lostdata Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 I guess you are all Effexored out by now, but I just joined this group and I need to tap some of your wisdom and experience. I am currently taking 300 mg in the am and it just ain't cutting it anymore. All I want to do is sleep. I have a Pdoc appt on Wednesday and I am not sure if I will go up in mgs or if he will put me on something else. I think he mentioned that if 300 doesn't work, he may have to add something else, but I'm not sure if I'm remembering that right. There is also this problem of meds working for a couple months and then not. I have been on so many SSRI's and non-SSRI's in the past 12 years or so that I feel like a lab rat. Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro then Wellbutrin and now Effexor. I have no energy or motivation. It seems to take all of my energy just to get my sorry ass out of bed in the morning. Sorry for the rant, but I'm frustrated. Any sage advice welcome. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixie_Amazon Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Sorry I can't help. But I can sympathize. My problem is I had the sleepiness problem before Effexor and still do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revlow Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 lostdata... Got a couple of thoughts: 1) Some people do need higher doses. I needed 450 mg of Effexor before it worked. (Was on that dose for years, till it pooped out on me.) 2) You probably have already heard this by now, but it sounds like you have refractory (treatment-resistant) depression. There is growing thought that refractory depression may actually be somewhere on the bipolar spectrum, even if you don't have manic episodes. Here is a great resource of info about BPII, which explains so much of this: http://www.psycheducation.org/start/BPIntro.htm As the title on the webpage says Mood swings without "manic" episodes: Bipolar II -- more than plain depression, but never delusional or psychotic. Has a great deal of detail, if you want to really get into understanding this. Was very enlightening for me. Read this. It might help you to talk with your doctor, and for the two of you to figure out your next step. Best wishes... revlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witchywoman Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 I don't know a whole lot about meds, but I took Effexor, and it pooped out on me within a few months. Maybe it isn't working for you, or maybe you need a higher dose. It could be just that Effexor isn't the drug you need. Or, as the previous poster pointed out, maybe its refractory depression. Im glad you see your pdoc Wednesday. Hopefully he can get it figured out for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostdata Posted November 22, 2005 Author Share Posted November 22, 2005 lostdata... Got a couple of thoughts: 1) Some people do need higher doses. I needed 450 mg of Effexor before it worked. (Was on that dose for years, till it pooped out on me.) 2) You probably have already heard this by now, but it sounds like you have refractory (treatment-resistant) depression. There is growing thought that refractory depression may actually be somewhere on the bipolar spectrum, even if you don't have manic episodes. Here is a great resource of info about BPII, which explains so much of this: http://www.psycheducation.org/start/BPIntro.htm As the title on the webpage says Mood swings without "manic" episodes: Bipolar II -- more than plain depression, but never delusional or psychotic. Has a great deal of detail, if you want to really get into understanding this. Was very enlightening for me. Read this. It might help you to talk with your doctor, and for the two of you to figure out your next step. Best wishes... revlow <{POST_SNAPBACK}> cool! thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revlow Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 cool! thanks so much! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You're very welcome! Hope it helps. You probably already do this, but just in case...I find going in to my doc's with a list of Qs invaluable. Would be lost without it. Also, I'm lucky...I have a doc who actually appreciates when I bring in things for him to read, and he reads 'em! You may want to come prepared with printouts from that website; both easier to refer to as you are talking, and to give him. Plus you may want to mention that website has an area specifically written for physicians. Though that may not be necessary -- he may already be well aware of this thinking re: refractory depression/BPII. Best wishes! And let us know how it goes, okay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostdata Posted November 25, 2005 Author Share Posted November 25, 2005 Hey, My Pdoc decided to keep me on the 300 mg Effexor and add 150 Wellbutrin. The tests on the post on the psycheducation.org site showed that I was borderline, so... hmm... Have a Peaceful Thanksgiving!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revlow Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 Sounds positive. Please keep us posted on how you're doing! Happy Gobble Day to you, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
space_is_arched Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 I am currently taking 300 mg in the amAll I want to do is sleep. I know this will not solve all your problems, but have you tried taking it at night? I had sleepiness problems on Effexor which got better when I changed from am to pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revlow Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 I know this will not solve all your problems, but have you tried taking it at night? I had sleepiness problems on Effexor which got better when I changed from am to pm.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Good point. That was the case for me, as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostdata Posted November 27, 2005 Author Share Posted November 27, 2005 Jeez, that makes way too much sense! I'll try it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revlow Posted November 27, 2005 Share Posted November 27, 2005 Looking back at my lengthy posts above, I have no idea why I didn't mention that as well. I took Effexor before I went to bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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