- Thread starter Thelostchild
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David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
It IS similar to the extent that it is prescribed to manage mood swings. But it is not chemically similar so the fact that you had adverse side-effects with Lamictal does NOT mean that you will have them with lithium or valproic acid.
I don't mind at all. I have been trying for almost 10 years to find the right med or combination of meds and just can't seem to find the right one. Also, I did go to a psychopharmacologist here in Ottawa however my old psych has the report and I can't seem to remember or get my hands on a copy to see what it said.
I will keep you posted if anything new develops with the meds situation.
I will keep you posted if anything new develops with the meds situation.
Did you find the psychopharmacologist to be helpful and/or much more knowledgable than regular psychiatrists Nancy? Did he give you different medication?Nancy said:
By the way hi notsureanymore!!!! 👋 I hope you can get everything squared away and get to feeling better again. At least you're back here--that's a good start!
Toeless said:
Actually when I attended the session I did not get much response from him at all except for a one hour session of him asking me question after question. It was very unfriendly, cold, very matter-of-fact. I sat there, answered his questions (regarding life experiences and medication history) and then I left. Just prior to leaving he said that he would do a report and send it to my doctor.
That was it. I remember that I did get to read the report however I skimmed over it pretty fast and to be honest I don't remember much or any of it actually. I wish I had made a copy because now I am having a difficult time to get one.
Anyway, to sum it up...he was just another doctor in my long line which didn't seem to help (hope that doesn't sound too negative but it is how I am feeling).
Nancy
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
The thing is he was just acting as a consultant, Nancy. His job was to feed back suggestions or observations to your phsyicians/psychiatrist for them to act on as they saw fit.
Who was the psychopharmacologist? Do you recall?
Who was the psychopharmacologist? Do you recall?
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
Thanks, Nancy. No, I don't know him.
solitary man
Member
I've just been prescribed Effexor for my depression and anxiety, but I'm scared to the bone, having read both the good and bad about this drug.
On one hand, I'm scared about the side effects, even though the symptoms are different for everyone, weight gain being one of them.
As for excessive sweating, my body temperature is already on the slighty high side, so sweating even more is a concern for me.
I already have the leg shakes, more specifically foot tapping, especially during sleep or even napping during the day.
On the good side, if I can get a grip on my depression, which at times comes with thoughts of suicide, and my anxiety, where even answering the telephone causes me grief, then maybe I should give it a try.
The funny thing is, the idea of being better even causes me some anxiety. After 30+ years of being depressed and anxious, I don't any other way of life.
My doctor wants me to try 37.5 mg for a week and meet with him to see how I'm doing.
The psychiatrist I am working with is another story. In the last 3 months, I've had 4 appointments with him.
I was hoping to find someone who actually had the time for me.
On one hand, I'm scared about the side effects, even though the symptoms are different for everyone, weight gain being one of them.
As for excessive sweating, my body temperature is already on the slighty high side, so sweating even more is a concern for me.
I already have the leg shakes, more specifically foot tapping, especially during sleep or even napping during the day.
On the good side, if I can get a grip on my depression, which at times comes with thoughts of suicide, and my anxiety, where even answering the telephone causes me grief, then maybe I should give it a try.
The funny thing is, the idea of being better even causes me some anxiety. After 30+ years of being depressed and anxious, I don't any other way of life.
My doctor wants me to try 37.5 mg for a week and meet with him to see how I'm doing.
The psychiatrist I am working with is another story. In the last 3 months, I've had 4 appointments with him.
I was hoping to find someone who actually had the time for me.
ThatLady
Member
The negative side effects of Effexor don't bother everyone, solitary. In fact, those who do have major problems with side effects are in the minority. For most people, Effexor is a really good treatment. In all likelihood, it will work well for you, too.
It's natural to feel a little bit of trepidation when starting any new treatment. It's also natural to be somewhat anxious about the unknown...life without depression and anxiety. When you've been suffering most of your life, it's not easy to imagine what another life would be like. You don't have anything to base your expectations on.
Best thing to do is just keep putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward. I, too, hope you can find a therapist who has more time to devote to you. If you have a doctor to handle your medication needs, you might look into a psychologist for therapy. It's another avenue worth looking into.
It's natural to feel a little bit of trepidation when starting any new treatment. It's also natural to be somewhat anxious about the unknown...life without depression and anxiety. When you've been suffering most of your life, it's not easy to imagine what another life would be like. You don't have anything to base your expectations on.
Best thing to do is just keep putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward. I, too, hope you can find a therapist who has more time to devote to you. If you have a doctor to handle your medication needs, you might look into a psychologist for therapy. It's another avenue worth looking into.
Hi Solitary Man,
The first thing that I want to say is welcome to the forum :welcome:
The next things is about Effexor. I can tell you from my own personal experience that I was on it for about 4 years and I did not have many side effects that I can recall or that were worrisome. Obviously I was a little reluctant at first to try it but I thought....really what do I have to lose? I feel like crap and knowing that a medication "may" make me feel better was the thing that cinched it for me. The only thing that I found bothersome was when I forgot to take the medication at my usual time and then I would get a headache and it was like a reminder that oops....I need to take my medication and once I took it I was fine.
Of course like they always say....some people react differently to different medications. Everyone's body is different so you may or may not have any side effects at all.
Also, starting with 37.5 mg is what I first started with and I think that it is a gentle way to begin medication treatment. With the help of your doctor I think that you will work up to whatever dose is needed for you specifically.
