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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by pliney on July 2, 2003, at 22:08:24
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by shan on January 7, 2000, at 15:01:19
> i'm kinda scared to take lithium, any info that might help? would be greatly appreciated.
> thanx :)I know lithium is a naturally occouring mineral - so that makes me a little more comfortable.
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 3, 2003, at 12:53:27
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by pliney on July 2, 2003, at 22:08:24
I don't take Lithium but I changed the topic from Effexor to Lithium so maybe you'll get the info you need.
Good luck, Kim> > i'm kinda scared to take lithium, any info that might help? would be greatly appreciated.
> > thanx :)
>
> I know lithium is a naturally occouring mineral - so that makes me a little more comfortable.
>
>
Posted by Tiger's Dad on July 3, 2003, at 14:39:50
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by pliney on July 2, 2003, at 22:08:24
> > i'm kinda scared to take lithium, any info that might help? would be greatly appreciated.
> > thanx :)
>
> I know lithium is a naturally occouring mineral - so that makes me a little more comfortable.
>
>No offense, but that is hardly rational. Arsenic is naturally occuring too but you certainly wouldn't want to ingest it. That said, I do know that Lithium is often the treatment of choice for bi-polar disorder since it limits both depressive and manic swings.
Posted by lovemybabies on July 3, 2003, at 21:17:27
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Dreams......... » Rickey, posted by KimberlyDi on June 23, 2003, at 10:42:42
Hi, everybody. I just wanted to post that it's been five months and the decreased libido/inorgasmia is FINALLY gone! My husband, especially is pleased. :) The only pesky side effect that won't leave is the constipation. No matter how much water, Citrucel, etc. I consume. Anybody have great advice regarding that little dilemma? Keep the faith--I'm living proof that the libido DOES come back. I'm on 150mg, by the way.
Jen
Posted by fallsfall on July 3, 2003, at 21:35:17
In reply to lithium newbie needs feedback on it » pliney, posted by KimberlyDi on July 3, 2003, at 12:53:27
I've been taking Lithium for 8 years. It is one of the older Psych meds and has been used by many, many people. I can have some side effects, but in my case they are milder than the more "modern" meds.
I tried to stop taking it 4 years ago (or so), in hopes that I didn't need it any more. But as I reduced the dose I could tell that I really wanted to be taking it (I don't remember exactly what happened - it was a long time ago. Just that it was really obvious that it was an important med for me).
Why are you afraid to take it? What have you heard?
Posted by mercedes on July 5, 2003, at 4:14:51
In reply to Re: lithium newbie needs feedback on it - Pliney, posted by fallsfall on July 3, 2003, at 21:35:17
First I want to thank Brian, Cher, Zinya and Kimberly for your prayers and thoughts. I left Saturday 21st of June and returned Tues. July 1st. I only drove 3 hours and stayed with a friend overnight. Next day I proceeded to drive the other 2 1/2 hours to my sons house. I made it! I wasn't scared going up but coming back, I was very nervous and sleepy. I took my effexor at around 10:00 am but spent some time in the sun. I think this made me sleepy. I was going to drive the 5 hours straight. Not a good idea but I made it home. I had my pekingnese with me so I kept telling him not to sleep, talk to me, wake me up. But he ignored me, slept like a doggy.
Anyway, my grandaugher weighed 7 lbs, 6 oz. She is healthy and beautiful. I spent time in the hospital with my daughter-n-law as she had to have some blood transfusions. All in all, everything went well. I drove around to see some freinds, I even took the diamond lane once. A year ago, no one could pay me enough to get on a diamond lane. I don't really know what happened ....yes I do. I prayed to God to heal me of this fear driving and of leaving my "safe place". I also was tired of being in this prison, unable to travel anywhere, asking people to take me places for fear of having an anxioty attack. I did it and will hopefully drive more now. Well, I'm still a little scared but will take my baby steps. However this drive was a huge giant step in my life. I truly think that getting on this psycobable also helped me immensly. Just knowing I was not alone in feeling the way I do.
Thank you all for your comments, support, inquiries and for being there for me. I will try to do the same for you. Luv you all and take care.
Mercedes
Posted by rennek on July 5, 2003, at 21:51:06
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Effexor was a miracle drug for me. I took it for two years and felt great except for some sexual side effects. I stopped taking it nine months ago (for sexual reasons) and continued to feel great until two weeks ago when my extreme anxiety suddenly returned. I am back on it and pray it works like it did before. To hell with sex. Insanity is not worth it.
