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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by khead on December 17, 2002, at 18:23:53
Hi all (again)...newbie here...now ramped up to 150/day at week 3. So far, so good. My basic question is pretty simple. If this stuff sucks so bad why are you all either still taking it at one dosage or another, or going through all kinds of changes in getting off the stuff? WTF did you start with the stuff to begin with? Presumably in conference with yer doc/shrink, no? If we are all anxiety/depressed challenged on this board,
AND have had some experience with these kinds of drugs because we needed them from the get-go, what is all this pissing and moaning about
Effexor XR? F**k it, then. What about alternatives? Anyone?
(Just wondering...)
Posted by bobo on December 18, 2002, at 13:15:20
In reply to Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by khead on December 17, 2002, at 18:23:53
Yo--Zipperhead
Yes we all started on this drug because we were given it to us by our doctors--we just didnt walk in one day and decide to start taking medications for the hell of it--as far as alternatives for depression and all the other mode disorders--have you got any?--as it seems you are now on the Effexor--so I guess that your alternatives did not work out so well???--people on the message board post to try to help one another with advise and to answer questions from those who have been there--and they dont need you questioning that--so if you have advice or can offer any tips on how to get better--fine--otherwise--shut the fuck up
Posted by bobo on December 18, 2002, at 13:24:13
In reply to Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by khead on December 17, 2002, at 18:23:53
P.S.
Be happy that Effexor is working for you--for some it did not and be happy that you dont have to start that long ugly road going from one med to another to try and find something that works--others have not been so lucky
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 18, 2002, at 22:00:07
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by bobo on December 18, 2002, at 13:15:20
> what is all this pissing and moaning about
> Effexor XR?
>
> khead> people on the message board post to try to help one another with advise and to answer questions from those who have been there--and they dont need you questioning that--so if you have advice or can offer any tips on how to get better--fine
I agree with that...
> otherwise--shut the fuck up
>
> boboBut please at the same time be supportive yourself. Thanks,
Bob
PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration; otherwise, they may be deleted.
Posted by oracle on December 18, 2002, at 23:05:14
In reply to Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by khead on December 17, 2002, at 18:23:53
It is not logical to draw real conclusions
from this list as to a med being "good" or "bad".
I do not understand why people cannot get this concept. A sample group has to be random and controled to draw these conclusions. Let alone that this is a question or point Dr. Bob makes
on the test you take to be able to post here.
Does anyone read and retain ?I have been on Effexor since 1995, and it saved my live.
Posted by gabbix2 on December 18, 2002, at 23:53:18
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by bobo on December 18, 2002, at 13:24:13
Well, the P****** and moaning is perhaps from the anguish and it IS anguish that stems from:
A. having to withdraw from something that may well have been hard enough to be ON.
B.
The disappointment at waiting at least 6 weeks
to find out this medication is not right for you, and knowing you are going to be going through it again with something else.
AND as it is the brain chemistry that is being altered in this case, a medication being "NOT RIGHT" is a form of hell physically and emotionally
C: The likely possibility that one is not suffering alone, and the guilt (misplaced, but everpresent) from disappointing family and friends and possible employers who are "waiting for you to get better"D. The anger and frustration that stems from (not in all cases of course) feeling suckered into believing or at least hoping that this new and improved medication will be well tolerated and have minimal side effects..
Being at the end of our rope we trying it and often end up worse off than before.
If we didn't keep hoping we wouldnt be here
and the hope brings the potential of disappointment.E. Excuse my moaning but it is after all our entire external lives, and every facet of our being physically and mentally being affected.
You are indeed lucky its working for you, however having a medication work for you is not a matter of character strength , its a matter of chemistry.
Posted by oracle on December 19, 2002, at 0:07:34
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by oracle on December 18, 2002, at 23:05:14
Sorry, the answer I gave previous was not
ment for this thread. What I ment to say
was:khead, shut your bloody cake hole.
