done quite a bit of research in the past to get my master's and your data made sense to me.> Thanks again for putting my mind at ease.
You're very welcome, and that was my intent, to ease people's minds. I do want to be clear, thought, that what he describes does happen, but it is rare enough to be reported in the literature as case reports, the sort of thing analogous to "Boy, you should have seen the weird case came into emergency last week....had us all baffled." It is very hard to develop something like a conceptual pattern from these sporadic events. Moreover, we still don't have a clue why they happen at all.
> L13
>
> PS I had fully intended to do my own research on atypical NMS in order to talk to my doctor about my concerns, but because of your post, I no longer feel I need to do that. I will however bring up that I want to ease off the Seroquel rather than go cold turkey like he seemed to suggest at our last appt.Another point: atypical NMS is not a clearly defined entity. And what is described in the literature is not NMS....it's something bad, but I guess they should come up with a name and some consistent symptoms....that will come I'm sure, over time.
Tapering off any drug, escpecially one you've been on for a while, is just plain prudent. I would insist on tapering off Seroquel. I did when I came off it.
Lar
Posted by Mercedes on January 4, 2004, at 12:57:34
In reply to re: sweating and heart rate SEs, posted by Lyrical13 on January 4, 2004, at 7:00:30
I started reading this site last April. At that time, I was on 225 mgs of Effexor. (I was actually researching another med from which I had severe dizzy spells, and abdominal pains) then decided to "just" look up Effexor XR. At that time I was feeling just fine with E, except for the sweating. But I didn't mind the sweating as I felt I was doing a 'work-out' and possibly losing weight. This occured when I would do yard work or vacume, etc. Again, I didn't mind. I never had the night sweats as Zinya had. I did have the pounding heart rate increases during these chores, which alarmed me somewhat. I'd lost my appetite on Effexor, which was a good thing for me, since I'm overweight anyway.
When I was increased to 300mgs, and from about June LY through around Sept, I felt free from my depression and actually smiled and felt 'happy'. There were still SE's that I was feeling, like insomnia but it was a releif to feel 'un'depressed.
My blood pressure seemed to go higher and higher each visit with my MD, and I finally decided that the Effexor was causing this. I was put on BP medication and spoke with my Pdoc about it. He wanted to lower my dosage of Effexor and I said "No", I want off. I was tired of sleepless nights, which also caused confusion during the day, fatigue, clouded thinking, and I would fall asleep during the day without realizing I was going to. I'd just wake up and wonder what day it was???
So off Effexor I went, titrating downwards, but at a much faster pace than I should have YET I was following my Pdoc instructions. Now off completly, BP normal again, and I didn't want another AD, but the crying started for no apparent reason (it was depression) and my body told me that I needed something, so off to Pdoc I went, and was put on Lexapro. I sleep good at night, and no sweats. I sometimes feel a bit depressed (could also be holiday blue's) so the dose may need to get adjusted maybe not.
My point is that I too agree that we need to listen to our bodies and let our Pdocs know what we are experiencing. I also know that everyone's situation is different. Minds and body's are all, sooooooo different. What works for one may not work for another. That's a given.
Thank you both, Zinya and Lyrical for sharing your experiences and wishing all a heathier and happier 2004!
Mercedes
*********************************
> Thank you for your post. Very good point about overgeneralizing, etc and listening to your own body. I think that is a very important thing to remember in any circumstance...listen to what your body is telling you, whether it be re: med effects and side effects or feeling run down in general. I've had a much healthier fall because I think I listened to my body...when it was telling me I needed more meds because the depression was so bad...and also when I was feeling kind of crummy and wiped out...I stayed home from yoga a couple times because I was so wiped out I felt I needed to just chill out and rest...that was a difficult choice..I had this inner dialog about deciding which healthy thing to do...yoga was good for me from a stress-reducing exercise point of view...but how smart would that be to go out in the crummy weather feeling icky already? I think I made the right choice by staying home and resting because I was able to avoid colds and flu when many others all around me were sick as dogs (I work in a school.. cold and flu central!) Taking that extra vitamin C probably played a role too.
