![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 moosirin on February 25, 2005, at 15:35:48
Hi, I am on a medication for the first time in my life (other than birth control), and I need some advice. I don't have severe depression or severe anxiety, but I've suffered from a long history of generally low / depressed moods, and am a very anxious person. I have a very mild case of bulimia and I have compulsive habits like playing with my hair obsessively (which causes ends to break and then I cut the split ends off, so my hair looks bad in one spot and I have to hide it..ugh) and biting my nails etc. So I have an array of somewhat obnoxious problems...
My therapist recommended medication, so I spoke to a nurse practitioner associated with the counseling center and he gave me the 'starter pack' of effexor xr. I am on 37.5 for this first week, and today is my 6th day.
The first 3 days I felt like I do on cold meds, which I'm particularly sensitive too anyway. I was bouncier though, and talked fast but kept stumbling over my words. Things were funnier and I smiled more and felt more carefree than usual. Then after the third day, in the evening I all of a sudden just kind of crashed. Since then I've been feeling really bummy and low. Today I cried in front of my manager. Dah! Last night I cried on the phone to my boyfriend. I feel very flakey, and like my mind is racing to figure out what's wrong with me and such.
Did anyone else feel these kinds of swings?
The creepiest thing to me, is that I keep thinking 'maybe if i take more, I'll get that high feeling again' and wanting to double up on my last doseages of the 37.5 so I can rush into the 75 mgs which I start in 2 days. I've even considered calling the nurse who prescribed them and asking him if that would be ok. It's like I'm desperately searching for a way out of feeling like I do. I'm thinking about alcohol and drugs, and how nice it would be to get really messed up right now so I wouldn't have to feel like this.
I don't feel *that* low--I mean im not suicidal or anything, i just seem to realllly hate the state I'm in.
Anybody with similar experiences/advice?? Will I get the good feeling again when I up to 75?? please tell me yes! I'm starting to feel crazy when I never thought I was!
Posted by D minor on February 25, 2005, at 15:59:02
In reply to just started-side effects up and down-advice??, posted by moosirin on February 25, 2005, at 15:35:48
Hi there,
I was only on Effexor for a few days due to the side effects (nausia and vomiting). So I don't know if it causes mood swings. But may I make a suggestion? If you can, I think it would be a good idea to go see a psychiatrist. He/She would better be able to diagnose you and answer your questions, especially if you are going to be on psych meds. But that's just my oppinon.Good luck!
dm
Posted by moosirin on February 25, 2005, at 16:10:08
In reply to Re: just started-side effects up and down-advice??, posted by D minor on February 25, 2005, at 15:59:02
Thanks for the reply. I didn't really have any nausea or anything.. the only effect was feeling jittery and that lasted just 3 days. My therapist got me the appointment with the guy--he is a nurse practitioner and she seems to think he is well qualified. I'm not sure what to do--it takes weeks to get an appointment with any psychiatrist. And I don't know any on my plan that anyone would recommend I guess. The nurse practitioner is a part of the counseling center, so I imagine all of his cases have to do with therapy patients, at least.
Posted by D minor on February 25, 2005, at 17:00:30
In reply to Re: just started-side effects up and down-advice??, posted by moosirin on February 25, 2005, at 16:10:08
> Thanks for the reply. I didn't really have any nausea or anything.. the only effect was feeling jittery and that lasted just 3 days. My therapist got me the appointment with the guy--he is a nurse practitioner and she seems to think he is well qualified. I'm not sure what to do--it takes weeks to get an appointment with any psychiatrist. And I don't know any on my plan that anyone would recommend I guess. The nurse practitioner is a part of the counseling center, so I imagine all of his cases have to do with therapy patients, at least.
That's good. I know how hard it is to find a psychiatrist. Sorry I'm not much help with figuring out the side effects. The only thing I would think about those ups and downs it that if you have a form of Bipolar, antidepressants given by themselves could cause mania and/or rapid cycling. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14636365&dopt=Abstract
dm
Posted by Phillipa on February 25, 2005, at 17:57:33
In reply to Re: just started-side effects up and down-advice??, posted by D minor on February 25, 2005, at 17:00:30
What about adding a little dose of benzos to help with anxiety. Alchol will not help. At least not in the long run. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Jen2 on February 25, 2005, at 18:13:51
In reply to just started-side effects up and down-advice??, posted by moosirin on February 25, 2005, at 15:35:48
Hi,
You can check the reply I just sent to the thread above re: Please has anybody had good results with Effexor?
Also, you can check my other past posts on this board to see how I started out with some really crappy side effects.
Yes, I would burst into tears for seemingly no reason, felt bad for seemingly no reason. I wouldn't call these mood swings, as such, because I didn't swing up to feeling particularly happy, but I certainly did swing down to feeling really horrible.
I white-knuckled it through at least the first week. For me, it gradually got better. YMMV.
Jen
Posted by Phillipa on February 25, 2005, at 18:21:18
In reply to Re: just started-side effects up and down-advice??, posted by Jen2 on February 25, 2005, at 18:13:51
Glad you're doing well. It's good when you hear positive input. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by moosirin on February 25, 2005, at 18:48:26
In reply to Re: just started-side effects up and down-advice??, posted by Jen2 on February 25, 2005, at 18:13:51
> Hi,
>
> You can check the reply I just sent to the thread above re: Please has anybody had good results with Effexor?
>
> Also, you can check my other past posts on this board to see how I started out with some really crappy side effects.
>
> Yes, I would burst into tears for seemingly no reason, felt bad for seemingly no reason. I wouldn't call these mood swings, as such, because I didn't swing up to feeling particularly happy, but I certainly did swing down to feeling really horrible.
>
> I white-knuckled it through at least the first week. For me, it gradually got better. YMMV.
>
> Jen
Thanks Jen for your comments. I took the opportunity to look through some of your posts. It's good to hear it's working out for you! I suppose it's only one more day on the 37.5 mg so I guess I can wait it out, though I'm tempted to skip it and start my 75mg. 'oops i lost that last pill'. heh. I'm not sure why I think more meds will help.. haha.
I'm just looking for an escape from this current strange mood I'm in, I suppose, especially since my boyfriend is coming for the weekend (we are long distance, but see eachother almost every other weekend), and I don't want him to suffer from my depression.Thanks again though, I'll stay positive.
Posted by Jen2 on February 26, 2005, at 22:41:31
In reply to Re: just started-side effects up and down-advice?? » Jen2, posted by Phillipa on February 25, 2005, at 18:21:18
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.