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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by lorily on August 6, 2004, at 8:43:13
In reply to Re: Sexual Disfunction of Effexor, posted by Normal Again on August 5, 2004, at 23:14:05
I have myself always posted here that effexor saved my life. I am so happy to be off of it, and I wrote about my experiences with withdrawals here. I am so happy that I am able to live without it, that I do not have to depend on medication at this point, happy that I do not have to depend on whether or not my doctor is in the mood to see me for my scheduled appointment, etc. If I were to need an AD again however, I would try something else before going back on effexor, only because of the withdrawals. if there is anyone reading this who is considering not taking effexor because of this and that cymbalta is unavailable in their area, It's really a decision you have to make very carefully, weigh the pros and cons. For me it was feel better or die, pretty much an easy choice, but I fought taking meds because I thought I could "handle it" blah, blah, blah. Once again, Effexor saved my life. I wasnt on a high dose, I SLOWLY lowered my dosage to wean off it and have not taken any since July 14. Today I have no side effects. If you have the opportunity to change your life around take it. Effexor is not a life sentence.
Posted by lorily on August 6, 2004, at 8:50:48
In reply to New Girl, posted by Louoicu81 on August 5, 2004, at 22:37:29
Hey, everyone around here usually refers to them as brain zaps. lol. slow down on you withdrawal. I didnt have a whole lot of side effects, or really that were so terrible the way I did it. People here have posted they take claritin, I tried benadryl, even dramamine for the equilibrium disturbance. I guess they worked because I was ok. the turning my eyes and feeling like the elevator jumped was a bit unsettling at times, lol. Just do it slowly. You've been on it 2 years already, if it takes months to go down at a comfortable level what's the harm? You don't want to relapse into depression shocking your brain into trying to learn how to do it alone. Take your time. Be well
Posted by Shyla on August 6, 2004, at 9:05:54
In reply to Re: Panic/anxity » chaoz, posted by Normal Again on August 5, 2004, at 22:35:29
I have been having a difficult time getting a full night's sleep on Effexor XR. I have been taking it first thing in the morning. I'm intrigued by your suggestion to take it at bedtime. I think I will give it a try. My doc has never suggested that. But, night after night of waking and staying fully awake is getting to me. I'll try your suggestion and see what happens. Thanks!
Posted by Shyla on August 6, 2004, at 9:16:35
In reply to SORRY TO JUMP IN - BUT HELP PLEASE?!, posted by corafree on August 6, 2004, at 4:46:18
It sounds like you are in a bad way. I hope others are responding to your plea. It sounds like you need professional help, rather than just us laymen here. Of course, we want to you be well, and not harm yourself. BUT, you need to connect with a professional who has experience with others in similar situations as you. I'm sure I speak for all of us here. I wish you the best of luck. Peace.
Posted by pablo1 on August 6, 2004, at 10:28:07
In reply to SORRY TO JUMP IN - BUT HELP PLEASE?!, posted by corafree on August 6, 2004, at 4:46:18
I agree the therapy should be a really good thing now. Twice a week is great when you are at this pivotal point. Ask your kids for support on that and I wish you the best with it. Tell the therapist & the group you are afraid and to be gentle with you, I'm sure they will oblige. I know how it feels to want to run away from therapy but even the ones I ran away from were helpful for a period so give it a try. Probably you are hyped up enough that it will actually help now. Try to relax and let it work.
Posted by PoohBear on August 6, 2004, at 10:34:04
In reply to SORRY TO JUMP IN - BUT HELP PLEASE?!, posted by corafree on August 6, 2004, at 4:46:18
Cora:
If you want, PM me at treynolds AT teague.com
Remove the "AT" and replace with "@".
Sounds like you need someone to "chat" with.
