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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Elizabeth on March 9, 2002, at 1:42:10
Hi everyone. I've just gone up to 375 mg/day of Effexor XR, and am keeping open the option of going up to 450.
Has anyone else taken Effexor in this dose range? If so, what was your experience? Were there additional benefits? New side effects? Was it qualitatively different from the lower doses? Or did it not help any to raise the dose past a certain point?
What have people heard about high-dose Effexor [for depression]? Any opinions, ideas, suggestions, etc.?
-elizabeth
Posted by medlib on March 9, 2002, at 18:39:38
In reply to your thoughts on high-dose Effexor?, posted by Elizabeth on March 9, 2002, at 1:42:10
Hi Elizabeth--
I was on E.XR 375 mg q a.m. for 2 years; recently, I've backed off to 300 mg. in order to add Wellbutrin SR (still evaluating whether 150 or 300 mg./day of that works best). I went up to 450 mg. E XR for about a month before deciding that that level just made me too jittery.
I experienced incremental improvement on E. with each dose increase up to 375 mg. level; biggest percentage gain for me was the 225 mg. - 300 mg. jump (improvement was modest until NE effect cut in). E. was my first med trial after more than a decade of monotherapy (low dose Prozac) pooped out; I still consider E. my "core" med. By itself, it took me from 1-2 (with a suicide plan and date) to a 6 on the 10-point scale; but, even at 375 mg./day, I still had significant anergy and apathy. So, the last 2+ years, I've been playing musical augmenters. I am the original Immovable Object; so far, none of my combos have constituted an Irresistable Force. (Geodon reached orbit around Normal for 2 weeks, but it flamed out from EPS onset.) You'd think that my current mix of E. XR, methylphenidate and Wellbutrin would be enough to wake even the dead--and it is, but this corpse is not exactly happy to be roused.
Timidly awaiting Abilitat approval---medlib
Posted by maximillian on March 10, 2002, at 5:18:34
In reply to Re: your thoughts on high-dose Effexor? » Elizabeth, posted by medlib on March 9, 2002, at 18:39:38
i have been on effexor xr and wellbutrin for the past six months. both at 300mg's per day. feel a little jittery at times and am now experiencing a few problem headaches. one of the two has calmed me down considerably(maybe both in combo). but, have had a few sides to worry about, ie; jitters, headaches, stomach probs, libido, some sleep prob, etc....i'll probably come off of one and my nuero will switch me to something else. i think its the wellbutrin. what would be a better combo with effexor to eliminate most of the sides i listed? anyone, anyone?
Posted by Zo on March 12, 2002, at 2:45:04
In reply to your thoughts on high-dose Effexor?, posted by Elizabeth on March 9, 2002, at 1:42:10
I believe my dose was pushed up to the 375-400mg for a while, but this was some years ago---no ill effects, I see it (along with my pdoc) as a case of seeing what works. Some people need a lot of a given med, some a little.
My protocol was always been to go to the high end of his recommended dose, if something was working, else how would I know how much was too much--and then back off.
I remember--my mouth got too "metallic" ! Felt all over like Too Much Drug.
Hope this helps,
Zo
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