Posted by shadowmon on June 24, 2008, at 22:04:41
In reply to Re: ok what to add to the cocktail effexor*Trazodo » dbc, posted by Molybdenum on June 24, 2008, at 0:43:16
> > Remeron
> >
> > Not only would it replace the trazadone but reduce anxiety and potenate the effexor greatly. Its a well known and documented cocktail thats extremely potent. Effexor and remeron is commonly called California Rocket Fuel for reasons im not clear on but years its quite a ride of a combo.
>
> Dear Shadowmon,
>
> I absolutely agree 100% with dbc.
>
> I have "melancholic" depression, ie no manic phase at all. I've been on the rocket fuel for over 2 years now. It really works VERY well.
>
> I started on just the Effexor. I remember it actually made me anxious for the first week or two, then I'd settle into it & the angst went away. Every time I increased the dose I'd get anxiety again but it always passed in a week or so.
>
> Then I read about the Rocket Fuel. If you have access to downloading torrents, search for Stephen M. Stahl - Essential Psychopharmacology.pdf It's a great book & highly respected. About 50MB. I'd mail it to you but my skinny link is incapable (I've tried & it just times out).
>
> So I convinced my doc to up the Effexor & add Remeron. The max I got up to was 600mg Effexor XR & 225mg Remeron. I'm a bit of an idiot sometimes. I always want to get the best effect I can, so I tend to over-dose myself a bit & then cut it back when I realise I've overshot the max effect in me. Call me impatient if you want to be kind.. ;)
>
> So now I'm on 450mg Effexor & 180mg Remeron. I *was* going to reduce it further but I found out yesterday I am severely narcoleptic...! So I'm not in the mood to adjust my meds any more for now.
>
> Sorry - I digress, but the point is that the addition of Remeron is fantastic for making you sleep & it doesn't f*ck up your sleep patterns like the benzos do. Honestly, you can chuck the Trazodone out. The Remeron works REALLY well for sleep. So I take all my meds at 6pm except for the Remeron, which I take at 8pm. Often by 9pm I am a walking zombie looking for sleepybize land. It's that good. Plus it's another anti-depressant that has fewer side effects than most. Main side effects are sedation (perfect for taking at 8pm). You might feel some sedation the next day, but that will dissipate in a couple of weeks. The only other side effect I've had from Remeron is some weight gain. But at least that's something you can control. I mean, the drug doesn't make fat out of air & water - you have to actually eat lots of crap to get the weight gain. Remeron is also noted for it's relatively quick onset of AD effects (a few weeks) plus lack of sexual side effects.
>
> Lastly, mirtazapine (Remeron) is off patent now so there's cheap legal generics. If cost is an issue for you then you'll also be looking forward to Effexor coming off patent this year.
>
> Stop reading now. Put your pants on & run down to the doc to get a script...!
>
> Go on....RUN...!!!!! :)
>
>Moly,
I have the same meloncholic depression too. Badly... I've gotten to the point to know that if I am changing meds that I have to buy some ensure because I won't eat... I was wrong to post that I tried remeron and effexor. It was respiradl and effexor. Is remeron the one that the dosage is backward? if you want to sleep more, you take less and if you want to sleep less you take more? I took a drug like that before and I think it was remeron but I can't remember what it was. I think though that was the drug that stopped making the trazodone work for a while.
I don't know, but I love trazodone. It has been my steady eddie so to speak in terms of medication for years and am not sure I want to give it up.
poster:shadowmon
thread:836131
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080617/msgs/836310.html