>
> I too experience sweating, though not to the degree that you experienced, thank goodness! It is very annoying though. I have tons of beautiful sweaters that I can't wear because I am so hot all the time. Long sleeve shirts are too much sometimes. I live in MI with its share of cold crummy weather..people all around me are in turtlenecks, sweaters and winter coats and I'm sweating in my long sleeve shirt. I will say that the sweating is much worse after increasing my dose and then abates some after a few weeks but it's still there. Also, my heart rate has increased some but not to the alarming rate yours did. Sounds like you're smart to get off of it (and slowly..your system seems VERY sensitive, at least to this med) I just keep tabs on my heart rate when exercising (10 second count at Curves...rate is usually up a couple beats more than usual) This helps me modify my amount of activity to stay within a safe zone. Luckily my BP and pulse are usually at the low end of normal so I don't have to be as concerned as someone with higher BP...just monitor and make sure it doesn't get too elevated. My resting heart rate and pulse are higher with Effexor than without based on stats at various dr visits.
>
> But good point about the posts. I think it's very important for folks on this site to remember to not just blindly take the info as gospel...read it and think about it...do a little of your own research and/or read several posts from several different people to get an overall picture of how different body chemistrys react, then discuss with your pdoc and decide what's right for you.
Posted by Lyrical13 on January 4, 2004, at 14:18:43
In reply to re: sweating and heart rate SEs » Lyrical13, posted by Mercedes on January 4, 2004, at 12:57:34
Mercedes,
I'm not sure if this is the case with you, but with me as it turns out, Effexor (or maybe my own biochemistry made me more prone to) made me hypomanic. My doc now thinks I'm BP2 and I think he's right because even on other ADs and even with no meds, I have this pattern. The depression pattern is very obvious..the hypomania is more subtle. I didn't even know there was such a thing as BP2 until he told me at my last appt.But, your post reminded me and I thought I should mention in case this is a possibility with you. My bad time of year is Aug thru Jan(we used to think it didn't start till Oct but now are picking up more subtle signs for the past 2 years in early Aug) From about March through June or July I usually am very good. feb so so.. depends on the year. I started on Effexor in Nov of 2002. Last spring (starting late Feb or so) I felt so WONDERFUL on Effexor...better than I ever remember feeling in my life! I felt ecstatic! But...also had difficulty sleeping.. Would sleep 2-4 hours per night (falling asleep was OK but would wake up) and be wide awake and on the go all day long without crashing until about 10 or so at night...go back to bed and repeat the whole pattern again...several days a week and then maybe sleep normally a couple nights and then several days with this constant on the go stuff. Also am hotter than usual always..not just during exercise. Now, I've had trouble with insomnia before but it's usually been during anxiety/depression time and I have a similar pattern...fall asleep OK but wake up a few hours later and can't get back to sleep... but in those times I don't have the tremendous energy during the day and I eventually feel wiped out..usually in late afternoon.
Looking back, I also have a pattern of having too many things on my plate...tons of projects (I counted 15 different projects that I started last spring/summer..all at about the same time) and spending sprees. This has been a pattern for several years, before Effexor and before any ADs. Now I've heard that some ADs can push you into hypomania whether you are BP or not so what you experienced may be just that. But I thought I would mention it. I always thought of BP as wild extremes and I never had full blown mania. But to hear that this actually could be BP2 and that I could get help for the "superwoman/ superspender phase is a big relief because I always felt so guilty and terrible for all the money I spend..especially when I didnt' even have the money to spend in the first place. Now, we're talking hundreds of dollars at a crack and not thousands...but when you're heavily in debt anyway from studente loans, etc and your husband is laid off, any overspending is a problem.
I'm going to be switching off Seroquel and probably starting Lamictal in the next month or so....
Well, the dog is bugging me to go for a walk so I'll sign off for now.
Posted by Gummybear on January 4, 2004, at 16:28:01
In reply to re: sweating and heart rate SEs, posted by Lyrical13 on January 4, 2004, at 14:18:43
Okay, I apologize upfront as this may be a rather sensitive "womanly" question - however it has me rather concerned and in an uncomfortable situation.
I have been on Effexor for a little over a month now - 37.5mg for a week, then 75mg for a week, then 150mg and now back down to 75mg since I think the jump was a little too sudden.
Anyway, I am on Alesse birthcontrol pills - which have very low hormone levels. However I still have over a week of birth control pills and THEN should be getting my period.... but suddenly I have developped the onset of my period - which is very odd.
Has anyone else noticed menstrual irregularities on Effexor?? I was told by my doc. that Effexor does not interact with hormone levels.... Is this true????
Anybody know anything about this???
G.Bear.
