Is it time to increase?

I'm supposed to call my doctor in a few days for an update on how I'm doing and I just wanted to know how you know if you need an increase with Effexor? I've been on effexor for almost 2 weeks at the starting dose of 75mg. I've found that my mood is pretty level in that I can't really feel too much at all and feel pretty spacy... but that is better than the crying, anxiety and extreem fatigue I had on Lexapro. The first few days I had a ton of energy but that soon left and I feel just sort of blah and emotionless along with no motivation. The sleep is pretty scetchy as well... I feel tired but takes me FOREVER to get to sleep unless I take ativan. I'm just asking how you know if a med is working or if you need an increase. I kept on with Lexapro way too long continueing to increase hoping that if I just waited it out a little longer it would work and it didn't do anything other than give me side effects. I can't continue waiting 12 weeks for every med. I've been on Zoloft, Paxil (both of which made my depression and anxiety much much worse) and Lexapro. So far the side effects of Effexor are very minimal which i'm happy about I just want to start feeling alive again. I'm at the end of available SSRI's that my insurance will cover and my doc has discussed ECT with me which I pray won't be required. What do you all think? Also I'm pretty small and I have a tendency to be very sensitive to these meds so that is also an issue.

Thanks for your thoughts,
Heather

This is really a decision that your doctor should make, based on how you say you are feeling. So I'd write everything down, so that when you call him/her, you can explain it thoroughly. Include info on mood, appetite, sleep, energy level, motivation. Some docs would say you haven't been on the 75mg long enough to get the full effect of it (it sounds as though you feel you have had some improvement, which is promising). Others would increase it at this stage - best to just trust the doc to do what is best for you.

I did great on just 75mg XR for several years. You don't always need a higher dose for it to be effective. I'm now on 150mg, with a couple of other meds as well.

But your doc will have a better picture of your condition than any of us have...

Heather,

I know its frustrating to have to wait, but 2 weeks isnt very long at all.

Go and see your doc if your concerned, but in my experience most will give it 4 weeks before a dosage increase. They reckon if its done absolutely nothing by 4 weeks then it might be worth increasing. However, dont let your doc fob you off into waiting 12 weeks !!!!

Thank you all so much for your replies! I need to share something that is odd. I woke up today with some energy...on my way to work I noticed that everything around me looked different...brighter and happier. The only way I can explain this is from the time that I did mushrooms years ago....that is exactly what it feels like minus hallucinations.....YIKES! I'm not complaining as it is a good feeling, but it doesn't feel like me However, I have been sooooo sick for sooooo long that I don't even know what the "healthy" me is like. Is this something I should be concerned about? When you've been suffering from what the pdocs say as sever depression....how do you know what it's like to feel "normal". So confused.

Thanks,
Heather

Hi Heather, I know what you mean. At the moment I'm thinking is this normal? Then at the same time I tell myself not to overthink it. Just give yourself some time to get used to feeling better than you did. It may or may not be 'normal' but at least you're feeling positive about things again.

Just embrace it and enjoy it and get to know it again!!!

:) Headspin