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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tancred62 on April 12, 2004, at 10:31:29
I've read several posts that noted vivid dreams (often nightmares) after the initiation of SSRI treatment. I've been taking Effexor for a while without noticing such dreams, but after missing a dosage yesterday, I had one of the most intense periods of dreaming in my life last night. And these dreams were absolutely baffling in both their content and persistence (all night, essentially). Furthermore, they included very "loud" aural components along with that strange dream-within-a-dream structure where I would "wake up" from the dream only to find myself in another one. When I actually did wake up and then went back to sleep (once in the whole night), I quickly resumed dreaming for another 3 or 4 hours and was sometimes be able to guide and control the characters and objects at will, but mostly the dreams were out of my control and featured scenes and phenomena that left me scared and exhausted. I also believe I was talking in my sleep and moving my arms and legs. The caveat to my assumption that this dreaming was due to effexor withdrawal is the fact that I had a big meal of sauteed shitake mushrooms before going to bed. I know that many mushrooms, even the edible ones, have various psychotropic chemicals, and I wonder if that was the culprit, for the dreams were indeed like some kind of magic mushroom trip; albeit one I don't want to repeat.
Any insights?
Posted by platinumbride on April 12, 2004, at 14:34:52
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal or Shitakes?, posted by Tancred62 on April 12, 2004, at 10:31:29
Based on things I have read on the "psycho babble" page, i am wiling to bet that it is the effexor....
Diane
Posted by fayeroe on April 12, 2004, at 19:09:59
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal or Shitakes?, posted by Tancred62 on April 12, 2004, at 10:31:29
Having survived Effexor and the withdrawal from it, I'd bet on the med.
Posted by Tancred62 on April 12, 2004, at 20:32:18
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal or Shitakes? » Tancred62, posted by fayeroe on April 12, 2004, at 19:09:59
Thanks, peeps.
This damn effexor (I refuse to honor it with the capital "E")is quite the catch 22. I must ask both of you if you think this drug is worth the effort. I have found minimal improvement in my depression, and last night's dreaming episode is something I don't want to go through again. I've done prozac, paxil, and effexor, and none have really helped my constant "black" approach to life and living. Sometimes I'd rather embrace the blackness. I have no real confidence in ANY of these drugs, but when I read of people being "happy" I get jealous. I continue to insist that happiness is actually a delusional state, especially considering the reality of our government "leaders" and popular culture. I feel it's all a cruel joke and I have no real reason to "show up" other than the need to make money. How pathetic. I hate capitalism. It sucks the lifeblodd out of everyone. Why should education and health care be for-profit industries? It'sick. I also think democracy is a flawed idea. Look what it got us. I'm sorry to get political, but it' part of why I'm depressed. Why do I get up and go to work? I suppose I should count my "blessings" considering all the people who can't even do that. But I feel that I understand them in some way.
Posted by fayeroe on April 12, 2004, at 20:44:35
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal or Shitakes?, posted by Tancred62 on April 12, 2004, at 20:32:18
I'll be honest with you and tell you that I wouldn't take it again for any amount of money. I lost 38 lbs and thought I was going to die. My head felt like it was full of rocks that were moving around. I mean that, literally!! It was horrible. My pharmacist helped me get off of it. My doctor kept insisting that it wasn't effexor that was making my life hell!! I take prozac and elavil now and am very pleased.........
Posted by platinumbride on April 13, 2004, at 18:18:45
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal or Shitakes?, posted by Tancred62 on April 12, 2004, at 20:32:18
I can relate to a lot of what you said, and yet there ARE people who are happy in spite of current realities. A lot of those people are people who have truly survived worse - like my dad, who is from a third world country. I think that when things are that atrocious, many people MUST find happiness in spite of it all, lest they fall apart completely in the middle of terrorism, drug-lords, etc.
Having said that, I only had a short stint with efexxor, adn I guess I am glad for that! I had no real trouble getting off it.
But you DO.
Welcome to the world of the clinically depressed, where drug trials and cocktails and sic to eight week periods are a major focus!
Are you talking to anyone about your feelings?And fwiw, there are more combos out there!
Good luck!
Diane
Posted by Dr. Bob on April 13, 2004, at 21:34:31
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal or Shitakes?, posted by Tancred62 on April 12, 2004, at 10:31:29
> I've read several posts that noted vivid dreams (often nightmares) after the initiation of SSRI treatment...
I'd like to redirect this thread to the medication Psycho-Babble. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040412/msgs/336155.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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