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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by goldenslumbers on July 11, 2005, at 11:09:50
Hi Everyone,
I have anxiety and this is my first attempt at treatment. GP started Effexor 4 months ago, now at 75 mg. He later added Remeron for sleep, 7.5 mg.
I took it for three weeks but Remeron made me very sleepy during the day so he advised me to stop. After 1 week everything was good. Now insomnia is back and nausea is very strong, just like the Effexor startup symptoms.
I need some advice for getting through this, my GP is on holiday and I'm not sure what to do next.
Is it possible Remeron masked the nausea of Effexor and I need to adjust again ?
Can I drop down to 37.5 of Effexor to get relief from side effects ?
What else can I do ?
I really don't like these medications. My anxiety caused very similar symptoms but now I don't know if it is anxiety or medication. I would like to stop but I have not heard many success stories.
All input appreciated, Thank you
Posted by Zena on July 11, 2005, at 20:50:40
In reply to Can Remeron mask Effexor side effects ?, posted by goldenslumbers on July 11, 2005, at 11:09:50
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I have anxiety and this is my first attempt at treatment. GP started Effexor 4 months ago, now at 75 mg. He later added Remeron for sleep, 7.5 mg.
>
> I took it for three weeks but Remeron made me very sleepy during the day so he advised me to stop. After 1 week everything was good. Now insomnia is back and nausea is very strong, just like the Effexor startup symptoms.
>
> I need some advice for getting through this, my GP is on holiday and I'm not sure what to do next.
>
> Is it possible Remeron masked the nausea of Effexor and I need to adjust again ?
>
> Can I drop down to 37.5 of Effexor to get relief from side effects ?
>
> What else can I do ?
>
> I really don't like these medications. My anxiety caused very similar symptoms but now I don't know if it is anxiety or medication. I would like to stop but I have not heard many success stories.
>
> All input appreciated, Thank you
>
>Hi Goldenslumbers,
I was on the remeron/effexor combo about two yrs. ago & I couldn't stand the effexor. It gave me insomnia also & I was taking 15mg. remeron. I am still on remeron & at first I was very sleepy but it goes away as your body gets used to it. I would say effexor is causing your problem. I am now on lexapro & remeron. This combo is working for me. Hope this helps.
Zena
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Posted by goldenslumbers on July 12, 2005, at 8:45:05
In reply to Re: Can Remeron mask Effexor side effects ?, posted by Zena on July 11, 2005, at 20:50:40
Hi Zena,
Thanks for the input. I have started to taper the Effexor and doing my best to get through each day.
The anxiety comes and goes. I feel spacy and tired most of the time. I also get twitches from time to time.
When you tapered your Effexor how did it go ?
and
How long did withdrawl last ?
I would like to try being med free for a while to see if I can handle it and I don't want Effexor withdrawl to scare me into staying on it if I don't need to.
I did like the effect of the Remeron other than fatigue. Can I ask why you also use Lexpro ?
Thanks for your input. Not many people I talk to understand depression / anxiety so this board and it's users are priceless.
Thank You
Posted by Zena on July 12, 2005, at 10:02:06
In reply to Re: Can Remeron mask Effexor side effects ?, posted by goldenslumbers on July 12, 2005, at 8:45:05
Hi goldenslumbers,
At first I was just on remeron & klonopin because I was diagnosed GAD. I had anxiety which the remeron is for plus the klonopin. Then a yr. later I come down with depression which the remeron wasn't helping so the Dr. put me on lex. So I take remeron for anxiety & lex for depression. I am currently weaning myself off the klonopin. But I don't think I will ever be able to get off the antidepressents. I wasn't on effexor long enough to have withdrawl symtoms. The first week I took it I had insomnia so bad & was so tired I couldn't get out of bed. The Dr. took me off & kept me on the remeron until the lex was added.I went through a lot of meds before I found this combo. So far the withdrawl from klonopin hasn't been bad. I only take 1mg. a day so I started by cutting my evening dose in half. I have been at that for 6 weeks. Two more & I will cut my a.m. in half. I hope this answers your questions.
Regards,
Zena
Posted by goldenslumbers on July 12, 2005, at 14:15:19
In reply to Re: Can Remeron mask Effexor side effects ?, posted by Zena on July 12, 2005, at 10:02:06
Hi Zena,
Thanks for the follow up. The Effexor just has too many side effects to be effective for me. The insomnia and general spacy feelings make me feel almost as bad as the anxiety. The sweating, blurry vision and nausea are no picnic either.
If I can't make it on my own I will ask for Remeron.
What was the dosage you needed to see a reduction in the fatigue ?
Thanks again for your input.
GS
Posted by goldenslumbers on July 12, 2005, at 14:32:28
In reply to Re: Can Remeron mask Effexor side effects ?, posted by Zena on July 12, 2005, at 10:02:06
Hi Zena,
Thanks for the follow up. The Effexor just has too many side effects to be effective for me. The insomnia and general spacy feelings make me feel almost as bad as the anxiety. The sweating, blurry vision and nausea are no picnic either.
If I can't make it on my own I will ask for Remeron.
What was the dosage you needed to see a reduction in the fatigue ?
Thanks again for your input.
