Posted by Cindylou on December 20, 2001, at 14:50:19
In reply to back from the doctor's office - Effexor XR, posted by sid on December 20, 2001, at 12:07:25
Hi Jane and Sid,
First, Sid I am so glad the Effexor is working for you ... the desire to paint and draw again is a very good sign. You may be able to stay at 37.5 the whole time -- I believe that is the lowest therapeutic dose.
I am (or used to be) a writer, but lost the desire to write years ago. Every now and then I'll get the inkling to write again, but it usually fades. Hopefully I'll get it back someday when the right meds and therapy start to kick in.
About posting and reading this board, I agree with both you and kid_A -- this board has been extremely helpful and healing to me, not only because it gives me information and insights, but also because it gives me a chance to share my experiences with others and hopefully use my struggle with meds and my mood disorder to some advantage.
HOWEVER, I definitely notice that when I start to feel better, I visit the board a little less often ... like, instead of 4 or 5 times a day, I may visit it 4 or 5 times a week. I think once a day is fine. More than that -- well, that's a bit much! But less than 4 or 5 times a week gets tough, because there are so many new posts to read and catch up on. Just my 2 cents here, for whatever that's worth.
JANE, about the Effexor side effects .. for me, it was utter and complete exhaustion and heavy headedness -- like the worst hangover I have ever had. Ironically, my doctor said that higher doses may cause less side effects, so we went up to 150 mg pretty quickly. The side effects remained, but were much more manageable at the higher dose.
Just a note, in case you run into the same thing I did.
I also lost weight on it. :-}
Best of luck to both of you!
- cindy> Well, saw my doc after 3 weeks of Effexor XR 37.5mg.
> I did not know my dx, but now I do. Chronic depression (I went to see her for that) + anxiety. Hence, the Effexor XR, which is supposed to help both.
>
> Talked for a long time and she decided to keep me on 37.5mg for a second month, much to my surprise and to my contentment, I must say. There have been improvements, and I still have some side effects, so we are going slowly. She thinks I'll get more benefits at this low dosage in the next month.
>
> I'd been taking it with lunch to avoid wanting to sleep all afternoon and insomnia at night, but now I am going back to taking it in the morning, starting tomorrow.
>
> She also said that my reading postings and writing here is a sign of anxiety, that I should relax more about this process and do more social/pleasant things... find a hobby and not spend too much time on the web. I will still participate here, but she's right up to a point, I've been pretty stressed out with taking meds. So I'll try to monitor myself and read/write to Psycho-Babble less often. And I've been wanting to draw and paint again for the longest time, so that's what I'll do.
>
> I like this doc because she also believes in cognitive and behavioral therapy, along with meds and it coincides with my beliefs. And she is right: I have trouble trusting people, including her. I still think it's OK though, healthy, up to a point. I am often pushing it too far, being skeptical about people and things... need to relax.
>
> Anyway, I needed to share that for some reason. I am surprised to stay at 37.5 mg, but glad at the same time, for now. I will write and read some more, but not so often. That's a reasonable thing to try.
poster:Cindylou
thread:87525
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011213/msgs/87549.html