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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by teachermom on June 6, 2001, at 8:12:33
Hello all. This is the first time for me to post. I have been reading these posts for about 3 months now. That's when I first taking effexor. I have been suffering from depression for about 6 years now. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't want to admit it. I have a family history of depression. I tried to say it was all an excuse for all the women in my family. I was going to different. It all came to head when I had thoughts of suicide. I would tell my husband not to worry about me and then the next moment I was at the medicine cabinet contimplating what I should take to make it all feel better. I finally called the doctor and she immediately put me on effexor. i had all the side effects, but I knew that I had to hang on or I would be right back where I was. I have a wonderful family that have supported me through this all. All the women in my life are all on meds and now I am too. I would not trade this feeling for anything. i have read some real negative post. I know that effexor is not for everyone and I hope that those of you who it did not work for can finally find something that works. Sorry this is so long. Thanks for your time.
Posted by Kaysey on June 6, 2001, at 12:03:42
In reply to effexor is a life saver, posted by teachermom on June 6, 2001, at 8:12:33
> Hello all. This is the first time for me to post. I have been reading these posts for about 3 months now. That's when I first taking effexor. I have been suffering from depression for about 6 years now. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't want to admit it. I have a family history of depression. I tried to say it was all an excuse for all the women in my family. I was going to different. It all came to head when I had thoughts of suicide. I would tell my husband not to worry about me and then the next moment I was at the medicine cabinet contimplating what I should take to make it all feel better. I finally called the doctor and she immediately put me on effexor. i had all the side effects, but I knew that I had to hang on or I would be right back where I was. I have a wonderful family that have supported me through this all. All the women in my life are all on meds and now I am too. I would not trade this feeling for anything. i have read some real negative post. I know that effexor is not for everyone and I hope that those of you who it did not work for can finally find something that works. Sorry this is so long. Thanks for your time.
Hi Teachermom! This is my second post--first was yesterday. Our lives seem so similar (except for the support system that you have). I was diagnosed with GAD and depression approximately 10 years ago (was also in higher education for 12 years--so also similar). As mentioned in the previous post I was on--successfully for awhile--1 mg Ativan, 50mg lopressor and 20mg Prozac. It really fizzled out over time (much more than I realized). At times I too, found myself looking at the medicine bottles and thinking hmmm, this would take care of things for everybody. Actually my family, other than my husband, is unaware of the problem. You see, depression also runs in my family--in women; however, those who were diagnosed as such were ostracized from everyone and labelled as 'crazy and lazy.' To avoid the stigma, I have only told my husband and a couple of friends (one of whom has recently also been put on effexor). My husband has been moderately supportive, only because I have not fallen into the stereotype of what he always thought was a 'depressed person.' He has seen some really down moods with me, but always tries to chalk it off to hormones or just being female. He really doesn't like to ever say that I suffer from GAD and depression.
And yes, this post turned out to be much longer than I intended; but as with most people, this only touches the tip of the iceberg.
Regarding effexor, are you having consistantly good results? The friend I referred to earlier, loves it--has been at 150 mg for sometime--and it has been a life saver for her. For me, I have some wonderfully pleasant days (not manic at all, just very real and focused and 'normal'). However, as the month progresses, my symptoms reappear to a certain extent. As mentioned in the post above, I take OC's and the hormone levels seem to greatly impact the effexor impact (I have been on it since April, and am currently on 225 mg--it often makes me sleepy).
Oh dear! I didn't mean to go into this much detail.
I am so glad that things are working for you. I'll post again. Let us know if things continue so positively (or if they don't!)
Thanks again for this message board.
Posted by teachermom on June 6, 2001, at 14:11:42
In reply to Re: effexor is a life saver, posted by Kaysey on June 6, 2001, at 12:03:42
Thanks Kaysey. i have lots of support from my husband. He tried for some time to get me to go to the doc. He keeps in very close contact with my mother, who is very protective of her "little girl." My family knows about all of this, but my husband's family does not. I know that they would probably understand, but I'd rather keep it the way it is. I am currently taking 150mg. I was doing very well at 75 for about 4 weeks and then started falling into the "slump" again. I have been at 150 for about 2 months now. I too seem to be sleepy a lot. Good thing school is out for now. At least I can nap during the day if I feel the need. I get very thirsty but I just look at it as a way to get more water into my day. Thanks again for the follow-up.