GS
Posted by Zena on July 12, 2005, at 16:05:35
In reply to Re: Can Remeron mask Effexor side effects ?, posted by goldenslumbers on July 12, 2005, at 14:32:28
Hi goldenslumbers,
I have always been on 15mg.of remeron. I tried 30 but my ankles swelled so went back on 15. At first I was sleepy but that subsides after your body gets used to it. I can't remember how long it took. I started all this 3 yrs ago. It was rough going on the lex for the first 6-8 weeks. But I stuck with it & am doing fine.
Regards,
Zena
Posted by 4WD on July 28, 2005, at 22:23:32
In reply to Re: Can Remeron mask Effexor side effects ?, posted by Zena on July 11, 2005, at 20:50:40
> >Hi Goldenslumbers,
> I was on the remeron/effexor combo about two yrs. ago & I couldn't stand the effexor. It gave me insomnia also & I was taking 15mg. remeron. I am still on remeron & at first I was very sleepy but it goes away as your body gets used to it. I would say effexor is causing your problem. I am now on lexapro & remeron. This combo is working for me. Hope this helps.
> Zena
Hi Zena,My new pdoc just put me on Lexapro and Remeron. I'm supposed to start with 5mg of Lex (and go to 10) in the morning and then take 30mg of Remeron at night. This is supposed to treat my severe anxiety and depression. I'm also supposed to continue Klonopin until the Lex and Rem kick in. Can you tell me the dosages you are on? Did you start the Lex first and then add the Remeron? Or both at once? How long before you got some relief from the anxiety? Did you have side effects from the Remeron? I want desperately not to have to take Klonopin anymore and to hear that ou are doing well on Lex and Remeron gives me hope it may work for me.
Thanks, Marsha
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Posted by Zena on July 29, 2005, at 21:27:03
In reply to Re: Can Remeron mask Effexor side effects ? » Zena, posted by 4WD on July 28, 2005, at 22:23:32
> > >Hi Goldenslumbers,
> > I was on the remeron/effexor combo about two yrs. ago & I couldn't stand the effexor. It gave me insomnia also & I was taking 15mg. remeron. I am still on remeron & at first I was very sleepy but it goes away as your body gets used to it. I would say effexor is causing your problem. I am now on lexapro & remeron. This combo is working for me. Hope this helps.
> > Zena
>
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> Hi Zena,
>
> My new pdoc just put me on Lexapro and Remeron. I'm supposed to start with 5mg of Lex (and go to 10) in the morning and then take 30mg of Remeron at night. This is supposed to treat my severe anxiety and depression. I'm also supposed to continue Klonopin until the Lex and Rem kick in. Can you tell me the dosages you are on? Did you start the Lex first and then add the Remeron? Or both at once? How long before you got some relief from the anxiety? Did you have side effects from the Remeron? I want desperately not to have to take Klonopin anymore and to hear that ou are doing well on Lex and Remeron gives me hope it may work for me.
>
> Thanks, Marsha
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> > > Hi Marsha,
Continue to use the klonopin until the lex & remeron kick in. It makes it so much easier. I have GAD so I started with xanax & 15mg. remeron. I was only on xanax until the remeron kicked in which didn't take very long & was switched to klonopin. That combo worked for awhile & then the depression hit so that's when the Dr. added lexapro.I am currently on 7.5mg. lex, 15mg. remeron & am withdrawing from klonopin. I was only taking 1mg. daily. I am taking it slow-tapering every two months. I am down to 1/2 mg.-so far no problems. I didn't have any side effects from 15mg. remeron but I had swelling in feet & ankles when I tried to increase to 30mg.Both the lex & remeron made me very tired at first but that soon goes away once your body adjusts. Hope this answers your questions.
Zena
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Posted by Zena on July 30, 2005, at 9:40:04
In reply to Re: Can Remeron mask Effexor side effects ?, posted by Zena on July 29, 2005, at 21:27:03
Marsha,
I forgot to tell you I didn't gain any weight on remeron/lex. I lost 15lbs. when I got sick & have managed to keep it off. At first the remeron increased my appetite so I chewed lots of gum but that eventually went away. I also walk 3 miles 6 days a week & recently joined Curves.
Regards,
Zena
Posted by 4WD on July 30, 2005, at 17:03:43
In reply to Re: Can Remeron mask Effexor side effects ?, posted by Zena on July 30, 2005, at 9:40:04
> Marsha,
> I forgot to tell you I didn't gain any weight on remeron/lex. I lost 15lbs. when I got sick & have managed to keep it off. At first the remeron increased my appetite so I chewed lots of gum but that eventually went away. I also walk 3 miles 6 days a week & recently joined Curves.
> Regards,
> ZenaThanks, Zena.
I was planning to just start the Lexapro alone for a couple of weeks and then add the Remeron if necessary. I wanted to try it that way so that if I had side effects I could tell where they were coming from. I'm hoping not to have the start up anxiety from Lex since I've already been on Celexa for several months now.
Thanks for all the info. I'm glad to hear you didn't have weight gain with Remeron. That part scared me - not just the gain, but the fear that food cravings would wake up my bulimia (which is currently in remission).
Marsha
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