When to ask for a dosage increase

[rowen]

I was feeling pretty good for a month or so on 75 mg of Effexor XR. About two and half weeks ago, I had an incident that sort of set me back recovery-wise a bit. I definitely don't feel depressed like I had when I first sought treatment, I have been feeling a little down (unmotivated, somewhere between apathetic and slightly unhappy, haven't wanted to talk to anyone or leave my house - when I do it takes a lot of energy out of me) every day since then. My anxiety levels have increased somewhat. My insight as to what triggers my anxiety has been significantly better, but it has been hard for me to "talk myself out of it" (bleh, CBT). I'm anxious more times than not during the day.

Overall, I don't feel nearly as bad as I did before starting Effexor XR, but I don't feel as good as I had before the incident. I think that I'm functioning pretty for the most part. AD's aren't going to fix everything - I know that I need to work. But I have felt better. Should I ask for a dosage increase? (The dose I'm on is a little low...)

I don't see my pdoc for a month and a half. I've seen my tdoc since the incident, and she hadn't suggested that I increase my dosage. I hadn't asked, though.

Thanks for your help.

[Rabbit37]

It's been my experience that unless you have a pill-pushing pdoc, you have to speak up and ask. Just say what you wrote in this post, and see what he/she says.

Tdocs are there for therapy, and generally have nothing to do with the meds. Only one time has my tdoc recommended something, and that was getting off risperdal and starting seroquel, but he said it was only a suggestion, and that I needed to sort it out with my pdoc. Other than that, he's made it pretty clear that meds belong to pdoc, and he won't usually discuss them.

[rowen]

The line between pdoc and tdoc sometimes blur a bit. My tdoc has asked me how I've been doing med-wise, and my pdoc will sometimes go into therapist-mode when asking me about my life.

I don't get to speak to my pdoc directly without making an appointment, and my mental health appointments are limited thanks to my insurance. I left a message for him with the receptionist, saying that I wanted to increase the dosage on the medication I was taking. My pdoc's administrative assistant gave me a ring back and said that he OK'd the dosage increase.

My insight into my issues is not always so good.