Depression medicine

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: UglyCasanova

Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate
Yes. Get your Dr. to switch your meds.

My doc had me on Elevil, and it caused double vision.

I don't really think I want to try anything else though. Wellbutrin didn't do anything, and the Effexor?! I don't like the side effects while I'm on it, so I stop. Bad move. I realize that I'm not doing what the doc told me to, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna be impotent on New Years . And now I'm scared to think of what other pills would do. I don't want to have to put up with this crap again.

Maybe if you have a few days clear (and then the weekend) you should just weather out the withdrawal effects. Crawl up in bed, or in front of the TV, and sit out the side effects. I do know a few people who have done that.

I think the long term solution to depression is probably changing the way you think about things. the idea is to change your negative or dyfunctional thinking styles. That approach is called 'cognitive behavioral therapy'. there are books on it, psychologists are trained in it (good psychologists), and Dr. Phil practices a cheesy version of it in his tv show.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
It's ALWAYS risk vs. benefit in medicine. The chances of an adult on these meds suddenly becoming suicidal as a result of them is remote at best.

The situation you want to watch out for is when a suicidal person who is essentially too lethargic to kill themselves goes on an antidepressant, and gets an energy surge from the pills, giving them the 'boost' they need to go out and kill themselves. This is apparently not all that uncommon of a situation.

 

[grooveman]

Hi UglyCasanova,

Am sorry to hear that you are feeling lousy.

I got off of that same combo a few months ago. Under my doctor's advice, I weaned meself of it over a period of a week or two. IIRC, I was dizzy off and on for a few weeks. Many places seem to suggest a few weeks of weaning might do a person good. Effexor, if I recollect, has a particularly short half-life, which can complicate things a bit. (I am not a doctor - please don't take this as advice, though! )

When I was getting off of that combo, had a few odd muscle contractions and the dizziness. The one thing I found to help was, of all things, light exercising. (You probably should ask your doctor before starting such a thing if you don't currently exercise... don't want you to fall over.)

If you have any other questions I might be able to answer, please don't hestitate to send a PM this way.

Be well,
Groove

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: UglyCasanova

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: UglyCasanova

Originally posted by: DevilsAdvocate
Yes. Get your Dr. to switch your meds.

My doc had me on Elevil, and it caused double vision.

I don't really think I want to try anything else though. Wellbutrin didn't do anything, and the Effexor?! I don't like the side effects while I'm on it, so I stop. Bad move. I realize that I'm not doing what the doc told me to, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna be impotent on New Years . And now I'm scared to think of what other pills would do. I don't want to have to put up with this crap again.

anti-deps are over prescribed imho.

Thing is I definitely have been depressed for going on 6 years now, and the culmination of events over the past few months had me finally doing something about it. And to be honest I really do think the Effexor helped some. Oh well, life is grand..

if the effexor helped some you should've stayed on it.

For me, the side effects outweighed the benefits.

 

[txxxx]

Originally posted by: DearQT

Originally posted by: txxxx
PSA - DO NOT COME OFF ANTI-DEPRESSANT MEDS SUDDENLY - it can be fatal.

What good is staying on it either when suicide, attempts to commit suicide, and thoughts of suicide are listed as possible side effects? There was a recent study that reaffirmed this.

Your way more likely to commit suicide without them.