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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dauphine on March 29, 2004, at 13:55:34
I recently started taking Effexor XR at 75 mg/day. I am on my 12th pill now and in the beginning I felt drugged so that made me calmer, but for the past week or so the only emotions I have felt are bad ones (obsessive anger, self-doubt, frustration etc.). I know these things take a long time to work sometimes but this waiting game really sucks. I have never taken an AD before, so I don't even know what to expect. It seems that I just go throught the day waiting for it to be over with, measuring my life with coffee spoons, to borrow a phrase. The side effects from Effexor don't seem to bother me at all, the only one that I've really experienced in any intensity is a dry mouth, which is totally manageable. I know it's a hard thing to quantify, but how do you know when an AD starts to work? It seems so subjective. I just don't want to be such a drag anymore, to myself and anyone around me.
Posted by flyingdreams on March 29, 2004, at 14:40:41
In reply to waiting for meds to work, so sad, posted by Dauphine on March 29, 2004, at 13:55:34
It takes a minimum of 6 wks and your dr should have told you that. You wont feel a real difference, it's not a happy pill. You'll only feel a slight difference. Effexor is not a good choice for your first anti-depressant. There are far better drugs that have less side effects and less serious withdrawals when you get off them. I'd only try effexor if others didn't work. See this for info:
http://www.petitiononline.com/effexor/
If you don't want to be a drag, that's not serious enough depression to be poisening yourself with ssri's. You need to find out why you are down and fix that part of your life. One should only go on these drugs if they can't get out of bed - that bad of a depression.
Good Luck,
Wendy
11 weeks off Effexor and still having withdrawals.
Posted by Dauphine on March 29, 2004, at 15:05:15
In reply to waiting for meds to work, so sad, posted by Dauphine on March 29, 2004, at 13:55:34
it is far worse than being a drag -- i was slashing my wrists only last week. i didn't know how to get my anger out over losing a very addictive relationship with a severe alcoholic/addict. i guess i understated how bad i feel.
i understand that meds are not *happy pills*, and i've wrestled with 2 years of ongoing depression before coming to the difficult decision to take medication for it. what prompted me is that i started entertaining suicidal thoughts on a daily basis.
i don't want to die, but I don't want to live like this either.
> I recently started taking Effexor XR at 75 mg/day. I am on my 12th pill now and in the beginning I felt drugged so that made me calmer, but for the past week or so the only emotions I have felt are bad ones (obsessive anger, self-doubt, frustration etc.). I know these things take a long time to work sometimes but this waiting game really sucks. I have never taken an AD before, so I don't even know what to expect. It seems that I just go throught the day waiting for it to be over with, measuring my life with coffee spoons, to borrow a phrase. The side effects from Effexor don't seem to bother me at all, the only one that I've really experienced in any intensity is a dry mouth, which is totally manageable. I know it's a hard thing to quantify, but how do you know when an AD starts to work? It seems so subjective. I just don't want to be such a drag anymore, to myself and anyone around me.
Posted by rainyday on March 29, 2004, at 17:56:58
In reply to Re: waiting for meds to work, so sad, posted by Dauphine on March 29, 2004, at 15:05:15
I eventually (after 7 weeks) responded very very well to effexor at 150mg per day. Unfortunately myy blood pressure went sky high so I am trying Wellbutrin now.
The way you know it is working is gradual. You might find that, ever so subtle-y, you are feeling better. Or you wake up one morning ready to face the day. Every one responds differently. Try to keep a mood journal to gauge your emotional health.
rainyday
Posted by Dauphine on March 30, 2004, at 10:52:42
In reply to Re: waiting for meds to work, so sad, posted by rainyday on March 29, 2004, at 17:56:58
the mood journal sounds like a great idea. Thanks rainyday!
I eventually (after 7 weeks) responded very very well to effexor at 150mg per day. Unfortunately myy blood pressure went sky high so I am trying Wellbutrin now.
>
> The way you know it is working is gradual. You might find that, ever so subtle-y, you are feeling better. Or you wake up one morning ready to face the day. Every one responds differently. Try to keep a mood journal to gauge your emotional health.
>
> rainyday
This is the end of the thread.
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