Tony
Posted by Normal Again on August 6, 2004, at 22:07:25
In reply to SORRY TO JUMP IN - BUT HELP PLEASE?!, posted by corafree on August 6, 2004, at 4:46:18
cora,
When things got their worst for me and suicide was becoming a very real prospect, i suddenly realized something. Suicide isn't a choice, or a solution or a way to finally defeat the demons. It is the loss of all of those things. You lose your ability to choose, and to get better, and the disease wins. It may seem like nobody cares right now but so many do, and so many will suffer from your loss, you can't see that now but it's true, and when you win the battle (and it is a battle that can be won) you will see the truth in what i am saying, and you will be grateful for the life you have, i promise, just hang in there. If anything suicide is a way to spread this disease to others. So much hapiness comes from winning this battle, so much sadness comes from giving up and losing.
Something that helped me when i was at my lowest was to take stock of my life, and give it an overhaul. I looked into myself and found all of those things and all of thiose people that were negative forces in my life and decided to withdraw myself from them, rather than waiting for them to improve or to go away on their own. If that meant losing contact with so-called "friends", even life-long friends, relatives or my spouse, who i realized didn't play a positive, supporting role in my life, then that's what it meant. I removed all of the negative factors in my life and really took time to think about who i was and what i thought was my own personal definition of a "happy life" and decided to do whatever was necessary to make it happen. I had to find out who i wasn't before i could start discovering who i was. It didn't "cure" my illness, and it didn't happen over night, but it was a major step toward that end. It's not an easy thing to do, and some people might get their feelings heart in the process, but the ends justify the means, and if you take your own life a lot more people will get more than just their feelings hurt.
If your family isn't helping (and by supporting the idea of taking your life they definitely are not helping), then you need to find yourself a new "family", be it through a support group, a close friend, or somebody you meet on the street. Whatever it takes, you need to take control of your life and you need to get yourself help, so that you can beat back the the demons that haunt so many of us here and win your life back once and for all.
Posted by Louoicu81 on August 6, 2004, at 22:26:19
In reply to Re: SORRY TO JUMP IN - BUT HELP PLEASE?!, posted by Normal Again on August 6, 2004, at 22:07:25
Thanks for the advice. I am weaning off of the Effexor quite slowly and you're right...I can do it even slower if I need to. For those of you who are either getting off of Effexor or are off of it....How are you doing now? At first, I noticed that I had become the demon that I was before I took it-short and mean with everyone who even looked in my direction. I do think that was because I didn't feel well due to the withdrawal effects. Now, I am doing better than ever I believe. I am able to do things that my anxieties would not let me do before like staying home for a weekend alone while my family was gone camping. I am also pretty happy as well. After a while of being on the Effexor I started to question if it was still working. As soon as I got off of it though, I knew it was working. I am just pleased to be able to combat my anxieties and depression on my own. CORA-suicide isn't the answer. No matter how bad you want to die or can't stand to take the hell of living every day, it will get better. I speak from experience. I speak from days in which I wanted to lock myself up in a hospital room because I thought no one could help me. Seek help and seek it soon. Suicide is a selfish answer to a very approachable problem. You mean to tell me that your family wants you to die????? My family did everything in their power to help me. The thing is, they cannot help you. Sure, they can be supportive. You must want to help yourself. Please get well.
Linda
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 6, 2004, at 22:44:51
In reply to Re: SORRY TO JUMP IN - BUT HELP PLEASE?!, posted by Normal Again on August 6, 2004, at 22:07:25
> When things got their worst for me and suicide was becoming a very real prospect, i suddenly realized something...
Sorry to interrupt, but to consolidate them, I'd like to redirect responses to Cora to Psycho-Babble Psychology. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040805/msgs/374907.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by corafree on August 7, 2004, at 21:47:00
In reply to Re: Panic/anxity » chaoz, posted by Normal Again on August 5, 2004, at 22:35:29
I have been on the same dosage 75mg am and 37.5pm for four months. Because I am on a state plan, I have been unable to see a doctor. Do have an appt next week. I think maybe my dose should have been increased quite a bit of time ago. tks cf
Posted by Stryker88 on August 8, 2004, at 3:54:29
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcoholism, posted by cirrus6000 on July 31, 2004, at 23:25:56
Effexor has brought me away from the principles of AA and GA. Before I started popping Effex, I was a routine meeting person. For some reason since I have started taking Effex I started listening to death metal, black metal music heavy stuff and lost touch with serenity and quiteness. People in meetings are more and more appearing to me of people who dont have what I want. I want to live an active, fit, and fun lifestyle while being sober. Unfortunately in AA all I see is Glum, Sorrow, and Misery in alot of people, understandingly so considering the nature of this disease, however chain smoking and drinking a pot of coffee during the meetings and pissing on dreams and life is not appealling to me.
