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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by John2222 on October 12, 2002, at 21:51:14
This is a perplexing question: Any idea how long to continue taking Effexor XR?
I've been taking 112.5 mg/day for past 6 months and it has been working great. I feel so much better and I'm having very few side effects any more.
So, when am I cured? After another 6 months? Do the brain chemistries get rebalanced and then get "cured"? Or is this a lifetime treatment to keep seratonin in check?
(I'm 58 male with previous mild/moderate episodes of depression a couple times.)
John
Posted by kelranji on October 12, 2002, at 23:03:25
In reply to How long should I take Effexor? Forever???, posted by John2222 on October 12, 2002, at 21:51:14
I was wondering that too!
I just started, so I hate to think about the end already, but it seems like a lot of posts I've read are from people who have been on this for years! And at super high dosage too!
I am 4 days into this and still on the 37.5. I feel good already. Not "cured" but a lot more elated. Almost worried to go to 75.
I'm also wondering how long to expect to be on this.
Posted by John2222 on October 12, 2002, at 23:26:22
In reply to Re: How long should I take Effexor? Forever???, posted by kelranji on October 12, 2002, at 23:03:25
> I am 4 days into this and still on the 37.5. I feel good already. Not "cured" but a lot more elated. Almost worried to go to 75.
Don't be worried, but raise the dosage at your own pace. It took me about a week to 10 days to adjust to 37.5, so I waited until 14 days to increase to 75.
Then my doc wanted me to go to 150, but instead we agreed to try 112.5 (one 75mg capsule and one 37.5 capsule at same time). That is doing its job nicely for me.
I'm still looking for the answer though---When might I consider tapering off? and why?
Posted by utopizen on October 13, 2002, at 12:38:50
In reply to Re: How long should I take Effexor? Forever???, posted by John2222 on October 12, 2002, at 23:26:22
> > I am 4 days into this and still on the 37.5. I feel good already. Not "cured" but a lot more elated. Almost worried to go to 75.
>
> Don't be worried, but raise the dosage at your own pace. It took me about a week to 10 days to adjust to 37.5, so I waited until 14 days to increase to 75.
>
> Then my doc wanted me to go to 150, but instead we agreed to try 112.5 (one 75mg capsule and one 37.5 capsule at same time). That is doing its job nicely for me.
>
> I'm still looking for the answer though---When might I consider tapering off? and why?
>I recently read it's a mistake to go less than 9 months on effective AD treatment, because that's not enough for a case of depression- untreated and long-term depression takes much longer.
What you're doing is re-directing the way thoughts flow. You're trying to make imprints through centain pathways long enough for thoughts to travel through those imprints. And those "imprints" need to be imprinted for long enough, otherwise they'll wash away like those tunnels you dug on beaches when you were a kid.
Posted by LynnPerley on October 13, 2002, at 16:35:48
In reply to How long should I take Effexor? Forever???, posted by John2222 on October 12, 2002, at 21:51:14
I've been taking it for 7 months now. At my 6 month checkup, the doc suggested staying on it until February (which will be 11 mos) for several reasons. First, I didn't start feeling really good for a few months. Second, he said it was a bad idea to taper off over the holidays, in his experience with his patients. He thinks that 6 months of being on the optimum dose for the patient is the minimum.
Posted by BrittPark on October 13, 2002, at 21:04:16
In reply to How long should I take Effexor? Forever???, posted by John2222 on October 12, 2002, at 21:51:14
The general psychiatric wisdom seems to be that for people who have had more than one Major Depression or a Major Depression episode and long term disthymia, it is best to stay on meds indefinitely. Studies have shown that people with multiple Depressions who discontinue medication when each depression is under control tend to have a greater instance of depression reccurence.
If your feeling good and the side effects of what you are taking are tolerable then don't rock the boat. ;)
Continue feeling good,
Britt
Posted by wcfrench on October 14, 2002, at 15:01:16
In reply to Re: How long should I take Effexor? Forever??? » John2222, posted by BrittPark on October 13, 2002, at 21:04:16
I believe they call it remission. I wouldn't attempt to stop the meds until you are feeling good for a very long time. You would probably notice the changes if you started tapering your doses. Definitely don't stop cold turkey though!
Many meds claim that patients who took the medicine achieved remission after several months of successful treatment, but for many people it is simply a myth. Good luck.
-Charlie
Posted by petters on October 15, 2002, at 1:01:11
In reply to Re: How long should I take Effexor? Forever???, posted by wcfrench on October 14, 2002, at 15:01:16
Hi.....
If you have your first depression, you need at least 6 month treatment.
After 3 depression = lifelong treatment.
I hope you belive in this. If not, you can develope very serve depressions, and sometimes a cronic depression can occure. I have seen this in many cases.
Depression is a very serious illness, and sometimes letal. Medical treatment, with some side effect is a small price to pay. Never hesitate to treath you depression during a long time, or even lifelong.
Sorry for bad english. I´m not from U.S
Good luck....//// Petter
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