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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Firebabe on September 2, 2001, at 9:31:55
> > > I am unable to get EffexorXR 75 mg from my Ins. So, in order for me to get 225mg, I am having to take one 150mg cap and HAVE TO DIVIDE A 150MG CAPSULE. Is it true that if you open the EffexorXR capsules, that it will alter the effectiveness?
> > >
> > > Remeron: IT KICKED MY ASS! I took 15mg before bed last night for sleep (that is why the doc prescribed it) and i woke up totally groggy and kinda stoned. Is that normal??
Posted by Phil on September 2, 2001, at 9:47:11
In reply to CAM....pls read, posted by Firebabe on September 2, 2001, at 9:31:55
Firebabe,
Can't speak to your first question but the first night I took 15mg of Remeron, I almost didn't make it to my bed! This problem disappeared within a few days.
For me and many others, it's much less sedating and you're less likely to gain weight at higher doses. At 60mg, I was losing some weight.
Hopefully, Cam will address this for you.Phil
Posted by Greg on September 2, 2001, at 13:55:06
In reply to CAM....pls read, posted by Firebabe on September 2, 2001, at 9:31:55
FB,
Cam's out of town for the weekend but I'm sure he'll get back to you when he returns.
Greg
> > > > I am unable to get EffexorXR 75 mg from my Ins. So, in order for me to get 225mg, I am having to take one 150mg cap and HAVE TO DIVIDE A 150MG CAPSULE. Is it true that if you open the EffexorXR capsules, that it will alter the effectiveness?
> > > >
> > > > Remeron: IT KICKED MY ASS! I took 15mg before bed last night for sleep (that is why the doc prescribed it) and i woke up totally groggy and kinda stoned. Is that normal??
Posted by Cam W. on September 3, 2001, at 20:42:04
In reply to CAM....pls read, posted by Firebabe on September 2, 2001, at 9:31:55
Firebabe - Phil is right about lower doses (15mg to 30mg) of Remeron™ (mirtazapine) being more sedating, especially as a start-up side effect. This can be useful if insomnia is one of your depressive symptoms.
I have heard that some pdocs start Remeron at 45mg a day for the first 2 weeks and then lower it to 30mg a day. I have no clinical experience with Remeron (not available in Canada), and only know about it from what I have heard and read.
As for the Effexor XR™ (venlafaxine), yes, you can open the capsules, but don't crush the balls. The only problem with breaking up the 150mg capsules is that it is damned near impossible to get an exact 75mg of drug. This is not super important, as the dosage averages itself out over 2 days (ie. take 1/2 of the capsule on consecutive nights.
You need to try to swallow the balls whole, without chewing them, because breaking the balls will destroy the time-release mechanism and dump all the Effexor into your blood stream at one time. This means that the Effexor will leave your body sooner, as well, and you may (slight chance, but I have seen it happen) start to go through serotonin withdrawl before your next dose.
Hope this is of some help. - Cam
This is the end of the thread.
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