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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by invisiblemanpa on October 5, 2004, at 11:23:17
Greetings group,
I have finally made up my mind to get off the Effexor XR as it has not helped and made my condition worse. I have been on it for almost 11/2 years from 75 mg to 300 mg, most recently at 225 and my depression hit an all new low. I am also on Remeron, which seem to help a lot initially but not much now, and Klonopin 4mg a day which is a God Send or I would be helpless. My condition is Severe Clinical Depression with Generalized / Social Anxiety, that I have struggled with all of my adult life and professional career. The depression and anxiety has ruined my career, family and personal life. I am hoping for one last stab at starting a new life.Anyway, So before I go into see the wise and all mighty Psy Doc and dart board of medicications, does anyone have any suggestions for an AD with good crossover help with Anxiety issues?? I know it is different for all of us. And of course low side effects?? Paxil made me crazy, Zoloft made me extremely nervous, Wellbutrin did nothing but make my skin crawl....
So any suggestions? I am ready to pitch it all but the benzo's, which as addictive and dangerous as they can be, it is the only thing so far that has helped with anxiety...........
Thanks,
E
Posted by King Vultan on October 5, 2004, at 12:49:43
In reply to Switching from Effexor(I hope)..any suggestions!!!, posted by invisiblemanpa on October 5, 2004, at 11:23:17
> Greetings group,
> I have finally made up my mind to get off the Effexor XR as it has not helped and made my condition worse. I have been on it for almost 11/2 years from 75 mg to 300 mg, most recently at 225 and my depression hit an all new low. I am also on Remeron, which seem to help a lot initially but not much now, and Klonopin 4mg a day which is a God Send or I would be helpless. My condition is Severe Clinical Depression with Generalized / Social Anxiety, that I have struggled with all of my adult life and professional career. The depression and anxiety has ruined my career, family and personal life. I am hoping for one last stab at starting a new life.
>
> Anyway, So before I go into see the wise and all mighty Psy Doc and dart board of medicications, does anyone have any suggestions for an AD with good crossover help with Anxiety issues?? I know it is different for all of us. And of course low side effects?? Paxil made me crazy, Zoloft made me extremely nervous, Wellbutrin did nothing but make my skin crawl....
>
> So any suggestions? I am ready to pitch it all but the benzo's, which as addictive and dangerous as they can be, it is the only thing so far that has helped with anxiety...........
>
> Thanks,
> E
I guess I would suggest considering Nardil, which would have a better chance than most meds of doing what you're looking for. Honestly, though, it does have a fair amount of side effects.Todd
Posted by invisiblemanpa on October 5, 2004, at 16:31:15
In reply to Switching from Effexor(I hope)..any suggestions!!!, posted by invisiblemanpa on October 5, 2004, at 11:23:17
Greetings again,
Has anyone had any good or bad experiances with Lexapro? I know it was approved in 03 for GA as well as Clinical Depression. I have read some reports that report it to be much more effective than Effexor and Zoloft? Any Input? Trying to get as much background info before I talk to the Wizard of Oz (Psy)
Ed
Posted by King Vultan on October 5, 2004, at 16:48:00
In reply to Re: Switching from Effexor(I hope)..Lexapro??, posted by invisiblemanpa on October 5, 2004, at 16:31:15
> Greetings again,
>
> Has anyone had any good or bad experiances with Lexapro? I know it was approved in 03 for GA as well as Clinical Depression. I have read some reports that report it to be much more effective than Effexor and Zoloft? Any Input? Trying to get as much background info before I talk to the Wizard of Oz (Psy)
> EdNo, it's about the same effectiveness as Zoloft and less effective than Effexor according to a recent Consumer Reports survey (Actually, the survey reported on Celexa, which is just about the same thing). I would suggest not bothering with any of the SSRIs if Effexor isn't doing the job for you. A tricyclic like nortriptyline might be worth considering, however, as this does have a different mechanism than the SSRIs or Effexor, and it does not have particularly severe side effects.
Todd
Posted by flipsactown on October 6, 2004, at 0:16:01
In reply to Re: Switching from Effexor(I hope)..Lexapro??, posted by invisiblemanpa on October 5, 2004, at 16:31:15
I have been taking Lexapro, currently 30mg, for 4 months now and I am depression free. I have taken Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Lamictal, Elavil, Remeron, Desipramine, Lithium and Nardil. Prozac was very effective until it pooped out after 7 years. Nardil was effective but I was not able to tolerate the intense insomnia side effect. Lexapro has been as effective as when I first took Prozac over 12 years ago. I am male and have unipolar depression. I experienced 2 side effects, one being insomnia, which I take Seroquel or Benadryl for, and the other is constant fatigue, which is decreasing. Also, it took 45 days for Lexapro to take affect. Other then that, I highly recommend Lexapro for unipolar depression.
FST
> Greetings again,
>
> Has anyone had any good or bad experiances with Lexapro? I know it was approved in 03 for GA as well as Clinical Depression. I have read some reports that report it to be much more effective than Effexor and Zoloft? Any Input? Trying to get as much background info before I talk to the Wizard of Oz (Psy)
> Ed
Posted by stressed on October 7, 2004, at 8:38:22
In reply to Re: Switching from Effexor(I hope)..Lexapro??, posted by King Vultan on October 5, 2004, at 16:48:00
About the Lexapro,I think it makes you gain weight. I just left a post asking about that. It made me and my daughter both gain weight. At least I think it helped put some extra unwanted pounds on out bodies. Good luck. All SSRI's are different, I didn't have any problem with Zoloft or Prozac. I am on Wellbutrin now and I love it. Eveyone reacts differently to these drugs, so don't think that you will react the same way we did. !!!
Posted by invisiblemanpa on October 7, 2004, at 16:53:42
In reply to Re: Switching from Effexor(I hope)..Lexapro??, posted by stressed on October 7, 2004, at 8:38:22
Thanks for the weight warning.....I put on 25 lbs. very quickly when I tried my first AD about 4 years ago, Serzone. I think it happens with almost all of the second generation AD. It is especially frustrating for me, as I am almost exclusively a vegetarian, lowfat diet for years and I exercise for an hour plus every day. But the weight just won't drop....and now my cholesterol has skyrocketed...go figure........
E
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