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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Laney on September 28, 2011, at 11:35:52
So I'm still on 10mg. paxil and .5mg klonopin.
My doctor suggested effexor and wrote a script for it. I've never taken it because I'm already on the other worst SSRI to come off of.
Should I give it a try? I've tried zoloft, celexa, prozac, wellbutrin, lamictal, and two of the trycyclics. Nortriptyline has worked the best. The SSRI's didn't do a thing one way or another. I could have been taking candy. I don't think I gave any of these 4 weeks though, except Nortriptyline which is, like I said, the only one that worked.
I'm afraid of effexor because if it doesn't work or if it poops out on me, I feel like I'll be in big trouble.
Thanks!
Laney
Posted by SLS on September 28, 2011, at 12:21:54
In reply to What do you think of a effexor - should I try it??, posted by Laney on September 28, 2011, at 11:35:52
> So I'm still on 10mg. paxil and .5mg klonopin.
>
> My doctor suggested effexor and wrote a script for it. I've never taken it because I'm already on the other worst SSRI to come off of.
>
> Should I give it a try? I've tried zoloft, celexa, prozac, wellbutrin, lamictal, and two of the trycyclics. Nortriptyline has worked the best. The SSRI's didn't do a thing one way or another. I could have been taking candy. I don't think I gave any of these 4 weeks though, except Nortriptyline which is, like I said, the only one that worked.
>
> I'm afraid of effexor because if it doesn't work or if it poops out on me, I feel like I'll be in big trouble.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Laney
My only comment is that a combinination of nortriptyline and Effexor can exert a greater antidepressant effect than either one alone. It is an effective, but little-used treatment.Maybe you can titrate Effexor while tapering Paxil so that you experience a milder withdrawal syndrome.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on September 28, 2011, at 12:53:28
In reply to Re: What do you think of a effexor - should I try it?? » Laney, posted by SLS on September 28, 2011, at 12:21:54
Laney was thinking of you today for real and wondering how you were doing. Seems like the paxil for you is like the luvox for me.
I know the dilemma this presents. Still nothing from paxil like nothing from luvox for me. I am living with it and taking a bit of lexapro. Seems my brain craves luvox so strange.
So you think you will try the crossover to effexor? Love Phillipa
Posted by Laney on September 28, 2011, at 19:28:29
In reply to Re: What do you think of a effexor - should I try it?? » Laney, posted by SLS on September 28, 2011, at 12:21:54
Scott,
I'm not on Nortriptyline. Stopped taking it because of the outrageous weight gain.
I'm only on paxil and clonazepam.
P- Thanks! I might give Effexor a go. Don't know yet. It I do, I'll probably try a taper off the paxil.
Alayna
Posted by SLS on September 28, 2011, at 20:03:30
In reply to Re: What do you think of a effexor - should I try it?? » SLS, posted by Laney on September 28, 2011, at 19:28:29
> Scott,
>
> I'm not on Nortriptyline. Stopped taking it because of the outrageous weight gain.
Laney,How much did you gain?
1. Appetite increase?
2. Decreased metabolic rate?
- Scott
Posted by Chtorr281 on September 29, 2011, at 1:22:04
In reply to What do you think of a effexor - should I try it??, posted by Laney on September 28, 2011, at 11:35:52
> So I'm still on 10mg. paxil and .5mg klonopin.
>
> My doctor suggested effexor and wrote a script for it. I've never taken it because I'm already on the other worst SSRI to come off of.
>
> Should I give it a try? I've tried zoloft, celexa, prozac, wellbutrin, lamictal, and two of the trycyclics. Nortriptyline has worked the best. The SSRI's didn't do a thing one way or another. I could have been taking candy. I don't think I gave any of these 4 weeks though, except Nortriptyline which is, like I said, the only one that worked.
>
> I'm afraid of effexor because if it doesn't work or if it poops out on me, I feel like I'll be in big trouble.
>
> Thanks!
>
> LaneyIt is probably worth a try simply because it also affects norepinephrine. I gave it a try years ago and it did very little for me. But unlike many people, I didn't have a hard time tapering off of it. I think I started 10mg of Prozac after I was on Effexor but not immediately afterwards since I wanted to try going without any medication for a while.
It was not nearly as stimulating for me as Wellbutrin. Probably about the same as Zoloft or Prozac, both of which eventually made me feel tired all the time. Even though it's not an SSRI, it felt about the same to me.