Posted by lorily on August 8, 2004, at 12:22:36
In reply to Comments, posted by Louoicu81 on August 6, 2004, at 22:26:19
Linda, I'm glad you're doing your withdrawal slowly!!!! That will help dramatically! I have been totally off since July 14th I think. There were a few days there I thought I was making a mistake, like you said the demon of before...LOL But I did it consistently slow, just taking about 5 granules from an effexor xr capsule at the very end and now I feel GREAT. What a joy it is to be free from meds!!! and have all that confidence still with me, stronger than before actually.
Best of luck to you.
Posted by corafree on August 8, 2004, at 15:44:52
In reply to trouble waking - when to take effexor, posted by pablo1 on August 5, 2004, at 23:43:09
Since I am a poor metabolizer, I need a follow-up dose of Effexor-XR before the onset of bad symptoms. I am on 75mg am and 37.5mg pm, but began taking the pm dose before 6p and was much better. Haven't seen a doc on my meds for 4 mos., so need adjustment at this point. cf
Posted by corafree on August 8, 2004, at 15:57:15
In reply to SORRY TO JUMP IN - BUT HELP PLEASE?! » corafree, posted by pablo1 on August 6, 2004, at 10:28:07
Good idea, I'll let them know I'm scared from the beginning. I did tell you that my DBT therapist told me that to fail this program would NOT be good for me. It's like she was saying, if you fail this, you WILL definitely give up. I think that's why I'm so scared, if I'm suicidal now, whoa...what would I be then? Did I tell you my Effexor-XR dosage has not been adjusted since April? I've called everybody and keep calling. Pray my family will validate my illness pls P? cf
> I agree the therapy should be a really good thing now. Twice a week is great when you are at this pivotal point. Ask your kids for support on that and I wish you the best with it. Tell the therapist & the group you are afraid and to be gentle with you, I'm sure they will oblige. I know how it feels to want to run away from therapy but even the ones I ran away from were helpful for a period so give it a try. Probably you are hyped up enough that it will actually help now. Try to relax and let it work.
Posted by Louoicu81 on August 8, 2004, at 15:58:43
In reply to Re: trouble waking - when to take effexor » pablo1, posted by corafree on August 8, 2004, at 15:44:52
Lorily,
Thanks for always responding to my messages. You seem to be someone who really cares about others. It seems like you are doing well. I am glad to hear that. I had kind of a grouchy day today. I felt the need to be short with others and everything seemed to get on my nerves...grrrrr! I did realize how crappy I was being and tried to back off a little, though. Do you have days like these after being off of Effexor??? I know being mean is not the person I am, but it is just so easy for something rude to pop out of my mouth sometimes...I hate it. Any advice???
Linda
Posted by corafree on August 8, 2004, at 16:08:17
In reply to Comments, posted by Louoicu81 on August 6, 2004, at 22:26:19
Will you pls share w/ me what medications and dosages you take for primarily, anxiety? tks cf
> Thanks for the advice. I am weaning off of the Effexor quite slowly and you're right...I can do it even slower if I need to. For those of you who are either getting off of Effexor or are off of it....How are you doing now? At first, I noticed that I had become the demon that I was before I took it-short and mean with everyone who even looked in my direction. I do think that was because I didn't feel well due to the withdrawal effects. Now, I am doing better than ever I believe. I am able to do things that my anxieties would not let me do before like staying home for a weekend alone while my family was gone camping. I am also pretty happy as well. After a while of being on the Effexor I started to question if it was still working. As soon as I got off of it though, I knew it was working. I am just pleased to be able to combat my anxieties and depression on my own. CORA-suicide isn't the answer. No matter how bad you want to die or can't stand to take the hell of living every day, it will get better. I speak from experience. I speak from days in which I wanted to lock myself up in a hospital room because I thought no one could help me. Seek help and seek it soon. Suicide is a selfish answer to a very approachable problem. You mean to tell me that your family wants you to die????? My family did everything in their power to help me. The thing is, they cannot help you. Sure, they can be supportive. You must want to help yourself. Please get well.
