![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CaffeinePoet on July 28, 2009, at 20:42:00
I went to the psychiatrist today and laid out the things that have been happening to me lately:
- disproportionate fatigue for which there is no clear explanation
- lack of motivation despite not feeling depressed
- problems with short-term memory
- subsequent issues with performance at work and school.
. . and she blamed it on my antidepressant. Or she suspects my antidepressant, anyways.
Apparently, Effexor can cause all of these symptoms.
Here's what she wants me to do :- quit the antidepressant slowly
- lift weights 3x/week
- get some regular aerobic exercise
- go in for neuropsych screening while not on any drugs.
I don't know what to think. On the one hand, it's great to think that I could be having problems just due to being on the wrong drug. On the other hand, I just started a new job, want my performance in all areas to improve stat and do not need the hassle of antidepressant withdrawal while at the new job. I can't imagine having an easy time fitting exercise and weightlifting into my new routine while I am also dealing with withdrawal.
But I have been in therapy and on a drug for over 6 months, and trying something new does seem worthwhile. The last time I withdrew from a drug, though, it was total catastrophe -- really full-blown withdrawal symptoms, physical jerks, gastric reflux, and panic worse than anything I've experienced normally. I really don't want my life to turn into a catastrophe.
I took my first lower dose this evening.
Posted by Phillipa on July 28, 2009, at 21:12:58
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal prescribed by psychiatrist, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 28, 2009, at 20:42:00
Have you googled into the withdrawl board for effexor and see what others have done. Good luck. Phillipa
Posted by ihatedrugs on July 28, 2009, at 22:49:59
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal prescribed by psychiatrist, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 28, 2009, at 20:42:00
> I went to the psychiatrist today and laid out the things that have been happening to me lately:
>
> - disproportionate fatigue for which there is no clear explanation
>
> - lack of motivation despite not feeling depressed
>
> - problems with short-term memory
>
> - subsequent issues with performance at work and school.
>
> . . and she blamed it on my antidepressant. Or she suspects my antidepressant, anyways.
>
> Apparently, Effexor can cause all of these symptoms.
>
>
> Here's what she wants me to do :
>
> - quit the antidepressant slowly
>
> - lift weights 3x/week
>
> - get some regular aerobic exercise
>
> - go in for neuropsych screening while not on any drugs.
>
> I don't know what to think. On the one hand, it's great to think that I could be having problems just due to being on the wrong drug. On the other hand, I just started a new job, want my performance in all areas to improve stat and do not need the hassle of antidepressant withdrawal while at the new job. I can't imagine having an easy time fitting exercise and weightlifting into my new routine while I am also dealing with withdrawal.
>
> But I have been in therapy and on a drug for over 6 months, and trying something new does seem worthwhile. The last time I withdrew from a drug, though, it was total catastrophe -- really full-blown withdrawal symptoms, physical jerks, gastric reflux, and panic worse than anything I've experienced normally. I really don't want my life to turn into a catastrophe.
>
> I took my first lower dose this evening.
>I cannot believe your psyc would do that. Tell him-her to give you other choices. He-she can try augmenting what you are taking to help you cope better and when you are more established in your job perhaps then you could start withdrawing from meds. Especially with Effexor which seems to be the biggest pain in the neck to withdraw from. Tell the doctor what happened to you last time you came off meds. Remind him of how going through this would negatively impact your new job.
Perhaps if you wait a few months and you are elegible, you can take sometime off under short term disability benefits (however only if this is part of your benefits package) and try to wean off the meds.
The best of luck to you. God bless!ihatedrugs
Posted by floatingbridge on July 29, 2009, at 13:07:00
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal prescribed by psychiatrist, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 28, 2009, at 20:42:00
Hi Caffeine Poet,
What guidance did your pdoc give for withdrawing? Does she know your prior withdrawal experience? I can see why you would be concerned after starting a new job. Is your doctor available in case you run into any difficulty?
There are a number of threads on withdrawing--I started one recently for pristiq (the 'new' effexor). Scott (SLS) has a thread he reposted on the withdrawal board.
(Are you still looking at ADHD? I'm wondering why you'd have to be off all meds for a neuropsych screen...I mean, I can see the obvious answer, however, in this could be incredibly inconvenient or destabilizing for some.)
fb
Posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2009, at 19:48:48
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal prescribed by psychiatrist » CaffeinePoet, posted by floatingbridge on July 29, 2009, at 13:07:00
I had neuropsch testing while on meds. Makes no sense to have to be them unless they want a baseline. But then it might not work again??? Phillipa
Posted by CaffeinePoet on July 29, 2009, at 20:44:53
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal prescribed by psychiatrist, posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2009, at 19:48:48
Hi Phillipa,
Yeah, I guess they want baseline -- I've been on meds for years.
Posted by Phillipa on July 29, 2009, at 21:27:36
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal prescribed by psychiatrist » Phillipa, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 29, 2009, at 20:44:53
Jeez I don't know what to say as that is asking a lot. Mine tried to get me at baseline with the tiny dose of luvox I take. Gave me high doses of benzos instead and didn't sleep for two weeks . ER and they said go back on the previous meds and was fine. Slept and the benzos tiny dose in comparions. Phillipa
Posted by obsidian on July 29, 2009, at 21:45:11
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal prescribed by psychiatrist, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 28, 2009, at 20:42:00
I do hope you get some exercise then, if for nothing then your mental health
I used to run, things didn't bother me so much when I ran
Posted by manic666 on July 30, 2009, at 12:49:42
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal prescribed by psychiatrist » CaffeinePoet, posted by obsidian on July 29, 2009, at 21:45:11
effexor is a nightmare to get of witout help. do you no in england gp,s not prescribe it its got to be a p doc, you would be better to come down a bit an taper sraight onto another med in the same class.i didnt but this is what i took as supplements to combate withdraw , non flush niacin ,magnesium, valerian, an to sleep any cold med that makes you drowsy, i took an english one called night nurse, then went on med cymbalta after a break, didnt like that so now on ssri more forgiveing on the start ups
Posted by Zana on July 30, 2009, at 15:28:54
In reply to Re: Effexor Withdrawal prescribed by psychiatrist, posted by manic666 on July 30, 2009, at 12:49:42
Why did you start on the effexor? What were your symptoms before you were taking it. It is true that SSRIs can cause apathy but I do not think this is a big a problem with effexor asa it is with more purely serotenergic meds like prozac.
What do you remember of your baseline?
Zana
Posted by Zana on July 30, 2009, at 15:31:15
In reply to Effexor Withdrawal prescribed by psychiatrist, posted by CaffeinePoet on July 28, 2009, at 20:42:00
PS. I agree that it sounds like a bad time to be going off meds and through withdrawal. But I can also see the reasoning that it may be the meds which are causding the problem. Tough call.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.