Posted by Toby on June 16, 1999, at 11:00:39
In reply to Toby, here's more..., posted by Racer on June 11, 1999, at 14:18:37
I would max out the dose of the Effexor (up to 300-400 mg per day) if you could tolerate it. In addition, I would ask you to do something that you can try on your own: sleep deprivation. I'm not talking about the kind of sleep deprivation you probably already feel from the depression. I mean completely deprive yourself of sleeping for 24 hours by staying up, being active with something where you won't fall asleep even for a few minutes and then seeing you feel the next day. If you actually feel better, then you would want to do this every 3-6 days. The problem with it is that as soon as you go back to sleep, the effect wears off. That's why you have to do it once or twice a week. I works in 50% of depressed patients, so it is worth a try.
After maxing out the Effexor, if no benefit, there are some other things to try that don't require a doctor's prescription such as phenylalanine 500-2000mg given in the morning (not at night), melatonin 3 mg at 11:30 pm, and fish oil (but I am sorry I will have to look that one up again, the name coming to mind is not correct).
Now, what to talk to the doc about: max out the Effexor, then can add Buspar, tegretol, lithium, cylert, or thyroid hormone. Since Paxil worked before, it might be worth a try again, but with a thought to different strategies to prevent or minimize the side effects like Buspar for the anorgasmia, Cylert for the weight gain (or if it's a matter of making you feel hungry just all day long, use Zantac or Pepcid with it) and also for the slowed down feeling.
It's a hard thing to have such poor access to care. Ever consider moving out of state? Although I don't know that eventually all states won't be in the same shape.
poster:Toby
thread:7192
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990601/msgs/7457.html