>
> Linda
Posted by corafree on August 8, 2004, at 16:16:38
In reply to Redirect: SORRY TO JUMP IN, posted by Dr. Bob on August 6, 2004, at 22:44:51
I assume Dr. Bob is telling me to post at psychobabble psychology, right? It's just that I had grief, I had a psychological illness, and I needed to talk, so I (sorry) put my post in these three places. I will try to go to psychobabble psychology from now on, o.k. Dr. Bob?
> > When things got their worst for me and suicide was becoming a very real prospect, i suddenly realized something...
>
> Sorry to interrupt, but to consolidate them, I'd like to redirect responses to Cora to Psycho-Babble Psychology. Here's a link:
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040805/msgs/374907.html
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob
Posted by corafree on August 8, 2004, at 16:22:24
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcoholism, posted by Stryker88 on August 8, 2004, at 3:54:29
> Effexor has brought me away from the principles of AA and GA. Before I started popping Effex, I was a routine meeting person. For some reason since I have started taking Effex I started listening to death metal, black metal music heavy stuff and lost touch with serenity and quiteness. People in meetings are more and more appearing to me of people who dont have what I want. I want to live an active, fit, and fun lifestyle while being sober. Unfortunately in AA all I see is Glum, Sorrow, and Misery in alot of people, understandingly so considering the nature of this disease, however chain smoking and drinking a pot of coffee during the meetings and pissing on dreams and life is not appealling to me.
Reading my posts here and this is interesting. I used to have a couple beers once in a while. Since being on Effexor-XR, I have no desire for a beer or alcohol of any type. Good huh? cf
Posted by sageblue on August 8, 2004, at 17:55:12
In reply to Re:effexor really isnt that bad ?, posted by crazychickuk on August 5, 2004, at 6:04:40
hey -- i'm just starting up effexor this week. (50 mgs twice a day.) i'm also tapering down depakote from 500 mgs to 0 this week (taking 250 once), and am on ineral la 80 mgs.
this is to control migraines and to a lesser extent anxiety over illness.
the migraine-controlling factor is working great, but i'm feeling like i'm not really 'there,' not really 'into' what's going on around me. i'm socializing with others, or doing my usual things, and i actually feel -less- interest and joy than before.
does this effect go away? am i wrong to blame the effexor?
Posted by Atticus on August 8, 2004, at 21:51:36
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcoholism, posted by Stryker88 on August 8, 2004, at 3:54:29
Your experience sounds a lot like my own since going on Effexor XR. Prior to the Effexor, all the ADs were making me so jittery that I went into a period of mixing benzos and booze -- what I call my "Tyrannosaurus Meds" period. On the Effexor, however, I now have less and less patience sitting through group therapy. I understand a lot of these people are really hurting and haven't found the right combo of meds and therapy yet, but I often feel frustrated by what strikes me as a lot of spinning of wheels with the gearshift in park. We plow the same ground week after week after week, and I often think it would do everyone more good to organize some kind of group activity like a picnic in the park or a volleyball game or something, just to get people interacting on a level beyond talking about how bad they feel. We had play/games therapy when I was on the ward in the hospital, and even the most withdrawn people usually got sucked into the spirit of things, so I've seen this approach work. I know that I didn't feel this way before the Effexor, so the stuff is doing something right, but I'm also starting to feel that the traditional, sit-in-a-circle, purely verbal approach has its limitations. I sometimes want to say, the hell with this, let's dance! Atticus
Posted by cirrus6000 on August 8, 2004, at 23:22:57
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcoholism, posted by Stryker88 on August 8, 2004, at 3:54:29
AA must suck where you live. I am talking about Chicago AA and also Suburbs are alright too.
