![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tom Studebaker on January 24, 2004, at 9:44:54
Well, after going through divorce over two years ago, (eight children involved), going bankrupt, buying a new house with my son (in his name because of the bankruptsy), then being downsized by my company, and then getting married and both us have no jobs and the child support keeps coming, I had a major bout with depression/ anxiety. One doctor said anxiety was the greater of the two, the other current doctor said that deppression was the greater. Long story short Lexipro didn't work, Clonopin (spelling?) helped a lot for a few months. Either more bad news or the Clonopin has run it's course in my body, I don't know but I hit bottom again a week and a half ago. Fear, shaking, crying, hopelessness, worthlessness, not knowing how to go through my day and knowing the money will run out soon if nothing happens. And ofcourse not only the fear of not finding a job but keeping one in the state I am in at this time. I have a new very compassionate doctor and I want to trust him. Just yesterday he upped the Clonopin to 1mg 3x day and put me on Effexor xr. I am looking for encouraging news about Effexor. Please only good news. Thank you so much for your help.
Posted by ann72 on January 24, 2004, at 10:05:51
In reply to Needing good news about effexor xr, posted by Tom Studebaker on January 24, 2004, at 9:44:54
Tom, I am sorry for what you are going thru. I went thru a divorce too, but nothing like your situation. I have battled depression and anxiety for years and years. I was taking effexor xr and xanax xr- the xanax greatly helped my anxiety, but even on effxr I spiralled into major depression again after about 3 months- I just found out I may be Bipolar 2, so what I needed was something else to boost the effexor. I am taking lamitical now too. I seem to be coming out of the depression finally. So, give the effexor a try and if it doesnt work. Have your doc add something to it....
Good Luck,
Ann
Posted by :PoohBear on January 24, 2004, at 11:39:56
In reply to Needing good news about effexor xr, posted by Tom Studebaker on January 24, 2004, at 9:44:54
Tom:
Please see my post above:
"The Journey So Far (Month Four on Effexor)"
That post was written specifically to be an encouragment to people taking Effexor XR. My thoughts and prayers are with you, God Bless...
Tony
Posted by john1022 on January 24, 2004, at 15:30:40
In reply to Needing good news about effexor xr, posted by Tom Studebaker on January 24, 2004, at 9:44:54
Hi Tom,
Effexor at 75 mgs once twice worked like a champion for me and I have heard a lot of other good stories from it. I am currently sensitive to Effexor, fish oil, vitamins and a few other things so I cannot take Effexor. If this sensitivity passes eventually, I am confident I can take Effexor again and will be fine. Everyone is different though, so who knows. Give it a few months and if it is not right for you, try something else. I am hoping it does work as well for you as it did for me the first two times I was on it because it definitely fixed my depression, sleep problems and anxiety for a few years
Posted by Sooshi on January 24, 2004, at 17:59:36
In reply to Needing good news about effexor xr, posted by Tom Studebaker on January 24, 2004, at 9:44:54
Hi Tom - please hang in there, and do give Effexor Xr a try. I have been there with the horrible anxiety and depression (it doesn't matter which comes first...I have never been able to figure that one out!), and Effexor has pulled me out of that black, hopeless hole, and has been the only antidepressant to KEEP me out of it. I have since also been diagnosed as BP2 and have added a mood stabilizer, but was on Effexor alone with Klonopin for 3 years. I hope you are getting some therapy also (cognitive behavioral practically rid me of anxiety)....good luck to you and keep me posted........
Posted by laurie_lu on January 25, 2004, at 0:08:28
In reply to Re: Needing good news about effexor xr » Tom Studebaker, posted by Sooshi on January 24, 2004, at 17:59:36
I've been on Effexor XR for 2 months. Today I just upped my dose to 150mg. So far the biggest improvement I've noticed is that I don't worry about stuff like I use to. I no longer dwell on things to the point it makes me sick. Anxiety is greatly reduced but up to this point the depression has only slightly improved. This is why my doc has increased my dose to 150mg from 75mg. He says the ideal effective dose is between 150 and 225mg. I am committed to giving this drug a fair chance. What dose are you on at this time?
Posted by simus on January 25, 2004, at 0:24:07
In reply to Re: Needing good news about effexor xr, posted by john1022 on January 24, 2004, at 15:30:40
How do you know you are sensitive to Effexor? What were the symptoms? Thanks
Posted by skitzo on January 25, 2004, at 3:11:49
In reply to Needing good news about effexor xr, posted by Tom Studebaker on January 24, 2004, at 9:44:54
efexor xr has worked great for my depression
i would recommend it myself
there are side effects to get past but that is the same with all anti-depresents. after about 3 weeks side effects went away .my advice is to stick with them till your body has becvome acustomed to the drug.
starting and stopping can make you feelterrible but if you keep at it and dont miss taking them regularly then usually after a few weeks all is good.
of course that may not go for everyone so always consult your doc if yo8u are unsure .
