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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 allnatural on January 28, 2003, at 17:07:36
Been on Celexa, Buspar and Paxil and was switched to Effexor XR a week ok. I have decided to quit. I can't take the weird feelings anymore. I don't know what was worse - depression or the side effects of medication.
Has anyone quit and begun to feel normal again?
Posted by mikhail99 on January 28, 2003, at 17:32:46
In reply to Will I ever be normal again?, posted by allnatural on January 28, 2003, at 17:07:36
> Been on Celexa, Buspar and Paxil and was switched to Effexor XR a week ok. I have decided to quit. I can't take the weird feelings anymore. I don't know what was worse - depression or the side effects of medication.
>
> Has anyone quit and begun to feel normal again?Well, there's the old joke about defining normal...but I don't think that's what you're after.
I've tried to quit antidepressants and have felt ok for a time but then something always happens to send me spiraling into depression or anxiety. You said you only did the Effexor a week? You should really try it for a few weeks, 4-6 to see if the side effects don't go away. And what kind of side effects are you having? Have you talked to your doctor about it?
Sorry for all the questions, I just hate giving advice until I can have every last little detail. :-)
Take care,
Mik
Posted by indirect00 on January 28, 2003, at 20:25:32
In reply to Re: Will I ever be normal again?, posted by mikhail99 on January 28, 2003, at 17:32:46
I have the feeling that you are bi-polar based on what I read. If SSRIs don't work for you, look into the possibility of meds that treat bi-polar (Zyprexa, Neurontin, Lithium, etc.)
You may not be bi-polar, but your reaction to all of those meds leads me to suspect that you are.
Posted by bookgurl99 on January 29, 2003, at 0:39:59
In reply to Will I ever be normal again?, posted by allnatural on January 28, 2003, at 17:07:36
I'm not normal, I'm queer. :D
NO, ok I think if the drugs bug you more than what you go through naturally, then maybe you don't need the drugs. Or maybe you _are_ BP and just having a really good time right now. I think your instincts will tell you the truth.
Posted by allnatural on January 29, 2003, at 11:04:35
In reply to Re: Will I ever be normal again?, posted by mikhail99 on January 28, 2003, at 17:32:46
> > Been on Celexa, Buspar and Paxil and was switched to Effexor XR a week ok. I have decided to quit. I can't take the weird feelings anymore. I don't know what was worse - depression or the side effects of medication.
> >
> > Has anyone quit and begun to feel normal again?
>
> Well, there's the old joke about defining normal...but I don't think that's what you're after.
>
> I've tried to quit antidepressants and have felt ok for a time but then something always happens to send me spiraling into depression or anxiety. You said you only did the Effexor a week? You should really try it for a few weeks, 4-6 to see if the side effects don't go away. And what kind of side effects are you having? Have you talked to your doctor about it?
>
> Sorry for all the questions, I just hate giving advice until I can have every last little detail. :-)
>
> Take care,
> Mik
>
> I have not spoken to my doctor - not much trust there. However, I have an appointment within a couple of weeks. The side effects were awful - irritability, hand swelling, nausea, and major fatigue. I just couldn't take it. Too much dopamine for me.
Posted by mair on January 29, 2003, at 14:48:28
In reply to Re: Will I ever be normal again?, posted by allnatural on January 29, 2003, at 11:04:35
effexor was one of those drugs I quit very abruptly because it just made me feel awful.
I tried a number of different drugs before I found one I could tolerate. It took me over 2 years. Everytime I terminated a drug I felt great - almost euphoric even. I really think part of the reason I'd feel so good is that I was just so relieved not to be taking it anymore. Inevitably, within a pretty short period of time (maybe a couple of weeks) I'd get some nasty reminder why I was taking ADs to begin with.
Mair
Posted by allnatural on January 29, 2003, at 16:12:46
In reply to Re: Will I ever be normal again?, posted by mair on January 29, 2003, at 14:48:28
> effexor was one of those drugs I quit very abruptly because it just made me feel awful.
>
> I tried a number of different drugs before I found one I could tolerate. It took me over 2 years. Everytime I terminated a drug I felt great - almost euphoric even. I really think part of the reason I'd feel so good is that I was just so relieved not to be taking it anymore. Inevitably, within a pretty short period of time (maybe a couple of weeks) I'd get some nasty reminder why I was taking ADs to begin with.
>
> MairWhat medication did you find that you can tolerate?
