Posted by Wendy B. on September 17, 2001, at 10:56:49
In reply to Re: booze+XR HAHAHAHAHA, posted by bigjake on September 16, 2001, at 19:27:11
> > Thank you, SL, for that response. I am really at a crossroads here, and any advice, or direction on reading material, web sites, etc. regarding this drug would be great.
hi jake,to find out more information, do searches on this web site for effexor, venlafaxine (there is also a ref to an entire page devoted to venlafaxine on Psy-Babble's main pg.), alcohol AND effexor, or alcohol AND venlafaxine, and see what you get... there are many links to good web sites out there, but be careful... quoting psycho-babble's FAQ page:
"Don't necessarily believe everything you hear. Just because you see something on the Internet doesn't mean
it's true. (...)
I also don't intend to overdo the caveat emptor
business -- just because you see something on the Internet doesn't mean it's *not* true, either."in other words, there's no substitute for your own common-sense and unique judgment of yourself, your body (your system, both mental and physical)... and then you have to decide what's best for you.
>I already feel fortunate to have found this board, the thing is , How do I know who is commenting on my inquiries? Are you all fellow wackos like me who are either currently on XR, or have been,? Or are you medical proffessionals who are just being nice offering free advice?
yes, some of us are wackos, nut-cases, wack-jobs, psychos, etc.!! but that doesn't mean we don't have a lot of info, insights, brains, and compassion... probably a lot like you!
anyway --
check the FAQ for this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.htmlthat page has loads of links to posts by people who are frequent visitors to this site. many explain the difficulties and risks, but also the benefits and help, one takes in the attempt to find information on your particular 'mental health' issues. read them, it's a good page.
if you asked me personally? i have been helped incredibly by the generous people here. i think dr. bob should be given the nobel peace prize (purple heart? pulitzer? something!) for starting, running, and maintaining this site. many others here would agree.
people share personal, experiential info on meds on the 'plain vanilla' Babble (not Psycho-Social Babble, but just Psycho-Babble, there's a link to it at the top of the home pg). there you can search on effexor all you want, and see what others have said about the drug. you will be reading for weeks - it's probably one of the most discussed drugs on this site.
other folks like to share scientific material they have found on the drug, using searches on Medline or other medical sites. it's amazing that these people take the time to do this for others, they are very generous. some of the medical abstracts and papers are hard to read for lay-people. the language of dopamine-agonists, and norepinephrine antagonists will keep you hopping. for me, searching on my condition (BP I) and my meds became a research project. it's good to spend the time and find out as much as you can.
if people use abbreviations (like i did above), and you don't know what they mean, then ASK! BP I translates to BiPolar I, as described in the DSM-IV, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th ed., used by the shrinks (do a search on it in Psych-Babble Tips).
on psycho-social babble (you can see why it's called that, i'm running on and on, sorry), you can whine, complain, suport others, share victories both large and small, ask for advice, give advice, etc., etc. most of the people are really nice and friendly and helpful. i find it's easier to write to this board than to talk to family and personal friends, because my friends here know what i'm going through, because they've gone through it, too. they know how to give support because they've needed it themselves, and gotten it here...
> I have been so damn lazy the past several months, that after reading a few posts on this board a few days ago, I decided to take a little of my old Adderall Tabs that I saved from a few years back. ( Duh... Its speed!) well, that has seemed to get me off my butt so that my wife will quit asking me to do yard work, but surely this is not ideal, Eh?
right. i'd suggest talking to the doc who prescribed it for you (the effexor), and telling him/ her your symptoms. they may change the dose or suggest another drug. effexor doesn't work for everyone. as for the adderall, you're probably right, it may not be good for the long term. but again, mention you've taken it to the doctor, your response (getting off the couch) might indicate to him another drug that would work effectively. it's well-known that 'listening' to the symptoms you get on one drug will give the physician/therapist insights to diagnosis, and other possible drug treatments... (the book, Listening to Prozac, is really interesting on this topic).
>Any feedback from males or females on laziness with this drug, or booze cravings that increase while on XR would be appreciated. Thanks again to those of you who responded. You all are miles ahead of the person I pay money to.
if that's the case, maybe you need another doc? just a suggestion...when i took effexor, i was totally out-of-it, and like you: COULD NOT GET OFF THE COUCH. it was hell, and made me more depressed cuz i wasn't accomplishing anything. it was a problem, for sure. as for the alcohol cravings, i don't have a thing for alcohol, so it was never an issue, but again, you should always discuss these things with the doc. if the doc isn't responsive, get another one if you can.
sorry to blather on and on.... it's one of my problems...
best of luck,
wendy
poster:Wendy B.
thread:78744
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010917/msgs/78931.html