Posted by CherC68 on July 6, 2003, at 8:11:58
In reply to I'm back, drove by myself, 1st time in 6 yrs!, posted by mercedes on July 5, 2003, at 4:14:51
Mercedes,
I am so very happy for you! YOU DID IT! I somehow knew you could. A grandbaby is a wonderful thing to drive to. It's terrible what depression and chemical imbalances can do to a person, but oh so nice to see someone pulling out of it, and making it.You took a huge step and made it, but there is nothing wrong with going back to baby steps, to work up to another huge step sometime in the future.
Again, I am very happy for you and proud of you Mercedes. Thank you for letting us know that you made it back, safe & sound & happy with a brand new beautiful granddaughter!
Take Care,
Hugs, Cher.
Posted by mercedes on July 6, 2003, at 21:14:42
In reply to Re: Driving a problem? » mercedes, posted by brian green on June 21, 2003, at 5:14:28
Brian, I re-read my note as I also have memory problems to see what you meant by "perfect name". Was it "prison"? I would guess so. It is. It has been a prison. I used to think I was going crazy/nuts, didn't want to tell anyone and was never, ever going to get well. I took my meds with me. So....how'd your "next step" go?Mercedes
> well merc, you have the perfect name for it. and I can tell by the vibes you are sending over here in alabama that you area ready. I hope you have a great time, you inspire me to take a next step today! I will let you know what it is when I wake up fully. you are the best! take plenty of your meds with you!!!!!Let us know when you get back, and we will expect to see the baby's photo so be thinking about how you can scan or whatever.
> Brian
Posted by mercedes on July 6, 2003, at 22:25:24
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Dreams......... » Rickey, posted by brian green on June 21, 2003, at 5:20:17
Rickey, I've had vivid dreams. Just this past Friday i dreamt that my dad was in a clear body bag (he passed away 15 years ago)and my brother was standing by, said he had called the coroner. I went up close to my dad and saw that he was trying to breath. I told my brother he should have called the paramedics, NOT the coroner. He said it would cost 5 cents more a mile if the paramedics came vs. the coroner. I said "OH, ok". It was very vivid and I tried to analyze the dream. Conclusion, my brother is cheap.
MercedesI have pleasant dreams too. I think they are linked to the meds. but it don't bother me as long as I am getting better.....
p.s. Brian, you're funny, lol.> Rickey, I have not really experienced any unusual dreams since being on EFF, however I have been fine tuning on something to make me sleep, and one of those had me on top of a submarine walking a rope ladder with the other men, some of them my friends. We bought tomatoes on the way back at the curb market. Nah, nothing weird.
> Brian
Posted by mercedes on July 7, 2003, at 0:15:23
In reply to Re: I'm back, drove by myself, 1st time in 6 yrs! » mercedes, posted by CherC68 on July 6, 2003, at 8:11:58
Thank you for your confidence in me. I have always been afraid of being somewhere where I might not have control of my panic disorder, fear of having an anxiety attack, etc. I was afraid of being afraid. People and family couln't understand why I was afraid to drive long distances. Just a couple of weeks ago I was afraid to drive even 15 miles. I carry a cell phone just for that reason. It's a security blanket so to speak. This trip was a huge triumph for me. When I said I didn't want this illness/fear to control me anymore, is something my therapist tried to tell me about 5 years ago. I couln't do it then.....with the help of the meds and time, I did it.
Thanks again....mercedes
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 7, 2003, at 9:49:42
In reply to I'm back, drove by myself, 1st time in 6 yrs!, posted by mercedes on July 5, 2003, at 4:14:51
Mercedes!!! Glad you are back. Glad you conquered you fears!!!! whoooohooooo!!! Thanks for the laugh this morning re: doggy sleeping instead of keeping you awake. I bet doggy helped just by being there. I realized I flew over my hurdle also. Over a month ago I was falling apart. I made a plan, find a p-doc, therapist, and take AD's again to keep from ending up in hospital again because of stress at fiscal year end inventory time. I followed my plan, and I'm through with inventory and feeling great. I'm loving Effexor and all you psycho-babblers right now!!!
> First I want to thank Brian, Cher, Zinya and Kimberly for your prayers and thoughts. I left Saturday 21st of June and returned Tues. July 1st. I only drove 3 hours and stayed with a friend overnight. Next day I proceeded to drive the other 2 1/2 hours to my sons house. I made it! I wasn't scared going up but coming back, I was very nervous and sleepy. I took my effexor at around 10:00 am but spent some time in the sun. I think this made me sleepy. I was going to drive the 5 hours straight. Not a good idea but I made it home. I had my pekingnese with me so I kept telling him not to sleep, talk to me, wake me up. But he ignored me, slept like a doggy.
