Posted by SFHiker on August 10, 2003, at 22:55:34
Hi folks, just wanted to post a note with my current regime of meds which does a relatively nice job of decreasing symptoms of depression and ADD.
First, I'm a 40 yo male, diagnosed with ADD/Depression almost 9 years ago. More recent diagnosis has added anxiety. Anyway - after sloghing my way through most every SSRI - EffexorXR is the one that sticks, and works, and has next to zero side effects. I take 300 mgs at night, before bed. I started on a small does and worked up over a period of about a year under close supervison by my psychiatrist.
I know not to miss a dose since I will get cranky and spacey and sad. This is my second period of using EffexorXR.
I was on it for quite some time, then was laid off, and had no insurance to pay for the script, so had to endure what wasn't that difficult of a withdrawal period. However, my depression came back big time. To me this has been a far worse side-effect of being off EffexorXR.
I discovered my local "San Francisco" public health department and learned that I was entitled to health care regardless of insurance - my income just needed to be way low. Since it was nothing, I qualified. So, I'm happy to report that I'm back on EffexorXR under the treatment of a great psychiatrist and working with a psychiatric social worker, all working for the SF Dept. of Public Health.
My point is this: it seems like many folks here are truely disabled by depression which restricts them from pursuing regular employment. This is my case, and without my current treatment, I'd probably not be here right now. So, don't think you can't find a way to get the medication you require, investigate your local public health system and find out what you're entitled to.
poster:SFHiker
thread:249936
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030807/msgs/249936.html