Posted by jay on July 1, 2003, at 3:04:30
In reply to Effexor 75-225 No motivation, posted by jasonr on June 30, 2003, at 0:07:14
Hi:
Being a former Effexor XR user..I truly sympathize with ya. I had same effects. A couple of tricks may help:
1)Small-med dose of Zyprexa + Klonopin seems to both 'loosen you up'.
2)Give the Effexor at max dose a few months...but if no *good* (and I mean REALLY good!) improvement, you may want to go through the SSRI's. I can't say *which* SSRI, because I know and feel they all have fairly different side effect profiles (and hence, actions) and there is plenty of scientific proof to show so.Just to note, though, I struggled for 5 or so years on Effexor..and the med wasn't for me...yet I struggled and wasted a lot of time on a med that brought little relief, (for me) and LOTS of inner 'zaps' and anxiety. I was house-bound for 5 years..and I couldn't talk to anyone in public without having a major mental breakdown. (Also..the sweating was horrific! Such a difference from one year ago to today.)
Give ALL meds a try until you find the one that sits most comfortable with you. Again, we are all different, so certain ones may help one person and be horrid for another. I will say, though, I do regret waiting 5 years to completely dump the Effexor, and if the side effects stay as bad for you, don't think twice about changing.
Oh ya..for semi-responders to Effexor, it seems either Prozac and Zoloft often work. The 'in' drugs seem to be Lexapro/Celexa, Paxil, and Effexor. Zoloft and Prozac have some very different profiles than the mentioned.
Gawd I remember those dark nights of anxiousnes, crying etc on Effexor...just remember you *deserve* the best, and don't stop until you get it. It's taken me about the average time it does for one to find both right diagnosis, and most important, right med combo, which is about 10 years. I think this can be greatly reduced.
Just another thought on Effexor: I think overall it may be a good drug, but the major problem is, what I found, short half-lives, (leading to many, many "mini-gaps" of withdrawl, as well as anti-cholinergic(sp?) activity because I had HORRID dry mouth on Effexor, even though the drug company doesn't say so.
I am living proof you *can* have a life after Effexor. Before I thought "no way..", but it was some very fine tuning by both doc and myself with meds that helped.
Meds I think you should have handy while on Effexor:
-benzo (Klonipin, maybe Xanax, etc)
-Zyprexa (if still nervous and apathetic with these..then yes a med change from Effexor for sure..)Best wishes...keep posting...and even though I am not a religious person...keep a prayer now and again going.
Jay
My new slogan "Have love...will travel".
poster:jay
thread:238030
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030624/msgs/238377.html