Posted by Larry Hoover on January 4, 2004, at 17:27:05
In reply to Womanly Question, posted by Gummybear on January 4, 2004, at 16:28:01
> Okay, I apologize upfront as this may be a rather sensitive "womanly" question - however it has me rather concerned and in an uncomfortable situation.
>
> I have been on Effexor for a little over a month now - 37.5mg for a week, then 75mg for a week, then 150mg and now back down to 75mg since I think the jump was a little too sudden.
>
> Anyway, I am on Alesse birthcontrol pills - which have very low hormone levels. However I still have over a week of birth control pills and THEN should be getting my period.... but suddenly I have developped the onset of my period - which is very odd.
>
> Has anyone else noticed menstrual irregularities on Effexor?? I was told by my doc. that Effexor does not interact with hormone levels.... Is this true????
>
> Anybody know anything about this???
>
> G.Bear.Both Effexor (venlafaxine) and ethinyl estradiol (the synthetic estrogen in Alesse) are substrates of the same enzyme, CYP3A4, but if there was an interaction between the two drugs, there would be an increased dose-effect for the birth control, not a failure of it.
I've searched all my databases, Pubmed, Rxlist,...I can't find anything that suggests this is a common, or even uncommon, side-effect or interaction between Effexor and Alesse. I can't find a mention of it all.
I wish I could be of more help.
Lar
Posted by Paco on January 4, 2004, at 18:01:30
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Hello. Been six months since I've been here.
Anyone experience brain zappage after missing one day or taking their dosage a few hours late?
I've been taking 150mg for something like 10 months now and haven't missed a day, and have had no problems with this med. This afternoon I was feeling this buzzing that was coming and going inside my head, and later thought it was either because I might have missed yesterday, but I doubt I did since I am such a creature of habit, and have a regular morning routine, or because I took it 8 hours late this morning, or because I had a couple of beers last night (unlikely that this is the reason, because I have done this a couple of times before with no side effects).
Any similar experiences?
Posted by sasha71 on January 4, 2004, at 18:44:06
In reply to Brain zappage after missing just one day?, posted by Paco on January 4, 2004, at 18:01:30
oh yeah...missing by mroe than 5-6 hours will start the zaps.
A whole missed dose makes me feel like I could light up my house with the
electrical zappings.And alcohol only makes it worse - plus alcohol makes it more likely I"ll forget to take the durn stuff anyway.
Posted by Paco on January 4, 2004, at 18:56:59
In reply to Re: Brain zappage after missing just one day?, posted by sasha71 on January 4, 2004, at 18:44:06
Yeah, the zaps tapered off the last couple of hours. This is the first time I've experienced this. I am fairly sure that it was a combination of taking my dose 8 hours late and drinking a couple of beers the night before.
Just one more reason not to do either, I guess....
Posted by sick of being sick on January 4, 2004, at 21:22:30
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? YES! , posted by Shel on July 18, 2000, at 1:35:45
> I started taking 20mg of Sarafem two years ago for my PMDD. It was increased last year to 40mg (same as Prozac). The Sarafem didn't seem to be helping so the doctor's assistant put me on 150mg of Effexor. After about a week I started having electrical shock-like sensations in my head. The sensations were so bad I thought I was having a stroke and went to the hospital. I told the doctors I was on Effexor, but they didn't correlate the two. Was told they couldn't find anything wrong and sent me home.
I was then taken off of Effexor over a two week period and put on some other drug that only works on your seretonin levels. I was on it for about 3 weeks but still had my original symptoms of PMDD. So the doctor put me back on Effexor starting at 37.5mg for 2 weeks then up to 75mg. I was on the 75mg for 3 weeks and starting having the electrical shock-like sensations in my head, hands and feet again. I started having panic attacks and horrible, realistic, "no body likes me" nightmares. My thoughts started racing and I felt overwhelmed with all the things I needed to do! I felt like I was loosing my mind! I couldn't stop crying, couldn't sleep - but was tired and just felt plain rotten. So I called the doctors and they told me to just STOP taking the Effexor and wanted to see me. But I couldn't drive, so they told me I just had to "wait it out"It's been six days since I've taken the Effexor and I'm still experiencing these awful syptoms! I went to see the genius doctor yesterday and he said, "Oh you probably have an inner ear infection." I can't seem to get anybody to understand how bad I'm feeling, or how scary these electrical shock-like sensations feel! What should I do?! Don't the doctor's know?!
