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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by deve8r on July 10, 2006, at 10:47:48
Using effexor for my first time ever on an anti-depressant.
Wasn't sure what to expect but was surprised at sleeping all day with my first dose.
Now on my third day and feeling fairly anxious.
What should anti-depressants make you feel like?
Keep taking effexor or is this the wrong one for me?
Posted by Maxime on July 10, 2006, at 11:33:06
In reply to 1st time anti-dep. should i feel like this?, posted by deve8r on July 10, 2006, at 10:47:48
> Using effexor for my first time ever on an anti-depressant.
> Wasn't sure what to expect but was surprised at sleeping all day with my first dose.
> Now on my third day and feeling fairly anxious.
> What should anti-depressants make you feel like?
> Keep taking effexor or is this the wrong one for me?Hi there.
It's different for everyone. One med might make you drowsy and make another person hyper.
Usually you should wait at least 2 weeks to see if the side-effects go away and take it from there. Don't stop taking the med without telling your doctor.
What dosage are you on? Maybe you were started at too high a dosage for your body.
Finding the right AD isn't an exact science. If it were Psycho-Babble wouldn't exist!!!
I hope your side-effects go away soon and that you start to feel some positive effect from it.
Maxime
Posted by pseudoname on July 10, 2006, at 11:52:26
In reply to 1st time anti-dep. should i feel like this?, posted by deve8r on July 10, 2006, at 10:47:48
Hi, deve8r. Welcome to Babble. (Cute name!)
> Using effexor for my first time ever on an anti-depressant. Wasn't sure what to expect but was surprised […]
It's upsetting to me that your doctor did not take the time to explain to you what you might experience on your antidepressant or how long a trial should be. Grrr!
> Now on my third day and feeling fairly anxious.
Feeling strange is pretty typical. Initial effects, especially in the first few days, can be markedly different person to person. You may have lots of unusual feelings at first and each time you increase the dose. Most of the wierdest cognitive ones will subside over a few days, but some can persist. Others like sleepiness and changes in sleep, appetite, and sex drive can persist for weeks or months.
I would expect your anxiety response to go away in a few days at the same dose or if you increase the dose (if that's part of your treatment plan). But if the anxiety is crippling or extremely disruptive or if it doesn't diminish in a few days, call your doctor.
> What should anti-depressants make you feel like?
Any antidepressant can make you feel weird, especially right at first. If it ultimately is successful for you, it probably won't have that therapeutic antidepressant effect until you've been on it for 2 to 6 weeks at the full dose.
> Keep taking effexor or is this the wrong one for me?
Any antidepressant can have similar effects; there's no telling in advance how a particular person will respond. If you're able to tolerate the side effects, I would suggest sticking it out to the end of an adequate trial (up to 6 weeks at the full dose). But if you CANNOT stand the side effects and they're not diminishing, there's no shame in discontinuing a drug trial for that reason.
Good luck and keep us posted?
Posted by pseudoname on July 10, 2006, at 11:55:20
In reply to Re: 1st time anti-dep. should i feel like this? » deve8r, posted by Maxime on July 10, 2006, at 11:33:06
Posted by deve8r on July 10, 2006, at 12:54:39
In reply to I also agree with Maxime (nm), posted by pseudoname on July 10, 2006, at 11:55:20
Thanks folks. You can have the best dr. in the world but nothing beats talking to others with personal experience.
All my dr. said was two to six weeks, then we'll decide.
I'm on 37.5mg for a week then up 75mg, extended release.
I was lying around so much doing nothing I did not expect the medication to make me want to lay around more.
The anxious, almost like a bad wired feeling has eased in the last hour.
I'm on my third day, been taking it in the mornings, since it's making me sleepy can I switch to evenings?
Once again, thank you for responding.
Hope I post this right, don't think my last one showed up
Posted by bassman on July 10, 2006, at 13:31:37
In reply to thanks for responding, posted by deve8r on July 10, 2006, at 12:54:39
A pdoc friend of mine used to say that you might as well kiss the first two days on a new antidepressant goodbye. As was mentioned, you might start off at a lower dose to minimize the side effects...I'm on 15 mg Prozac, going towards 20 for over a month...slow is good!
Posted by pseudoname on July 10, 2006, at 14:40:34
In reply to thanks for responding, posted by deve8r on July 10, 2006, at 12:54:39
> been taking it in the mornings, since it's making me sleepy can I switch to evenings?
Sure, you can try that. You might want to think about splitting the dose between AM & PM tomorrow and then taking it all PM the next, rather than doubling up or going 36 hours without any as you make the change. Just a thought.
