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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Noa on June 24, 2000, at 11:39:31
OK, I have been pretty well lately, not depressed, except for a couple of days last weekend. However, I have been bitchy as hell. Grumpy, irritable, angry at things that are annoying but angry out of proportion to these things.
This week, I realized I had had my period return two extra times this month, so I figured the angry moodiness was related to that and decided to make an appointment with the gynocologist.
Then, last night, I had a head slapping realization! As I unpacked my bag, including newly refilled scrips, I noticed that my effexor xr was in the form of 150 mg. capsules, whereas I usually take it in 75 mg. capsules (easier to swallow, and also because I had been taking 375 until a couple of months ago). The directions, of course, read "take two", because I take 300 mg. per day. Question mark popping to a hover above my head, I open the vial of the old capsules, peer in and see they are the 75's and suddenly realize---HEAD SLAP-- that I have been taking only 2 of the 75's!! I tried to think back to how long I had been doing that, and couldn't remember. I remembered that I should, of course, have been taking 4 of them, but couldn't recall when I had somehow started to take two instead of four. Well, I think it must be somewhere around two weeks ago, because it was around then that I started feeling this edgy bitchiness.
So, a couple of questions for you:
1) Could the mood change have been caused by withdrawal from effexor xr--sudden lowering of dose from 300 to 150?
2) Could the mood change, ie anger, be related to an increased serzone:effexor ratio, given that when I first started on Serzone I had this angry bit as an initial side effect?
3) Is the repeat bleeding a total coincidence?
4) Is the repeat bleeding the cause of the moodiness, and the med change is not?
5) Could effexor withdrawal cause repeated bleeding?
6) Any other possible explanations?
7) Should I increase slowly back up to 300 or go right back to it? (Today, I took 225).Thanks.
Posted by Cam W. on June 24, 2000, at 14:16:41
In reply to My Homer Simpson Moment/Week/Couple of Weeks, posted by Noa on June 24, 2000, at 11:39:31
Noa - The edginess and bitchiness I would attribute to the lower blood level of the Effexor (perhaps you've lost the norepinephrine reuptake blocking ability with the lower dose), rather than a Serzone/Effexor interaction.
Effexor has been known to cause menstrual irregularities, but so can stress to your body. It may be a combination of a number of factors resulting from lower Effexor levels. Then again, the menstrual problems may be a coincidence.
As for titration of the dose. You are doing the right thing. Keep it at 225mg for a few days, at least (I am attempted to say stay at 225mg for a week, but this is probably overly conservative). Play the increase by ear, by listening to your body.
Do tell your doc about this. I'm sure he/she will understand. "Good compliance" is taking your medication correctly 80% of the time. Us "neurochemically impaired" people are, for the most part, well above that average. Don't beat yourself up over it; just think of it as a relief that you found what was causing your mood changes over the last couple of weeks.
Also, thank you very much for the contact. I have already had a reply for them. I really appreciate your help, sincerely - Love Cam
Posted by Sara T on June 24, 2000, at 15:14:58
In reply to Re: My Homer Simpson Moment/Week/Couple of Weeks, posted by Cam W. on June 24, 2000, at 14:16:41
Noa - Glad to see you post again.
When I went off Effexor, I wanted to kill everyone around me and my anger was almost out of control. I liked what Effexor did, but the withdrawal symptoms are nasty.
Anyway, hope your good humor returns.
Sara T.
This is the end of the thread.
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