![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by stef on April 6, 2000, at 21:49:20
i was put on paxil for depression and anxiety . i lasted one day it messed with my brain. i am now on klonipin for panic attacks but im dealing with post partum depression and they want me to take effexor and im scared i will react to it the same way as paxil. i dont know what to do.
Posted by Cam W. on April 6, 2000, at 21:58:47
In reply to affraid to take effexor/ bad experience w/ paxil, posted by stef on April 6, 2000, at 21:49:20
Stef - Could you be more specific about how Paxil messed with your brain? What were the symptoms of your side effects? All antidepressants seem to have at least some side effects at the initiation of therapy. These side effects usually go away with a couple of weeks of use. Some people react more stromgly to these effects than other people. Please post back - Cam W.
Posted by Cindy W on April 6, 2000, at 22:09:13
In reply to Re: affraid to take effexor/ bad experience w/ paxil, posted by Cam W. on April 6, 2000, at 21:58:47
>
> Stef - Could you be more specific about how Paxil messed with your brain? What were the symptoms of your side effects? All antidepressants seem to have at least some side effects at the initiation of therapy. These side effects usually go away with a couple of weeks of use. Some people react more stromgly to these effects than other people. Please post back - Cam W.Stef, I agree with CamW. What happened with Paxil? I've been taking Effexor-XR now for about four months and have found it wonderful. My pdoc had me start it very very slowly (37.5 mg/day for a week, then 75 mg/day for a week, etc.). At first, I felt a little dizzy but have had no other adverse effects, and after a couple of weeks, felt no side effects at all! So you might want to start out very slow and gradually increase it. Talk about this with your pdoc.
Posted by stef on April 6, 2000, at 22:19:20
In reply to Re: affraid to take effexor/ bad experience w/ paxil, posted by Cam W. on April 6, 2000, at 21:58:47
>
> Stef - Could you be more specific about how Paxil messed with your brain? What were the symptoms of your side effects? All antidepressants seem to have at least some side effects at the initiation of therapy. These side effects usually go away with a couple of weeks of use. Some people react more stromgly to these effects than other people. Please post back - Cam W.I HAD TERRIBLE SWEATING AND HAD VISIONS OF KILLING MY CHILDREN THAT I COULDNT GET OUT OF MY HEAD
Posted by Cam W. on April 6, 2000, at 22:33:02
In reply to Re: affraid to take effexor/ bad experience w/ paxil, posted by stef on April 6, 2000, at 22:19:20
Stef - Sorry, this is out of my realm of experience. The sweating I have heard of, but the visions I haven't. Discuss this at length with your doctor. Tell him about your reservations of trying the Effexor. Like Cindy said, with any further antidepressant you probably want to start low and raise the dose slowly. Hopefully someone in Babbleland will be able to give you further insight into this. Good luck and keep us posted - Cam W.
Posted by Cam W. on April 6, 2000, at 22:38:12
In reply to Re: affraid to take effexor/ bad experience w/ paxil, posted by STEF on April 6, 2000, at 22:24:58
> AM IDOING THIS RIGHTStef - Are you doing what right? If you mean posting your question, yes, you have come to a very knowledgeable board. It may take a day, but someone here will have heard of your situation.
Are you okay right now?
-Cam W.
Posted by STEF on April 6, 2000, at 22:47:53
In reply to Re: affraid to take effexor/ bad experience w/ paxil, posted by Cam W. on April 6, 2000, at 22:38:12
>
> > AM IDOING THIS RIGHT
>
> Stef - Are you doing what right? If you mean posting your question, yes, you have come to a very knowledgeable board. It may take a day, but someone here will have heard of your situation.
>
> Are you okay right now?
>
yes im ok but nighttime is worse its like im affraid to go to sleep. taking care of my 3 month old daughter is what stress me most and the fear of being alone.
Posted by Cam W. on April 6, 2000, at 22:59:50
In reply to Re: affraid to take effexor/ bad experience w/ paxil, posted by STEF on April 6, 2000, at 22:47:53
Stef - I don't know where you live, but most places have support groups for those with postpartum depression. Contact your doctor and/or public health nurse first thing in the morning. They can help you much more than I can in cyberspace. If you feel that you cannot wait until morning, call your doctor tonight. Someone will be on call. This is for your peace of mind. Give your daughter a kiss for me. - Cam W.
