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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Eric70 on August 23, 2011, at 11:22:50
I was diagnosed as having serious depression (and that is an understatement). I had been on Effexor XR 225mg for 5 weeks with no real improvement. Three days prior to the start of the 5th week, my doctor put me on 2.5mg Zyprexa. Then, after 3 days on that, when I woke up in the morning, I felt as if I was completely and utterly cured. It was more than a miracle. It was as if a switch was turned on, and boom, I was cured of my depression.
I felt great for the entire 5th week. Then, all of a sudden, over the course of 3 days, I felt myself crash into depression again. The doctor upped the dose of Zyprexa to 7.5 mg yesterday, and this afternoon I'm feeling a bit better again after a bad morning.
I have some questions.
1. Do you think the addition of the Zyprexa at week 5 helped the 'switch' turn on and bring me out of my depression, or do you think the Effexor is the main component and I would have felt the same effect without the Zyprexa?
2. Why did I crash back down again at the start of week 6?
3. Are these types of up/down crashes to be expected when on medication like this? Do I just need to wait it out? It would make me feel better if other people experienced the same thing. Down/Up/Down/ then finally Up for good. It seems as if there is a battle of brain chemicals going on in my mind.
I am very concerned because I never knew the depths that depression could take a person. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. I would be interested in hearing other success stories where someone felt great after a few weeks, then had a (temporary) crash, then full recovery. Will this take me 8-12 weeks to really get going?
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2011, at 12:59:46
In reply to Felt Great After Week 5, Crash at Week 6 (Effexor), posted by Eric70 on August 23, 2011, at 11:22:50
I guess all are different. Did something cause the depression like a loss or change in life? Phillipa
Posted by Eric70 on August 23, 2011, at 13:41:50
In reply to Re: Felt Great After Week 5, Crash at Week 6 (Effexor) » Eric70, posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2011, at 12:59:46
I believe what happened is that I was on Celexa 5 years for anxiety, and then slowly got off it. Two months later the depression just hit one day, as I was contemplating finances. I got into a depression that was much, much worse than I ever expected. I can't believe how low I felt. I am afraid to crash back down there.
Wondering how other experience the healing process? I had that one great week 5-weeks into my medication where I felt completely "normal" again, and then the past three days I feel myself slipping back. Not as bad as at first, but still not a comfortable feeling. I do feel better this afternoon. Can I expect these ups and downs before I finally level out?
Posted by linkadge on August 23, 2011, at 20:07:29
In reply to Re: Felt Great After Week 5, Crash at Week 6 (Effexor), posted by Eric70 on August 23, 2011, at 13:41:50
Hi Eric,
Recovery from depression doesn't always happen in a straight line.
However, when a person recovers, there should be some confidence of general stability. This doesn't mean perfect days, but when you recover, you shouldn't sink back like that in such a short period.
Have you completely ruled out bipolar disorder? Zyprex a can be good for depression, but it is also good as a mood stabilizer. If a person has bipolar disorder, a mood stalizer can help reduce depression as well.
If its not bipolar, a different adjunct or different antidepressant may produce a more stable response than the effexor + zyprexa.
Linkadge
Posted by bleauberry on August 27, 2011, at 17:47:40
In reply to Felt Great After Week 5, Crash at Week 6 (Effexor), posted by Eric70 on August 23, 2011, at 11:22:50
>
> 1. Do you think the addition of the Zyprexa at week 5 helped the 'switch' turn on and bring me out of my depression, or do you think the Effexor is the main component and I would have felt the same effect without the Zyprexa?Yes I think it was zyprexa....but it maybe couldn't have done it alone....it happens to combine well with ssri's and snri's providing a synergistic effect. Commonly with prozac. I do not think you would have felt that amazing reborn feeling without zyprexa added.
>
> 2. Why did I crash back down again at the start of week 6?Don't know. Some might say bipolar? I don't think so. But exactly why the crash gee it's hard to know. Higher dose? More time?
>
> 3. Are these types of up/down crashes to be expected when on medication like this? Do I just need to wait it out? It would make me feel better if other people experienced the same thing. Down/Up/Down/ then finally Up for good. It seems as if there is a battle of brain chemicals going on in my mind.
>
> I am very concerned because I never knew the depths that depression could take a person. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. I would be interested in hearing other success stories where someone felt great after a few weeks, then had a (temporary) crash, then full recovery. Will this take me 8-12 weeks to really get going?
>Yeah you said it well. I think it could take at least 8 to 12 weeks but even better at 16.
This is the end of the thread.
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