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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Joelw on March 4, 2002, at 21:11:25
Hi. I'm currently on 75mg of Effexor a day and I am finding it helps me quite well with my depression, but there is one problem. My energy levels have dipped to almost 0. I don't want to get up, I don't want to goto school, and I can barly keep my eyes open. I could sleep for 2 days straight and it wouldn't help. I have tried 8 hours sleep for a week, no good. 10 hours, no good. I even got 13 hours of sleep for 2 days in a row with no help. I'm finding that over the past week I am fed up and have been taking stimulants to just survive the day. I am going to see my doc this week and tell him ONCE AGAIN about how this side effect (is it one?) is ruining my life.
If anyone here has suffered this please tell me what you did to combat it.
Oh and P.S. I switched from paxil about 6-7 months ago on which I had no energy problems.
Posted by sid on March 4, 2002, at 22:53:35
In reply to Effexor and Energy Levels, posted by Joelw on March 4, 2002, at 21:11:25
Some people felt very fatigued at 75mg but had more energy at a higher dosage, like 112.5mg per day. I remember one person writing on this board about that surprising effect for her.
I'm also at 75mg Effexor XR a day, and my energy level varies. Some days I have lots of energy, others I'm rather lethargic. Exercise helps, I try to have at least 30 minutes of brisk walk or swimming a day, plus yoga a few times a week. I don't sleep as much as you - I tend to fall asleep very late (1 to 3AM) and then get up later than I'd like (7 to 9 hours later). Fortunately my working hours are flexible, but the sleep disturbance is annoying. Sometimes it gets better. I try to avoid sleep aids and do yoga in the evening instead, which helps.
I think that exercise might help you. Tell your doc that this side effect is rather incapacitating and that's hindering your recovery process. They tend to respond quickly when things are worded this way - at least my doc does. As your depression lifts, you need to move more, to go outside more as it helps you to get even better. But you need the energy to do it.
Good luck.
Posted by joelw on March 4, 2002, at 23:10:07
In reply to Re: Effexor and Energy Levels » Joelw, posted by sid on March 4, 2002, at 22:53:35
Yeah, I am still young and still In school and I thought the depression was bad on my grades, try not being able to keep yourself awake. I think I will try and word it like that, maybe it will have more impact then usual. This is more then just a problem now, its effecting the way I live.
Currently the only thing keeping me going (the past week because I have started new classes and I actually want to do good this time) is Dexedrine that my friend has given me. I know that is a BAD thing but right now stim.'s are the only thing that is helping me.
> Some people felt very fatigued at 75mg but had more energy at a higher dosage, like 112.5mg per day. I remember one person writing on this board about that surprising effect for her.
>
> I'm also at 75mg Effexor XR a day, and my energy level varies. Some days I have lots of energy, others I'm rather lethargic. Exercise helps, I try to have at least 30 minutes of brisk walk or swimming a day, plus yoga a few times a week. I don't sleep as much as you - I tend to fall asleep very late (1 to 3AM) and then get up later than I'd like (7 to 9 hours later). Fortunately my working hours are flexible, but the sleep disturbance is annoying. Sometimes it gets better. I try to avoid sleep aids and do yoga in the evening instead, which helps.
>
> I think that exercise might help you. Tell your doc that this side effect is rather incapacitating and that's hindering your recovery process. They tend to respond quickly when things are worded this way - at least my doc does. As your depression lifts, you need to move more, to go outside more as it helps you to get even better. But you need the energy to do it.
>
> Good luck.
Posted by ST on March 5, 2002, at 4:50:05
In reply to Re: Effexor and Energy Levels, posted by joelw on March 4, 2002, at 23:10:07
Hi,
At 75 mg and even at 150 mg I was sleeeeeepy. I'm at 225 mg and have energy again. MAKE your doctor listen to you! They have a tendency to have no first hand experience with ADs and often dismiss our concerns. Make sure he/she knows about your concerns loud and clear.
Good luck,
Sarah
Posted by Hawkeye on March 5, 2002, at 18:29:45
In reply to Effexor and Energy Levels, posted by Joelw on March 4, 2002, at 21:11:25
Increase your dosage before you give up on it. Effexor at the high end of the dosage range has a greater effect on norpenepherine and is thus more stimulating at those doses.
Posted by A0102 on March 6, 2002, at 1:29:36
In reply to Re: Effexor and Energy Levels » Joelw, posted by sid on March 4, 2002, at 22:53:35
Sid,
Scrolling back through the posts, I realized that my last attempt to post in the thread where we were discussing Effexor never went through. Anyway, the point of it was just to say "thanks" for the trying to help in the first place.
Luckily, I never did really run into any withdrawl symptoms other than an occasional disoriented sort of feeling when I turned my head too fast. I'm definitely glad that that was the extent of it.
I went ahead and started Nardil about a week ago and it's not bad at all. As a matter of fact, I think it's probably the most subtle and one of the most effective ADs I've tried so far. I'm taking 45mg/day right now and it seems to be just starting to make a difference. Usually I respond very well to SSRIs at first (to the extent of being hypomanic, even really close to manic -- all this in two days or so of treatment!) then they lose all effect after a couple of weeks. With Nardil, it's been more gradual and feels more natural for lack of a better word. Also, I can tell why this would be good for SP as it has made me much less introverted. This will be the first time that I've ever experienced that WHILE feeling like my self-control is at 100%. It looks like this could be the one for me (after about 10 others, I've got my fingers crossed). I've also continued taking Provigil, and this seems to be an effective combo. I have been watching for signs of high blood pressure and got a prescription for Procardia, just in case. So far though, I've had no problems.
The only problem I have now is finding a decent pdoc. I don't think I'll continue seeing the new one because he just doesn't seem to have any idea what he's doing (once again!). First, he put up a little opposition to me taking Nardil. When he agreed, he wrote the script for 15mg/day for the first 2 weeks, then increase to 30mg/day for the next 2 weeks. For a severly depressed patient (with no history or intention of abusing meds) that seems to be quite a minute dosage. Then when I asked for a medication to to lower my BP in the event of a hypertensive crisis, he dug through his pharmacopedia for at least 15 minutes and explained that he didn't know much about that because MAOIs aren't really used anymore. So the search will continue, but I think I'm just going to use my GP. At least he is knowledgable and seems to care, even if he isn't a specialist.
That's now where things stand, and thanks again for responding to my first post. Take care...
Adam
Posted by sid on March 6, 2002, at 16:47:46
In reply to Re: Effexor... Nardil » sid, posted by A0102 on March 6, 2002, at 1:29:36
Well, I'm glad you found a combo that works for you. Your description of what Nardil does for you sounds like what Effexor XR does for me. Weird, huh?
MAOIs are still used, especially for so-called atypical depression. This pdoc must be right out of grad school or he spends most of his time doing research on new drugs. Your GP might be more useful indeed...
- sid
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