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 4, 2004, at 21:43:21
In reply to re: blocked for 3 weeks » maxx44, posted by Dr. Bob on January 3, 2004, at 23:41:12
> PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies ... should be redirecte4d to Psycho-Babble Administration
Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20031120/msgs/296523.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Gummybear on January 4, 2004, at 21:50:58
In reply to Electrical shock-like sensations , posted by sick of being sick on January 4, 2004, at 21:22:30
I've been on Effexor for over a month now and have very rapid heart racing when I do even the smallest physical activity...
I attributed this to my anxiety disorder (which I just developped about a month and a half ago) but now I'm starting to question whether it may be from the Effexor XR????? The reason is that I get very fast heart racing but without any other of my anxiety symptoms. I'm on 75mg.
Rapid Heart beating, has anyone else experienced this with Effexor XR and did it go away with time????
G.bear.
Posted by Zellie on January 4, 2004, at 23:31:33
In reply to re: docs and info about meds, posted by Lyrical13 on January 4, 2004, at 7:24:59
Your experience with your new pdoc sounds just like mine. I feel very secure being in his care.
If your sister could get to see a pdoc instead of the ped, it might be helpful. Peds are wonderful in so many ways, but I have heard of 5 separate instances of peds who did not schedule or mention follow-up appointments with their patients who were put on mood disorder medications (2 of these were actually with 2 of my kids in the past). If she does choose to stay with her ped, maybe your step-mom could insist that he see her daughter more regularly.
Kindes regards,
Zellie
Posted by sick of being sick on January 4, 2004, at 23:34:32
In reply to Re: withdrawal, posted by Lee on June 18, 2000, at 17:13:17
> > I'M GOING CRAZY. I had a bad reaction to Effexor after just one month of 75mg. Bad dreams, insomnia, brain shocks, crying fits, depression, etc. so my Dr. made me stop cold turkey and now, into the 6th day, I feel worse.
After reading this forum for about an hour I broke down and opened a capsule and swallowed about 16 granuals, 1 benedryl and a Xanax.*maybe I can sleep tonight*
Any suggestions on how to get through this and how long it takes? BTW - my doctor thinks the dizzy spells are from an "inner ear infection" - boy these doctores are geniuses!
Posted by Lyrical13 on January 5, 2004, at 4:46:00
In reply to Womanly Question, posted by Gummybear on January 4, 2004, at 16:28:01
I'm not sure about that..but I will say that my period has been late every month. It's like my cycle has gotten longer. I have been on bc pills for years (also have a whole endometriosis and ovarian cyst thing..plus low blood sugar...my endocrine system is just whacked!) But I used to always take my last active pill (21st day) on a Saturday and on Tuesday like clockwork it would start. Now it might be Friday or SAturday.. sometimes even the following Tuesday! I had noticed this but hadn't linked it to the Effexor until you mentioned it....but it could be since I'm just realizing this has been a pattern over the last several months. Can't remember when exactly it started...I've been on E since last Nov. ...gradually titrated up to 150 by about Feb. Somewhere around May I backed myself down to 75 (kept forgettting AM dose and then noticed I still felt good so just kept it at 75) Increased back to 150 in Aug and then 225 in late SEpt/early Oct. Don't remember when exactly over the past several months that the menstrual irregularities started.
BTW..anyone else have concommitant other endocrine system stuff? I've always wondered if all of it (endo, LBS, etc) is related.
Posted by Lyrical13 on January 5, 2004, at 4:54:25
In reply to Rapid Heart Beating, posted by Gummybear on January 4, 2004, at 21:50:58
My heart rate is a little higher than normal. Someone else posted something about big problems with rapid heart rate...don't remember who... read the earlier posts in this thread.
When I started on E, the pdoc told me that increased blood pressure was a side effect. Since my blood pressure has always been on the low end I wasn't too worried. I have always been very anxious and I was wondering if the Effexor was contributing to that rather than helping it.
My new pdoc told me that Effexor doesn't really work on both anxiety and depression as I had thought. It works on one at low doses and the other at high doses..don't remember which it works on at which time. I don't understand that at all.
L13
Posted by Lyrical13 on January 5, 2004, at 4:56:10
In reply to Re: Brain zappage after missing just one day?, posted by sasha71 on January 4, 2004, at 18:44:06
I don't think I've experienced this brain zap that many people have mentioned. What does it feel like?
