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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Fredrik on January 18, 2001, at 7:46:53
Hi
I have an anxiety problem, which causes me to emotionally over-react on many things. Instead of just getting a little nervous or feeling a little bit stressed, anxiety struck me and my heart starts to beat rapidly. This is very frustrating because I can react in that way for things I actually like very much. In many cases I just can't see the reason why my body reacts the way it does. I can't mentally figure out what I am that anxious for and I then feel that my body is "disconnected" from my mind. I can survive with these problems and live an apparently normal life, but it really drains the energy out of my body and prevents me from living the life I actually want.
Four years ago I got Prozac because I was in a very bad shape. I eventually recovered - and more than that(!) my anxiety problems diminished. I felt more "my self" than ever and took pleasure in things I already knew I liked, but hadn't been able to appreciate before to the full extent. All the energy I had spent on managing my anxiety was know released and could be used for creative thing.
I continued taking Prozac in a low dose (20mg) for three years, but then I quit taking it because I suffered from sexual dysfunction caused by Prozac. After half a year I wanted something else and I tried Zoloft, which made me feel more nervous. Then I tried Luvox, which was a disaster and made me feel like a nervous wreck.
On Thursday I'm going to my doc again and discuss alternatives. We have decided to skip the SSRI:s and go for something else. He wants to try Effexor - I think it is kind of his favourite drug. I feel a little sceptical about Effexor, because it can cause the same sexual dysfunction as Prozac, my former girl friend was on it and got nightmares and it also can cause withdrawal problems.
I see three alternatives beside Effexor: Serzone, Remeron and Buspar. I suggested Serzone to my doc already last time, but he said he had bad experiences with it and all his patients on it had quit taking it because of side-effects. I still feel quite positive about Serzone, because I have read some success stories and it works a little bit sedating directly when you start taking it. Remeron I also read success stories about, but of course there is the weight gain problem (gaining weight has never been a problem to me) and that makes my doctor dislike it. And finally Buspar - I haven't discussed it with my doc, but according to its profile it sound very promising.
I really would appreciate your comments, own experiences and suggestions. It is so very frustrating taking a drug and becoming aware of that it just makes things worse or works but has adverse side-effects. I know that if I am not well-prepared I will leave my doc's office on Thursday with a subscription for Effexor, because he doesn't like the other ones. Effexor might be good, but I want to feel that I have chosen myself and not just got another drug in my hand.
Best Regards
Fredrik
Posted by SalArmy4me on January 19, 2001, at 23:55:57
In reply to Effexor,Serzone,Remeron or Buspar?, posted by Fredrik on January 18, 2001, at 7:46:53
In the Harvard Depression Algorithm, Effexor is the next choice after SSRIs. Its a good drug, and I would say that the chance of having weight gain is about 1 in 5, and the chance of having sexual dysfunction is about 1 in 3.
-It has little drowsiness
-it works on more than one chemical in the brain
-It is indicated for anxiety also
-It can be taken once-a-day (XR)I take Effexor XR 225 mg and I have no side-effects. I also take Remeron, Lithium, and Trileptal.
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