Posted by Mark H. on March 12, 2002, at 17:09:24
In reply to 2+ years on Effexor...., posted by ladylight on March 7, 2002, at 19:37:42
> Has anyone been on Effexor for more than 2 years?
>
> Has anyone here made peace with being on meds for the rest of their life? If so, how? and what meds are you taking?...Thanks for listening and for your support
> BethHi Beth,
In May, I'll have been on Effexor continuously for 5 years (plus one additional year before that). I'm Bipolar II and have two fairly distinct cycles a year (two troughs, two mild peaks). The "one additional year" reflects the fact that I, too, decided to quit after that first year.
The first year I took Effexor, I required an ever-increasing dosage. By the time I quit, I was getting withdrawal symptoms within 6 hours of taking my last dose for the day.
Between my first trial with Effexor and finding the "mix" that worked, I tried about 25 different anti-depressants and adjunctive medications, all the while growing increasingly worse.
Finally, my doctor and I hit upon the following daily regimen that works well for me: upon awaking, 25mcg Cytomel (thryroid), 2.5mg Pindolol, and either 40mg methylphenidate (Ritalin) or 10mg dexedrine. After breakfast, I take 150mg Effexor (not XR). At bedtime, I take 2.5mg Pindolol and 0.25mg clonazepam (for Periodic Limb Movement Disorder -- also helps with sleep).
The key for me was finding the adjunctives that countered my over-production of adrenaline and also potentiated the effects of Effexor, enabling me to stabilize at a fixed dosage of 150mg/day (instead of needing to increase it continuously). My depression is also atypical, which means I tend to eat and sleep all the time (hence the need for stimulants to stay awake during the day).
This mix, however physically taxing, has enabled me to benefit from renewed therapy, hold down a difficult job, regain joy in my marriage and in such ordinary activities as gardening and listening to music, and permitted me to undertake a serious spiritual path. I'm tremendously grateful that I have such a good medication regimen to follow, for however long it is available to me.
Having been to the absolute bottom and back, I can say that the quality of life I have regained in the last 5 years has been completely worth it even if I keel over tomorrow at the age of 52. In fact, this is the first time in my life that I've even *considered* that I might live into old age!
I think HMK and I both mention our bipolar conditions in part because we recognize wanting to go off of medications during an upswing as one of the symptoms we experience too. I'm not trying to diagnose you; just suggesting that you look at the possibility that you may "cycle" as well.
Be gentle and forgiving with yourself, and take each good day for the treasure it is. There's nothing wrong with taking medication, and if it improves the quality of your life, it is a very good thing indeed.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:96941
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97665.html