Posted by Paco on January 5, 2004, at 7:21:40
In reply to Re: Brain zappage after missing just one day?, posted by Lyrical13 on January 5, 2004, at 4:56:10
> I don't think I've experienced this brain zap that many people have mentioned. What does it feel like?
==================================================
It's a pretty unique experience...kind of a combination of tingling and buzzing inside your head. A very "electrical" feeling. Short jolts that come and go. Since I got them from taking my meds about 8 hours late instead of just going off of them altoghether, the zaps never got very strong and didn't last long. (Or maybe that's as strong as they get. I don't want to find out!)
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 5, 2004, at 13:27:25
In reply to Brain zappage after missing just one day?, posted by Paco on January 4, 2004, at 18:01:30
yes, i had the same thing. it was so annoying. i would panic if i couldn't get home to get my bedtime dose, b/c i would always pay with those brain shocks, it is an awful feeling- very very scary. and i was on a lower dose. for awhile i thought there was something really wrong with me. i finally discontinued it. good luck with it.
dragonfly
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 5, 2004, at 13:32:36
In reply to Re: Brain zappage after missing just one day?, posted by Lyrical13 on January 5, 2004, at 4:56:10
i have never had a seizure, but i would describe it as a sort of brain seizure feeling, you kind of pause for a minute to deal with the zaps and everything feels electrically off in your brain, and your brain feels a bit sped up for the moment. maybe what i think a stroke might feel like. something like all of that combined. i hope that makes sense
Posted by Angielala on January 5, 2004, at 13:51:58
In reply to Electrical shock-like sensations , posted by sick of being sick on January 4, 2004, at 21:22:30
Just thought I'd post this webpage, since I just read your post and it seems that this is related- just in case anyone needs to read about "electric shocks/brain shivers/dizziness" that we are so lucky to get...
http://depression.about.com/cs/venlafaxine/a/brainshivers.htm
> > I started taking 20mg of Sarafem two years ago for my PMDD. It was increased last year to 40mg (same as Prozac). The Sarafem didn't seem to be helping so the doctor's assistant put me on 150mg of Effexor. After about a week I started having electrical shock-like sensations in my head. The sensations were so bad I thought I was having a stroke and went to the hospital. I told the doctors I was on Effexor, but they didn't correlate the two. Was told they couldn't find anything wrong and sent me home.
> I was then taken off of Effexor over a two week period and put on some other drug that only works on your seretonin levels. I was on it for about 3 weeks but still had my original symptoms of PMDD. So the doctor put me back on Effexor starting at 37.5mg for 2 weeks then up to 75mg. I was on the 75mg for 3 weeks and starting having the electrical shock-like sensations in my head, hands and feet again. I started having panic attacks and horrible, realistic, "no body likes me" nightmares. My thoughts started racing and I felt overwhelmed with all the things I needed to do! I felt like I was loosing my mind! I couldn't stop crying, couldn't sleep - but was tired and just felt plain rotten. So I called the doctors and they told me to just STOP taking the Effexor and wanted to see me. But I couldn't drive, so they told me I just had to "wait it out"
>
> It's been six days since I've taken the Effexor and I'm still experiencing these awful syptoms! I went to see the genius doctor yesterday and he said, "Oh you probably have an inner ear infection." I can't seem to get anybody to understand how bad I'm feeling, or how scary these electrical shock-like sensations feel! What should I do?! Don't the doctor's know?!
>
Posted by Mercedes on January 5, 2004, at 15:59:01
In reply to re: sweating and heart rate SEs, posted by Lyrical13 on January 4, 2004, at 14:18:43
Don't know if I am hypomanic or BP. I'll have to research cause I don't have a clear idea what hypomanic means. As to spending sprees, I've done that, but rarely. Like last, last Christmas I went out and spent about $700.00 that I shouldn't have and actually couldn't even match the gift to a person (I was really out of it, on meds) so I ended up returning almost all of it.
As to too many projects, I can't tell you how many things I can't get done. I moved 15 months ago and still have boxes I haven't unpacked. I say I'm going to hang this or that up and it stays on the floor. Many things I can't get done. I just think about doing them and hope that miraculously they'll get done while I'm sleeping or something.
I hate shopping, so maybe that's a good thing. This x-mas I just gave gift-cards, saved me time and money.
