Depression Support Group

PeacefulZen is taking 350 mg and said it is supposed to be a stimulant. That worries me a bit. According to the literature I've read, 225 mg is supposed to be the maximum recommended daily dose. It is supposed to help anxiety with depression. I am in no way getting onto PeacefulZen, just the opposite, I concerned for you. I think I would go for a 2nd opinion.

My psych doc prescribed 225 mg for me. On that dose, I too felt like a zombie. I didn't cry, but I didn't laugh, play, argure, clean house, ........
I also had to have something to help me get to sleep because I couldn't turn my thoughts off. Because they were often repetative, the doctor put me on lithium. He wanted me on 900 mg (3 capsules - I think they were 300 mg each). No way I could handle that much. Too many digestive problems and I wanted to sleep 20 hours out of 24.

On my own (because I no longer had insurance), I cut back to 150 mg (much cheaper). I noticed that I wasn't such a zombie, but I was also under a tremendous amount of stress (disabled husband, elderly father (a bully & selfish) as well as no job & no insurance). I couldn't handle it all and ended up with an ulcer along with the depression. In a way, it was the best thing that ever happened. Here is why.

Buy the time this happened, I had found a new job and I once again had insurance. My PCP told me to get OFF caffine before it totally ruined my stomach. OK - I'm taking less Effexor so the repetative thoughts calmed down and with no caffiene and I'm much more tired at night (daytime too). My PCP didn't want to mess with the psych meds, so I had to find a new psych doc. I had moved from one state to another. The town I live in is fairly small and the only way to get into one of the 3 psyh docs is through a referral of a psychologist. That was the next best thing that happened. I did a lot of research on the psychologists (mostly by asking 'safe' people who they would recommend - Never - Ever ask someone you work with. You mental state is best left out of the workplace). She has been great. She has helped me to understand why I do what I do, how I got that way, and we've talked through ways to make positive changes. I've worked with many psychologist off and on for the last 20 years. This is the 1st one who worked with me on the how and why before working on changes. I never saw the 'big picture' until now. I will finally see the psych doc next week (3 mo wait to get appointment). I won't totally off the Effexor XR. I had the best luck with Zoloft. I think I just need something in addition for the anxiety. For the 1st time, I can really see a light at the end of the tunnel to finally end the cycles of depression and emotional breakdowns. I finally feel I am going to get the elephant off my back. I'm even taking a night class at the community college to go towards a degree.

So I say YES!!!!! to rosie1066!!! It takes lots of time with trial and error to find the right med(s) to help with the symptoms. Also, if you don't click with one psychologist go find another. Find one that you a comfortable with and know you can trust. Allow yourself to tell them everything.

OK, I'll get off my soap box for now. I just want everyone to have a chance to find some sort of "normal" so you can have some happiness. You have to work at it. There are no magic pills. Think of the meds as one way to help you battle the disease. They won't cure the depression, but they will help the symptoms until YOU find the cure. Just don't do it alone. I want to say going it alone never works, but I will stick with it rarely works.

Take care, keep fighting, don't give up!
Brenda

I take 75mg, and find it's fantastic. Enough to pick me up and I don't get the whole Zombie thing at all. Wish I could sleep 11 hours a night though! Maybe a smaller dose would help.

I'm on 450 and I know what you mean about not wanting to do a lot of social things. This medication makes me feel blah. It's not a stimulant, at first it may be, but it mainly treats anxiety which is why you feel like a Zombie, it's a sedative. I feel like it doesn't quite hit the depression part for me even at 450. I have a very fast metabolism so I gobble this med. up. I need a lot of sleep on this drug and I do wish to change to something else. The FDA max is 375, I'm over, and there are a lot of people on 600. The FDA is not always followed if your Psych is experienced. You can try Fish oil with 3000 mg of EPA as the therapeutic dose, if you can tolerate it. This has shown in some studies to help augment antidepressant med. How long have you been on it? If you are only getting a 50% response, I would ask to change or try to do aerobic activity most days for 30 minutes.

i used to take effoxor what dosage are u on? sometimes if the dosage is too high it can do that to u. They had to tweek mine around for a while and start me at the lowest dosage the 37.5 mg for 3 months and then gradually get me back up there. The only problems i had was that is lowered my blood pressure to a dangerous level.

Are you on med. now? If I went down to 37.5 I would have a break down. I feel like I'm stuck on this. I may have a thyroid disorder going on, I'm sort of hoping I do that would be an easy fix. I go to therapy every week, I read work on my issues, exercise, eat well, take fish oil, you name it and I'm still not there.

i take effexor xr... and i still feel a little low. I cannot tell it is really working how i want it. I mean, I am not stressing as much, but I feel I could be happier. tried cymbalta 60mg, and that made me laugh like I lost my mind. maybe 30mg would work.

I've read enough replies on here that have me convinced that effexor is not the drug for me. I am a zombie and have gone off lamictal, and abilify and now 225mg of effexor is the last of this combo I was on. I can't wait to see the pdoc again to get myself onto another drug, one that will allieviate the depression without making me manic. I have been struggling over a year to get this depression in check, and I really need to do it in order to get on with the hep c treatment I have been putting off. All of you have helped me a great deal by sharing your experiences

I wouldn't mind laughing a lot maybe i'll ask about cymbalta.

How long have you been on it hon? I found I was really extra tired during the forst 10-14 days I was on it...but still sounds like regular depressive symptoms too. My doctor suggested it may take up to 6 weeks for it to reach it's full effect.

I've been on it for a year now. but I just found out my DHEA levels are really low, and my serotonin, and GABA levels so They are giving me DHea and 5 HTP to increase my supply of serotonin. THe thing with meds is they only make your existing amount of serotonin more available and they never get a chance to regenerate so they get tired and the meds don't work anymore. Precursors to serotonin like 5 htp supposedly make you make more serotonin. So we'llsee what happens, if I feel better I'll let you know and then the idea is to lower the effexor.