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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Zelda57 on March 8, 2005, at 7:33:50
Is or has anyone been on this dose of effexor xr? I have been on the medication for 5 1/2 yrs. and 600 mg. for about a year. I was wondering if anyone else has been this high and if anyone was able to go higher. For me it has been a great medication for my treatment resitant depression w/ psychotic features. Thank you for you input.
Posted by Maximus on March 8, 2005, at 12:53:56
In reply to Effexor xr 600 mg?, posted by Zelda57 on March 8, 2005, at 7:33:50
Seriously, i have always thought that 600 mg of Effexor was mythical. But i'm glad you're feeling well at this dose.
But going over 600 mg, wow! I think it is risky. You will need for sure a very very good supervision. I hope you're in good hands with a good psychiatrist.
Bonne chance!
Posted by Wildflower on March 8, 2005, at 14:34:32
In reply to Effexor xr 600 mg?, posted by Zelda57 on March 8, 2005, at 7:33:50
600 is VERY high. I lowered mine down from 450 to 300 due to extreme shakiness and spells of being very, very warm and sweaty. It also made me fear siezures when combined with alcohol.
Please be very careful on that dose.
Posted by Zelda57 on March 8, 2005, at 21:30:51
In reply to Re: Effexor xr 600 mg?, posted by Wildflower on March 8, 2005, at 14:34:32
Actually, I think that at 600mg. I probably have reached the top dose on the effexor:(. I also take provigil and recently started lamictal to help out with the depression.
Posted by Wildflower on March 9, 2005, at 9:07:02
In reply to Re: Effexor xr 600 mg?, posted by Zelda57 on March 8, 2005, at 21:30:51
I think my brain is officially fried. I read your post and thought you were talking about Wellbutrin. Sorry.
Posted by justbegun on March 10, 2005, at 14:20:37
In reply to Re: Effexor xr 600 mg? » Zelda57, posted by Wildflower on March 9, 2005, at 9:07:02
Yikes. I like my Effexor, and once was pumped up to 300mg+ dose for a year, but... there are 2 risks I am thinking about for you. #1 is the unknown... there is no research on long-term side effects at that dose, although it is known that Effexor has caused heart and/or liver damage. #2 is the nightmare of withdrawal even when reducing Effexor by a tiny bit.
Is EffexorXR all you are on? Maybe a nice little drug cocktail could "boost" the Effexor effect without adding a lot of intolerable side effects? It's annoying and time-consuming to experiment with a little of this and a pinch of that(Wellbutrin, trazodone, Zoloft, Luvox, Ritalin, Adderall, are just a few I've tried) but it's amazing what drug synergy can do.
Good luck and please be careful...
Posted by bethesdabob on March 13, 2005, at 14:19:48
In reply to Re: Effexor xr 600 mg?, posted by Zelda57 on March 8, 2005, at 21:30:51
Zelda
My wife Barbara was a bipolar and an epileptic, she died from a seizure disorder on 12/16/03, for several months before her death she took 600 mgs of Effexor XR, also 90 mgs. of remeron.
I think her meds brought about the seizure that killed her but to date am having a tough time finding the experts to testify on my behalf.
Be careful, hope your doctor is closely monitoring you.
Posted by Zelda57 on March 13, 2005, at 20:23:50
In reply to Re: Effexor xr 600 mg?, posted by bethesdabob on March 13, 2005, at 14:19:48
Yes, I am under a doctor's care. Unfortunately, many of the meds for depression, etc. have the possiblity of seizures associated with them. I have been on 600 mg. for 1+ yrs so I feel comfortable with the dose at this point. I am very sorry about your wife, I am sure it must be very hard for you. Please take care and thank you for your input.
Posted by SLS on March 14, 2005, at 0:09:37
In reply to Re: Effexor xr 600 mg?, posted by bethesdabob on March 13, 2005, at 14:19:48
> My wife Barbara was a bipolar and an epileptic, she died from a seizure disorder on 12/16/03, for several months before her death she took 600 mgs of Effexor XR, also 90 mgs. of remeron.
Forgive my intrusion.
I am sorry for your great loss.
Was Barbara in the process of discontinuing Effexor when she had the seizure?
Was she experiencing a drug withdrawal syndrome?
Thanks for any reply.
- Scott
Posted by bethesdabob on March 15, 2005, at 13:05:56
In reply to Re: Effexor xr 600 mg?, posted by SLS on March 14, 2005, at 0:09:37
Scott
Just saw your question, wife was not discontinuing effexor xr, the morning of her death she complained to me about having sweat a lot the night before, she had to change her gown, that she felt very nautious and had thrown up several times, told me that her chest was spasming and felt very crampy, told me that if she did not soon feel better she was going to take herself to the emergency room. She asked me to take the kids to school. Upon my return I found her lying dead next to the bed.
I believe from what I have read that wife must have been in the throes of a serotonin syndrome.
Autopsy report said that there was effexor, remeron, codeine, trileptal and ambien in her system. Her death was ruled by the State Medical Examiner's Office to have been from a seizure disorder.
This is the end of the thread.
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