Posted by Ritch on March 12, 2002, at 9:47:46
In reply to Relapse, Taper Effects or Possible Misdiagnosis?, posted by AnneL on March 12, 2002, at 0:29:14
> Over one year ago now, I crashed and burned so to speak. I was 39, started a diet, started to run, lost weight and felt great!! Endless energy, ran 2 half marathons, ran 6 days a week, worked full time, etc. Became obsessed with food, weight, exercise. Bottom line, my family suffered from my "exhuberance" and both of my children ended up with their father in another state. Needless to say, I became severely depressed and had constant thoughts of suicide. Got help, got on Effexor and Klonopin and slowly began my climb out of the pit. Obsession replaced by lethargy, weight loss by weight gain (don't care what I eat), no exercise tolerance (winded, tired). But hey, I was not "depressed". Had a brief run-in with a too fast taper (from 225 mg. to 75 mg. in 5 days, oops!) and almost ended up hospitalized for my own safety. Back on 225 mg with a promise to not ever try to taper that quickly again. (I promise!) Felt really good last couple of weeks and began a conscientious and cautious taper of reducing dose by 37.5 mg. to 187.5 mg. Within 4 days I was a basket case. Depressed, endless guilt over my children, etc. etc, thoughts of suicide (knowing full well I would not do it) and back on 225 mg. I went. I think I am having mood balance problems and I am really scared now because just going back to 225 mg. has not cleared my "funk". I am scared of Effexor "pooping out" and I am frightened at the prospect of having something different than a unipolar depression (I think that is the correct terminology). Any ideas my fellow p-babblers? Thanks in advance, Anne
Anne,Effex. is powerful stuff. It sounds like you might benefit from a mood stabilizer (whether you are bipolar or not), to help allow a smoother taper on the Effexor. Maybe a little Depakote or Neurontin or even lithium. It sounds like you are in one of those "tweaky" mixed states where you are agitated/depressed/dysphoric all at the same time (I have been there recently and can relate!). If the Effex. is helping with your obsessiveness you might try a "cross-taper" with an SSRI that you find isn't as agitating (Celexa, Paxil, even Prozac). Effex. made me very agitated compared to the other SSRI.
Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:97544
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020307/msgs/97603.html