Kaitrin

I tried Xanax - first .25 then .5mg. No response whatsoever. Then Klonopin - first .5, then 1mg, then 2mg, then 4. No response whatsoever. I think I'm immune to benzos.

For those of you who have taken both Effexor and Cymbalta at different times in your life, what are the similarities/differences? What kind of side effects? Did one work better or faster? I'm on Effexor, and I just wondered if maybe Cymbalta would be a better choice or if I should stick with what I know. Thanks! Kaitrin

My doctors have never said anything to me about drinking while taking my drugs, but they're not very scrupulous about these things. The info pamphlets from the pharmacy do clearly say to avoid alcohol while taking them. Luckily, I don't drink anyway so it doesn't matter.

If you get depressed within hours or days of missing a dose, it's probably withdrawal, not "true" depression. Regular depression returning after quitting drugs might happen weeks or months down the road.

When I stopped taking it (the first time. I'm back on it now.) I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms. But everyone's different and I could just have been lucky, so I'd recommend tapering. I would not, however, recommend going to every other day. This may work with Prozac because of its long half-life, but with other drugs, taking it every other day just makes your levels fluctuate wildly and probably makes withdrawal about as bad or worse as cold turkey.

Me too, firelizard. I wanted to go higher but my doctor said it was the max.

I am warmer since taking the Effexor and sweat more. Not my palms, but everyone's different. I hope it goes away for you!

37.5 or 75 is the starting dose, but most people seem to go up to 150 or 225 eventually. But if it works at 75, it's best to stick with 75 rather than go higher. (Higher dose = more side effects!)

On the average, people's blood pressure will go up slightly. It is recommended that your b.p. be monitored while on this drug. Sometimes, doctors will not prescribe it if you already have high blood pressure.

I think sometimes people consider suicide as they start to feel better....they look back on the horrible time they've just gone through and think, "There is no way I'm ever going through that again. I know odds are high that I'll have another depressive episode, and I'd rather die now than try to live through that again." When you're in the depths of depression, you don't have the energy or focus to figure out a way to go through with it, but when you're getting a little better, you can think well enough to have a plan.

I hope they continue to do lots of research and find some real answers. It is amazing how little is known about what causes and what can treat this very common condition.

According to the package inser that comes with Wellbutrin, "there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed." I guess it depends on how bad she feels when she's not taking Wellbutrin. If her symptoms off meds are pretty minor, she should probably stop taking it before trying to get pregnant, but if she will feel suicidal off meds than she doesn't have much choice but to keep taking it during pregnancy.