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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by babak on January 14, 2003, at 19:35:47
Since Venlafaxine is not doing much good and I can't take the maximum dose because palpitation anyway, I am thinking of asking my pdoc to go on Escitalopram.
Do I have to come off Venlafaxine first (impossible)?
I am also on Mirtazapine and Propranolol as well as Tramadol for headaches probably caused by Venlafaxine.
I forgot Xanax, although I haven't taken it for the last three days.
Posted by River1924 on January 14, 2003, at 23:34:01
In reply to From Venlafaxine to Escitalopram, posted by babak on January 14, 2003, at 19:35:47
Can't answer your question. But I can say effexor can be very hard to mix with stimulants and other anti-depressants. I'd bet you'd have less side-effects if you didn't mix effexor with remeron. Also, effexor xr is much less likely to cause headaches. You may find stopping effexor harder than you think. It can feel like a one's batteries have been removed.
Posted by Bill L on January 15, 2003, at 11:11:21
In reply to From Venlafaxine to Escitalopram, posted by babak on January 14, 2003, at 19:35:47
I have heard success stories of people taking Prozac (Fluoxetine) while weaning off of Venlafaxine. It can make it a lot easier. After you are weaned off, then you can start Escitalopram. Prozac is good for weaning off of Effexor because Prozac has a long half life.
Posted by JESSsMom on January 15, 2003, at 17:32:02
In reply to From Venlafaxine to Escitalopram, posted by babak on January 14, 2003, at 19:35:47
> Since Venlafaxine is not doing much good and I can't take the maximum dose because palpitation anyway, I am thinking of asking my pdoc to go on Escitalopram.
>
> Do I have to come off Venlafaxine first (impossible)?
>
> I am also on Mirtazapine and Propranolol as well as Tramadol for headaches probably caused by Venlafaxine.
>
> I forgot Xanax, although I haven't taken it for the last three days.
>
>
>Hi Babak, I was just wondering if you are taking the propanolol for the sweating effexor causes? My pdoc prescribed it to me for that and I've done nothing but sweat and pee since I started it. I can't stand this.
Wishing you the best,
JM
Posted by babak on January 15, 2003, at 20:00:15
In reply to Re: From Venlafaxine to Escitalopram » babak, posted by JESSsMom on January 15, 2003, at 17:32:02
No, Propanolol is for palpitation I developed after ECT, but I know what you mean about sweating. I had the same thing when I started on Effexor but if wore off after a while.
My advice to you is to think real hard before staying on Effexor for more that two or three months because coming off it has been impossible for many.
As I said in my previous post anything else is a breeze compared to Effexor. Check out Escitalopram and see how it compares to Effexor.Good luck anyway
Posted by babak on January 15, 2003, at 20:03:20
In reply to Re: From Venlafaxine to Escitalopram » babak, posted by JESSsMom on January 15, 2003, at 17:32:02
Posted by JESSsMom on January 16, 2003, at 12:33:35
In reply to Re: From Venlafaxine to Escitalopram » JESSsMom, posted by babak on January 15, 2003, at 20:00:15
> No, Propanolol is for palpitation I developed after ECT, but I know what you mean about sweating. I had the same thing when I started on Effexor but if wore off after a while.
> My advice to you is to think real hard before staying on Effexor for more that two or three months because coming off it has been impossible for many.
> As I said in my previous post anything else is a breeze compared to Effexor. Check out Escitalopram and see how it compares to Effexor.
>
> Good luck anyway
>
>Hi--thanks for answering. I had never heard of the drug Escitalopram and looked it up. It's just the generic name for Lexapro, right?
I totally appreciate your advice and have read all the Effexor withdrawal horror stories. Frankly, I am scared to death by them. HOWEVER, and this is a big "however," Effexor is the first drug that has ever put my GAD into almost complete remission. I no longer wake up in complete terror every morning. I have been battling anxiety all my life. The norepinephrine part of the Effexor is what's helping my GAD. Lexapro deals with serotonin only. SSRI's have never helped my anxiety, some have made it worse.
Has Effexor touched my depression? No. My dx is anxiety/depression and sometimes obsession.
My problem with the Effexor is the sweating. I cannot even titrate from 75mg./day because of it.The sweating is unbearable! I have tried Cogentin with the disaster of confusion, blurry vision, and major short term memory loss. Then I started a very low dose (30mg./day) of Inderal just four days ago. I have done nothing but pee every 45 minutes on it. Also, my hands are like ice. I am still sweating like crazy but also have the chills because of the very cold weather we are having right now (house is drafty). So I am cold and wet. It's horrible.
I have checked out hyperhidrosis sites and feel that I have two more oral options: Robinul and Ditropan. Robinul does not pass through the blood-brain barrier and apparently causes less CNS effects b/c of that. But it still lists blurry vision as a side effect--I don't get that.
The three things recommended for hyperhidrosis are antihypertensives (pdoc will not prescribe them to me), beta blockers (Inderal is doing quite a number on my bladder and giving me ice cold hands) and anticholinergics (already tried Cogentin with disastrous results).
I have read about major itchy, irritation problems with Drysol. I am waiting for the Maxim I ordered to arrive by mail. But my hyperhydrosis is systemic anyway, not just under the arms.
