Posted by Kaptabs on August 11, 2014, at 10:17:15
In reply to Re: Effexor XR. GREAT MED but sooo TIRED...Help?? » Kaptabs, posted by phidippus on July 28, 2014, at 17:03:25
Hi, thanks for your comments.
In the last two weeks I think I may have worked this out. I hope so anyway.
I first talked to my psychiatrist about adding modafinil and sticking with effexor and modafinil. This did not go as planned.
My psych is an astounding professor of all this stuff and he has most patients pegged with one well rehearsed initial consultation. He's 86, still has his outpatient rooms, while juggling patients from three inpatient clinics. His mind is still razor sharp and he's seen it all before.
However he shot down the modafinil and told me to exercise twice a day and use the endorphins for a mood boost and to keep me away from cutting the world out in bed all day.
Needless to say I was none to happy about this but rmy respect for the man is such that passively I agreed with his valid points.
Rather he inncreased my effexor to 225mgs from 150. I have instructions to exercise in a specific way (going as hard as possible for 30 seconds, light jog for 90 seconds, rinse and repeat for 18mins and do this twice each day). In doing this and with the increase in dose of effexor I started to feel really well, chatty, and positive. No stimulants needed.
However, for me effexor equals weight gain. Lots of it and fast.
While not organic depression, the shame of not fitting ANY clothes I could just a month ago caused serious situational depression, and staying as I am I will never be happy because being fat OS painful.
That being said the dose of 225mgs immediately swept away my need and desire to.sleep.which.was great.
So my psych said there was value Im trying pristiq In place of effexor. Now I know they both ate quite similar but I also know that there are strong opinions about this and experience to boot...
Some agree there is enough difference to warrant trying pristiq if effexor works because the.side effects are not so severe.
I've now cut down to 75mgs of effexor and will cut in half again in three days and start looking to phase pristiq in.
I guess I write to ask whether anylne else has made this change and how they fared (particularly with effectiveness t effexor and also the side effect profile).
Again, I really got hugs benefit from effexor but weight gain and tiredness (prior to 225 mgs), plus sexual issues just really bummed me out.
So, is it true the side effect profile is less harsh particularly weight gain and tiredness? Does Pristiq hit norepinephrine at normal dose as it seemed when effexor became an SNRI at 225mg, that was what made the difference between rejoining real life or hiding in bed. It was that marked a difference.
If my ramblings make sense and there is related experience in the house,.or someone knowledgeable with this issue generally I would really love your opinions.
Serious thanks
Kap.
poster:Kaptabs
thread:1068825
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140717/msgs/1069557.html