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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Kreedi on June 16, 2005, at 11:43:39
I'd posted a few times in March -- my depression resurfaced all of a sudden, after being in remission for more than two-and-a-half years, despite my taking venlafaxine. My dose for nearly that whole time was 112.5 mg. (It was 150 for a couple of months initially.)
Well, after two pretty rough months, and a dose increase from 112.5 to 150 to 187.5 (what I'm currently taking), the Black Cloud of depression has gone. I felt a little better -- dysthymic I guess -- after a week on 187.5, and then felt fine one fine day.
Side effect problems initially: a little extra tiredness, continuing insomnia (take Ambien and/or Xanax occasionally for that), a day or two of higher blood pressure. Surprisingly, no real worsening of sexual dysfunction (delayed orgasm).
BUT: the annoying thing is that I'm having a really difficult time gaining weight. With the renewed confidence, ambition, and motivation of the last 2 or 3 years, I'd managed to go from about 117 pounds to 132 lbs (I'm 5'8", 32-year-old male). Still skinny, but not terribly so. This time round, my weight dropped again to about 115 lbs, and I'm finding it really really hard to get beyond about 123 lbs! I'm pretty sure it's dose-related. I'm working out at the gym just as hard and sensibly, eating right, consuming protein shakes -- but the sticking point seems to have arrived 10 lbs earlier. Obviously, being so skinny does damage my self-esteem somewhat. On the other hand, I obviously don't want the depression to return. Damnations.
I'll be speaking to my p-doc soon. One option is reducing the dose to 150 (just as earlier I had reduced from 150 to 112.5 for maintenance). He had resisted my suggestion that we augment with Buspar, saying that a dose increase should be tried first.
One complicating factor is that I'm shifting countries and starting a new grad program in a couple of months. Exhausting intercontinental travel, new city, new course... I'm hugely looking forward to it, but I suppose there's potential for stress involved in the upcoming change. Then again, possibly there'll be no stress at all.
I've been rambling. I guess I'd just appreciate feedback from people who've experienced weight loss on Effexor, or who were thin to begin with when they started the drug, and what their coping strategies were/are.
Thanks,
Kreedi
Posted by ed_uk on June 16, 2005, at 12:20:43
In reply to Effexor XR and weight (skinny guy here), posted by Kreedi on June 16, 2005, at 11:43:39
Hi,
>Side effect problems initially: a little extra tiredness, continuing insomnia (take Ambien and/or Xanax occasionally for that), a day or two of higher blood pressure. Surprisingly, no real worsening of sexual dysfunction (delayed orgasm).
>Obviously, being so skinny does damage my self-esteem somewhat.You could try adding a small dose of Remeron. Say, 7.5-15mg initially. Remeron usually seems to cause weight gain. It's also effective for insomnia. In some cases, it can be effective in reducing sexual dysfunction due to SSRIs and Effexor. Daytimes drowsiness in a common side effect of Remeron, particularly at first. Linkadge recently posted that his pdoc had found that some patients on the Remeron/Effexor combination developed high blood pressure and other side effects. Nevertheless, the Remeron/Effexor combination does seem quite popular. I've know a few people who've taken it.
Kind regards,
Ed.
Posted by Maximus on June 16, 2005, at 12:23:54
In reply to Effexor XR and weight (skinny guy here), posted by Kreedi on June 16, 2005, at 11:43:39
Hi Kreedi,
Hoo! Hell! With all due respect Kreedi, you are very underweight. Ironically, a lot of us, here, are trying to lose weight. Did you have a test for your thyroid? You might suffer of hyperthyroidism.
Anyway, just ask your doctor to prescribe a small dose of Remeron (as add-on), i.e. 15-30 mgs. You're going to calm down, sleep well, have a big appetite, eliminate your sexual dysfunction and pack pounds. LOL
Good luck and don't worry!
Posted by Kreedi on June 16, 2005, at 12:37:42
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and weight (skinny guy here) » Kreedi, posted by Maximus on June 16, 2005, at 12:23:54
I've tried the Remeron option. 7.5 mg knocks me out for 30 hours straight. Even a really tiny dose like 2 mg -- a sliver of a sliver -- leaves me drowsy and virtually incapacitated with drowsiness for a full day. I've always been ultrasensitive to antihistamines (I think mirtazapine has strong antihismanic properties).
Anyway, I'm not really all that worried. Just mildly bummed out today about the weight thing. Well, I'll just continue exercising and eating high-calorie foods and spending money on weight-gain supplements (Prolab's NLarge2, whey protein etc). I know the common worry with ADs is weight gain; I'm in the minority camp. I find it a pain to schedule 6 good meals a day.
Kreedi
Posted by ed_uk on June 16, 2005, at 12:54:39
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and weight (skinny guy here), posted by Kreedi on June 16, 2005, at 12:37:42
Hi Kreedi,
>I've always been ultrasensitive to antihistamines........
Me too! I HATE antihistamines, they make me feel really dreadful. Promethazine (Phenergan) is particularly vile. I also despise diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Kind regards,
Ed.PS. Good look with the weight gain :-)
Posted by Spriggy on June 17, 2005, at 12:24:03
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and weight (skinny guy here) » Kreedi, posted by ed_uk on June 16, 2005, at 12:54:39
I hate to hijack Kreddi's thread but I just had to comment that Phenergen and it's sister's (Compazine) made me feel like I was going insane.
They gave me the same "weird, whacked out, crazy, restless" feeling that Lexapro did.
I just found your comment interesting becuase I've never known another person who hated Phenergen like me.. ROFL
Posted by ed_uk on June 17, 2005, at 16:41:45
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and weight (skinny guy here) » ed_uk, posted by Spriggy on June 17, 2005, at 12:24:03
Hiya Spriggy :-)
>They gave me the same "weird, whacked out, crazy, restless" feeling........
Akathisia. Both Compazine and Phenergan can cause akathisia because they both block dopamine receptors. I hate Phenergan, it makes me extremely drowsy, dizzy, RESTLESS and spaced out. It makes me feel really ill.
Kind regards,
Ed.
Posted by gromit on June 18, 2005, at 17:26:47
In reply to Effexor XR and weight (skinny guy here), posted by Kreedi on June 16, 2005, at 11:43:39
Is it possible you're overtraining?
Posted by Kreedi on June 20, 2005, at 11:29:22
In reply to Re: Effexor XR and weight (skinny guy here) » Kreedi, posted by gromit on June 18, 2005, at 17:26:47
> Is it possible you're overtraining?
Nope, pretty careful about that. Three or four days a week, not more than an hour at a time, no excessive weights (but heavy enough to increase bulk), plenty of rest and sleep. Will let people know results in a month or so!
This is the end of the thread.
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