Posted by Cindy W on July 5, 2000, at 23:51:14
In reply to Doc wants me to try Effexor XR, posted by neecy1014 on July 5, 2000, at 19:01:31
> > Hi all...I've been taking Xanax for years for anxiety and panic. Lately, I've been feeling tired and having trouble staying asleep at night. My GP says the blood work is great, but that I must be depressed and handed me the Effexor samples to start with. Well, my psych and I talked in April, and he said he didn't think I was depressed, just bored. My psychologist and I talked last week and she said she thinks the sleep problem is related to issues going on in my life. The GP doesn't know me like these other 2 docs do and I'm VERY hesitant about taking Effexor or any other AD...especially after reading about these side effects. I don't have suicidal tendencies, I'm a bit of a loner, single parent, not much social life. I'd really like to try to fix this "depression" if indeed I really am depressed by myself. Can anyone convince me that Effexor is truly the way to go?? Thanks! and God bless you all...
neecy1014, i wrote a long response to you but lost it in confirming my email address! Anyway, i've been taking Effexor-XR for about 7 months (current dose 375 mg/day). it really helps with depression and ocd (obsesive-compulsive disorder). it has improved my mood and quieted my mind, so it is no longer filled with obsessions. i feel i am getting my life back! Before that, i took imipramine for l0 years (decreased my depression, but no effect on the ocd). next, took prozac for l0 years (pooped out after a while, plus gave me sexual dysfunction). Then, tried several different ssri's for a brief time (Luvox--sexual dysfunction and thirst; serzone--great improvement in depression and social anxiety, but the first two weeks, had sudden mood changes, and had occasional visual "trails," and although i liked serzone a lot because it made me feel great, much more outgoing, with no
sexual dysfunction, it didn't decrease the ocd; Zoloft--more sexual dysfunction). people are all different. Consider what your options are (meds, psychotherapy), and talk with your pdoc, read all you can, and make an informed choice. i feel antidepressants have saved my life and given me back a normal existence (well, as normal as it gets, i guess!). if you do opt to try an antidepressant, be sure to start slow and increase the dose gradually, talk to your pdoc about any side effects, and stick with it, since many take 8-12 weeks to have an optimal effect; side effects usually go away after a brief time, except for sexual dysfunction. Best wishes and good luck!
poster:Cindy W
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000630/msgs/39520.html