To me, spending money is like eating. It's a 'comfort' feeling or like filling a void. Oh, speaking of spending, I went to groc. store xmas eve for 4 things. I saw people buying turkeys and hams and all that stuff, (I wasn't going to make xmas dinner this year as I'd had it last year)so what did I do??? You guessed it. I ended up with a turkey, ham, stuff to make pies, etc. and $70.00 later, I walked out of the store. Why? I have no clue. M/b power of suggestion, everyone else in the store was doing it. Is this overspending? YUP.
mercedes
**************************************
> Mercedes,
> I'm not sure if this is the case with you, but with me as it turns out, Effexor (or maybe my own biochemistry made me more prone to) made me hypomanic. My doc now thinks I'm BP2 and I think he's right because even on other ADs and even with no meds, I have this pattern. The depression pattern is very obvious..the hypomania is more subtle. I didn't even know there was such a thing as BP2 until he told me at my last appt.
>
> But, your post reminded me and I thought I should mention in case this is a possibility with you... depends on the year. I started on Effexor in Nov of 2002. Last spring (starting late Feb or so) I felt so WONDERFUL on Effexor...better than I ever remember feeling in my life! I felt ecstatic! But...also had difficulty sleeping.. Would sleep 2-4 hours per night (falling asleep was OK but would wake up) and be wide awake and on the go all day long without crashing until about 10 or so at night...go back to bed and repeat the whole pattern again...several days a week and then maybe sleep normally a couple nights and then several days with this constant on the go stuff. Also am hotter than usual always..not just during exercise. Now, I've had trouble with insomnia before but it's usually been during anxiety/depression time and I have a similar pattern...fall asleep OK but wake up a few hours later and can't get back to sleep... but in those times I don't have the tremendous energy during the day and I eventually feel wiped out..usually in late afternoon.
>
> Looking back, I also have a pattern of having too many things on my plate...tons of projects (I counted 15 different projects that I started last spring/summer..all at about the same time) and spending sprees. This has been a pattern for several years, before Effexor and before any ADs. Now I've heard that some ADs can push you into hypomania whether you are BP or not so what you experienced may be just that. But I thought I would mention it. I always thought of BP as wild extremes and I never had full blown mania. But to hear that this actually could be BP2 and that I could get help for the "superwoman/ superspender phase is a big relief because I always felt so guilty and terrible for all the money I spend..especially when I didnt' even have the money to spend in the first place. Now, we're talking hundreds of dollars at a crack and not thousands...but when you're heavily in debt anyway from studente loans, etc and your husband is laid off, any overspending is a problem.
>
> I'm going to be switching off Seroquel and probably starting Lamictal in the next month or so....
>
> Well, the dog is bugging me to go for a walk so I'll sign off for now.
Posted by Mercedes on January 5, 2004, at 16:56:52
In reply to Electrical shock-like sensations , posted by sick of being sick on January 4, 2004, at 21:22:30
You definatly show signs of withdrawal from Effexor. It's hard to beleive that your doctor took you off at 75mgs. Usually they, and with my own experience, the pdocs decrease you slowly, one or two weeks at 37.5, and now I beleive they make a lower dose, m/b 12mgs?
I was on 300 mgs and titrated downwards for months till I reached 37.5 mgs which I took for two weeks, but was also given paxil to help with the withdrawals (the paxil thing is another story), brain zaps, shiver's whatever you want to call them, but I know they are horrible.
My withdrawal symtoms, and they vary, based on the time one has been on Effexor, which I was on for 2 years, anyway my brain zaps/shivers lasted 5 weeks after stopping effexor.
Your doctor has not idea what you are going through. That link that Angielala gave is worth printing out and taking to your doctor. What saved me from going crazy during the withdrawal was this board, and some email buddies I made through this board, and knowing that I was not alone in feeling what I was feeling. I too was taking xanex and still had the brain zaps, all the way to my finger tips, eyes...you name it. I also had paralyzing nightmares. The kind where literaly, I couldn't move my body. Don't wish to scare anyone, this was MY expereince in withdrawing.
I'm effexor free now, just as of this past Nov. Now taking Lexapro for depression...but sometimes still depressed, and on anxiety meds also.
