Posted by sufergirl on October 23, 2018, at 19:48:35
In reply to Re: is it me or effexor withdrawal » sufergirl, posted by bleauberry on October 9, 2018, at 7:49:43
> I agree with you that rocking the boat after 18 years is likely not a good idea.
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> If Effexor is still in the game but not what it used to be, then we can turbocharge it and breath some new life into it.
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> There are only 3 substances I know of that can do that and do it fast. You can even do it on-demand.
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> The lack of motivation you feel is only going to be made worse by any other antidepressants. Whether you switch or add, either way, it will get worse not better. Certain antipsychotics (Zyprexa or Ability) might help a bit but not enough to make the side effects worth it.
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> Ritalin, Adderall, or Modafinil. Try adding one of these to your Effexor. You will know within a day to a week whether it is right for you or not. No long trials needed. No upsetting of your life is needed. The reason for these is because they boost the dopamine system, which is being squashed by Effexor, squashed by all antidepressants - dopamine is the motivation/pleasure chemical in the brain. It's being squashed out because Effexor is mostly serotonin, secondarily norepinephrine, and very little dopamine.
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> Here's a real example. Me. I needed motivation. My depression wasn't as bad as it had been but I was just dull. I tried Adderall. Within hours I was in the deepest darkest depression I had felt in a long time. So I knew that was the wrong one. A week later my doc had me try Ritalin instead. Within hours I felt normal for the first time in maybe 30 years. Normal. Not high. Not buzzed. Not drugged. Just plain freaking normal! It was mind blowing. So obviously, I loved Ritalin.
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> For several years I battled against the emotional numbness of prozac by combining it with Modafinil, or even better was its European ancestor Adrafinil, and a small dose of Zyprexa which boosts dopamine a lot when combined with prozac. Eventually all that pooped out.
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> For longterm use I think Ritalin is by far the safest of the 3. Adderall is basically the same meth on the streets, just legal and controlled.
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> Anyway, I would suggest you and your doctor go in the direction of stimulants added to Effexor because that is the most likely strategy to actually work as desired, the most likely strategy to work fast, and most likely strategy to not upset your routine, and the most likely to not rock an 18 year old boat.
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> in my opinion
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>my dr doesn't add stimulants.... i think she is a good dr - she is definitely conservative - i don't have much experience with them.
she has been talking to me about rTMS therapy and has written a referral if i choose to go that route. i may make the appointment and talk to them about what i could expect. I am not too concerned about them pushing me into a treatment as there is a long waiting list so likely would only recommend if it was feasible.
My goal would be to be on as low as possible (if not off ) effexor. I have read that people can come off meds and have maintenance rTMS if it works.But i am back to that - is it depression when i relapse quickly after coming off effexor or is it a discontinuation effect - and if it is a discontinuation effect, does that have biochemical different pathway in the brain (albeit similar symptoms) that is not responsive to rTMS.
Sometimes i am convinced I overthink things
poster:sufergirl
thread:1101126
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20180728/msgs/1101533.html