![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Theodore on August 6, 2002, at 15:24:05
Hi,
I have been on effexor for two weeks now-37.5 mg for the first and now at the end of 75 mg for the second. So far being on the drug has been significantly worse than before I started it. My first side effects were severely depressed mood and anorexia. Although I didn't feel like doing anything but lounging around the house, I was restless and couldn't sleep. I just came off a two week break from dental school and just had one of my worst nights of my life. I was up all night freeking out about seeing a patient in the morning. I've always had some social anxiety and since seeing patients a little over a month ago I noticed my anxiety getting worse..I started to dread going to clinic-that's when I saw my gp who thought we'd try effexor. Anyway, I had very strong thoughts of suicide last night and if not for my loving family (especially my parents) I might have done something drastic. I actually thought of going to my dean and leaving school but would only be left with serious debt, no future and tons of embarrassment. So I am sitting here in the school library cuz I needed to tell my thoughts to someone. I feel my only option is to increase my dosage to 150 mg and hope these terrible feelings go away?????Thanks for listening
T
Posted by hildi on August 6, 2002, at 18:40:32
In reply to Two weeks into treatment...., posted by Theodore on August 6, 2002, at 15:24:05
I think if the anxiety is not improving and you are feeling worse you should ask about switching to somethink else- possibly paxil or zoloft might be more relaxing and less stimulating.
I had a good eight years on zoloft, it's a good med. paxil is supposed to work for many, too. Effexor made me feel too agitated it didn't work well for me- it made me more nervious and less social.
hildi
Posted by Dinah on August 6, 2002, at 20:25:08
In reply to Two weeks into treatment...., posted by Theodore on August 6, 2002, at 15:24:05
Effexor sent me into a nasty agitated hypomania with a lot of self destructive urges. It's important to tell your doctor what's going on. Effexor might not be the right med for you. Even if he wants you to wait out the initial side effects (as mine did until I put my foot squarely down) he might be able to prescribe something else to get you through this time.
I gave up after close to three weeks. I lost over a month of productivity to Effexor. :(
Of course your mileage may vary and Effexor is a good medication for many. I just don't think you should take your symptoms lightly.
Posted by katekite on August 6, 2002, at 21:56:14
In reply to Two weeks into treatment...., posted by Theodore on August 6, 2002, at 15:24:05
I agree about calling your doctor and seeing about switching to something else. Suicidal feeling's are nothing to toy with. You didn't feel this way before, so it's not you, it's the drug. 2 weeks is not a long enough trial to know if it ultimately would help you but in order to find out you would have to wait up to 4 more weeks potentially feeling suicidal. No reason for that. There are lots of other drugs that most likely wouldn't give you this side effect even as a temporary thing. You might find Serzone or an SSRI like Paxil or Celexa better.
Also I would recommend asking for something for anxiety relief for short term (such as a benzodiazepine like Ativan). The less anxious you are the less likely any suicidal thoughts will end up causing harm. While there's a lot of controversy over benzodiazepines long term, short term while you are finding an antidepressant that will work for you it might be nice to have around. (a small number, that is). Saved my life in school.
Please don't think that the last couple of weeks have been a complete waste. The way you've reacted to Effexor is an important clue that may help predict how you may react to other anti-depressants (for example I would not recommend Wellbutrin to you). Statistics show that if people aren't helped by the first anti-depressant, they are most likely helped by the next one they try. (ie that you feel worse or no better means nothing with regard to eventual response to the next drug.)
Take care and hang in there.
I'm a vet and remember how scary my first client interactions were: I felt underqualified and looked about 10. Remarkably within a few months that pretty much disappeared. (ok I did start Prozac which helped.) But I ended up doing great and off all meds when life events calmed down and I was no longer brand new at the career.One more thing: from watching my colleagues, the fact that you are anxious means that later, when you're experienced and its all old hat, you will still care about your clients and do a good job. Some of my classmates who were fine or cocky at the beginning -- a year later they were sloppy. Not saying the anxiety is fun! But at least take a second to realize that the sense of responsibility that goes with the insecurity is soemthing to be proud of.
Take care and hang in there,
Kate
Posted by Theodore on August 7, 2002, at 8:11:29
In reply to Re: Two weeks into treatment...., posted by katekite on August 6, 2002, at 21:56:14
Thanks for the support...it's good ti know I'm not as crazy as I thought :) I will definately call
my doc and see if I can get some short term anxiety relief as well as try another drug.Theodore
Posted by NikkiT2 on August 7, 2002, at 11:33:32
In reply to Re: Thanks for responses, posted by Theodore on August 7, 2002, at 8:11:29
Are you on standard Effexor or the XR version. I found the standard had terrible side effects when I started an dfelt similar to you, but changed to teh XR version and found it much better.
Nikki
Posted by Theodore on August 7, 2002, at 12:17:11
In reply to Re: Thanks for responses » Theodore, posted by NikkiT2 on August 7, 2002, at 11:33:32
Nikki,
I am on XR so I don't know? I think this is just to stimulating for me....
Theodore
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.