Posted by Shanti on March 22, 2002, at 9:35:31
In reply to Re: How do you know? » Angel Girl, posted by Penny on March 22, 2002, at 8:18:55
> > I'm on Effexor XR 267.5mg a day. How do you know when you're on the right AD and/or the right dosage? Although I'm ALOT better than I was even a month ago at a lower dosage, I still have alot of emotions and sadness to deal with.
> >
> > What can I expect from an anti-depressant??? How should it make me feel? How do I know when it's working??? <very confused>
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Angel Girl
>
>
> Good question. I've been wondering the same thing. I was on 225 mgs of Effexor XR for about a year and, like Reneeb, realized how numbing it was when I went off of it. I'm on 80 mgs of Celexa and 300 mgs of Wellbutrin right now, and can't say it's doing a whole lot. I've also taken a Paxil/Wellbutrin combo, and it didn't do much either, except that they all seem, for a little while, to get me out of suicidal mode. The closest I've come to feeling 'normal' was on the Effexor, but I was very flat, tho' definitely not suicidal.
>
> My second pdoc would ask me how I was feeling, and I would tell him "okay" and he would say "How okay?" and I would say "Well, I don't want to kill myself right now." To that he would respond that he would like to see me at a better level of wellness and feeling 'good.' I told him I didn't think I knew what that was, not sure I've ever experienced it! So now, I think it's all subjective. The ADs aren't going to get rid of life's problems, but I suppose you are on the right one/right dosage when you feel okay with it. That's what I'm hoping for, at least. I would like to get to a place where I'm not wishing at least once a day that I was dead. I'm not there yet, and I'm not sure it's possible. I'll be interested to see what others have to say about your question.
>
> Best of luck.
> Pennyangel girl first;
where are you we would like to hear from you?
penny;
don't give up it also takes a willingness in your mind to do this as well and that is the hardest part but you can do it, right now i am experiencing mine but with the help of the friends i have found here and writing out my feelings i feel a little better than the last episode (actually it feels a lot worse but i believe that it must feel this way in order to be one step closer to healing and feeling better)
i had a revelation this morning - while going through this i always look to those around for support as i feel i am drowning but i am not getting it in my eyes but you know what? it hit me this morning (and after talking with my therapist yesterday - thank you) that i can't look for them to solve this i must go deeper within myself and have me- bring me back to my "reality world" so to speak.
i hope this helps
peace
your friend
shantips we are going to try and go to the social room tonight at 11:00 pm eastern hope to see you there!
poster:Shanti
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020322/msgs/99459.html