![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jessup on September 3, 2006, at 15:38:45
I have been taking effexor xr (75mg)for ten days now, and I felt my world widen and become interesting on the 8th day for about 7 hours then it just disappeared, and now it is the tenth day of taking effexor. Was that experience how an antidepressant effect feels like? Also, I'm hoping this isn't some anomaly...will it feel like that all the time? I need help with the answers, and I'm praying the feeling will come back again
Posted by jessup on September 3, 2006, at 15:49:12
In reply to Antidepressant effect, posted by jessup on September 3, 2006, at 15:38:45
I'm sorry if it sounds vague when I say the antidepressant widened my universe, but that's exactly what it did for a short period of time. It gave me more possibilities then i usually consider at a present time. I sit here now with not much interest in anything. I watch myself do stuff, like i'm watching myself as i do stuff which makes the day go agonizingly slow. How depressed does this sound to you?
Posted by Racer on September 3, 2006, at 18:07:00
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by jessup on September 3, 2006, at 15:49:12
That description resonated with me as an antidepressant effect. For me, I maybe had a little whiff of it in advance of a full fledged response, but never the full on "this is what it feels like not to be depression" until the meds had been going for a while. Effexor, as I recall, was a little quicker acting than the others I've tried. (Except Wellbutrin, which isn't all that effective for me, but did give the benefit fast.)
Good luck! I hope it comes back for you soonest!
Posted by jessup on September 3, 2006, at 18:48:41
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by Racer on September 3, 2006, at 18:07:00
Thanks so much for replying Racer. I think I have been depressed so long that I don't even realize my depression.
> That description resonated with me as an antidepressant effect. For me, I maybe had a little whiff of it in advance of a full fledged response, but never the full on "this is what it feels like not to be depression" until the meds had been going for a while. Effexor, as I recall, was a little quicker acting than the others I've tried. (Except Wellbutrin, which isn't all that effective for me, but did give the benefit fast.)
>
> Good luck! I hope it comes back for you soonest!
Posted by bassman on September 3, 2006, at 18:58:13
In reply to Antidepressant effect, posted by jessup on September 3, 2006, at 15:38:45
When Paxil kicked in for me, all of a sudden things didn't seem so complex-as you said, lots of possibilities in the world-and the confidence that I could try them, if not do them. It was as though any new situation was more of a challenge to my creativity rather than a reason to be fearful and withdraw. Whatever it was, I felt I could do it. That lasted three years. Best of luck!
Posted by jessup on September 3, 2006, at 19:30:11
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by bassman on September 3, 2006, at 18:58:13
Bassman, did you find a reasonable substitute after paxil?
> When Paxil kicked in for me, all of a sudden things didn't seem so complex-as you said, lots of possibilities in the world-and the confidence that I could try them, if not do them. It was as though any new situation was more of a challenge to my creativity rather than a reason to be fearful and withdraw. Whatever it was, I felt I could do it. That lasted three years. Best of luck!
Posted by bassman on September 3, 2006, at 19:43:06
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect » bassman, posted by jessup on September 3, 2006, at 19:30:11
Lexapro worked for a couple years...now I'm taking Prozac, but it's just not the same thing. I was spoiled by Paxil-I could see that I'd been depressed all my life and how much better things were, It was great!
Posted by Racer on September 3, 2006, at 20:00:01
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by bassman on September 3, 2006, at 19:43:06
> I could see that I'd been depressed all my life and how much better things were, It was great!
Yeah, that was nortriptyline for me -- my first antidepressant...
You do realize we're sounding like we're talking about first loves? "Ah, yes, Paxil -- it was my first, you know..." Sad...
Posted by bassman on September 3, 2006, at 20:51:29
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by Racer on September 3, 2006, at 20:00:01
You're so funny! But it's true...and then, to extend the analogy, finding the same thing again seems impossible.
Posted by Phillipa on September 3, 2006, at 21:34:41
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by bassman on September 3, 2006, at 20:51:29
It only happened for me once l0mg of paxil with xanax. Now ten years later could someone tell me what feeling good feels like? Love Phillipa
Posted by Bob on September 4, 2006, at 1:00:14
In reply to Antidepressant effect, posted by jessup on September 3, 2006, at 15:38:45
What's really sad is that there is sometimes a great response, but in the end it winds up being ephemeral, and not reproducible. If it were only possible to get a treatment of some sort that kept working. Wouldn't that be something!?