Keep your chin up and all the best
Posted by john1022 on January 25, 2004, at 8:23:25
In reply to Re: Needing good news about effexor xr » john1022, posted by simus on January 25, 2004, at 0:24:07
Hi Simus,
The first two times I took it my only side effects were sexual and constipation and my depression and anxiety began to lift after a week or two of using it. I am pretty much sensitive to any kind of med right now, even vitamins, so I am not sure what is going on. Probably not a common reaction. The third time I took it I just got more depressed and more anxious each day that I took it. I have also not been able to take multivitamins, fish oil or magnesium supplements. I just have some kind of sensitivity going on
Posted by simus on January 25, 2004, at 9:07:36
In reply to Re: Needing good news about effexor xr, posted by john1022 on January 25, 2004, at 8:23:25
John,
Thanks for responding. I asked because I developed severe hives several months into Effexor. I didn't associated them with Effexor until I switched to Lexapro and the hives diminished (1 1/2 years later). But Effexor worked well for quite a while for me for depression/anxiety in spite of the hives.
Posted by simus on January 25, 2004, at 9:14:11
In reply to Re: Needing good news about effexor xr, posted by john1022 on January 25, 2004, at 8:23:25
John,
Sorry for being a pest, but how are you sensitive to vitamins? I am food-sensitive, and some foods with a lot of additives make me anxious, dizzy, disoriented...a lot of physical and mental symptoms. Thanks again.
Posted by john1022 on January 25, 2004, at 9:25:10
In reply to Re: Needing good news about effexor xr » john1022, posted by simus on January 25, 2004, at 9:14:11
No problem Simus. Right now I seem to be pretty sensitive to different vitimans. Before this latest bout of depression/anxiety, I was able to take multivitamins and eat fish with no problem. Now if I take/eat either one, I feel extremely depressed and anxious about 3 hours after eating them and stay very depressed until the next day, and then it just lifts.
I am taking zinc and the amino acid Taurine supplements and those have actually seemed to help and I am tolerant to them. Although the Taurine has been giving me blurry vision and twitching muscles every now and then.
I was able to take 5htp when this latest bout started (and I actually think it was helping me quite a bit), but now 5 months later when I try to take one I get depressed hours later in much the same way as fish, fish oil, and multivitamins.
I am able to tolerate lorazapam (I wonder if that has anything to do with the sensitivities in my case since it affects the central nervous system). I was going to start magnesium supplements because my mag was low on tests, but I would get the same extreme depressed feeling only hours after taking a magnesium pill with only 125 mgs of magnesium.
I also had extremely high levels of copper in my tissues on a hair test. I am hoping that might have something to do with it and my doctor mentioned she has seen people with multiple sensivities and copper toxicity. Copper toxicity can also stress the adrenals and my adrenal test confirmed this. Apparently, multiple chemical sensitivities can occur as well with adrenal stress, high levels of cortisol and low levels of DHEA I believe.
I pretty much feel like the day I can take a magnesium supplement or eat fish and be fine like I used to, is the day that I can take Effexor and be fine and back to 100% normal again like it had worked for me in the past so well. It is very frustrating but I am just trying to hang in their and trying to strengthen my adrenals and lower copper levels with zinc supplements. Best of luck to you!
Posted by simus on January 25, 2004, at 22:57:34
In reply to Re: Needing good news about effexor xr, posted by john1022 on January 25, 2004, at 9:25:10
> I also had extremely high levels of copper in my tissues on a hair test. I am hoping that might have something to do with it and my doctor mentioned she has seen people with multiple sensivities and copper toxicity. Copper toxicity can also stress the adrenals and my adrenal test confirmed this. Apparently, multiple chemical sensitivities can occur as well with adrenal stress, high levels of cortisol and low levels of DHEA I believe.
High copper...hmmm...that's interesting. That isn't a standard test. You are fortunate they found it. I wonder how that is treated. Chelation?
I have been curious as to why people have negative reactions to fish.
I hope that treating the high copper diminishes your symptoms. Good luck.
Posted by PoohBear on January 26, 2004, at 10:31:03
In reply to Re: Needing good news about effexor xr, posted by john1022 on January 25, 2004, at 9:25:10
>Now if I take/eat either one, I feel extremely depressed and anxious about 3 hours after eating them and stay very depressed until the next day, and then it just lifts.>
WOW!
Even with all the good benefits of Effexor, etc., if I couldn't eat salmon, I WOULD be depressed!
Tony
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.