Posted by anonymous on April 7, 2000, at 8:08:01
In reply to affraid to take effexor/ bad experience w/ paxil, posted by stef on April 6, 2000, at 21:49:20
> i was put on paxil for depression and anxiety . i lasted one day it messed with my brain. i am now on klonipin for panic attacks but im dealing with post partum depression and they want me to take effexor and im scared i will react to it the same way as paxil. i dont know what to do.
>I had this very same thing happen to me on Effexor! When I went to bed at night, I had this thought that I would hope my husband would hear me and wake up and stop me before I harmed my children. This was way, way out of character for me! This was only after 3 days of being on it. Needless to say I threw it in the garbage and burned it!! It was horrible and very scary! I have no idea why this happened, but next time I see my pdoc I am going to question him more on this. So don't feel alone. I am not crazy or abusive by nature so I chalk it up to the drug.
Posted by Cindy W on April 7, 2000, at 9:59:50
In reply to Re: To Stef, Please Read, You Are Not Alone!!!, posted by anonymous on April 7, 2000, at 8:08:01
> > i was put on paxil for depression and anxiety . i lasted one day it messed with my brain. i am now on klonipin for panic attacks but im dealing with post partum depression and they want me to take effexor and im scared i will react to it the same way as paxil. i dont know what to do.
>
> >I had this very same thing happen to me on Effexor! When I went to bed at night, I had this thought that I would hope my husband would hear me and wake up and stop me before I harmed my children. This was way, way out of character for me! This was only after 3 days of being on it. Needless to say I threw it in the garbage and burned it!! It was horrible and very scary! I have no idea why this happened, but next time I see my pdoc I am going to question him more on this. So don't feel alone. I am not crazy or abusive by nature so I chalk it up to the drug.
Stef, I hope you have contacted your pdoc. I don't know if what you're experiencing is postpartum depression (which I've never experienced) or OCD (which I have experienced; many people have recurrent thoughts of harming someone they love even though they would never do this), but you need to contact your pdoc right away. Hope things are going better very soon for you!
Posted by quilter on April 8, 2000, at 1:17:17
In reply to Re: To Stef, Please Read, You Are Not Alone!!!, posted by Cindy W on April 7, 2000, at 9:59:50
> > > i was put on paxil for depression and anxiety . i lasted one day it messed with my brain. i am now on klonipin for panic attacks but im dealing with post partum depression and they want me to take effexor and im scared i will react to it the same way as paxil. i dont know what to do.
> >
> > >I had this very same thing happen to me on Effexor! When I went to bed at night, I had this thought that I would hope my husband would hear me and wake up and stop me before I harmed my children. This was way, way out of character for me! This was only after 3 days of being on it. Needless to say I threw it in the garbage and burned it!! It was horrible and very scary! I have no idea why this happened, but next time I see my pdoc I am going to question him more on this. So don't feel alone. I am not crazy or abusive by nature so I chalk it up to the drug.
> Stef, I hope you have contacted your pdoc. I don't know if what you're experiencing is postpartum depression (which I've never experienced) or OCD (which I have experienced; many people have recurrent thoughts of harming someone they love even though they would never do this), but you need to contact your pdoc right away. Hope things are going better very soon for you!Stef, I think that this fear of hurting your baby is an extremely common (and scary) feature of post-partum depression. It is probably caused by the illness, not the medication, so please follow your dr.'s advice and give a fair trial to another med. I hope you feel better soon! quilter
Posted by Noa on April 8, 2000, at 13:29:04
In reply to Re: affraid to take effexor/ bad experience w/ paxil, posted by stef on April 6, 2000, at 22:19:20
I am concerned that you have a serious postpartum depression. Are you getting enough help? Doctors office visits and medication might not be enough right now. You might need more support, perhaps a visiting nurse, a group, even day treatment.
When you say you are afraid to be alone, I have to ask: do you have a husband or boyfriend living with you? Is it being alone with your new baby during the day that is hard? How much are you alone?
I think you need help identifying a support system of people that can keep you company, and help you out with the children and house.
Finally, forgive me for harping on the thyroid thing as I often do, but postpartum thyroiditis is very common and can cause serious depression. Have you had this evaluated? If so, get a copy of the actual numbers from your tests. Don't just rely on your doctor's statement that you are "within normal limits".
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.