I have put a call into my pdoc today to ask for Robinul. I am crying right now, my anxiety is rearing it's ugly, ugly head, I can't stand the sweating anymore and the side effects that come with the two options we've tried. We have been battling this sweating thing for WEEKS.
He's an excellent pdoc. I am calling to complain about the side effects of a drug (the Inderal) he just prescribed to me this past Monday!). I am so afraid he's going to become impatient with me. Then what will I do? I've been seeing him for two years and we have a good relationship and he knows my mental health like the back of his hand by now.
Another thing that bothers me is that neither Robinul nor Avert are listed in the newest edition of The Pill Book. If I look it up on the internet, a lot of people are on it for IBS.
I am sorry this post went on and on like this. it started out as a reply to you but now I am going to post for other help, too. I am starting to freak out.
My best to you, Babak.
JM
Posted by River1924 on January 16, 2003, at 17:42:33
In reply to Re: From Venlafaxine to Escitalopram, posted by JESSsMom on January 16, 2003, at 12:33:35
I thought clonidine was pretty common for sweating.
Posted by JESSsMom on January 16, 2003, at 17:50:33
In reply to clonidine for sweating? » JESSsMom, posted by River1924 on January 16, 2003, at 17:42:33
> I thought clonidine was pretty common for sweating.
>
>
Clonidine is an antihypertensive and my pdoc won't prescribe them to me. Thanks anyway.
JM
Posted by River1924 on January 16, 2003, at 17:56:35
In reply to From Venlafaxine to Escitalopram, posted by babak on January 14, 2003, at 19:35:47
All three effect norepinephrine. All three could cause palpitations. My work in a hospital has given me a very bad impression of Ultram.
For me the easiest way to get off effexor was to switch to an SSRI with Concerta (or other stimulant) or to use the stimulating diet drug sibutramine.
Have you been diagnosed with bipolar disorder? Dysphoric mania, perhaps?
Posted by River1924 on January 16, 2003, at 18:01:21
In reply to Re: clonidine for sweating?, posted by JESSsMom on January 16, 2003, at 17:50:33
Inderal is an antihypertensive. He gave you that. Clondine didn't help me for ADD but I tried it as a teenager. It is a fairly harmless drug. I don't get psychiatrists' hang-ups about certain things. Each seems to have their own weird one.
Posted by JESSsMom on January 16, 2003, at 18:10:05
In reply to Re: clonidine for sweating?, posted by River1924 on January 16, 2003, at 18:01:21
> Inderal is an antihypertensive. He gave you that. Clondine didn't help me for ADD but I tried it as a teenager. It is a fairly harmless drug. I don't get psychiatrists' hang-ups about certain things. Each seems to have their own weird one.
Hi River, I understood Inderal to be a beta blocker (as opposed to an antihypertensive or an anticholinergic).
I am so upset right now, I have, literally, been waiting by the phone ALL DAY and my pdoc hasn't answered my message. This sweating is anxiety producing and I am really, really having a hard time today! I guess he thinks my sweating's not a big deal. I want to tell him to try and endure dripping sweat for five weeks and see how he feels.
JM : (
Posted by babak on January 17, 2003, at 5:16:33
In reply to Re: Ultram, Remeron, Effexor (nm), posted by babak on January 16, 2003, at 19:12:36
No, I am definitely not bipolar. No one has actually given me a diagnosis. I suppose I suffer from treatment resistant unipolar depression/dysthymia although I have had episodes of major depression as well.
Ultram, I thought it was an analgesic. May be it is the accumulative effect of the three which is giving me palpitation, but then why did only start after ECT? I was taking all three of them together for good three months before the ECT.
Posted by BrittPark on January 17, 2003, at 11:38:44
In reply to Ultram, Remeron, Effexor » babak, posted by River1924 on January 16, 2003, at 17:56:35
According to the manufacturers' prescribing information (for what it's worth) palpitations are all in the less than 1% category for Effexor, Remeron, and tramadol. It's possible that the combination is different. The most common cause of palpitations, however, (at least in the population as a whole) is anxiety. Perhaps what babak experiences with effexor at higher doses is an increase in anxiety leading to palpitations. I'm taking remeron, tramadol, and imipramine and don't have problems with palpitations. I have had palpitations in the past, but it's always been when my anxiety is not under control. YMMV.
Everbody Feel Better,
Britt
Posted by River1924 on January 17, 2003, at 17:58:38
In reply to Re: Ultram, Remeron, Effexor » River1924, posted by BrittPark on January 17, 2003, at 11:38:44
I'll go with your experience. I've never taken Ultram or Remeron. But Babak mentions ECT. That experience alone would give me palpitations. I hope we all stay well. River.
Posted by babak on January 18, 2003, at 12:01:34
In reply to Re: Ultram, Remeron, Effexor, posted by River1924 on January 17, 2003, at 17:58:38
I think the ECT had a lot to do with it. I was taking the same medication combination before for more than five months with no problems.
The palpitation (caused by anxiety or not) started after the ECT but what bugs me is that the damn doctors refuse to accept this.
Could it be hypotention, becasue I have started getting these dizzy spells like my blood pressure drops right down and I feel faint. Then within a few minutes the palpitation starts.
This is the end of the thread.
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