Posted by leslieg on October 30, 2002, at 0:39:39
In reply to Re: Constipated - anyone else on Effexor???? » ST, posted by Katia on October 29, 2002, at 15:05:47
Hi! I just joined Psycho-Babble, looking for other information when I came across this thread. Boy does it sound familiar! I was on Effexor 2 years ago; my constipation was VERY bad (as in, nothing for over 2 weeks, then I went to using a suppository or enema every few days). I complained to my regular doc (who knew what medicine I was on) and ended up being subjected to many painful tests on my insides -- all to be told they had no idea why I was constipated. I, like someone else on this thread, suffered a lot of withdrawal when I weaned myself off (too fast, it turns out). Did you know that the "intense dream state" could be a side effect of the Effexor? Also, (as I found out way too late), Effexor must be taken at the same time every day, or you start to go through withdrawal. For me, this periodic semi-withdrawal really confounded and confused my symptoms so that I couldn't really tell whether I was being helped or not.
I just wanted to let you know my experiences. I think your insides need some good ammunition to fight the effexor, and if you haven't been vigilant about when you take it, start doing so and see if that helps you.
Leslie :)
> Hi Sarah,
> I am in Berkeley and I wait tables. I am also in grad school for (would you guess) psychology. I am currently at 225mg. My pdoc put me at 300mg and then I became completely constipated, so I myself put the dose back to 225mg as she had left the clinic and no one got back to regarding my concern. I know what you mean about sleeping late and how it compounds the depression. But I simply just cannot get up early and when I finally do wake up it takes at least 30min. to get out of bed - trying to pry myself out of the intense dream states I had been in. The lethargy is more the sleeping lots of hours/late and then not having an incredible amt. of motivation to go out and do things. I have a hard time with concetration and reading. Who knows??? it's always SOMETHING.
> keep in touch.
> Katia
>
> > Hi Katia,
> >
> > Outside SF, huh? I'm from the Gilroy/San Jose area and then lived and went to school in SF for awhile before moving to LA. I love it and miss it up there! Since I know the area, what city do you live in?I'm sorry you're having a hard time finding a good pdoc. So am I. I go to a hospital which has a sliding scale outpatient program, but you only get the doc for one year and then they move on. It's good treatment, though, if only for a year at a time with one pdoc... There have got to be some good clinics...what about UC Berkely - sometimes at a university they have excellent treatment on a sliding scale.
> > It's odd you're still lethargic on the Effexor XR. It should be quite an energizing AD. How much are you taking right now?
> > I'm sure with what you've been through - you say a lot has happened - you're suffering from situational depression as well as chemical. But the ADs should help to bring you back to a level place.
> > What do you do that has you working nights? I often work nights as well, and then I stay up way too late when I get home. This causes me to sleep late and it just compounds the depressed state, I think.
> > Well, take care. If you don't start feeling markedly better in a few weeks, maybe you're pdoc should up your dose or put you on something else...?
> > Take Care,
> > Sarah
>
poster:leslieg
thread:124815
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021025/msgs/125757.html