Also, the side effects may be completely different when you increase to 75 (which should go easier than this week has gone).
> The anxious, almost like a bad wired feeling has eased in the last hour.
That's good.
Posted by deve8r on July 10, 2006, at 17:03:53
In reply to timing » deve8r, posted by pseudoname on July 10, 2006, at 14:40:34
They're caplets so I can't split it up, I'll just stick with mornings and I think 37.5mg is the lowest dose
Big question...
If an AD works how do you feel?
Energy back, do you quit disconnecting from people and conversations, interested in hobbies again, no more physical pain..?
Posted by bassman on July 10, 2006, at 18:11:37
In reply to if an AD works how do you feel eventually?, posted by deve8r on July 10, 2006, at 17:03:53
In a short phrase, I feel very self-confident: whatever comes my way, I have the belief that it will not turn out to be a disaster-I'll be able to handle it in some way. I had that with Paxil for three years. That feeling is gone! :>}
Posted by pseudoname on July 10, 2006, at 18:48:55
In reply to if an AD works how do you feel eventually?, posted by deve8r on July 10, 2006, at 17:03:53
> They're caplets so I can't split it up
When I got Effexor XR last year, the 37.5 mg came in a capsule with a gray top and a pinkish bottom. (Top right in this photo http://www.dui-dwi.com/images/effexor.jpg.) The gray part pulls off the pink part easily. Then you can sprinkle about half the white pellets that are inside the pink part onto applesauce and swallow it without chewing.
If that's what your capsules are like, the time-release aspect is in the white pellets, so that will still work.
Posted by Phillipa on July 11, 2006, at 22:30:52
In reply to 1st time anti-dep. should i feel like this?, posted by deve8r on July 10, 2006, at 10:47:48
You know what? I never took the long acting capsule took the original effexor. What's the difference in how you feel. I felt like a space cadet on the original. Maybe that's why so many say they don't have bad side effects on the long acting it's a capsule like cymbalta so you can empty some out. Thanks Love Phillipa
Posted by deve8r on July 12, 2006, at 12:21:45
In reply to Re: 1st time anti-dep. should i feel like this? » deve8r, posted by Phillipa on July 11, 2006, at 22:30:52
Day 5 and I am so burnt out.
Thank goodness I work at home, ebay. I've done hardly anything for a week, less than before the effexor.
Plus my jaw and neck are tight.I don't know how people with a 9 to 5 manage.
Posted by nicky847 on July 13, 2006, at 11:54:47
In reply to 1st time AD and I am so burnt out, posted by deve8r on July 12, 2006, at 12:21:45
effexor is pretty strong for a first time a/d...how were you feeling before going on effexor..were you at least functional? if you had mild to moderate depression maybe you should be on something a little less powerful than effexor
Posted by deve8r on July 14, 2006, at 8:55:26
In reply to Re: 1st time AD and I am so burnt out, posted by nicky847 on July 13, 2006, at 11:54:47
Hey nicky,
Yes, I would consider myself semi-functional before. I could at least force myself to work. I had isolated myself, didn't want to go out, eating continually, had quit walking in the mornings, continual feelings of despair but could make myself function if I had to and anger sometimes. Moderate..?
All of this which has been getting worse over quite a length of time. Think I should have been on an AD long ago.Now I feel like totally aware of stuff but just sort of sit there and stare, I don't do anything about it.
I was never a big druggy, but I did a few lines of coke in the 80's.
Are all AD's sort of a stimulant?
Right now I feel totally burnt out with intermixed short lived feelings of being wired.Even this has taken me 10 or 15 minutes to write.
I must admit though I think there is some good. Either that or I'm just wired.
I've had sex twice this week.
Not eating as much.
Have a feeling of hopefulness, I think that's what it is.
Dealing better with strangers, had to do some stuff yesterday.
It's not nervousness around people but more like I don't want to listen, it doesn't matter what you're saying. Casual conversation that I've been tuning out immediately for quite awhile.I want to feel better, like my old self. Friendly, kind, funny...I was very outgoing and involved.
I ended up with Effexor because the dr. had free samples.
I move up to the 75mg tomorrow.
Posted by linkadge on July 14, 2006, at 19:44:13
In reply to Re: 1st time AD and I am so burnt out, posted by deve8r on July 14, 2006, at 8:55:26
Effexor can be more stimulating than other AD's due to its capacity to inhibit the norepinephrine reuptake pump, (similar to cocaine).
Jaw clenching and stiffness are possable side effects. How is your pulse, faster than normal ?
Linkadge
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