Posted by gadman on March 4, 2005, at 14:35:11
In reply to Re: Here's what I noticed » gadman, posted by Chris O on March 4, 2005, at 13:21:56
Wow Chris.... Thanks. Your experiences are appreciated.
Before being started on Effexor I tried the "natural" route but just could not beat my Anxiety/Depression... I tried St. Johns Wort, Fish Oil, Kava Kava, Hypnosis, Meditation...
After All of these failed, I went to see a pdoc. He then prescribed Effexor...
I started on 37.5 mg and the first week was HORRIBLE. At the time I thought I had a nervous breakdown, but now, looking back, it very well could have been the Effexor. The doc prescribed Xanax to get me through the rough days and to help me sleep...
I almost called it quit a couple of times, but decided to stick it out. I must tell you, it was extremely rough, and I still am not sure if my nerves were shot or if it was the E... but after a few months I started feeling BETTER than ever. Depression gone, Anxiety minimal, Social Phobias gone, other phobias gone...
So, I have been on E for appr. 3 years... The last visit to the doc he asked how things were going... I told him that not bad, but E wasn't quite working as well as it used to, and that I was tired of feeling spacey.
Thus enters Cymbalta... He had me wean off of E and start Cymbalta while still on a small dose of E. Eventually I was totally off of E and was up to 40 mg of Cymbalta... I did not feel nearly as good (totally depressed, anxious, etc...) and my BP went thru the roof.
I called the doc and he said to switch back to E for now (slowly) and we will sort it out later. The next day I took a half of dose of E (appr 17 mg) and I felt like someone plugged me back in!!! I never felt better over the course of the last two years...
Gradually as the Cymbalta left my system I started feeling more and more like I did 3 months ago (Which was really not that bad, pretty good actually compared to the Cymbalta alone)
And here I am today, deciding what is next... I see the doc next week.
gadman
poster:gadman
thread:466044
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050304/msgs/466518.html