Posted by SLS on December 10, 2009, at 17:04:51
In reply to Re: Swapping Parnate for Effexor., posted by Meltingpot on December 10, 2009, at 15:12:18
Hi Denise.
> I really admire the way you rationalise things
I only wish that I admired myself half as much as you do. I don't feel very admirable this week. I look at my lack academic and career accomplishments, and what little self-esteem I have left evaporates.
> When you say that you are only about 35% improved, in what way?
Mental and physical energy, thought speed, memory, flat affect, and anhedonia are the major areas that are most affected.
> What are you able to do and feel at 35% that you can't and don't at 0%?
I acquire some mental energy to interact with my environment and think more clearly. I begin to feel less negative about things. My affect brightens, my memory improves, and I can read a paragraph or so at a time instead of the two sentences I was capable of.
> What would a 75% improvement be?
Orgasmic, but short of nirvana. I am sure that I could go to school and hold a job. It would be great if I could operate at my tested I.Q. I would become very gregarious and self-confident. I would seek out new people and relationships. I think I would become involved in various hobbies. Perhaps music and photography.
> I hope this switch you are planning works out for you
Thanks. I am not expecting nirvana, though.
> but you always do improve initially don't you
That has been my response pattern, yes.
> whenever you start a new drug that's effective for you so there is a chance that just the starting of the Effexor will improve your mood.
> Just out of interest, why do you think Effexor will be an improvement on Parnate?
I recall having passing moments of feeling better on the combination of Effexor and nortriptyline that occurred long after my startup improvement. I was happy with the scope of the improvement, but not the magnitude and consistency. I believe things will be better now that I am taking twice the dosage of nortriptyline as I did then.
> How did your experience of Effexor differ to your experience of Parnate?
For me, Parnate helps more with anergia than it does with anhedonia. It doesn't brighten my mood as much as does Nardil. It really is hard to compare drugs when the effects they have change as do dosages and adjunct drugs. Effexor gave me more of a sense of enjoyment of things and a brighter affect than did Parnate. The last time I read a book cover-to-cover was when I was taking Effexor. Things just seemed to decay over time or I would have continued with it.
We'll see.
I am beginning to feel less well. Things are bound to get worse, but I can't predict just how much worse.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:928515
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091206/msgs/928768.html