Posted by BonnieK on December 15, 2005, at 3:40:51
In reply to Questions about Effexor xr, posted by Graceneeded on December 14, 2005, at 8:18:52
Hi Danny~
The lowest I ever made it down to was 37.5...I was planning on tapering off totally, but when my sister was diagnosed with 2 cancers...I totally bottomed out. As I said before..I knew that I had to be functional for her, my husband and my little boy...So, back up the Effexor ladder I went. Thank God that I did, because the past 9 months have been horrendous...and without a little help I would be crying from morning till night.Like you...I basically had to work my way back up to feeling better, and it took longer the 2nd time. My psych. said that this is common when you fall back into a clinical depression, and your therapy was interupted. He explained it as, your body had become used to the drug...The same drug that kicked in so quickly the first time, doesn't always do the same thing the 2nd/ time....For me, it took 4 weeks to feel better.
I am also on a very high dose of Xanax, 6-8 mg. per day...because I began having panic attacks EVERY DAY, while just sitting and thinking.. which I never had before in my life...I am NOT proud of this dosage, but right now it keeps me as "normal" as possible...Yes, this high of a dosage would probably put the average person to sleep for a day, but for me...It keeps the panic away....The Effexor keeps the depression away. Thank God.
I am so closly tied into my sister's cancers...and having to go through a ton of testing myself, including genetic... I'm facing the possibility of preventative surgery at 37, if I test positive etc. My sister has advanced ovarian and breast cancer....Watching her go through treatment has been so devastating, and we're very close.
As much as I HATE being so dependant on these meds., especially the xanax....I do what I have to do. At some point down the road....I may try and taper down again, but right now, I'm thankful that they're working. My Dr. supports me 100%...and understands the situation.
Anyway...I didn't mean to dump all this on you...What I am really trying to say is, give the Effexor more time. Talk to your Dr. about the Lorazepam if that isn't helping, with the anxiety as your body adjusts...I know that I really felt like total crap, the 2nd time that I went back up in dosage...The only other thing that I can think of to help you, is maybe the 150 jump from 75 was too much, too fast? You could ask your Dr. to give you the 37.5 caps., and see if taking 1, plus the 75mg, is a better adjustment?
Best wishes to you! Bonnie~
poster:BonnieK
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051211/msgs/589248.html