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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Baracuda on May 17, 2008, at 18:52:00
ok so today I took my first 37.5 mg of effexor in addition to my 100 mg of zoloft in the morning. I've read nothing but bad things about effexor and I'm super scared to try it, but after my worsening of depressive symptoms from my recent increase of zoloft dose from 100 to 150, I am willing to try anything at least to get some sort of relief.
I'm sad that the welbutrin was not tolerated for the physical symptoms (severe hair loss, major hives, jitteryness) because the anti-depressive qualities were exciting.
today is day 1. I will post how im feeling at least to keep track of everything. My pdoc keeps assuring me that there is relief out there for me, but after a 20 year battle with seeking relief, i am tired and feeling not so hopeful.
Posted by Phillipa on May 17, 2008, at 19:13:53
In reply to Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on May 17, 2008, at 18:52:00
I've heard many positive things about effexor remember people sometimes only write the negative. I'm hoping you will do well on it. Keep us posted. Phillipa
Posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on May 17, 2008, at 20:35:37
In reply to Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on May 17, 2008, at 18:52:00
Hey....I wish you very good luck...I think you will do well. I have had some good success with Effexor + Prozac. Best wishes to you...
Jay
Posted by Baracuda on May 18, 2008, at 0:50:36
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together! » Baracuda, posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on May 17, 2008, at 20:35:37
thank u both! yes, I know alot of people just write the negative - I only seem to post frequently when I'm feeling down, when I'm feeling good, I am out living my life and not complaining on message boards desparate for help...so I do understand that. So far today I feel kind of weird. I feel a teeny bit disconnected, like I am kind of in a trance. I also feel very quiet, although I have alot ot say. The dry mouth is extreme, crushed ice has a brand new meaning and joy to me.
i did take a nap, but it was like i was only half asleep, and when i needed to get up and take my son to his friend's house, I was able to just get up and not need any 'awake processing time' which usually takes me about 30 minutes to just be able to see after waking up.
i hate depression.
especially when everything is fine except for the fog in your brain.
:(I have a super bad headache too.
:(today is the end of day 1.
Posted by Baracuda on May 18, 2008, at 21:57:26
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on May 18, 2008, at 0:50:36
day 2
side effects just barely kicking in, not enough to hinder my day but I do have a pressure headache and really bad cotton mouth. ice chips help.this morning I woke up and realized that for the first time in years, I did not have a nightmare, and it was pretty amazing.
Posted by Baracuda on May 19, 2008, at 18:00:52
In reply to Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on May 17, 2008, at 18:52:00
day 3.
I had a really good morning, but now it's about 30 minutes before I take my dose of 37.5 mg at 4:30 pm of effexor and my head feels pressure and I feel irritable.
I've got a slight startings of a rash behind my knee. I don't know if it's because it's 103 degrees today, the effexor, or both, or neither. I hope its not the beginnings of the hives again. :(
Posted by Phillipa on May 19, 2008, at 19:27:30
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on May 19, 2008, at 18:00:52
Me too maybe heat rash???? Love Phillipa
Posted by Baracuda on May 21, 2008, at 0:43:02
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together! » Baracuda, posted by Phillipa on May 19, 2008, at 19:27:30
day 4
took a claritin last night because I was feeling uber-itchy. Today I didn't have one single itch, yay!
Woke up this morning and realized yet another night of no-nightmares - I can't believe it. I did have bizarre dreams, but I'm pretty used to those & think thats way better than the nightmares. at least I woke up in a good mood.
no brain fog today, just immediately & for about an hour after taking my dosage. This evening I had a really dramatic heat flush episode, but again, it could be because it was in the 90's today. I turned the fan on and was ok.
lost 1/2 lb today since saturday. good night!
Posted by Baracuda on May 22, 2008, at 13:05:50
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on May 21, 2008, at 0:43:02
day 5
up 1.5 lbs, but that is probably due to the half of jar of reduced fat peanut butter I ate over the past 3 days and opting for a nap instead of my usual pilates. I'm finding that I take my dosage at 4:30 and I'm needing a nap for at least an hour, but then things get un-foggy again after that. Going to try to accomodate my schedule for that and hope for better results.
last night I had a massage and felt absolutely nothing. it was sad. I should schedule massage earlier in the day. might consider taking the effexor at night to see if maybe I can sleep through the weird effects im getting shortly after the dosage. tonight I'm going to attempt to push it back to 5 pm. Also find that I'm not having appetite shortly after taking it either.