>
> Anyway, my grandaugher weighed 7 lbs, 6 oz. She is healthy and beautiful. I spent time in the hospital with my daughter-n-law as she had to have some blood transfusions. All in all, everything went well. I drove around to see some freinds, I even took the diamond lane once. A year ago, no one could pay me enough to get on a diamond lane. I don't really know what happened ....yes I do. I prayed to God to heal me of this fear driving and of leaving my "safe place". I also was tired of being in this prison, unable to travel anywhere, asking people to take me places for fear of having an anxioty attack. I did it and will hopefully drive more now. Well, I'm still a little scared but will take my baby steps. However this drive was a huge giant step in my life. I truly think that getting on this psycobable also helped me immensly. Just knowing I was not alone in feeling the way I do.
>
> Thank you all for your comments, support, inquiries and for being there for me. I will try to do the same for you. Luv you all and take care.
>
> Mercedes
Posted by zinya on July 8, 2003, at 13:23:41
In reply to I'm back, drove by myself, 1st time in 6 yrs!, posted by mercedes on July 5, 2003, at 4:14:51
hi mercedes!
welcome back from what sounds like a wonderful turning-point trip. Your granddaughter is, it seems, giving *you* life, reason to re-commit to facing down fears and thus living more fully! Which makes her, in a sense, your son's "gift" to you too :))We are happy and inspired observers and supporters of your new conquests!
Maybe your doggy was important in both giving you someone to talk to more than needing him to respond and also being a vivid display of what lack of anxiety looks like! :)) with his total confidence in you at the wheel! Nothing like a passenger who can fall asleep to tell you someone trusts you!
with hugs and joy for you!
zinya
Posted by zinya on July 8, 2003, at 20:30:30
In reply to Re: Effexor XR Dreams........., posted by mercedes on July 6, 2003, at 22:25:24
Hi Mercedes, again...
once more with feeling... I wrote a reply to your dreams post hours ago, hit submit just as the phone was ringing and one thing led to another... I sometimes forget that this system requires a second 'submit' to confirm the post and this isn't the first time i've forgotten and now just lost the of-course *brilliant* post i had written ... aargh. . I'll see what i can drum up as a substitute (unless, as my mom's mom used to tell her, she said, when you forget something you meant to say, it must have been a lie - !?!? a bit of folk wisdom i never quite bought into :)
I guess i started out wondering if you were open to hearing a completely off-the-cuff unsolicited "interpretation" of your dream??
If not, stop reading :) If so, here goes -- just what came to me as i read your dream and knowing your current state of ongoing progress in dealing with anxiety.
It seemed to me that the dream was about anxiety, about worrying about things that might have been done differently in the past, symbolized by your dad's death and whether something could or should have been done differently -- whether about your dad or whether that was representing something more generic (One theory of dreams is that the people in our dreams actually represent parts of ourselves at least as much or more than the people themselves -- and plausibly we choose them in our dreams cuz they echo that part of ourselves the dream is dealing with)
And it occurred to me that perhaps Effexor is getting your dreams to take over some of our anxiety focus and thereby "relieving" you in your waking life to move beyond those anxieties?? (Another theory of dreams being that they are efforts to deal with unresolved bits of our waking lives that have nagged at us etc)
Maybe?? :)) Well, the phone's ringing again - let's hope i remember to confirm submit this time ...
hugs,
zinyap.s. I'm *sure* my original post was much more brilliant :)), but alas lost to the ages, this is my humble substitute :)
Posted by HeatherR on July 9, 2003, at 13:44:21
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
My Dr. prescribed Effexor and had me increase the dose triple within three days! I felt horrible. My pupils were huge, I couldn't eat, I couldn't even barely talk. I felt like a zombie. My husband even told me I looked like a monster. I have since found a new Dr. and started taking Zoloft. Things are much better now! I think the success of a med depends a lot on the Dr. sometimes.
Posted by theo on July 9, 2003, at 15:11:09
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by HeatherR on July 9, 2003, at 13:44:21
The starter dose for Effexor XR is 37.5mg for 7 days and then to 75mg standard. This is the way they come in the starter pack. Yes, switching doctors may be a plus. I started 7 days ago on 37.5mg and my doctor even prescribed 37.5 for a month, then will see if I want to stay, increase or discontinue.
Posted by KimmieM. on July 9, 2003, at 16:02:09
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by HeatherR on July 9, 2003, at 13:44:21
i can't believe any doc would increase any AD that quickly. Like the others have said, usually you go up every 7 days until you are at a therapeutic level for You.The level for each person can be very different depending on a lot of factors. I find effexor to be great for me. good luck on the zoloft, keep us informed on your progress. kimmie
Posted by theo on July 9, 2003, at 16:07:23
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » HeatherR, posted by KimmieM. on July 9, 2003, at 16:02:09
What dose are you currently taking??
Posted by KimmieM. on July 9, 2003, at 16:30:20
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » KimmieM., posted by theo on July 9, 2003, at 16:07:23
I am currently taken 150 mg effexor xr. I have been on it for about 6 months. I had a few side effects at the beginning but I am ok now. How about you?
