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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by White Stone on January 27, 2003, at 3:13:41
My GP just changed my prescription from 150 mg of Effexor XR to 50 mg of Zoloft. He said the trouble I was having with slow thinking/fogginess as well as wild nightmares was probably due to the dopamine effect from the Effexor. And although my anxiety and obsessing were much reduced on Effexor, the overall depression wasn't significantly improved after 4 months.
The first couple of days with the Zoloft were absolutely wild. Although I got my energy back, so too are the anxiety, obsessive thoughts, shopping to feel better, and constant moving about. My husband says I am worse than before I started the Effexor. Will these symptoms subside in a few more days (I am just starting my second week)?
Also, this has all happened through a GP that I haven't had that much time to converse with and I understand a lot of the same symptoms fall into several disorder categories. How important is it to have a clear diagnosis of a disorder or disorders vs. simply alleviating the dominant symptoms?
Please forgive the length. This is my first post and I can't sleep much either since the Zoloft.
Posted by Ritch on January 28, 2003, at 13:22:04
In reply to Effexor XR to Zoloft, posted by White Stone on January 27, 2003, at 3:13:41
> My GP just changed my prescription from 150 mg of Effexor XR to 50 mg of Zoloft. He said the trouble I was having with slow thinking/fogginess as well as wild nightmares was probably due to the dopamine effect from the Effexor. And although my anxiety and obsessing were much reduced on Effexor, the overall depression wasn't significantly improved after 4 months.
>
> The first couple of days with the Zoloft were absolutely wild. Although I got my energy back, so too are the anxiety, obsessive thoughts, shopping to feel better, and constant moving about. My husband says I am worse than before I started the Effexor. Will these symptoms subside in a few more days (I am just starting my second week)?
>
> Also, this has all happened through a GP that I haven't had that much time to converse with and I understand a lot of the same symptoms fall into several disorder categories. How important is it to have a clear diagnosis of a disorder or disorders vs. simply alleviating the dominant symptoms?
>
> Please forgive the length. This is my first post and I can't sleep much either since the Zoloft.
>Zoloft can be very activating. It was for me. Your dose may be a little high. You might want to talk to your doctor about reducing it to 25mg for a while and see if your restlessness settles down some. Clear diagnosis is very important. Unfortunately, a "clearer" diagnosis oftentimes results due to adverse experiences with medications. You could be getting a hypomanic reaction to the Zoloft. It can disrupt sleep a lot, and the sleep disruption can set off hypomanic-like symptoms. You might try bedtime dosing instead. Sometimes that helps sleep.
Posted by White Stone on January 28, 2003, at 18:43:55
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Zoloft » White Stone, posted by Ritch on January 28, 2003, at 13:22:04
Thanks for the input. I don't know much about the "hypomanic" you mentioned. I know the first couple of days, I would suddenly find myself dancing around the house, talking incessantly, shopping online, ferociously cleaning, and giggling about anything and everything until I crashed. There were two particular episodes that I felt about ready to go over the edge into la-la land. It's been better the last two or three days. Maybe I am finally settling down.
Someone else suggested that perhaps the Effexor has a longer "half-life" (is that what they call it) and then adding the Zoloft increased what would have been the overall seratonin in my system those first few days.
Posted by Ritch on January 28, 2003, at 23:10:28
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Zoloft, posted by White Stone on January 28, 2003, at 18:43:55
> Thanks for the input. I don't know much about the "hypomanic" you mentioned. I know the first couple of days, I would suddenly find myself dancing around the house, talking incessantly, shopping online, ferociously cleaning, and giggling about anything and everything until I crashed. There were two particular episodes that I felt about ready to go over the edge into la-la land. It's been better the last two or three days. Maybe I am finally settling down.
>
> Someone else suggested that perhaps the Effexor has a longer "half-life" (is that what they call it) and then adding the Zoloft increased what would have been the overall seratonin in my system those first few days.
Hi, that sounds like a classic med-induced hypomanic reaction for sure. You might want to relate those experiences to your doctor. You may have to be a little more careful than most folks with antidepressants (at the least).
This is the end of the thread.
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