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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Denise528 on June 5, 2002, at 12:56:38
I have recently gone up to 4 x 37.5 tablets of Effexor with fortunately no agitation but no uplift of depression either. My mother told my Psychiatrist that I seemed much calmer but as I told her that was because I was in a total stupor. In the past when ADs have worked, I've had initial side effects of sleepiness but after sleeping through it I have woken up feeling totally energised. This doestn't seem to be happening anymore.
I was wonder if it is worth my going up to 8 x 37.5mg as I've seen that some people didn't experience a therapeutic effect until reaching that level but I really don't want to have to spend another 6 weeks slowly tirating up to that level to no avail. It has now been over a year and I feel as though I have made very little progress.
My Doctors next step is to put me on lactimal just to stop any potential seizures but I've already tried lithium and that didn't work so I am not convinced about this.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm tired of this wait and I really don't know what to do, there seem to be so many drugs available and sometimes this leaves me feeling more confused and indecisive than ever. My Doctor thinks that this is just my personality, in other words nothing will work but I've had such success in the past with tryciclics and SSRIs and surely your brain and your personality are one and the same thing.
I'd like to try Adderall but my psychiatrist doestn't want to go down that route yet because of a seizure that I had when he put me on a high dose of prothiaden, Seroxat and Zyprexa. I just want something to work now and not three years down the road.The only drug which seems to have helped is Zyprexa and I have found that taking a one off 10mg keeps me feeling quite uplifted for about 4 days but it's not the same feeling as I used to have with prothiaden and Paxil/Zooloft and this is the feeling that I hanker for as it was the right way to feel and I felt an improvement in so many ways.
Denise
Posted by Zo on June 5, 2002, at 23:12:20
In reply to Effexor - Is it worth increasing the dose?, posted by Denise528 on June 5, 2002, at 12:56:38
> I have recently gone up to 4 x 37.5 tablets of Effexor with fortunately no agitation but no uplift of depression either.
Denise, is this a typo? Because the normal minimum starting dose of Effexor is 3 or 4 SEVENTY-FIVE mg caps a day. . with increases up to 400mg and more, which is the level at which the dopamine effects kick in.
You may be in a stupor from being undermedicated. That is not uncommon with many ADs.
> I was wonder if it is worth my going up to 8 x 37.5mg as I've seen that some people didn't experience a therapeutic effect until reaching that level but I really don't want to have to spend another 6 weeks slowly tirating up to that level to no avail. It has now been over a year and I feel as though I have made very little progress.I'm very concerned here, that you have spent a year at this? And that you have a doctor who doesn't read the PDR?
>
> My Doctors next step is to put me on lactimal just to stop any potential seizures but I've already tried lithium and that didn't work so I am not convinced about this.Potential seizures? From what? Do you have a seizure-related condition? I am really concerned about your doctor's advice, at least as you have presented it.
Lamictal is a great drug, for a number of uses, and for many people easier to use and easier to take than lithium.
>and I really don't know what to do, there seem to be so many drugs available and sometimes this leaves me feeling more confused and indecisive than ever. My Doctor thinks that this is just my personality, in other words nothing will work but I've had such success in the past with tryciclics and SSRIs and surely your brain and your personality are one and the same thing.
I'm sorry, I don't understand this completely. All I can say is that if your doctor truly thinks and has said this is "just your personality". . and you are taking the amount of Effexor that you posted, no typos. . .You *desperately* need another, even minimally competent physician.
Zo
> I'd like to try Adderall but my psychiatrist doestn't want to go down that route yet because of a seizure that I had when he put me on a high dose of prothiaden, Seroxat and Zyprexa.
Whoa! Just read this last part! Adderall is *completely* unrelated to these other three drugs. . .it works *today*. . .and, please, *please* see somebody else.
> The only drug which seems to have helped is Zyprexa and I have found that taking a one off 10mg keeps me feeling quite uplifted for about 4 days but it's not the same feeling as I used to have with prothiaden and Paxil/Zooloft and this is the feeling that I hanker for as it was the right way to feel and I felt an improvement in so many ways.And hanker you should. Zyprexa is a terrific drug, if it doesn't cause massive weight gain, and there are some things to try--but they should be tried from the start--that can help ameliorate that. There's no reason not to combine Zyprexa and Adderall or Dex. I did my very best in many many *many* years on 10mg Dex, 325mg Effexor and 5mg Zyprexa. Eventually switched the Zyprexa to Lamictal and Provigil. . .still doing very well!
