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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by carriejane on August 1, 2004, at 5:20:43
Ive tried prosac mirtazapine and citalapram without sucess, now im on my 6th day of efexor. The way my depression affects me is i feel fear alot of the time, especially leading up to and actually being in crowded places, or new places, or even when i think people are looking at me. I often feel unacceptable, ugly or freakish even though logically i know i am not.
I sweat, and become angry inside. I used alcohol in teens along with speed and extasy, because of a troubled childhood, then i progressed to heroin which at the time i thought was the answer to my prayers, the peace inside id craved all my life. I ended up in rehab, did lots of extension treatments ie: secondary and 3rd stage. So there was counselling etc. Anyway since coming off the heroin and all the therapy, i still feel this fear often, i lack motivation, i find intimacy soo hard, and alot of the time i feel resentful of waking up at all. Sleep is salvation.
Has anyone else been through similar? And tried efexor, how long will it take to kick in?
Posted by malthus on August 1, 2004, at 7:31:48
In reply to used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long?, posted by carriejane on August 1, 2004, at 5:20:43
I've been on Effexor for about 4 months and I would say it has made me feel better. It takes about 3 weeks to show any effects and you can't suddenly stop taking it because the withdrawl is pretty bad. I'm actually tapering off Effexor now (to 150mg. day) because my doc has put me on Lamictal, a mood stabilizer. This seems to be working pretty well. (She diagnosed me BP2). Are you taking any kind of anti-anxiety meds like Klonopin or Xanax? Xanax can be pretty addicting and Klonopin too, but Klonopin stays in your system longer and you don't have to keep increasing it as much, like with Xanax. I found that this helped me especially when I know I'm going to be in a big crowd of people as I get very panicky in these situations.
Posted by Sad Panda on August 1, 2004, at 10:15:39
In reply to used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long?, posted by carriejane on August 1, 2004, at 5:20:43
Hi There,
What doseage are you taking? The start up dosage is 37.5mg, but I wouldn't expect too much until 150mg.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by carriejane on August 1, 2004, at 10:42:17
In reply to Re: used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long?, posted by Sad Panda on August 1, 2004, at 10:15:39
ive started on 75mg of efexor. am reviwing in a month so doc said. u think i should review if no effect in 3 wks? Also i havent heard of mood stabilizers, maybe i should ask my doc. can u mix them with efexor? Im in the uk.
Posted by chess on August 1, 2004, at 10:49:17
In reply to used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long?, posted by carriejane on August 1, 2004, at 5:20:43
hi carriejane
your story sounds a lot like mine, only i never did heroin but vicodin did the trick for me which i find interesting because they're both opiates, maybe we both have some kind of opiate problem in our brain chemistry, anyways i've tried zoloft and celexa with limited success, they may have helped a little for panic but not with the chronic anxiety-depression feeling, i'm trying klonopin right now, if that doesn't work then my doc might try me on a mood stabilizer (she's mentioned neurontin, gabatril, and lamictal). One more thing, when i first started feeling crappy and start getting panic attacks i would drink some whiskey which would immediately help me feel better but then after a while the whiskey started to not work anymore and just made me feel drunk but not calm, then vicodin came along after i had an operation and i felt "normal" again but i stopped taking the vicodin because i was afraid of getting hooked on it, and so now i guess i'm looking for a med that works as well as vicodin for me that's not addictive or a controlled substance.
> Ive tried prosac mirtazapine and citalapram without sucess, now im on my 6th day of efexor. The way my depression affects me is i feel fear alot of the time, especially leading up to and actually being in crowded places, or new places, or even when i think people are looking at me. I often feel unacceptable, ugly or freakish even though logically i know i am not.
> I sweat, and become angry inside. I used alcohol in teens along with speed and extasy, because of a troubled childhood, then i progressed to heroin which at the time i thought was the answer to my prayers, the peace inside id craved all my life. I ended up in rehab, did lots of extension treatments ie: secondary and 3rd stage. So there was counselling etc. Anyway since coming off the heroin and all the therapy, i still feel this fear often, i lack motivation, i find intimacy soo hard, and alot of the time i feel resentful of waking up at all. Sleep is salvation.
> Has anyone else been through similar? And tried efexor, how long will it take to kick in?
Posted by Sad Panda on August 1, 2004, at 10:59:35
In reply to Re: used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long?, posted by carriejane on August 1, 2004, at 10:42:17
> ive started on 75mg of efexor. am reviwing in a month so doc said. u think i should review if no effect in 3 wks? Also i havent heard of mood stabilizers, maybe i should ask my doc. can u mix them with efexor? Im in the uk.
>
>Four weeks is generally used before a doseage increase, your pdoc will probably increase you to 150mg when you see him next. Mood stabilizers are mostly used for people who have bipolar disorder & they can be used with Effexor.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by carriejane on August 1, 2004, at 11:02:10
In reply to Re: used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how lon » carriejane, posted by chess on August 1, 2004, at 10:49:17
Chess, I know exactly what you mean, i would love to find something similar to heroin, just to keep me peaceful inside. There are so many drugs out there, from doc that is, i just hope this one will be good.
