My GP has me on 150mg of Eff XR, but it didn't make me feel any different/better. So today I'm starting to double that. That way when I get a new GP (moved recently) I can let him/her know if it worked. I'm also adding St. John's Wort to the daily pill coktail.

Should I be worried about bad interactions?

Oh, and I've also thought about experimenting with ecstasy alternatives to try and get more social. Any thoughts on adding that to the mix?

Yes, you should be worried about a few things here. You shouldn't be doubling your dose of Effexor without first talking to your doctor. Why not as for a referral to a psychiatrist to get better advice on your meds?

And you do NOT want to add St. Johns Wort to an Antidepressant regimen because it can result in serotonin syndrome. You absolutely need to speak to your doc about this.

How long have you been taking Effexor?

KA

Again, if your current meds aren't working, you need to speak with your doc.

And we cannot advocate the use of illegal and recreational drugs as a possible treatment for depressive or anxiety disorders.

KA

Please read this thread to be found on another part of this forum
http://www.depressionforums.org/forums/ind...?showtopic=3515

its all about why st johns wort should not be mixed with prescription meds

recreational drugs are never a good option under any circumstances many of them have depressive side effects let alone being illegal

I've been on it since Feb and it has done absolutely nothing for me. I still feel like driving into an overpass piling each time I leave the house. I still feel lonely, unwanted, and unloved. I'm still waiting to feel better. And my doctor is 600 miles away, my old insurance is no more, and no doctor will see me until I get my new insurance info, which I haven't gotten yet. So anything I do has to be on my own. ADs are trial-and-error, right? And the patient is supposed to take charge of his/her treatment, right? What do you think I'm doing? :)

And I can understand the stance on recreational drugs, just figured I'd ask.

I've been without insurance a few times in my life, and I've found that my doctor was willing to work with me if I was up front about it. I've been honest with my GP and explained that I was temporarily without insurance. Each time ( two different GPs now in 2 different states) the GP has seen me at a very reduced charge of between 25 and 65 dollars and tried to give me med samples if possible. They'd rather keep you as a patient and appreciate not having to chase you around with bills so being honest may solve the GP problem.

I'd agree that you've been on the meds long enough that this may not be the right med for you. Can you talk to your GP about switching meds?

KA

Im going to add briefly to the recreational drug question you've asked -- while I am not familiar with ecstasy -mimicing drugs, I have experience w/ecstacy, and DEFINATELY do not reccomend experimenting with any drugs that work in a similar way to ex, especially if you're adapting to meds. While the initial "burst" of seratonin is pleasurable, the lows you experience after maxing out your system in that way are HORRIBLE. As well, it can cause major mood disruptions that will make it difficult to monitor your perscribed meds. As for socializing, if the drug is of similar strength to the ex I've used, you will not be able to actually function in a healthy social way -- your state of mine is too altered.

I wouldn't use ectasy again at this point, and will always wonder if I should have in the first place, given my mental health.

Definitely don't add ex if you're already feeling depressed. It works by releasing all of your serotonin at once, so the next day you may be completely depleted of it and feeling even more like crap. There's also a possibility that because you're taking the effexor it won't have any effect at all so you'd just be wasting your money It'd be better to put that cash towards seeing another doctor.

In double blind clinical trials saint johns wort was as effective as a sugar pill in treating depression.

Yeah, I've stopped taking the St. John's Wort. Still don't feel any better since starting the 300mg last Wednesday. I'll give it another week or so and if it doesn't get better I'll just wean myself off of it and start anew with a new MD.