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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mishka on January 26, 2003, at 10:36:13
Hello,
I went to my doctor yesterday for depression and anxiety, post partum, and he gave me a prescription for Effexor, 37.5mg a day. I have only taken one dose, but within hours I was, and still am, horribly nauseated and had insomnia that night. Was this too high a dose to start? Should I not take another dose till I can talk to my doctor next week? I'm pretty sensitive to meds. Also, from what I have been reading, this drug seems quite intense, with bad wihtdrawal symptoms, I'm thinking it may be a bit much for something like PPD that's supposed to be temporary? Any advice/answers are much appreciated!
Posted by LyndaK on January 26, 2003, at 19:14:21
In reply to Effexor for Post Partum Depression?, posted by Mishka on January 26, 2003, at 10:36:13
My personal opinion is that if you are having a "temporary" (basically hormone related) post partum depression, you shouldn't be on these meds at all. I had a post partum depression that went into a more chronic clinical depression (since I'm prone to that anyways), so it was quite appropriate to put me on an antidepressant. How long since you gave birth, and how long have you been feeling depressed?
Lynda
Posted by Mishka on January 26, 2003, at 20:13:37
In reply to Re: Effexor for Post Partum Depression? » Mishka, posted by LyndaK on January 26, 2003, at 19:14:21
> My personal opinion is that if you are having a "temporary" (basically hormone related) post partum depression, you shouldn't be on these meds at all. I had a post partum depression that went into a more chronic clinical depression (since I'm prone to that anyways), so it was quite appropriate to put me on an antidepressant. How long since you gave birth, and how long have you been feeling depressed?
>
> Lynda
Hello,My daughter just turned 9 months old. I have been feeling depressed pretty much since the beginning, but I have pushed it away for a long time, just putting it down to sleep deprivation etc. However in the past 2 weeks it's started to get a lot worse. I'm sad and tearful constantly, I'm scared to be alone, scared of the dark, scared of water, really irritable and edgy, and extreme fatigue.
I've never taken an anti-depressant before, I'm not the type to take any sort of medication if I can help it, but this is really starting to affect my quality of life so...my urge is just to try some PPD support groups etc. I took one dose of Effexor and I'm still horribly nauseous 26 hours later! Ugh. :)
Posted by noa on January 27, 2003, at 4:33:37
In reply to Re: Effexor for Post Partum Depression?, posted by Mishka on January 26, 2003, at 20:13:37
Mishka, have you had your thyroid levels checked?
Posted by nmk on January 27, 2003, at 10:55:32
In reply to Effexor for Post Partum Depression?, posted by Mishka on January 26, 2003, at 10:36:13
Mishka,
I am 12 months postpartum and am finally recovering from the worst depression/anxiety of my life. Please do as Noa suggested and get a complete blood work-up, including thyroid and hormone levels. My thryoid levels were very low and I am now on Synthroid. This helped the depression but I needed an antidepressant with it. I tried Zoloft (125 mg), which did nothing. My pdoc tried effexor (150 mg), which made me very dizzy and didn't do much for the depression. Your dosage seems awfully low but if it is making you nauseous, you may want to ask your doctor about trying a new med. I tried Lexapro which helped the depression and anxiety, but like you, I was also nauseous (I was prescribed anti-nausea drugs but this did not help). I am now on 18 mg of Strattera and have found it to be a miracle drug. After two days, I noticed the depression lift and I have more energy than I ever had. I experienced a slight dizziness the first few days as my body adjusted to the med but this soon disappeared.
Nine months is a long time to endure the depression and it sounds like you may need an AD to get you through this. Please feel free to write to me....this is my second battle with PPD.
Nicole
Posted by rainbowlight on January 28, 2003, at 19:16:09
In reply to Effexor for Post Partum Depression?, posted by Mishka on January 26, 2003, at 10:36:13
I'm not quite sure how long it has been since you had your baby, but here is something I found very useful. After my second child instead of using antidepressants to combat the post partum depression I was given progesterone capsules (precription). Worked like a charm, within 3 days I was feeling better (and I was REALLY depressed). Just an idea.
Posted by LyndaK on January 28, 2003, at 23:11:31
In reply to Re: Effexor for Post Partum Depression?, posted by Mishka on January 26, 2003, at 20:13:37
Mishka,
I agree. 9 months is too long. 8 months is about how long I'd been dealing with it by the time I realized it wasn't going to get better on its own. My pdoc had my thyroid levels checked, which were "low normal" and put me on a low dose of Synthroid along with Zoloft (which I'd been on before and knew I tolerated). I've been on Effexor before, but don't recall experiencing nausea with it. That would be an awful side-effect. There's got to be something else you can try that doesn't do that to you.
The other thing that grabbed my attention and made me realize that I needed to seek treatment was the realization that it was affecting my interaction with my baby. He was sitting on the floor in front of me playing and smiling at me and I felt like I was a million miles away. I couldn't seem to connect with him and share in his fun. I knew there was something really wrong with that.
It's good that you're getting treatment -- and based on what you've described, medication DOES sound appropriate although I also agree with what others have suggested about blood tests to rule out/rule in other conditions. A good support group certainly sounds good too.
Hope you've found something helpful here.
Keep posting.
Lynda
Posted by Mishka on January 29, 2003, at 18:59:45
In reply to Re: Effexor for Post Partum Depression? » Mishka, posted by LyndaK on January 28, 2003, at 23:11:31
Hello,
Thanks so much everyone for your advice. That one pill of Effexor made me really sick for a day and a half! So needless to say I did not take anymore. I went to my old doctor instead today, he is testing my thyroid levels and wants me to try Paxil. He said Effexor was totally unsuitable for me. I hope the Paxil helps, this is really getting to me. :( When we went to the doctors I forgot my credit card so I couldn't buy a parking ticket and had to park 3 blocks away in the rain and I just LOST it...cried and cried. And I put the milk in the cupboard and the grocery bag in the fridge. Ugh. :) Thanks again to those who responded.
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