Hope this helps knowing you're not alone. Your doctor needs to be educated about effexor SE & withdrawals. Is he/she a Pdoc or MD? Not that it matters.
take care,
mercedes************************************
I was then taken off of Effexor over a two week period and put on some other drug that only works on your seretonin levels. I was on it for about 3 weeks but still had my original symptoms of PMDD. So the doctor put me back on Effexor starting at 37.5mg for 2 weeks then up to 75mg. I was on the 75mg for 3 weeks and starting having the electrical shock-like sensations in my head, hands and feet again. I started having panic attacks and horrible, realistic, "no body likes me" nightmares. My thoughts started racing and I felt overwhelmed with all the things I needed to do! I felt like I was loosing my mind! I couldn't stop crying, couldn't sleep - but was tired and just felt plain rotten. So I called the doctors and they told me to just STOP taking the Effexor and wanted to see me. But I couldn't drive, so they told me I just had to "wait it out"It's been six days since I've taken the Effexor and I'm still experiencing these awful syptoms! I went to see the genius doctor yesterday and he said, "Oh you probably have an inner ear infection." I can't seem to get anybody to understand how bad I'm feeling, or how scary these electrical shock-like sensations feel! What should I do?! Don't the doctor's know?!
Posted by Lyrical13 on January 5, 2004, at 22:22:46
In reply to re: sweating and heart rate SEs » Lyrical13, posted by Mercedes on January 5, 2004, at 15:59:01
Sounds like BP2 could apply to you. HEre's what I've learned so far...
I was reading something about the new thinking about mood disorders being on a spectrum with major depression at one end and mania at the other end. bipolar, in it's various forms is somewhere in between. BP1 is what has classically been known as BP aka manic-depressive. You can also have mixed states where you're depressed and agitated. depression with GAD is often confused with BP2 because they can look the same...in reality it's not depression with anxiety..it's a mixed state of BP...depression with an agitated or hyperaroused state. I believe my pdoc said that BP2 is mostly depression with some hypomania. Characteristics of hypomania include euphoria, inflated sense of confidence, feeling invincible and like you can take on the world, irritability, sudden temper outbursts, spending sprees, sexual indiscretions, talking a lot/loud/excessively, insomnia/reduced need for sleep, feeling like there are so many things that need to be done there's no time for sleep/eating, rapid cycling (back and forth between moods) There are some good sites with explanations about this that I have found helpful. Plus I found a ton of books at the library....I'm entering into the hypomanic now...I'm not way into it yet..so far I've mostly been able to resist the spending... I have been tempted on amazon.com many many times but so far I've gotten offline...after adding about 6 books to my cart...then moving them to my wishlist instead...then I go and look for them at the library..which is better...but now I have a stack of about 8 books here and I have another 16 requested to be put on hold for me plus another 40 on my wishlist for later..... Now they're not all on mood stuff...I actually put together several different lists yesterday (on my library site there's an option to either request the book or "add to my list"....so I now have about 10 different lists on subjects ranging from gardening to organizing to woodworking..dyslexia...depression...bipolar... landscaping....etc etc...and that's only the non-fiction..I guess it's better that I didn't BUY all those boooks but still it's a bit excessive. Last spring I spent $300 at one crack on gardening supplies, flowers etc at Lowes. A few days later I spent $200 at the craft store when I went in there to get 2 things. A week after that I dropped another $100 or so at Home Depot.. more gardening...the problem was, then I went to pay bills and guess what? I was quite a bit short! Now I have a whole cupboard full of unfinished craft projects...many that I didn't even touch...like I decided to decorate our home office in a garden theme since gardening makes me happy...I thought I could then enjoy my garden year round...I decided I would incorporate bird houses...well I think I must have bought about 20 different bird houses and it's only about a 8x10 room! Another thing is, I didn't want my husband to know that I had bought all this stuff so a lot of it I snuck into the house and hid so he wouldn't know. OUr yard is beautiful but I bought so many flowers that after I had planted as many as I could in our yard, I started a community garden near the gate to the school yard behind our house and planted some at my grandma's. Then I gave a bunch of plants to several of my neighbors....I also mailed out 3 separate sets of fliers about cool ideas I had to friends, family and neighbors.. all of which I was going to organize. I also startred about 3 or 4 different quilting projects and a couple of cross stitch projects... plus we got a new dog and were busy training her and I started volunteering my time for other projects left and right, not to mention all the home renovation projects we have going. Did I mention the night I stayed up all night painting the office?
I also lately have found myself unable to shut up. I hear these things coming out of my mouth and I feel really obnoxious. I'm telling myself to just shut up and I can't. Maybe that has something to do with these book-length posts.
Anyway..that's a glimpse of hypomania....I think the difference between that and full blown mania is a difference of degree.
Anyway..good luck on your journey... L13
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