Posted by polarbear206 on September 24, 2011, at 11:33:36
In reply to Increasing Lethargy after 15 Years Venlefaxine, posted by Niniva on September 23, 2011, at 22:54:06
> *rushes in and hugs everyone*
>
> I can't believe that this old bbs is still here! Jeez, it's been ... forever.
>
> Anyway, for 15 years, I've taken 37.5 mg Effexor XR every morning so that I don't cry, you know, exclusively, all day, nothing but cry. (I tried 75 mg, but I stopped sleeping entirely.)
>
> Um, I've become so da**ed lazy that I worry about starving to death because walking to the kitchen sounds like a major chore. Clean laundry sits in baskets and then dirty lays on the floor where I took it off. Bath? Yeah, about once a week if I can get up to it. Work? I've been on Unemployment forever... Albeit, I can work when I have to, but I move slower than molasses. My favorite way to pass an insomniac night is to see what my imagination can make out of the creepy cobwebs that I would get down if I could remember some places to look for the broom.
>
> Any suggestions that a reasonable person might take to their perfectly practical doctor, who hates dealing with pmeds?
>
> Thyroid is still good (releasing hormone in high normal range, as always). Adrenals are good -- I came out of gallbladder surgery ready to fight. I also take a fish oil, multi vitamin, and glucosamine-chondroitin every morning - until I recently found myself too lazy to open the drawer.
>
> This seems particularly weird to me in that dopamine release should be enhanced by my Effexor level. Could this mean that I have a dopamine problem? Would that be addition to the depression or is it the cause?
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> *pokes around* Wow, this place hasn't changed much.
>
> Anything you guys can tell me would be appreciated.
There are several things that could be going on here. It apprears that your depression is worsening and you need a med adjustment. I suggest you go to your PCP and get a full work-up to rule out any underlying medical problems. How old are you? Are you entering menopause/perimenopause? It is very common for depression symptoms to resurface and intensify at this stage in life. I would suggest that you increase the effexor and add a benzo to help with your insomnia. Effexor has worked for you all these years, so I wouldn't think about changing to another AD yet. You are on the lowest dose. so there's room for improvement. Discuss this with your p-doc. Keep a mood journal and note changes in sleep pattern, appetite, energy levels, etc....
poster:polarbear206
thread:997713
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110914/msgs/997749.html