You hang in! What "feels good" is your best guide.
Zo
Posted by Kai on June 6, 2002, at 0:37:43
In reply to Re: Effexor - Is it worth increasing the dose? » Denise528, posted by Zo on June 5, 2002, at 23:12:20
Hi,
I take one 75mg and one 150mg per day. For me, it took 225 to lift my depression. I went to 225 over a period of two to three months. I have had no problems with effexor; I have been on it for over a year.
You are taking a lot of pills- I also wonder about your dr., try going up to 200-300mg, it may make a huge difference. Also, get a larger dosage pill so you dont have to take so many!
Posted by Denise528 on June 7, 2002, at 11:37:02
In reply to Re: Effexor - Is it worth increasing the dose? » Denise528, posted by Zo on June 5, 2002, at 23:12:20
Hi,
Thanks to both of you for the advice. I probably didn't explain myself very well in my previous thread just for clarity. This is a rundown of my history.
Age 17 - 23 Mild depression for about 6 years (didn't take medication). Didn't know it was depression at the time just thought there was something physically wrong with me.
Age 23 - 28 Depression got worse, went for numourous blood tests, lung tests etc again didn't realise it was depression until doctor prescribed me with prothiaden (tryciclic) which worked great almost immediately, I felt like I was in a different world.
Stayed on Prothiaden until age 28 when I started getting adverse effects.Age 28 - 31 On Zooloft then Paxil, both worked great.
Age 31 - 35 Came off medication completely and was fine for 4 years, never as good as when I was on ADs but life was ok.
As of September of last year started feeling unwell again, went to Portugal for a holiday thinking I just needed a holiday but spent the whole holiday feeling totally miserable, anxious (for no reason) and sometimes suicidal, since then have been on:-
Seroxat for about a month - I was very agitated, pacing up and down, practically climbing the walls, not eating at all.
Mirtazapine for about a month - Same as above.
300 Prothaiden for about 10 weeks - Same as above. Zyprexa was the only thing that seemed to help and instantly.
Psychiatrist added 40mg of prozac to the prothiaden and had a seizure.
Came off prothiaden. Dr added lithium to the prozac which made me sick and flat.Started effexor about 2 months ago and admittedly I haven't been taking them as prescribed, which was 2 x 37.5. I have been upping them, lowering them and sometimes coming off them completely. I am now back on 2 x 37.5mg only and they seem to be helping a little, I am not anxious at all, can concentrate quite well, have an appetite but feel extremely antisocial, tired and like I have no emotions or sense of humour anymore. I'd like to try going up to around 300mg but didn't like the way I felt on 150mg so reluctant to increase the dose gradually. But if someone can convince me that it is worth it I might give it a try. If somebody else felt bad at 150 but then good at say 300, I would consider it. Has that been the case for you?
Denise
Posted by Kai on June 7, 2002, at 21:12:45
In reply to Re: Effexor - Is it worth increasing - Zoe/Kai, posted by Denise528 on June 7, 2002, at 11:37:02
I can only give you my experience. I am now up to 300mg. Effexor did not help me until I reached 225mg. i really felt that it took my body around 6 months to get used to it.
I also strongly believe that you need a combination of therapy and medication. My therapist helps me understand my feelings and she watches my moods. She also is in constant contact with my psychiatrist, who is the one who prescribes my medication.Medication just helps lift your depression. Learning how to live and enjoy life without depression takes also a good therapist. My therapist helps me watch for stress and other things that can signal a fall back into depression.
Prozac was not good for me, I just kept needing more and more- until it didn't work anymore. Effexor has been amazing for me.
I take my medication at the same time every day as directed. I talk to my therapist biweekly
now, and my psychiatrist every three months. I call him if I feel that I need to discuss dosage or have a problem. We talk about side effects, blood preasure, and bodily functions. I don't drink alcohol; I have found that I can only drink one cup of coffee too- it interferes with the medication. I had sleeping problems the first month or so- I took ambien. I have a lot of really wild and interesting dreams. I have lost weight (now I feel like going out and being with people). I could go on and on...
This is the end of the thread.
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