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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by FredPotter on May 4, 2006, at 18:06:49
I've been taking SSRIs, and now Effexor, for years. A few years ago a new "symptom" appeared. I felt too tired to walk another step. This was intermittant but seemed to get more frequent over time until I was having time off work with exhaustion, sleeping all day etc. I've cut down from 375mg Effexor to 225mg and feel immediately better.
Is this effect well-known? If so, why doesn't my doctor know it?
Posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2006, at 19:41:23
In reply to Serotonergic drugs and fatigue, posted by FredPotter on May 4, 2006, at 18:06:49
Fred ask you doc if he ever took any of these meds chances are he will say no. Maybe that's why? Love Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on May 4, 2006, at 20:04:10
In reply to Re: Serotonergic drugs and fatigue » FredPotter, posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2006, at 19:41:23
Prolonged increases in serotonin may disrupt other chemicals implicated in motivation and energy.
Some people augment effexor with wellbutrin to try and conteract this effect.
Linkadge
Posted by FredPotter on May 4, 2006, at 20:24:31
In reply to Re: Serotonergic drugs and fatigue, posted by linkadge on May 4, 2006, at 20:04:10
Thanks Linkadge. My pdoc said nobody took Wellbutrin anymore
Posted by linkadge on May 4, 2006, at 21:18:14
In reply to Re: Serotonergic drugs and fatigue, posted by FredPotter on May 4, 2006, at 20:24:31
I don't think thats true. Wellbutrin is still used. You might also respond to things like nortryptaline, or reboxetine.
Linkadge
Posted by FredPotter on May 4, 2006, at 22:37:51
In reply to Re: Serotonergic drugs and fatigue, posted by linkadge on May 4, 2006, at 21:18:14
> I don't think thats true. Wellbutrin is still used. You might also respond to things like nortryptaline, or reboxetine.
>
> LinkadgeNo I know it's not true. It's just what he said. Interesting about Nortryptyline. I've got some. Perhaps I'll get out my pill-cutter and experiment
Posted by addinbc on May 5, 2006, at 19:02:36
In reply to Serotonergic drugs and fatigue, posted by FredPotter on May 4, 2006, at 18:06:49
YES, this can definitely happen!
It doesn't seem to be well known...
BUT IT SHOULD BE!!!
It happened to me in a BIG way, but the drugs (Luvox and then Zoloft) made me so apathetic as well that I didn't care. I just slept days (weeks, months, years) away. It was only after I came off the drugs six years later that I really realized what they had been doing to me.
Trying to explain this to a psychiatrist is like trying to explain calculus to a child - they just don't get it, don't believe you and/or think you're making it up. (**fuming!!**)
THERE MUST BE MORE RESEARCH DONE ON THIS!!!
I think what often happens is that when a patient complains of this, it is assumed to be an emerging or residual symptom of depression, and often the dose is raised! (!!??)I'm sorry if I come across as ranting, but the whole business makes me so angry. Thanks for your post. It helps to realize I am not the only one who has experienced this.
Posted by linkadge on May 5, 2006, at 19:29:47
In reply to Re: Serotonergic drugs and fatigue, posted by addinbc on May 5, 2006, at 19:02:36
Its so true.
Doctors are not sensitive to the problem.
Apathy can ruin things. Its not taken seriously enough.
Linkadge
Posted by Caedmon on May 5, 2006, at 22:29:37
In reply to Re: Serotonergic drugs and fatigue » addinbc, posted by linkadge on May 5, 2006, at 19:29:47
Yes; I suspect this is part of what has happened to me over the past few years. My motivation and energy have just been killed off. Unfortunately, the meds did help.
I wish I could go back to that first month on Zoloft, when it still worked, in fact everything in my life started to get better. What the hell? These drugs are so weird, sometimes I think it's a Faustian bargain we all engage in.
- C
Posted by FredPotter on May 7, 2006, at 16:49:10
In reply to Re: Serotonergic drugs and fatigue, posted by addinbc on May 5, 2006, at 19:02:36
yes that's right they raise the dose! I've just come down from 375mg Effexor to 225mg and feel much better (after a couple of days). When I discussed this catastrophic tiredness and weakness to my pdoc he asked if I feel that way all the time. I said No (I didn't then). He replied, "In that case it's not a side effect of the drug or you would be feeling it all the time". Thinking back I would say that it has to start somewhere. What started as tired spells ended up as feeling exhausted or asleep almost all the time
This is the end of the thread.
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