Posted by J. Backer on August 2, 2004, at 9:13:02
In reply to Re: used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long? » carriejane, posted by Sad Panda on August 1, 2004, at 10:59:35
sounds similar to my story, actually i got into a methadone clinic when i was at the end of my heroin addiction. Thats when i started to change up my medications. i was put on effexor XR, right before i completely tapered off the methadone and i have been on it ever scince. (about a year). i feel great, so i would defently give it a good shot.
peace -J
Posted by carriejane on August 3, 2004, at 7:39:23
In reply to Re: used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long?, posted by J. Backer on August 2, 2004, at 9:13:02
thanks j, can u tell me what dose u were on when u started to feel loads better? ive started on 75 and its my 8th day today.
Posted by J. Backer on August 3, 2004, at 9:51:03
In reply to Re: used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long? » J. Backer, posted by carriejane on August 3, 2004, at 7:39:23
once i got to 150 i started to feel considerably better, but then i increased my dose to 300 and now i feel great. it took a few weeks after i got to 300 to feel my best tho.
peace j
Posted by Pambo on August 15, 2004, at 20:56:14
In reply to Re: used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long?, posted by J. Backer on August 3, 2004, at 9:51:03
J, you mentioned that you are on 300 of Efexor. I am on 225 and my doctor has said that is the max, but I am getting worse again, and I don't know what to do. I suffer from Agoraphobia (fear of public places, but also fear strangers, have panic attacks, sometimes for no apparent reason. This all started 4 years and 5 days ago (not that I am counting). Doc are suggesting shock treatment, has anybody had it and what were the outcomes?
Posted by J. Backer on August 16, 2004, at 9:11:05
In reply to Re: used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long? » J. Backer, posted by Pambo on August 15, 2004, at 20:56:14
> J, you mentioned that you are on 300 of Efexor. I am on 225 and my doctor has said that is the max, but I am getting worse again, and I don't know what to do. I suffer from Agoraphobia (fear of public places, but also fear strangers, have panic attacks, sometimes for no apparent reason. This all started 4 years and 5 days ago (not that I am counting). Doc are suggesting shock treatment, has anybody had it and what were the outcomes?
hey man,
i used to have panic attacks and i am diagnosed with SAD/GAD PPD and severe cronic deppresion. the maximum dose for effexor is defently 300 and my new pdoc actually mentioned incresing it to 450 if need be (i dont need anymore effexor, tho)
i also knew a bunch of people on 300mg its not uncommon at all. anyway what is your diagnosis and what meds are you on. are you a drug addict?
im just trying to figure out why any doctor would choose electroshock over ANY alternative. my uncle had electroshock. post back man, ill btell you whats up when you tell me the story.peace J
(Xenophobia: fear of strangers)
Posted by Pambo on August 16, 2004, at 9:46:02
In reply to Re: used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long?, posted by J. Backer on August 16, 2004, at 9:11:05
I am definately not a drug addict, I don't even drink alcohol (maybe I should take it up. Meds are Oroxine ( for under active thyroid) Noten (for heart condition) Avapro (to protect my kidneys) Amaryl (for diabetes) Diabex (also for Diabetes) Pravachol (for cholesterol) Asprin (to thin the blood) & Efexor XR. I feel like a walking chemist (drug store) I am in Australia and my doctor has been very supportive and I trust her. As you would know it would be difficult to see a new doctor. As you know I am Agoraphobic, Zenophobic, but also suffer from acute chronic depression, anxiety attacks, social phobia, panic attacks. Have spend 5 months in a mental hospital, but the 'psychiatrist' I was seeing asked me to go home for a while, because he though I was becoming institutionalised. I assured me I could return if things go too hard, but when I needed to return, he then refused to allow me back. I ended up locking myself into a walk in wardrobe and taking valium and anti depressants (not Efexor) every time I woke up. I ended up in hospital in a coma and with a clot in the lung. Not very successful in anything I do these days. Thanks for putting up with my ramble. Kind regards. Pambo
Posted by reefer on August 17, 2004, at 7:51:23
In reply to used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how long?, posted by carriejane on August 1, 2004, at 5:20:43
hey that sounds something like my life has been except i haven't got hooked on heroin cause 1 year ago i was diagnosed with ADD and got Concerta for it and now i'm much better. No longer feel the need to get sedated. I used to take lots of benzos to feel calmer, i also used methadone and oxycontin which i bought on the street to combat the "anxiety" i felt within myself. Smoked heroin once which sure felt damn good but decided to never do it again and i'm glad i didn't. Do you feel calmer on speed? Then maybe ADD could be your problem. And i'm just taking a WILD WILD guess here. I'm not diagnosing you over the internet. I also tried every freaking antidepressant out there, did nothing for me.
Posted by J. Backer on August 17, 2004, at 16:07:24
In reply to Re: used to heroin for painrelief, efexor, how lon, posted by reefer on August 17, 2004, at 7:51:23
> hey that sounds something like my life has been except i haven't got hooked on heroin cause 1 year ago i was diagnosed with ADD and got Concerta for it and now i'm much better. No longer feel the need to get sedated. I used to take lots of benzos to feel calmer, i also used methadone and oxycontin which i bought on the street to combat the "anxiety" i felt within myself. Smoked heroin once which sure felt damn good but decided to never do it again and i'm glad i didn't. Do you feel calmer on speed? Then maybe ADD could be your problem. And i'm just taking a WILD WILD guess here. I'm not diagnosing you over the internet. I also tried every freaking antidepressant out there, did nothing for me.
actually i was diagnosed with ADD when i was about 12. i also just got represcribed to dexadrin 20mg timerelease and yes stimulants make me a more relaxed, calmer and cooler person.
peace J
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