Posted by zinya on July 9, 2003, at 17:15:10
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » theo, posted by KimmieM. on July 9, 2003, at 16:30:20
So does this mean you have not found a "habituation" at the same dose (150) which required you to up the dose, I take it? (Some have suggested here that they felt they had to keep upping beyond 150 over time to get the same effect.)
Secondly, did you notice the alleged second-system effects which are supposed to kick in at 150 mg? Namely, an impact on the adrenal system (Supposedly below 150 mg, the effects are only on SSRI). If you did notice a whole other level of effects at 150, could you describe them? Increased energy?
I'm currently at 75 mg, having taken the world's slowest path to building up due to prior bad side effects on a-d's, which you may know if you've read my prior posts here, but I started the last week of May at 19 mg (splitting 37.5 granules in half), then to 37.5, then to 56, and last week up to 75. Part of me is eager (or desperate?) to get to 150 given the reported extra adrenal effects, which is the reason my md. thought Effexor woudl be best for me, but I also feel a need to keep moving up very slowly (meaning next to 100, then 125, before moving to 150) because my system has been so sensitive in the past. It does seem that each stage now gives me fewer side-effect problems than the previous one. (Main ones still be big increase in sweating and dizziness)
thanks,
zinya
Posted by KimmieM. on July 9, 2003, at 17:24:53
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » KimmieM., posted by zinya on July 9, 2003, at 17:15:10
Hi Zinya, Just in the past few days I feel I may need a slightly higher dose. Some family problems which I have been able to deal with are a little overwhelming at the moment. I am going to give it a little more time just to see, before I contact doc.
About the 150 mg dose. yes I did feel some different aspects. I had mentioned at that time to doc, that I felt like I was on "uppers" of which I had previous experience with in my teens.
I was constantly babbling,was hyper and the biggest feeling was that I just wanted to hug everybody and tell them that I loved them. That is so unlike me. I am not a "hugger" These feelings did pass in about 2 weeks, and all has leveled off. I have also forgotten to take effexor for a day or 2 and no bad side effects from that. But remember, everybody's system reacts differently. It's basically adjusting and finding the right dose and med. It is good you are starting off slowly. As long as you are feeling some improvement in symptoms, take it slow.
Posted by KimmieM. on July 9, 2003, at 17:28:30
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Zinya, or anyone else, I have to go out to get my daily exercise, but i will be back on later tonight. if you hve any other questions I will be glad to give my opinion....lol see you guys soon
Posted by theo on July 10, 2003, at 9:06:57
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » theo, posted by KimmieM. on July 9, 2003, at 16:30:20
I am only taking 37.5mg for one month then maybe up the dose to 75mg.
Posted by JayJr on July 10, 2003, at 15:39:52
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR? » KimmieM., posted by theo on July 10, 2003, at 9:06:57
I started Effexor XR at 37.5 for a 4 days, then up to 75mg for a while but I got totally scared because I was completely exhausted all the time, didn't want to eat, was nauseous in the morning, and felt more depressed... I think that some of the side effects were just making me more depressed which was making me not want to eat and nauseous.. its hard to discern between symptoms of depression and side-effects. There IS some trauma involved when starting on this kind of medication, and when you're depressed the trauma is amplified...
After a few weeks I started feeling a little better, started eating food with the meds, and a week later had myself at about 150mgs. So its been a total of 5 weeks for me and I THINK its starting to help somewhat.
I still have lack of appetite and less sex drive. The sex drive part is ok because my live-in girlfriend is totally unintimate never wants to have sex anyway (which is a major problem and probably helped push me to depression!).
Anyway:
You gotta stick with the Effexor for 6 weeks or so, if the side-effects are just too much, or you feel no benefit, then you need a new drug.My doctor calls my dose (150mgs) a therapeutic dose, I guess because I'll be doing therapy with her as well. But, I still feel pretty crummy most of the time and will be upping my dose anyway.
Thanks for listening : )
Jay
Posted by KimmieM. on July 10, 2003, at 15:50:47
In reply to Re: Anyone had success on Effexor XR?, posted by JayJr on July 10, 2003, at 15:39:52
Hi Jay, my appetite was diminished also, for
about 3 weeks, I lost 10 lbs, but it is back to almost normal now. I eat regularly, but in smaller portions( which is healthier). The lack of sex drive is still affecting me. When that opportunity arises, sometimes it is just not possible to have an "O". That to me is the worst side effect. Apparently from what I have experienced and read, this doesn't change for a lot of people. Keep trying, jay 5 weeks is good but give it some more time before switching. you just need to get through the SE and find YOUR therapeutic level. Good Luck, Keep posting. Kimmie
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