Posted by ArtChee on December 12, 2001, at 23:46:45
In reply to high-dose Effexor - anyone?, posted by Elizabeth on December 8, 2001, at 10:53:42
> Has anyone found that taking very high doses of Effexor (and if so, how high) made it work a lot better? If you have, I'd like to hear about it -- what new effects did the Effexor have when you got above a certain dose? TIA.
>
> -elizabethTwo years ago I took EFFEXOR at 150mg/day. No positive results, only minor side effects.
Over two months ago, with the suggestion of a psychotherapist, I returned to the psychiatrist and he put me on a dosage schedule to get me to 300mg/day. When I said that I was not expecting any better results, he said that he would prove me wrong.
After 10 weeks, I was suffering irritating side effects of sweating, sleeping difficulty, fatique, headaches, shortness of breath, light-headedness (woozy), and - about the time I reached the 300mg/day dosage - increased anxiety (indicated by my picking at the quiks of my thumbs & pulling skin flicks off to the point of having raw thumbs. Nothing new for when I get anxious for some REASON, but must band-aid the thumbs to keep from being raw.)
After a gradual withdrawal of minus 75mg/day, the second day completely off the medication I experienced serious side effects; primarily a woozy, spaced out sensation not unlike being intoxicated, but certainly NO FUN. I was concerned about my ability to drive. I could not function for three days. Dosages of 20mg Adderall today seemed to help restore some energy and some clarity, but still have headache & light-headedness. Supposed to subside within the week. I HOPE SO!
My sister in another state is on the same dosage of EFFEXOR XR (have a big bottle to send to her) and reports that she has experienced an energy boost from it (that's all she said -- we talk but don't communicate much :-) )
Certainly, this is not encouraging, BUT my point must be: everyone reacts differently. I had no positive response the first time to the smaller dosage, with minor side effects. The SECOND time, the reaction was the same, BUT - as the dosage was larger - the side effects were worse.
If you have had sucess with a smaller dosage, hopefully the larger dose will be even more effective. But, will likely "enhance" the side effects as well.
Good Luck, & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
poster:ArtChee
thread:86308
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011202/msgs/86765.html