Posted by limey on June 6, 2001, at 15:21:01
In reply to Re: effexor is a life saver, posted by teachermom on June 6, 2001, at 14:11:42
Hi ladies, I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth here - I, too, am on Effexor XR - also, am a teacher (although for us, school is NOT out yet!) I have been on many different kinds of meds. for depression/anxiety over the past 20 years, and have also felt all the same "stigmas" that you ladies have felt. I started Effexor 2 months ago and have slowly increased my dosage to 250mg daily. This seems to work for me very well, and I feel great - all the side effects are now gone - and taking it at night gives me a good night's sleep and I feel good in the morning. (Amazing!)
Hope this was of some help ... good luck to you both! - limey
Posted by Marie B on June 6, 2001, at 17:16:49
In reply to Re: effexor is a life saver » teachermom, posted by limey on June 6, 2001, at 15:21:01
Well just remember me later on...
and read this post toohttp://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010605/msgs/65571.html
Posted by Kaysey on June 6, 2001, at 17:50:51
In reply to Re: effexor is a life saver, posted by Marie B on June 6, 2001, at 17:16:49
> Well just remember me later on...
> and read this post too
>
>
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010605/msgs/65571.htmlHi Marie:
Though explanations are probably not very comforting to you now (I am truly sorry for the pain you are experiencing--though I have never been pregnant, there have been times when I had tremendous hormonal fluctuations and was off my meds and I could not stand to be in the world!), I felt compelled to shed a little light on why we often 'do what we do' with regard to such meds. Many of our doctors (especially GPs and often pdocs) base their recommendations on what they have read in the literature--medical journals--about the results of the clinical trials of these medications. These randomized clinical trials (double-blind, placebo controlled being the 'gold' standard), often last no longer than a few weeks (as with venlafaxine--effexor, the trials were about 6 weeks plus/minus). Moreover, for obvious reasons, pregnant women are not included in these studies. As a result, what is studied obviously does not reflect chronic use or teratogenic or mutagenic (birth defect/dna mutation) effects.
No, this doesn't seem fair at all. Moreover, it is extremely frustrating. As an individual who has been involved in medical research for a number of years (chronic disease causation, specifically), I can tell you that we have to bow to the supplier of the funding (with regard to meds, that is often the drug company). That greatly limits the magnitude of the study.
One of my goals in life is to work toward enlightening the world with regard to these health problems and their solutions. Hopefully, we won't have to rely on the drug companies as the source of information, and rely just on message boards for the real effectiveness. In the mean time, we have to realize that we are taking some risks in order to hopefully better or lives and the lives of those around us.
I'll get off my soap box, now, and just say that you are probably doing the very best you can do. I noticed a previous post from Cam that suggested you check with your Dr. about perhaps utilizing a small amount of Prozac. You do really need medical support during this time. Not only for the sake of your unborn child, but for the sake of your own mental health.
Sorry for the long post. Please stay in touch with us.
Posted by lifelongevity on June 7, 2001, at 22:41:07
In reply to effexor is a life saver, posted by teachermom on June 6, 2001, at 8:12:33
You've hit on one of my big beefs! People who think anti-depressants are bad, unnecessary or somehow it's more virtuous to struggle!
The truth is every individual is different. Some people have diabetes. Would we tell them, "hey, snap out of it. My body makes insulin, yours should too. Just try harder!"
Well I guess some people would! But I reject that idea every time it comes up.
"Depression" is a really a catch-all term not one particular condition. I like to call it the flu of the mind. When you get muscle aches and fever and feeling bad, you are describing the symptoms of the flu. But you're also describing the symptoms of dozens of other diseases that feel similiar.
