Posted by Alf on February 27, 2004, at 22:12:15
In reply to Re: Thank you to everyone who posted, posted by Salty_Dog on February 27, 2004, at 3:50:26
It's been over a year since I've posted here. I've been taking Effexor at different dosages during this entire time. My experience with Effexor has been mixed. I initially welcomed taking Effexor because of it's calming effect and mood elevation. The problem I had early was that it was difficult to maintain any consistant result regardless of the dosage. My PDoc recommended that I take Wellbutrin along with it. The combination of the two did work best for me. I have been much more alert. The Wellbutrin seems to stabilize the effects of the Effexor enough for me to continue on a dosage regimen. At one time, I was taking 300mg of Effoxor and 150mg of Wellbutrin. There was only one bad side effect from this. I had a serious sexual dysfunction which was due primarily to the Effexor. The plumbing just didn't work most of the time. And when it did work the result was quite painful.
So I tried to titrate myself off the Effexor but it didn't work for me. I had the usual symptoms of
withdrawal such as the infamous brain zaps for a couple of days and then uncontrollable depression by the fourth day without Effexor. So I went back on it. I'm now trying to go off the Effexor again by replaceing it with 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan)[NOT TRYPTOPHAN].5-HTP is the precursor for Serotonin that is created by the body from L-tryptophan. The body converts L-tryptophan to 5-HTP and then 5-HT,serotonin. At present I'm at 300 mg of Wellbutrin, 75mg of Effexor and 100mg of 5-HTP. I'm feeling pretty good and the sexual side effects are easing. I'm going to wait a couple more weeks before going off the Effexor. My hope is to just to be taking the Wellbutrin and 5-HTP. My fingers are crossed.
poster:Alf
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040223/msgs/318410.html