Posted by Phillipa on May 22, 2008, at 20:12:53
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on May 22, 2008, at 13:05:50
Thanks for keeping us updated Barracuda. Love Phillipa
Posted by Baracuda on May 25, 2008, at 0:02:22
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on May 22, 2008, at 13:05:50
today is day 1 of week 2, upped my dosage to 75 mg. about 4 hours after I took my pill I felt super sick, had to go lay down for the night.
feel immediate pressure behind my eyes, and on sides of my head. Im used to AD being horrible in the beginning so I'm just going to push through and take it day by day.
Posted by Baracuda on June 13, 2008, at 19:49:14
In reply to Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on May 17, 2008, at 18:52:00
hi - i'm still here, and doing pretty good. I'm upped to 112.5 mg of effexor and still on 100 mg of zoloft and feeling pretty stable - it's nice!! I also have stopped the frequency and intensity of my nightmares (which I have had since I was young, I just never knew it was a problem or an issue until the first time I actually woke up and realized that I didnt have a nightmare).
The only problem now is that my hair loss is coming back again, but I'm hoping that once my body adjusts to the meds hopefully it will kind of calm down with the loss. I have hair extensions now so it's helping out but the hairline and side temples of my hair are thinning pretty badly, I'm trying to stay as relaxed and not dwell on it too much.
anyway, I didn't want to be one of the people who get better and then stop posting lol - I am actually doing well. pdoc wants to eventually increase dosage of effexor and taper off zoloft but I'm taking a 3 week stabilization break to just keep everything the way it is for now.
tootles!
:)
Posted by Phillipa on June 13, 2008, at 21:09:29
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on June 13, 2008, at 19:49:14
Barracuda great to hear you're feeling well. Now don't forget to update. Love Phillipa
Posted by baracuda on September 6, 2008, at 16:41:49
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by Baracuda on June 13, 2008, at 19:49:14
hi - i'm back to give my review. I've also come back to read my past experiences so that I can make some decisions based on my outcome.
I'm up to 150 mg of vexafenaline - generic for effexor. For some strange reason, my pharmacy gave me the generic version even though the rx was for effexor xr and not knowing, I took it, and felt amazingly amazing. I had a huge sexual drive (which I haven't had for almost 7 years) but it was gone after 1 day.
I have felt so good on effexor, it has been amazing. I'm much more focused and able to do alot more things and live a much more robust lifestyle, although for some strange reason, when I take my 2nd afternoon dose of 75 mg (I take 75 mg in the morning) my afternoon dosage always makes me need to lay down for a couple of hours every afternoon, but even with the mandatory downtime, I still get much more done during the day than I ever did without it.
I'm weaning off the zoloft now - I am on my first week of taking 25 mgs daily, and tomorrow starts my first day of actually not being on it at all. I've had some minor side effects from the weaning off, day 1 and day 2 had irritability issues and day 3 I had another sexual surge which lasted only a day again. but hey, 2 sexual surges in less than 1 week is better than the none I had in the last years lol.
my hair loss has pretty much tamed down, I think I am still getting a bit thinner hair than I had but its slowed down.
ok more later.
Posted by Phillipa on September 6, 2008, at 20:06:52
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by baracuda on September 6, 2008, at 16:41:49
Barracuda solo on effexor? You find it anxiety provoking? Phillipa
Posted by baracuda on September 7, 2008, at 23:16:54
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together! » baracuda, posted by Phillipa on September 6, 2008, at 20:06:52
nope - it actually helps my anxiety alot. it's really strange because i can feel the anxiety coming on, but then i actually FEEL the effexor going into effect and i feel a really 'smooth' transition and my body doesn't experience the symptoms of anxiety. it's pretty good.
today is the first day without the zoloft, and i am solo on effexor, and I did NOT need my afternoon nap. I was able to clean up the house, do some gardening and some other stuff around the house for the first time. I'm feeling pretty darn good.
Posted by Phillipa on September 8, 2008, at 19:12:31
In reply to Re: Effexor + Zoloft - together!, posted by baracuda on September 7, 2008, at 23:16:54
Barracuda that is great news. May it continue. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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