Posted by JoannaC on March 27, 2004, at 19:09:28
In reply to HELP..effexor/zoloft side effects ARGH!, posted by flygirl on March 27, 2004, at 9:49:41
Hi, I've just been doing some research in my nursing books here. I think your husbands pdoc has given him too high of a dose of Effexor to start out with. I may be wrong of course. But the starting dose is 37.5 up to 225mgs. Now I think when you start any new medication you should start on the lowest dose possible, so that you don't experience all of the brutal side effects he's experiencing. He should still have some of the Zoloft left in his blood stream, but the 150mgs of Effexor is too much. My pdoc put me on 75mgs, because he had 75mg caps in his office, and I took one, within 1.5 hours I had blurred vision, I was nauseated, and so dizzy and sweaty that my boyfriend had to carry me to bed, where I laid for about 8 hours, and never took it again. I really think the doc started him too high to start. I'll tell you I felt the same way as your husband that I was brain damaged from the medications. I'm 33 years old, and laid in a bed for 4 years, not able to shower, or cook for myself. I couldn't remember what happen 5 minutes ago. Medications do that, make everything foggy. No SSRI, or SNRI or any Benzodiazepine (which by the way impaires your memory the worst), ever worked for me. However they do work for alot of people, I just didn't respond, and the side effect are horrible. Remeron or Mirtazipine which is an antidepressant that is totally different than any other ones, helped with the depression, anxiety and sleep. I have never slept so well in my life, and wake up refreshed, it does take time to get used to the sedation at first, because it comes on quickly after taking the pill. And I didn't have to take any other medication, just the remeron. My family and friends say they haven't seen me this well since high school. I hope I've helped and given you a possible other option to talk to your doc about. I wish you the best.
poster:JoannaC
thread:329022
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040325/msgs/329212.html