Posted by vilkas on January 25, 2004, at 0:22:56
In reply to Be VERY careful with Effexor Re: » readingboy, posted by Lokisdream on January 24, 2004, at 14:49:51
Hi all.
I just thought I'd throw in my experiences with effexor xr. Have just started being treated for depression. by just started, I mean probably 3 or 4 months. Anyway, I was on effexor xr for probably close to 3 months, and dose was ramped up to 375mg.
I couldn't say I saw too many positive effects. Intensity of suicidal thoughts *did* decrease, but at the same time my motivation and concentration was worse than ever. On a positive note, I was having plenty of weird dreams, which I always enjoy. But I just found that I really wasn't getting any better on these pills, and decided with my pdoc to try fluoxetine hcl (aka prozac). After reading about other's withdrawal experiences, I was interested to see what would happen. So, on day 1 of withdrawal, I cut back to 225mg, day 2 150, days 3+4 75mg, days 5+6 Nothing, then started on 20mg of fluoxetine on day 7. I know that I wasn't going completely off the drugs, but I will say that I really didn't have any bad times during the switch. Maybe it's because effexor really didn't do anything for me to begin with. I have had some strange auditory hallucinations, late at night, but that's OK.
One thing I will say, though, coming off the effexor, i feel much more motivated, and less sleepy, and have much less brain fog. When I was on effexor, I just felt like a zombie. I was breathing and sometimes eating, and that was about it. But, as we know, one drug is not going to benefit 100% of the population...
we'll see what the fluoxetine does.take care,
vilkas
poster:vilkas
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040122/msgs/305223.html