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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tom Shardlow on November 11, 2000, at 21:12:47
I have been on anti-depressants for c. 13 years; most of the ones that work on norepenephrine and/or dopamine. Wellbutrin has been my base antidepressant but that seems to have now stopped working.
I am taking 450 mg. wellbutrin, 20 mg Ritalin SR, and am now addring effexor. My Dr. says that effexor can be sedating at low dosages, but energizing at high dosages (which is what I need). He also said that there was no problem in increasing the dosage as fast as I want, if the side effects are tolerable. So far I started with 150 mg, increased to 225 after two days, and am going to start on 300 mg tonight after another two days. The main side effect is drowsiness (and sexual side effects which I assume will go away over time anyway). The drowsiness/sleepiness seems to be getting a little better as the dosage increases. No blood pressure\heart rate problems.
Anyone see any problems with this? I read a lot of messages on the board about effexor, and almost everyone else has built up their dosage much, much slower than I am. But, it's not killing me (yet). Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Anyone here on high dosages of effexor 300mg+ ? What has your experience been at the high doseges, vs the lower dosagess?
Posted by Racer on November 11, 2000, at 21:43:30
In reply to Quick increases in Effexor Dosage, posted by Tom Shardlow on November 11, 2000, at 21:12:47
If you're not having trouble with side effects, it's probably fine to add it quickly. For me, when I started it, I was kinda wacked the first few days at each dose, weird nervy things.
If you're fine, then the raises are fine...
Am I making any sense at all? I'm tired today...
Posted by Shell on November 11, 2000, at 22:37:31
In reply to Re: Quick increases in Effexor Dosage, posted by Racer on November 11, 2000, at 21:43:30
I am currently taking 300 mg Effexor XR. I built up to 150 mg rather slowly without side effects. When my doctor increased my dosage from 150 mg to 300 mg, I just started with 300 mg the next day and still didn't notice any difference. In fact, the fourth day on 300 mg, I messed up and took 600 mg (I had been taking 2 X 75 mg, then 4 X 75 mg. My new refill was for 2 X 150 mg, but I took 4 without thinking) and STILL noticed no side effects. I know a lot of people DO need to build up slowly, but I didn't and had no problems at all.
Shell
Posted by Cindy W on November 11, 2000, at 23:41:29
In reply to Quick increases in Effexor Dosage, posted by Tom Shardlow on November 11, 2000, at 21:12:47
> I have been on anti-depressants for c. 13 years; most of the ones that work on norepenephrine and/or dopamine. Wellbutrin has been my base antidepressant but that seems to have now stopped working.
>
> I am taking 450 mg. wellbutrin, 20 mg Ritalin SR, and am now addring effexor. My Dr. says that effexor can be sedating at low dosages, but energizing at high dosages (which is what I need). He also said that there was no problem in increasing the dosage as fast as I want, if the side effects are tolerable. So far I started with 150 mg, increased to 225 after two days, and am going to start on 300 mg tonight after another two days. The main side effect is drowsiness (and sexual side effects which I assume will go away over time anyway). The drowsiness/sleepiness seems to be getting a little better as the dosage increases. No blood pressure\heart rate problems.
>
> Anyone see any problems with this? I read a lot of messages on the board about effexor, and almost everyone else has built up their dosage much, much slower than I am. But, it's not killing me (yet). Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>
> Anyone here on high dosages of effexor 300mg+ ? What has your experience been at the high doseges, vs the lower dosagess?Tom, I'm taking Effexor-XR 375 mg/day, and find that the higher dosage was necessary to really reduce obsessive thoughts and compulsions, as well as depression. You're definitely upping it rapidly, but as long as it's working for you, that's great!--Cindy W
Posted by tenuous on November 13, 2000, at 13:37:11
In reply to Re: Quick increases in Effexor Dosage, posted by Cindy W on November 11, 2000, at 23:41:29
I got one of those starter free samples with seven 37.5mg pills and seven 75mg pills. The idea was to ramp up a week at a time at those levels before going to 150mg/day. But since I didn't have a problem with any side effects, I upped to 75mg the second day and then came the insomnia. I stayed at 75mg for a week then upped to 150mg/day. The insomnia lasted for 4 weeks. It's been six weeks now and even with taking the effexor on an empty stomach with coffee I don't get any nausea. I sleep 7-8 hours at night and take a 1 hour nap most days (I do need to take 50mg trazadone to get to sleep at night.)
As for the sexual side effects, those are still there. But I figure that after you commit suicide you probably don't feel like it either, so trading sex for relief from depression is worth it for me. I will however be chatting with the doctor to see if this side effect can be alleviated, no point in doing without if there IS a solution.
Hope it works for you as well as it's working for me.
This is the end of the thread.
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