We have enough to deal with without your opinions
and comments.
Posted by bookgurl99 on December 19, 2002, at 2:20:13
In reply to Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by khead on December 17, 2002, at 18:23:53
Alternatives:
*cutting out refined foods, plus caffeine, nicotine, and choc'lot.
*daily exercise.
*daily meditation.
*getting a full medical checkup to rule out allergies, hormone problems, tumors-in-the-head, etc.
*always avoiding stressful people, situations, events, etc.
*having a great balance of supportive people, family members, and loved ones.
*having a great childhood.
*living in a land of cotton candy trees and licorice gumdrop mountains.
Posted by gabbix2 on December 19, 2002, at 14:01:19
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by bookgurl99 on December 19, 2002, at 2:20:13
I don't know.. but I felt a bit better after reading your posts.
Posted by khead on December 19, 2002, at 14:11:15
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by bookgurl99 on December 19, 2002, at 2:20:13
Yikes! OK! Get the picture! Just thought I'd stir things up a bit and see what happened. (Bad habit of mine.) 'Nuff said. My apologies to all.
Posted by gabbix2 on December 19, 2002, at 15:37:00
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by khead on December 19, 2002, at 14:11:15
Okay, apology acknowledged.. but stir things up?
Just how necessary was that?
Its not like you're intelligently questioning accepted standards, or actually making people think.
Why not stir thing up somewhere you can elicit change.
We deal with enough already, and to let your self-described "rebel mover and shaker" attitude free on a support group board for mental illness is
um, rather self-mocking.
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 19, 2002, at 17:32:04
In reply to Opps, sorry, wrong post , posted by oracle on December 19, 2002, at 0:07:34
> khead, shut your bloody cake hole.
Please be civil even if others aren't. Thanks,
Bob
Posted by noelle on December 20, 2002, at 13:40:50
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by khead on December 19, 2002, at 14:11:15
I have been up and down with Effexor xr, and have found that although it will not cure depression alone. Exercise( Aerobic) at least 30 minutes a day can work miracles and it makes the medication's side effects (fatigue) much more tolerable. I am nothing without that component and have yet to find its equal
Posted by bobo on December 20, 2002, at 17:30:43
In reply to Re: Effexor Alternatives- Exercise!!, posted by noelle on December 20, 2002, at 13:40:50
Hello
I send my apologys to anyone who was offended by my statements--including Dr Bob--but I was very upset at what I was reading--and now to see that the author of that was only trying "to stir things up"???--
Let me say this---I am sorry for HOW I said it--but NOT what I said--I found his comments both
illinformed and unintelligent and its seems I was right
Be well all
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 20, 2002, at 17:47:22
In reply to Re: Effexor Alternatives- Exercise!!, posted by bobo on December 20, 2002, at 17:30:43
> I found his comments both
> illinformed and unintelligent and its seems I was rightI asked you to be civil before, so now I'm going to block you from posting for a week.
Bob
Posted by jimmygold70 on December 21, 2002, at 12:31:54
In reply to Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by khead on December 17, 2002, at 18:23:53
It's generally a good med. What do you feel while taking it?
Jimmy
Posted by khead on December 22, 2002, at 8:36:40
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by jimmygold70 on December 21, 2002, at 12:31:54
> It's generally a good med. What do you feel while taking it?
>
> JimmySo far so good at week 4. (With the exception of
elevated blood pressure which was pretty high
to begin with. Reduced the dose from 150 back to 75 which seems to have helped. Will be discussing the BP situation with my Doc this week.) I'm also on Trazodone 150 at bedtime which definately helps in the sleep department. Perhaps somewhat more "jittery" than usual, but then again I'm also a "jittery" type to begin with. The good news is that I'm now MUCH better able to handle my anx/depress. It's not gone by a long shot and given my current circumstances as well as history I really do not, and did not, expect magic. To me, ANY relief from misery is a good thing.
