Posted by Mark H. on February 25, 2001, at 22:01:04
In reply to Anyone still taking effexor, posted by crylt73 on February 25, 2001, at 15:27:14
Hi,
Yes, I've been on Effexor for more than 3-1/2 years at 150 mg / day with two potentiating medications: methylphenidate (generic Ritalin) and Pindolol (generic Visken).
The combination of Pindolol with Effexor is no longer recommended by the manufacturers due to serious side effects in some individuals, so you would need to work very cautiously and closely with your doctor if together you chose to experiment with this combination. For me, the Pindolol smooths out the sleep and dream problems, which also makes the night sweats less problematic (in the sense that I still get a good night's sleep).
The downside of the use of Pindolol is that it limits the speed of one's heart, and therefore makes even fairly mild exertion seem strenuous. My wife and I were biking across the bridges towards the end of a day-ride in which I had gone a bit too far, and I wound up having to sit on the pavement for half an hour at the roadside waiting for my oxygen blood levels to come back up to the point that I could ride the rest of the way home.
As with all medication regimes for refractive depression, it takes some balancing and experimentation to find the right "mix" that will work for you. Be patient and perseverant.
Best wishes,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:54810
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010221/msgs/54833.html