Posted by adagiolover1 on April 25, 2005, at 10:17:55
I'll try and keep this succinct: I discontinued effexor XR 150 mg in late december 2004, due to tremors, and restless leg. I had used it successfully for (at first a low dose, ending up at 150 for the last 3 yrs) for about 6 yrs total. The last year side effects became intolerable.
I went through over 3 weeks of side effects even though I was weaned.
At that time I was given Trazodone 100 mg hs for insomnia.
In the last 4 months I have had 2 major depressive periods where I had suicidal thoughts.
While I am finally sleeping for 6 hours in a row, with the trazodone, it's not a refreshing sleep.
I had hoped that sleeping would address my depression, but it seems not to. I was briefly on Lamictal, but discontinued it at 10 days due to EXTREME irritability (the slightest sound made me feel rage inside).
When I am not seriously depressed I am quite anxious even having daily palpitations, something I never experienced in the last 6 yrs.
My doctor is a general practitioner and not interested in getting to the bottom of this all. There are no decent psychiatrists in this area, and...I am getting my psych meds from a licensed mental health therapist who has prescribing certification. She is not my counselor.
I'm 47, and frankly, the future looks bleak. Am I doomed, due to an inability to tolerate ssri's, to rapid periods of depression and anxiety?
A final note:
I am an alcoholic with 7 yrs plus sober. However, I have struggled with depression all my life, even in years without drinking.
When I mention 'suicide', I must add that when I do feel that, I tell someone. I feel that I am restrained from suicide by the fact that I have a child, and a family that loves me, so 'telling on myself' seems to defuse such thinking to where it's tolerable.
i'm suffering.
poster:adagiolover1
thread:489205
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050424/msgs/489205.html