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 9, 2004, at 0:03:44
In reply to Re: Redirect: SORRY TO JUMP IN » Dr. Bob, posted by corafree on August 8, 2004, at 16:16:38
> I will try to go to psychobabble psychology from now on, o.k. Dr. Bob?
Posts about medication are fine here. The idea is just not to post the same information in more than one place at the same time.
Bob
Posted by lorily on August 9, 2004, at 8:18:54
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcoholism, posted by cirrus6000 on August 8, 2004, at 23:22:57
Strykker-- You've got to get to a different meeting. It sounds to be that you're losing faith in the fellowship, not the principles of AA (as you mentioned something like that) I have a group near me that sounds like what you described. Needless-to-say, I don't attend that meeting hall anymore because of it. It's a room full of -- well actually I hear they just sit outside and don't bother to go in, most of them -- miserable people with nothing else to do with their time than go to 3 (or more) meetings a day and gossip, meet their boyfriends/girlfriends (while their spouse is out there working their butts off) complain about the spouses, kids, life is sooooo hard blah blah blah. Yet, they choose to come on back day after day, week after week, and do nothing to change their "problems" Which is totally against the principles of AA.
Don't get me wrong, there was a time when I needed to be at that place every single day, over and over again. I fought to hear the message of AA, not the dry-drunks. I joined a big book study, worked my steps and actually experienced what I'd been hearing about for years of what happens when you honestly work your 4th and 5th steps. IT'S ALL TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!
Today I go to about 1-2 meetings a week (sometimes) I see people who have good sobriety, listen to what they have to share and go home and on with their lives. I have a network of strong people that I deal with. I listen to people who are where I was and try to help. AA isn't meant to be dry-drunk hangout, It's meant to teach us how to live our lifes, not make a room full of sick people our lifes.
For me, Effexor freed me from the depression that was holding me from being able to do these things, opened up that person inside me that had been hiding? I don't think I'd ever have gotten sober if I hadn't FINALLY agreed to try an AD. I always felt there was no hope and that what everyone else got I just couldn't. And effexor worked. I'm off it now for almost a month, I feel great, I live a life. I went to a meeting last night, I hadn't been to one in 2-1/2 weeks and I didn't fall apart.
Some people put AA before EVERYTHING ELSE IN THEIR LIVES some people need to do that. Most people need to do that in the beginning because we don't have a bleeping clue how to even tie our shoes!! Alot of people get stuck there though and that is pretty sad.
Posted by lorily on August 9, 2004, at 8:33:44
In reply to Re: Effexor and Alcoholism » Stryker88, posted by Atticus on August 8, 2004, at 21:51:36
I'll dance with you, Atticus.
You are exactly right about the other activities thing. Unfortunately providers aren't always able to organize these things due to insurance issues, staffing blah blah, but there's no law that I'm aware of that says you can't make a suggestion to the group to do just what you said. Get together to go for a movie even. A therapy group I was involved in long ago even kind of pushed that idea on us. Alot of people don't want to interact with those who know all about them in a different setting though--it makes life to livable ha-ha.
Posted by lorily on August 9, 2004, at 8:44:56
In reply to Today, posted by Louoicu81 on August 8, 2004, at 15:58:43
Linda,
Yes, I've definately had those days, they've gone away though it seems. I guess for me the off-balance thing had me a bit concerned and b----y. I did have my period and a horrible cold the first few days. (the cold lasted a lot longer) but all that has gone away. I feel good, great, happy, at peace. I have a big decision about going to school that's got me stressed out and nervous, but it's not affecting my mood. Maybe I'll run it by you. Hope you have a great day.
Lori
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