Anyway, this is all my personal experience and I really hope that you are not frightened off by what you may have read about side effects and things.
Take care and let us know how things are going.
The first thing that I want to say is welcome to the forum :welcome:
The next things is about Effexor. I can tell you from my own personal experience that I was on it for about 4 years and I did not have many side effects that I can recall or that were worrisome. Obviously I was a little reluctant at first to try it but I thought....really what do I have to lose? I feel like crap and knowing that a medication "may" make me feel better was the thing that cinched it for me. The only thing that I found bothersome was when I forgot to take the medication at my usual time and then I would get a headache and it was like a reminder that oops....I need to take my medication and once I took it I was fine.
Of course like they always say....some people react differently to different medications. Everyone's body is different so you may or may not have any side effects at all.
Also, starting with 37.5 mg is what I first started with and I think that it is a gentle way to begin medication treatment. With the help of your doctor I think that you will work up to whatever dose is needed for you specifically.
Anyway, this is all my personal experience and I really hope that you are not frightened off by what you may have read about side effects and things.
Take care and let us know how things are going.
Solitary Man,
The medication Effexor (venlafaxine) has provided relief from the illness of depression for untold thousands, and is highly regarded by most health professionals as an effective treatment for depression.
As has been mentioned not all meds work the same in all people, which is why your doctor wants you to come back, to report your progress and any unexpected problems you might experience.
Noticeable effects can take several weeks, but some side effects sometimes appear early in treatment. This is where communication with your doctor is important.
The literature on Effexor shows that many early side effects which affect some people, such as nausea, decrease over a period of three to four weeks as the body becomes acclimated to the new compound.
You mentioned weight gain and heavy perspiration, which occur in some people, but not that frequently. If they happen to affect you. report the occurrence to your doctor, who may either vary the dose or change to another compound which might not affect you that way.
It's not unusual for a doctor to vary the dose and to even change from one anti depressant to another until the right compound at the right dose is found for you.
Depression is a treatable illness, so even though you have endured the illness for this long, be encouraged there is help available.
One important caveat: Do not suddenly discontinue any of these medication unless you have a discontinuation procedure given to you by your doctor
This has to do with the biologic half life of these medications, and each medication has its own discontinuation protocol. Even if you feel you wish to discontinue the medication for whatever reason, check with your doctor first, so your doctor can give you the correct discontinuation protocol for the medication you are taking.
Keep us posted on your progress.
The medication Effexor (venlafaxine) has provided relief from the illness of depression for untold thousands, and is highly regarded by most health professionals as an effective treatment for depression.
As has been mentioned not all meds work the same in all people, which is why your doctor wants you to come back, to report your progress and any unexpected problems you might experience.
Noticeable effects can take several weeks, but some side effects sometimes appear early in treatment. This is where communication with your doctor is important.
The literature on Effexor shows that many early side effects which affect some people, such as nausea, decrease over a period of three to four weeks as the body becomes acclimated to the new compound.
You mentioned weight gain and heavy perspiration, which occur in some people, but not that frequently. If they happen to affect you. report the occurrence to your doctor, who may either vary the dose or change to another compound which might not affect you that way.
It's not unusual for a doctor to vary the dose and to even change from one anti depressant to another until the right compound at the right dose is found for you.
Depression is a treatable illness, so even though you have endured the illness for this long, be encouraged there is help available.
One important caveat: Do not suddenly discontinue any of these medication unless you have a discontinuation procedure given to you by your doctor
This has to do with the biologic half life of these medications, and each medication has its own discontinuation protocol. Even if you feel you wish to discontinue the medication for whatever reason, check with your doctor first, so your doctor can give you the correct discontinuation protocol for the medication you are taking.
Keep us posted on your progress.
I think i got a "taste" of discontinuation effect today.. took the meds last night but forgot them today.. on effexor only in the a.m, this evening i noticed that every time i moved my head i got extremely dizzy.. couldn't figure it out for ages.. even got a bit worried... till i started thinking.. "did i take my tabs this a.m?" after a long time thinking about it, i realised i hadn't.
next i thought that it was toolate to take them as i would be supposed to take them again in roughly 4-5hrs anyway. but as time progressed i felt worse and could barely move my head.. it was awful. I went and took the med and i was okay after approx an hour..i think!!
one other observation.. to do with the post above.. some refer to sweating as a side effect of effexor... i'm wondering if the seroquel might have made the effects of the effexor stronger... and in that way made my problem appear?? Or maybe it was all three meds combined.. i'm really puzzled now... but then that phenomenon is nothing new to me..
any comments welcomed at this point..
thinking of cutting all meds out... slowly of course.
nsa
next i thought that it was toolate to take them as i would be supposed to take them again in roughly 4-5hrs anyway. but as time progressed i felt worse and could barely move my head.. it was awful. I went and took the med and i was okay after approx an hour..i think!!
one other observation.. to do with the post above.. some refer to sweating as a side effect of effexor... i'm wondering if the seroquel might have made the effects of the effexor stronger... and in that way made my problem appear?? Or maybe it was all three meds combined.. i'm really puzzled now... but then that phenomenon is nothing new to me..
any comments welcomed at this point..
thinking of cutting all meds out... slowly of course.
nsa
David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
It is possible that you were seeing an interaction between Seroquel and Effexor. But I strongly advise AGAINST "cutting all meds out", nsa. That sounds like a very bad idea to me.
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