Posted by calaway on September 19, 2002, at 0:15:25
In reply to Effexor-Any Positive results, posted by lucky on September 18, 2002, at 18:49:51
I just switched over to effexor from paxil last week, and that first week was awful I thought that I could just quit the paxil cold turkey. Whe I experiance horrible side effect (pariniod dreams, spaced out head, headaches, sick to my stomach ect.)I thought it was the just the effexor. After speaking to the pharmacist she advised me to taper off the Paxil slowly while continue with the start of the effexor. So I continued to use the paxil every other day for the past week, with my last pill being the 14th and so far my withdrawl symptoms seem to be disapearing quite easily. And going from the 37.5 to 75 went really well, I was scared to increase, because of the "spaced out feel" that is a common beginning side effect, but it I had none.
I suspect that if your having side effect that by your 6th day you will feel somewhat better As for the mental relief, 37.5 is a beginning dose and you might not feel any real relief until you up it to 75 and maybe even the 150 dose (which apparently is the usual min and 225 being the top theraputic amount). Every person is different in amount and effects. Not every medicine works for us all. My first stab at an anti depressant had me so parinod that I thought someone was in my house with a knife trying to kill me. I never took that one again, the second one was great. I took me about 3 weeks to feel better and just over a month to feel more "normal". So give it some time and know that if you don't feel really sure with the result talk to your doctor and consider another med. I quit the paxil because I gained 50lbs on it.
Last but no least. I think that the hardest thing that anyone who starts a anti-depressant need to realize that yes you may only be on it for the minimium 9mo time, you might be on it 2 year or 5, or your body may never be able to fuction properly again without some sort of help. It is a chemical imbalance and not always does our brain regain the strenth to produce as much as out body requires. I always like to compare it to diabetes in that both are disease of improper chemical balances and both require medication. Some people are just lucky enough that they can sometime come off the meds and do well for the rest of their lives. I have been on anit-depressant for 8 years now and after 3 times of trying to come off, one time for even over a year I just know that I for one can not properly function without them, and thats okay with me. Good luck with your therapy ahead.
poster:calaway
thread:120309
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020914/msgs/120342.html