Posted by Laney on September 29, 2011, at 12:16:56
In reply to Re: What do you think of a effexor - should I try it?? » Laney, posted by SLS on September 28, 2011, at 20:03:30
Scott,
I gained about 22 lbs. in like 4 months. I craved food and mostly sweets. I am normally 128 lbs. I went up to 150 and said ok this is it. I'm stopping. But my mood was great!
What do you think of Savella or Cymbalta because they have a better Nort. to Sert. ratio than effexor?
My absolute fear is being stuck on effexor like I am paxil and not being able to get off. I mean yah, I could probably get off paxil but the quality of my life would suck so bad and who knows for how long? There are people in protracted withdrawls for months and even years from some of this stuff. The thought seriously scares me!
What do you think?? If Nortriptyline helped so much what could a replacement?
Thanks Scott and others who add their thoughts. Appreciate it!
Laney
Posted by SLS on September 29, 2011, at 13:11:24
In reply to Re: What do you think of a effexor - should I try it?? » SLS, posted by Laney on September 29, 2011, at 12:16:56
> I gained about 22 lbs. in like 4 months. I craved food and mostly sweets. I am normally 128 lbs. I went up to 150 and said ok this is it. I'm stopping. But my mood was great!
If God came down and said, "Laney, it is either nortriptyline or nothing", would you take it? I am not trying to force feed you nortriptyline, but if nothing else works, at least you know what you can take as a last resort to feel great.
Have you tried desipramine? No weight gain - usually.
> What do you think of Savella or Cymbalta because they have a better Nort. to Sert. ratio than effexor?
As you may have noticed, I am not spending too much time lately predicting an individual's reaction to a given drug based upon what little we know about its mechanisms. I do not ignore these things, but I will not so quickly exclude or include a drug from consideration based upon my layman theories. Ratios? I don't know. Maybe.
Cymbalta has been studied as an antidepressant more closely than Savella, and demonstrates robust antidepressant activity. It is particularly useful when pain is a symptom. I read recently that people were most likely to respond to Cymbalta if their pain resolved during the first two weeks of treatment. I am dubious that Savella should get as many people well as does Effexor or Cymbalta. However, if you are one of those people who respond to Savella, percentages of success are of little relevence. I tried Savella. It didn't help me.
My doctor is still trying to develop a "feel" for Pristiq and how it compares to Effexor. A friend of mine who failed to respond to high dosages of Effexor went on to achieve remission with Pristiq.
> The thought seriously scares me!
You can find horror stories about almost every antidepressant drug synthesized. Statistics? I haven't seen any describing how often people must take a year or longer to discontinue Effexor or Paxil. Just because I can get off these drugs easily using a flexible taper strategy doesn't mean that you can. I am not unique in this regard, though. I know withdrawal is a scary thing to consider.
> What do you think?? If Nortriptyline helped so much what could a replacement?
Desipramine.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on September 29, 2011, at 19:03:52
In reply to Re: What do you think of a effexor - should I try it?? » SLS, posted by Laney on September 29, 2011, at 12:16:56
Laney same for me with luvox and no I wouldn't take a med that caused that much weight gain as diabetes runs in my family. I got off paxil fine. But was my first ad. If had to do over I would not have listened to the doc I had and stayed on the l0mg for as long as it worked. But we are different that is just my feeling about me. Phillipa
Posted by Laney on October 1, 2011, at 11:20:48
In reply to Re: What do you think of a effexor - should I try it?? » Laney, posted by SLS on September 29, 2011, at 13:11:24
Scott,
I would absolutely use Nort again if need be. Just trying to avoid the side effects. I tried desiprimine. Maybe I just didn't give it enough time but if felt really different from Nort.
Another thing, the doc want to use the XR version of Effexor. Wouldn't that make withdrawing from it even harder?
I mean there's got to be lots of other choices other than a drug that is so well known for it's withdrawl problems. I have that problem with paxil already and even though it may sound like nonsense, I have had no problems getting off of any other drug except that one. You'd have to be with me or at least talking to me daily or even weekly to understand the problem.
If I absolutely didn't want to try the Effexor, what would you recommend? There are so many different drugs and different kinds and I'm not up to date on them.
Thanks!
Laney
Posted by Laney on October 2, 2011, at 18:07:54
In reply to Re: What do you think of a effexor - should I try it?? » SLS, posted by Laney on October 1, 2011, at 11:20:48
I didn't get any further response so I decided to repost.
Thanks!
Laney
This is the end of the thread.
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