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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tina on November 26, 2002, at 9:12:39
last week I asked a question about topomax and efexor together as a treatment for ptsd, bipolar II and panic disorder and only got one reply. (thank you sj) Can I assume then that no one has taken this combo and can't answer how it works together?? or if it works at all??
Just let me know and I'll stop asking.....
thanks
tina
Posted by Krysti on November 26, 2002, at 10:06:52
In reply to So NO ONE had taken these together?????, posted by tina on November 26, 2002, at 9:12:39
I haven't taken either of those. Sorry I can't be of help.
Posted by amber_spirit on November 26, 2002, at 13:46:58
In reply to So NO ONE had taken these together?????, posted by tina on November 26, 2002, at 9:12:39
I've taken them both together. My dx was depression and I as at 150 mg Effexor XR. I added topamax for weight loss and energy. I quit topamax because of word-find problems and it didn't really help energy.
I didn't have any problems with the two together, they just didn't do what I was looking for. (BTW, my current dx is BP)Email me if you have any questions amber_spirit@hotmail.com
AS
Posted by NikkiT2 on November 26, 2002, at 17:34:55
In reply to So NO ONE had taken these together?????, posted by tina on November 26, 2002, at 9:12:39
hun.. I don't like to scare monger.. but you are my close friend, and I feel I really know you.
Effexor withdrawal is the worst, hardest thing I have ever done, and the side effects take so long to apss. I know how sensitive to meds you are too.
Just my thoughts *hugs*
Nikki xx
Posted by Mr Cushing on November 26, 2002, at 21:14:48
In reply to Re: So NO ONE had taken these together????? » tina, posted by NikkiT2 on November 26, 2002, at 17:34:55
I would have to admit with Nikki, Effexor withdrawal is more like Effexor Hell. It's really really bad... but then again, it does keep you stabilized while you're on it. It's just incredible for reducing anxiety and other manic symptoms.To beat the withdrawal effects, I've been using a little bit of Clonazepam during the day. But still... I can barely function till this passes. God, constant headache, body hurts since it's like fiending for the Effexor, my tongue feels swollen, my vision is all blurry, my vivid dreams have become more like scary as F**k nightmares (last night I dreamed about little kids, like 4-5 year olds, being mutilated in front of me and then their dead bodies coming back to life to do the same to me for watching...), I got the shakes pretty bad (hurt myself brushing my teeth today... that's a new one for me lol), and so on. Plus, it's really hard to get it into your system to begin with. The start-up effects are more like you've got the flue for about 2 weeks.
So, yeah, if you're really sensitive to side-effects, I would highly suggest trying another drug. But if you're brave enough and need relief from anxiety/manic symptoms, this drug can do wonders. I have been diagnosed recently as being Bi-Polar I with mixed symptoms along with Panic Disorder and if I timed my doses just right, without even having a mood stabilizer in place, Effexor would keep me on an "even keel". I didn't even feel the need to quit taking this drug untill I had been on Depakote for 1 month and figured that it had already stabilized in my system. Also, the only reason why I'm quitting the drug is to see how well Depakote by itself will keep me stabilized.
Posted by jay on November 26, 2002, at 22:16:16
In reply to So NO ONE had taken these together?????, posted by tina on November 26, 2002, at 9:12:39
Posted by tina on November 27, 2002, at 10:54:29
In reply to Re: So NO ONE had taken these together?????, posted by Mr Cushing on November 26, 2002, at 21:14:48
Ok, consider me scared sh*tless..........
I didn't like what I read about effexor to begin with and Nikki, you're absolutely right about my sensitivity. I don't know what else to do. My brother and aunt are on effexor and they haven't had any side effects at all starting it. My brother has been on it for about 3 months and my aunt started it about 3 weeks ago and they are both doing well so I'm just so confused.
How long were the two of you on it and how long ago did you stop?
thanks
tina
Posted by NikkiT2 on November 27, 2002, at 11:10:54
In reply to Re: Nikki and Mr Cushing, posted by tina on November 27, 2002, at 10:54:29
Hi hun
I was on it, 2 1/2 years ago for 13 months.. then twat, sorry, psychiatrist, took me off it cold turkey.. I was back on within 5 days and then staye don for another 18 months. I withdrew from it 2nd time around over 4 months and it was still hell getting off that last 37.5mg...