Posted by scoper on December 22, 2002, at 19:57:09
In reply to Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by khead on December 17, 2002, at 18:23:53
> Hi all (again)...newbie here...now ramped up to 150/day at week 3. So far, so good. My basic question is pretty simple. If this stuff sucks so bad why are you all either still taking it at one dosage or another, or going through all kinds of changes in getting off the stuff? WTF did you start with the stuff to begin with? Presumably in conference with yer doc/shrink, no? If we are all anxiety/depressed challenged on this board,
> AND have had some experience with these kinds of drugs because we needed them from the get-go, what is all this pissing and moaning about
> Effexor XR? F**k it, then. What about alternatives? Anyone?
> (Just wondering...)
Pharmaceutically, your choices are one of the Tricyclics, which are much worse for side-effects, or Remeron, which is not as strong, and not as effective. It will cause weight gain too from the elevation of Histamine.Naturally, there are many alternatives to the actions of Effexor XR. St. John's Wort taken with L-Tyrosine is one. 5-HTP combined with DLPA is another. You could also use SAM-E with St. John's or 5-HTP. Inositol taken with DLPA is another.
As you can see, it is easier to mimic the effects of Effexor XR naturally than with Pharmaceuticals! There are many, many more combinations than those I mentioned.
Scoper.
P.S.: I forgot to mention that combining an SSRI with the new drug Strattera, or Reboxetine, would also do about the same as Effexor XR. The side effect profile could be worse though!
Posted by chad_3 on December 22, 2002, at 20:39:30
In reply to Effexor XR - Alternatives?, posted by khead on December 17, 2002, at 18:23:53
What did you say ? Anxiety + depression and you don't like the SSRI's? Damn dude Nardil is missing on some shelves.
Help me out and we'll go in this together to get Nardil out with cool name and new patent and a little chemical tweak.
Nardil rocks - ask your Dr. maybe?
Chad
http://www.socialfear.com/
> Hi all (again)...newbie here...now ramped up to 150/day at week 3. So far, so good. My basic question is pretty simple. If this stuff sucks so bad why are you all either still taking it at one dosage or another, or going through all kinds of changes in getting off the stuff? WTF did you start with the stuff to begin with? Presumably in conference with yer doc/shrink, no? If we are all anxiety/depressed challenged on this board,
> AND have had some experience with these kinds of drugs because we needed them from the get-go, what is all this pissing and moaning about
> Effexor XR? F**k it, then. What about alternatives? Anyone?
> (Just wondering...)
Posted by jimmygold70 on December 25, 2002, at 11:07:33
In reply to Re: Effexor XR - Alternatives? » jimmygold70, posted by khead on December 22, 2002, at 8:36:40
Generally speaking, I would not mix trazodone with venlafaxine (Effexor). Both drugs are reuptake inhibitors of the same monoamines (Serotonin and Dopamine). The interaction is mostly leading to more side effects, and I suggest high BP is one of them. Maybe taking Remeron instead of all will provide you with a better side effects profile - a selective serotonin and noradrenaline AD (not a reuptake inhibitor). Serzone is actually a good option as well, a mechanism similar to Trazodone, improves sleep and less likely to cause side effects related to most ADs (Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, Feb 2002, Supplement - Focus on nefazodone)
Good luck!
Jimmy> > It's generally a good med. What do you feel while taking it?
> >
> > Jimmy
>
> So far so good at week 4. (With the exception of
> elevated blood pressure which was pretty high
> to begin with. Reduced the dose from 150 back to 75 which seems to have helped. Will be discussing the BP situation with my Doc this week.) I'm also on Trazodone 150 at bedtime which definately helps in the sleep department. Perhaps somewhat more "jittery" than usual, but then again I'm also a "jittery" type to begin with. The good news is that I'm now MUCH better able to handle my anx/depress. It's not gone by a long shot and given my current circumstances as well as history I really do not, and did not, expect magic. To me, ANY relief from misery is a good thing.
This is the end of the thread.
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