Posted by Camille Dumont on December 2, 2003, at 7:11:57
In reply to Effexor for Hypersomniac Major Depressive, posted by Psychopoppy on December 2, 2003, at 1:23:26
> Hello
>
> This is my first post on this forum.
>
> I have been suffering from major ("atypical") depression for a while now and finally sought medical help. I am a hypersomniac (usually needing 11-12 hrs sleep at least 3-4 times a week). My shrink knows it all and he suggested Effexor as my anti-dep drug. I started with 37.5mg/day and stayed on that for 3 weeks before going to 75 mg/day which is where I am at now since a week. I am very sensitve to the drug and thats why the low doses. There was considerable relief from the depression early on (although recently its returned indicating a slump in effectivity, hence the obvious dose increase).
> The main thing though is that the drug has done nothing to improve my hypersomnia. Infact it has re-inforced it and increased it too. Now I absolutely need 12 hours everyday (as opposed to 3-4 times a week before i started the drug). I cannot fight it at all.
> Can anyone tell me why my seemingly competent shrink would prescribe Effexor for a hypersomniac depressive ? Does he know something I dont ? Is it supposed to get better with time and make me need less sleep eventually ?
> ANy advice appreciated.
>
> Poppy (very sleepy)I guess it can have different side effects. For me Effexor gave me insomnia for a while and made me nervous. I was given that stuff for depression. Although I've always been a big sleeper, in the deepest part of the depression I would go withouth sleep for two days then sleep like 22h in a row and then be unable to sleep again ... or wake up every mornng at 3 AM.
The sleep part was the hardest thing to put back into place and I'm still having trouble with it.
It might take you time before you reach the needed dose to have an effect. You might want to consider taking the drug at a different time during the day. I take it with my morning jolt and it sort of helps to wake me up.
poster:Camille Dumont
thread:285784
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031202/msgs/285829.html