And so when your brain is deficient in something it needs like a neurotransmittor it feels to your mind like "depression."
Some depression is caused by external events. And some are caused by physical ailments. And sometimes we have both. Each cause may have to be treated differently. But they certainly have a right to be treated!
My cousin has been a life long depression sufferer in our family.She finally found relief since SSRI's. I never attempted suicide as she had (I had death ideations but never actually felt I would go through with it) so I didn't think I had depression. Then when my dad said he was on paxil I thought I maybe I should try it.
It helped me greatly. For whatever reason my body, and the brain is just another organ of the body, doesn't use neurotransmittors optimally. Maybe it's partly a genetic susceptibility. Maybe it's triggered by stress etc. Whatever the cause
I consider taking a neurotransmittor enhancer just another drug for a physical ailment.
Posted by Kaysey on June 7, 2001, at 23:32:28
In reply to Re: effexor is a life saver, posted by lifelongevity on June 7, 2001, at 22:41:07
> You've hit on one of my big beefs! People who think anti-depressants are bad, unnecessary or somehow it's more virtuous to struggle!
>
> The truth is every individual is different. Some people have diabetes. Would we tell them, "hey, snap out of it. My body makes insulin, yours should too. Just try harder!"
>
> Well I guess some people would! But I reject that idea every time it comes up.
>
> "Depression" is a really a catch-all term not one particular condition. I like to call it the flu of the mind. When you get muscle aches and fever and feeling bad, you are describing the symptoms of the flu. But you're also describing the symptoms of dozens of other diseases that feel similiar.
>
> And so when your brain is deficient in something it needs like a neurotransmittor it feels to your mind like "depression."
>
> Some depression is caused by external events. And some are caused by physical ailments. And sometimes we have both. Each cause may have to be treated differently. But they certainly have a right to be treated!
>
> My cousin has been a life long depression sufferer in our family.She finally found relief since SSRI's. I never attempted suicide as she had (I had death ideations but never actually felt I would go through with it) so I didn't think I had depression. Then when my dad said he was on paxil I thought I maybe I should try it.
>
> It helped me greatly. For whatever reason my body, and the brain is just another organ of the body, doesn't use neurotransmittors optimally. Maybe it's partly a genetic susceptibility. Maybe it's triggered by stress etc. Whatever the cause
> I consider taking a neurotransmittor enhancer just another drug for a physical ailment.Amazing isn't it? With regard to mental health, our society is almost as antiquated in its attitudes as we were during the dark ages! Centuries ago, it was thought that disease was caused by bad air, spirits, demons, poor character, etc. Although we laugh at those concepts now, when you stop to think about it, many people treat those with depression like they once treated people with the plague and leprosy.
We have so far to go (and that is what I meant in the previor post about wanting to bring this to light via research and education).
You know, I have actually tried to use that analogy that you used about diabetes and insulin, and I have gotten really strange looks. Sadly just a few decades ago, diabetics were dismissed as people who had 'no control' over their intake of sweets often like the depressed of today are told they have 'no control' over their emotions.
I had a lengthy conversation with an RN friend of mine who refused to 'buy into' the neurotransmitter theory of depression at all! OK, enough of the soapbox again. Frustrating isn't it? I just hope we can make some headway.
Posted by SLS on June 8, 2001, at 23:00:32
In reply to Re: effexor is a life saver, posted by lifelongevity on June 7, 2001, at 22:41:07
> "Depression" is a really a catch-all term not one particular condition. I like to call it the flu of the mind. When you get muscle aches and fever and feeling bad, you are describing the symptoms of the flu. But you're also describing the symptoms of dozens of other diseases that feel similiar.
>
> And so when your brain is deficient in something it needs like a neurotransmittor it feels to your mind like "depression."
>
> Some depression is caused by external events. And some are caused by physical ailments. And sometimes we have both. Each cause may have to be treated differently. But they certainly have a right to be treated!
Perfect.Thanks.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
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