Oh, and it was 8 months ago I came off, and the memory is still that strong of it!!!Iposte dto you at ASh... it does help SO many people.. but you're special, and I don't want to see you suffering. And I have seen this in the past with much more gentle drugs you were on...
*shrugs* If it was nayone else in the world, I'd say go for it, give it a try...
If you decide to try it hun, remember, I am here for you anytime you need me... you on MSN messenger by any chance???
I know this is subject of the month, but have you thought of trying the fish oil... I think I'm gonna give it a bash, but its sooo expensive over here I'm gonna have to wait till christmas is over :o(
Ewww.... got the shakes now just talking to Mr Cushing about the withdrawal... stuuuupid eh!!!
Nikki xx
Posted by amber_spirit on November 27, 2002, at 11:31:02
In reply to Re: Nikki and Mr Cushing » tina, posted by NikkiT2 on November 27, 2002, at 11:10:54
Just wanted to let you know that I had no major start-up symptoms or withdrawel. Although I went cold-turkey during the middle of a major mixed episode. So, I was so miserable already I'm not sure I would have noticed any new symptoms.
Oh, also, I used to take "medication vacations" (suggested by my pdoc) to deal with the sexual side effects. I would not take my Friday and/or Saturday dose so that my husband and I could have an enjoyable weekend. It never seemed to have a big effect on me.
Its definitely a hard decision to make bc you don't know how you'll react before hand. Good luck with whatever you decide.
AS
Posted by Mr Cushing on November 27, 2002, at 12:15:15
In reply to Re: Nikki and Mr Cushing, posted by tina on November 27, 2002, at 10:54:29
Tina, I was on it for closer to 3 months. Put it this way, when I went on Effexor, my head was so screwed up that I really couldn't think straight, couldn't figure out what was going on with me, all I know was that I could barely function anymore and it was scaring the Hell out of me. My PDoc, who happens to be a good friend of mine for about as long as I've been alive, kept telling me that there was something off in my biochemistry and that if I didn't try to resolve the situation sometime soon that there would come a time where I would just not be able to function anymore. Anyways, she was saying that for like 3 years while I was just pushing myself as hard as I possibly could (getting through College, etc.) and making my condition so much worse. So when I called her telling her that something was wrong but that I had no clue what it was since I really can't even form a rational thought anymore, she wasn't surprised.We figured that since my anxiety and panic attacks (of which I was having at least one a day at this point) were probably the most severe symptoms at the time, that a combination of Clonazepam and Effexor would help to alleviate me of those and then we could go to work figuring out what was wrong.
Anyways, to make a long story short, I've been dx'd now as being Bi-Polar I with mixed states as well as having Panic Disorder and Effexor, just combined with Clonazepam and not using any Mood Stabilizers at the time, made me stable enough that we were able to dig deep into my problems and figure out exactly what was going on. I know you've heard that you should NOT take an AD without a Mood Stabilizer already in place if you're Bi-Polar, well, Effexor did work for me IF I timed my doses just right.
The only hard part was getting it into my system (I actually remember that because I just couldn't stop sweating and shaking, it was like I had the flue for 2 weeks) and the withdrawal is complete Hell. But for while I was actually on the medication, it really does work. I think the lab that makes it just needs to figure out a way to help get it into and out of our systems easier.
I stopped because I wanted to test out some Mood Stabilizers (been on Depakote now for about 1 month at 375mg per day) and I didn't think I would be giving it a fair trial while I still had Effexor in my system. Since the MS that I decide on I'll probably be sticking to for a number of years, I figured that it would only be fair to try it out this way. If I didn't, I wouldn't know what to attribute to Effexor and what to attribute to Depakote.
I stopped on Saturday night, after going through a week of weaning down from 75mg every 36 hours (any more in any different of a time frame made me hypomanic) to 3 days at 37.5mg every 36 hours, to nothing at all. The withdrawal became really bad on Tuesday.
This is the end of the thread.
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