Posted by bassman on September 4, 2006, at 8:37:28
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by Bob on September 4, 2006, at 1:00:14
Maybe one day there will be meds/something that leave us in a state of being "well", at least for a very extended period of time. That will be a happy day. It's funny, in a very darkly humorous way, that the AD's that many of use take make us feel WORSE, at least for a little while-and then may or may not be of help in the future. When I read the things about having to carefully watch teenagers starting AD's (and now seniors)-I have to laugh. You take a person that usually is taking a med despite absolutely hating the idea-they are taking it only because they can't stand the way they feel-then the med makes them feel WORSE and you should be watching the person for signs of dismay. It's only taken the medical community 20 years to figure that out...
Posted by linkadge on September 4, 2006, at 10:35:47
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by bassman on September 4, 2006, at 8:37:28
Quite a few antidepressants made me worse including effexor.
Some of the SSRI's made me feel so significantly worse, that I never understood how they could be classified an antidepressant.
I think that some people do just get better in spite of treatment and that a lot of the merrit placed on antidepressants is just wishful association. We feel better if we "did" something to recover. That puts us back in the drivers seat. I think its part of the recovery process to feel in control of our recovery. Afterall depression is due to feeling out of control.
Even people get better without drugs often find something else to associate their recovery to. An example of this would be religion. When somebody believes God healed them, theres no convincing otherwise.
Sorry for the very off topic rant.Linkadge
Posted by bassman on September 4, 2006, at 11:27:55
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by linkadge on September 4, 2006, at 10:35:47
Well said.. and when you consider people (like myself) will say that it took Wellbutrin 6 months before there was any effect..weeeell...a lot can happen in 6 months. For me, if I have a lot of social stimulation, I'm less likely to be depressed, same thing when I get on real exercise kick, play more in the band, etc. And of course there is over-simplification in the other direction- a person is in very, very bad shape emotionally and someone says, "oh, it's probably the weather..." :>}
Posted by elanor roosevelt on September 4, 2006, at 16:13:56
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by bassman on September 4, 2006, at 11:27:55
look, we all know that antidepressants are not "feel good" pills. sometimes, early on you get some euphoria. celexa was my dream drug and i took that years into treatment with ad's.
the scary thing is when they wear off ond you are so depressed you forget to see the doctor.
i had about 7 or 8 great months on celexa and then--- splat.
the meltdowns are so discouraging.
but, back on topic, if you felt good for one day on effexor and since have not you need to re-evaluate the choice with your doctor and fine-tune your dosage or change meds. don't hang in there if you feel bad. the meds are all so different.
Posted by jessup on September 4, 2006, at 17:23:28
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by elanor roosevelt on September 4, 2006, at 16:13:56
Hi again,
It's not that I'm looking to be euphoric, but just to have choices in life and feel something from the choices made and that it matters. Right now I could care less about anything. People do things automatically, while I'm left watching myself do something which makes for a very passive life. That is how I feel.
> look, we all know that antidepressants are not "feel good" pills. sometimes, early on you get some euphoria. celexa was my dream drug and i took that years into treatment with ad's.
> the scary thing is when they wear off ond you are so depressed you forget to see the doctor.
> i had about 7 or 8 great months on celexa and then--- splat.
> the meltdowns are so discouraging.
> but, back on topic, if you felt good for one day on effexor and since have not you need to re-evaluate the choice with your doctor and fine-tune your dosage or change meds. don't hang in there if you feel bad. the meds are all so different.
Posted by Racer on September 4, 2006, at 17:40:33
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by elanor roosevelt on September 4, 2006, at 16:13:56
> but, back on topic, if you felt good for one day on effexor and since have not you need to re-evaluate the choice with your doctor and fine-tune your dosage or change meds. don't hang in there if you feel bad. the meds are all so different.
But if you read the original post again, Jessup has only been taking this medication for ten days, and had the potential response on day eight. It really isn't surprising that something like that happens early in treatment, and it's certainly not time yet to give up on it. Had there been one day out of six months -- or even three months -- I'd suggest making a change myself. But at this point, it's worth holding on to see how the medication works once it's had enough time to kick in all the way.
Just, you know, my thoughts on the subject.
Posted by bassman on September 4, 2006, at 19:25:31
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect » elanor roosevelt, posted by jessup on September 4, 2006, at 17:23:28
You just want to feel functional-I think that's pretty easy for those of us that have felt like hiding under a rock to understand. Feeling like a "slug" (you haven't done anything all day of any note whatever), as a friend of mine puts it, is very depressing in itself.