Posted by mair on January 29, 2003, at 16:31:24
In reply to Re: Will I ever be normal again?, posted by allnatural on January 29, 2003, at 16:12:46
For me it was Wellbutrin. I had tried prozac, luvox and effexor by themselves and I quit on Wellbutrin early on also but went back to it. If you check out the meds board, you'll find lots of people who can't tolerate it, but after I weathered the first few weeks, it became a drug which for me, essentially had no side effects. I was sort of aggravated that it hadn't been suggested to me sooner. Effexor just made me feel ill, and the other 2 made me anorgasmic. Also I was pretty well convinced that when my pdoc tried to increase my prozac, I got worse not better.
Unfortunately Wellbutrin has never been a miracle drug for me, and I've spent the better part of the last few years trying to find a good augmentation drug. However, in all that time, it's been pretty evident that Wellbutrin did/does make a difference so while I sometime curse its ineffectiveness, I've never been inclined to stop using it.
What have you tried and how long have you given those drugs you tried. Does your pdoc titrate up to a therapeutic dose slowly or quickly; sometimes that makes a difference.
Mair
Posted by JohnL on January 30, 2003, at 6:33:18
In reply to Will I ever be normal again?, posted by allnatural on January 28, 2003, at 17:07:36
To go along with your forum name, allnatuural, you should seriously consider the herb Rhodiola Rosea. It's not well known in the USA, but is a really good herb for depression, much better than st johnswort, gingko, ginseng, etc.
SAMe also. Rhodiola and SAMe. For Rhodiola, make sure to take a brand that has 4% Rosavin extract content. All others are inferior.
Rhodiola boosts serotonin and dopamine as well as the feel-good beta-endorphins and opiods(the same hormone that causes a runner's high).
I take Rhodiola myself and I really like it. Since I have tried just about every med and every herb known, the fact that it helps me a lot speaks volumes for its potential. It is a powerful antidepressant, antianxiety, and mild stimulant all in one, not to mention its health benefits for your heart and brain and other things.
You don't have to live with medication side effects. There are alternatives, a few of which can work really good.
John
Posted by allnatural on January 30, 2003, at 14:12:33
In reply to Re: Will I ever be normal again? » allnatural, posted by mair on January 29, 2003, at 16:31:24
> For me it was Wellbutrin. I had tried prozac, luvox and effexor by themselves and I quit on Wellbutrin early on also but went back to it. If you check out the meds board, you'll find lots of people who can't tolerate it, but after I weathered the first few weeks, it became a drug which for me, essentially had no side effects. I was sort of aggravated that it hadn't been suggested to me sooner. Effexor just made me feel ill, and the other 2 made me anorgasmic. Also I was pretty well convinced that when my pdoc tried to increase my prozac, I got worse not better.
>
> Unfortunately Wellbutrin has never been a miracle drug for me, and I've spent the better part of the last few years trying to find a good augmentation drug. However, in all that time, it's been pretty evident that Wellbutrin did/does make a difference so while I sometime curse its ineffectiveness, I've never been inclined to stop using it.
>
> What have you tried and how long have you given those drugs you tried. Does your pdoc titrate up to a therapeutic dose slowly or quickly; sometimes that makes a difference.
>
> Mair
I have had more than one pdoc. The first titrated, and the second gave me whatever I asked for. Well, today new doc new rx. I couldn't take the withdrawals anymore. He started me on Lexapro- low dose which will increase. I hope I feel better. This is awful. I have given up on trying to do it alone.
Posted by allnatural on January 30, 2003, at 14:15:55
In reply to Re: Will I ever be normal again?, posted by JohnL on January 30, 2003, at 6:33:18
> To go along with your forum name, allnatuural, you should seriously consider the herb Rhodiola Rosea. It's not well known in the USA, but is a really good herb for depression, much better than st johnswort, gingko, ginseng, etc.
>
> SAMe also. Rhodiola and SAMe. For Rhodiola, make sure to take a brand that has 4% Rosavin extract content. All others are inferior.
> > Rhodiola boosts serotonin and dopamine as well as the feel-good beta-endorphins and opiods(the same hormone that causes a runner's high).
>
> I take Rhodiola myself and I really like it. Since I have tried just about every med and every herb known, the fact that it helps me a lot speaks volumes for its potential. It is a powerful antidepressant, antianxiety, and mild stimulant all in one, not to mention its health benefits for your heart and brain and other things.
>
> You don't have to live with medication side effects. There are alternatives, a few of which can work really good.
>
> JohnThanks for that advice. I have actually started with another doctor today, because I couldn't take it any longer (the withdrawals that is). He has me on Lexapro. I can't say that I am all natural anymore, but I tried. I wish I had received your message sooner.
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