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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by shadowmon on July 25, 2008, at 18:47:15
I have been trying to get effexor to work for me for 4 months. I have gone from 75 all the way up to 225mg and it's not working. I have even been put on wellbutrin which is not helping and making it so I can't sleep. I also take trazodone for sleep and well I have maxed out the dosage on that med. I am considering going back to paxil cr. which I have had remission and stopped taking because I was having a GAD flare up and the dr suggested effexor.
Do you think I gave it a fair shot? I'm miserable, Isolated and depressed. but.. I don't have any GAD.
I have done this once before, with lexapro which didnt work either. gone back to paxil. What are the chances that the paxil won't work? Is taking a break from it helpful when I go back on it?
Posted by Phillipa on July 25, 2008, at 21:27:43
In reply to is 4 months long enough for a med to work, posted by shadowmon on July 25, 2008, at 18:47:15
If four months have gone by I'd run it past your pdoc and maybe paxil will again work for you. Fingers and toes crossed. Good luck and keep us posted Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on July 26, 2008, at 1:13:34
In reply to is 4 months long enough for a med to work, posted by shadowmon on July 25, 2008, at 18:47:15
> I have been trying to get effexor to work for me for 4 months. I have gone from 75 all the way up to 225mg and it's not working. I have even been put on wellbutrin which is not helping and making it so I can't sleep. I also take trazodone for sleep and well I have maxed out the dosage on that med. I am considering going back to paxil cr. which I have had remission and stopped taking because I was having a GAD flare up and the dr suggested effexor.
>
> Do you think I gave it a fair shot? I'm miserable, Isolated and depressed. but.. I don't have any GAD.
>
> I have done this once before, with lexapro which didnt work either. gone back to paxil. What are the chances that the paxil won't work? Is taking a break from it helpful when I go back on it?
"Taking breaks" from medication regimes are controversial -- yes, you may not feel so bogged down by some side effects, but you also have to realize that whatever disorder a palliative is being used for, will probably come back.Its whether the treatment is worse than the disorder or not -- thats always a choice in medicine.
Effexor and Effexor and Wellbutrin I dare say would make me not be able to sleep at all but other people respond to low grade stimulants better than I do.
Trazodone tends to have a mildly habituating effect so that when you go from 50 to 150, you have to stop it and go all the way back again from the beginning dose, and you may have some sleepless nights inbetween.Very low dose amitriptyline and doxepin are other choices for sleep, the prior being more potent -- both will knock you off your feet to begin with and you may acclimate just like Trazodone.
If you're not getting sleepful nights, you might rechallenge the Paxil/Paxil CR (the only reason for CR would be that its less likely to forget to dose double during a day -- Paxil can have withdrawal issues).
Sometimes you can luck out on rechallenging something that you haven't been on for a while, but it also may take 2-3 months to see significant results again.- best wishes
Jay
Posted by Phillipa on July 26, 2008, at 20:43:31
In reply to Re: is 4 months long enough for a med to work » shadowmon, posted by yxibow on July 26, 2008, at 1:13:34
Jay I only took regular paxil once a day as prescribed???? Phillipa
Posted by chiron on July 26, 2008, at 23:40:04
In reply to is 4 months long enough for a med to work, posted by shadowmon on July 25, 2008, at 18:47:15
Are your symptoms normally depression & GAD?
In my oppinion, your effexor trial should be over. Did paxil work for your depression, GAD, or both in the beginning? If paxil helped depression & the GAD still lingered, it sounds like it is still worth keeping it in the mix and adding something else to address the anxiety. (Or have you tried Celexa?)
Warning: You are probably already aware, but Effexor withrawals are HELL. Go slow!
Posted by Chris O on July 27, 2008, at 0:19:13
In reply to is 4 months long enough for a med to work, posted by shadowmon on July 25, 2008, at 18:47:15
Four months is more than enough time for Effexor to work. The literature says Effexor reaches full effectiveness at 3 to 4 weeks. However, with its quick half life, I felt like Effexor worked immediately for me. It was almost like a benzo in its immediacy of action. I also have bad GAD, but Effexor was a bit too stimulating for me, even at 37.5mg. It's odd how different we all react to these annoying meds.
I think you definitely gave Effexor a fair shot. I would consult with your doctor and experiment with something different, if I were in your shoes.
Posted by yxibow on July 27, 2008, at 2:39:19
In reply to Re: is 4 months long enough for a med to work » yxibow, posted by Phillipa on July 26, 2008, at 20:43:31
> Jay I only took regular paxil once a day as prescribed???? Phillipa
mm... I reread it, I was mistaken -- its normal dosing is once a day but since its half life is short, forgetting it can be a problem.
Posted by Phillipa on July 27, 2008, at 19:15:57
In reply to Re: is 4 months long enough for a med to work » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on July 27, 2008, at 2:39:19
My sister also took it and dosing was once a day also? Love Phillipa now luvox has a short half-life.
Posted by blueboy on July 28, 2008, at 10:10:30
In reply to is 4 months long enough for a med to work, posted by shadowmon on July 25, 2008, at 18:47:15
Yes.
This is the end of the thread.
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