Keep trying those meds...we're with you.
Posted by SLS on September 4, 2006, at 20:21:31
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect » elanor roosevelt, posted by Racer on September 4, 2006, at 17:40:33
> > but, back on topic, if you felt good for one day on effexor and since have not you need to re-evaluate the choice with your doctor and fine-tune your dosage or change meds. don't hang in there if you feel bad. the meds are all so different.
>
> But if you read the original post again, Jessup has only been taking this medication for ten days, and had the potential response on day eight. It really isn't surprising that something like that happens early in treatment, and it's certainly not time yet to give up on it. Had there been one day out of six months -- or even three months -- I'd suggest making a change myself. But at this point, it's worth holding on to see how the medication works once it's had enough time to kick in all the way.I agree.
Sometimes, a brief positive "blip" response like that early in treatment can be a prognosticator that a more robust and persistent response will evolve later. When a change in brain function occurs that allows one to emerge out of a biogenic depression, even if only for a moment, there is no mistaking it. It is like watching a sunrise.
- Scott
Posted by jessup on September 4, 2006, at 21:41:49
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by SLS on September 4, 2006, at 20:21:31
Thanks for the support, i appreciate it. That 7 hours I had that clarity felt so good though that I'm craving it all the time now. I was on wellbutrin before this and it held me for 3 years well, that was my first antidepressant and was a simple drug. I hope it didn't spoil the other drugs for me being on it.
> > > but, back on topic, if you felt good for one day on effexor and since have not you need to re-evaluate the choice with your doctor and fine-tune your dosage or change meds. don't hang in there if you feel bad. the meds are all so different.
> >
> > But if you read the original post again, Jessup has only been taking this medication for ten days, and had the potential response on day eight. It really isn't surprising that something like that happens early in treatment, and it's certainly not time yet to give up on it. Had there been one day out of six months -- or even three months -- I'd suggest making a change myself. But at this point, it's worth holding on to see how the medication works once it's had enough time to kick in all the way.
>
> I agree.
>
> Sometimes, a brief positive "blip" response like that early in treatment can be a prognosticator that a more robust and persistent response will evolve later. When a change in brain function occurs that allows one to emerge out of a biogenic depression, even if only for a moment, there is no mistaking it. It is like watching a sunrise.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by rjlockhart on September 5, 2006, at 13:45:49
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by SLS on September 4, 2006, at 20:21:31
I take Prozac 30mg.
I get a sort of a feeling that is feeling very warm, then it sort of stops.
40mg is more potent too.
Matt
Posted by Bob on September 5, 2006, at 15:04:47
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by bassman on September 4, 2006, at 8:37:28
> Maybe one day there will be meds/something that leave us in a state of being "well", at least for a very extended period of time. That will be a happy day. It's funny, in a very darkly humorous way, that the AD's that many of use take make us feel WORSE, at least for a little while-and then may or may not be of help in the future. When I read the things about having to carefully watch teenagers starting AD's (and now seniors)-I have to laugh. You take a person that usually is taking a med despite absolutely hating the idea-they are taking it only because they can't stand the way they feel-then the med makes them feel WORSE and you should be watching the person for signs of dismay. It's only taken the medical community 20 years to figure that out...
Very well said.
Posted by Bob on September 5, 2006, at 15:05:30
In reply to Re: Antidepressant effect, posted by linkadge on September 4, 2006, at 10:35:47
> Quite a few antidepressants made me worse including effexor.
>
> Some of the SSRI's made me feel so significantly worse, that I never understood how they could be classified an antidepressant.
>
> I think that some people do just get better in spite of treatment and that a lot of the merrit placed on antidepressants is just wishful association. We feel better if we "did" something to recover. That puts us back in the drivers seat. I think its part of the recovery process to feel in control of our recovery. Afterall depression is due to feeling out of control.
>
> Even people get better without drugs often find something else to associate their recovery to. An example of this would be religion. When somebody believes God healed them, theres no convincing otherwise.
>
>
> Sorry for the very off topic rant.
>
>
>
> Linkadge
>
>
>
>
>Again, this is very well said.
Posted by deniseuk190466 on September 14, 2006, at 11:41:07
In reply to Antidepressant effect, posted by jessup on September 3, 2006, at 15:38:45
I know what you mean by your world widening up, for me it was like windows of happiness into a 3 dimensional brighter world, rather than a flat world.
Hope you get it happens again permanently for you.
Denise
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.