Effexor Xr, Efexor Xr, Venlafaxine...

[Shellbell]

Innordinate, if you mean me yes my nightmares are lessoning, but that's the Seroquel according to my doc. So that is good :)

I thought I was doing okay until something happened this week that made my mood drop very low, very quickly, so it was a bit worrying that all these 3 meds are not stabilizing me as much as I would like them to.

I can't increase the Effexor due to the problem of my increased neck and back pain. Can't increase my Mirtazapine, as the higher dose reduces the sedative effect which is what currently gets me to sleep.

And I don't want to increase the Seroquel as I'm not happy being on an anti-psychotic anyway in combo with the other two.

And I don't want to start on any new ones and be on the medication merry-go-round :rolleyes:

This medicaton lark ain't easy. I also read that PTSD from severe complex trauma is medication resistant and in the end they all stop working. That was a bit scary to read :eek:

 

[Innordinate]

Glad I don't have the neck and back pain increase with Effexor. My p-doc was going to increase my Effexor to 300mg daily but decided to switch me from Trimipramine to something else (cylexa or cyprexa..whatever...starting to lose the ability and care for what I'm currently on) I was thinking Thursday, when I was switched from one med to another med, that they should really be paying us to be their med guinea pigs. :cautious:

 

[Shellbell]

My doc said Effexor can aggravate neck and back pain caused by fibromyalgia, which she says I have, so I have to monitor that, but the higher doses (I'm on 150mg), will make it much worse.

Yes, we should be paid for being med guinea pigs!

 

[Abstract]

Shellbell,
Sorry to hear you are still struggling so. :hug: Sadly I have found that meds may help my general levels of wellbeing but they certainly do not stop fallout from difficult situations or triggers. Maybe they blunt them a bit.

I have heard of people having their serotonin levels analysed and even though they are on truly massive doses of meds they come back as close to zero. Rather frightening that that is possible but apparently it is.

I too detest and do all I can do not to change meds as it is such an awful process.

Hope you feel better soon. :inlove:

 

[Shellbell]

Thanks Abstract :inlove:

It's interesting how some people are medication resistant and I've wondered why, maybe the serotonin levels are the reason.

I don't blame you not wanting to change meds either. Not fun :hug:

 

[Abstract]

That's a good question Shellbell. One I have never thought to look at. For example with normal depression I had thought that when it is treatment resistant (medication wise) that there was less of a chemical element involved in the depression in the first place. But in terms of trauma and severe depression when it has'n't been enough to control symptoms I guess I have assumed that whatever it is counteracting is just too powerful and therefore the levels are low despite it. Like trying to stop a flood with paddle.

Our thoughts and emotions and the way we deal with them have a direct effect on the chemicals we produce in our brains and bodies and I have found I have been able to influence my depressive symptoms much, much more with techniques that help me be in touch with my emotions and manage them than medication was ever able to do. Medication has helped me enormously at certain points but when it comes to symptoms it has never taken them away. It did take me 8 or so years of working on it to be more effective though. So I am guessing that flashbacks and other intrusions come with intense emotions and thoughts and that they then will have resulting chemical backlash and that maybe meds are not always able to sufficiently counteract all that. This is all a random guess. I would be interested to know though.

I have a bad habit of not discussing symptoms so that people don't try to mess with my meds. Pretty silly. Terrified of feeling sedated.

:hug:

 

[Shellbell]

I just said on someone diary post about being medication resistant and maybe it's the serotonin levels not increasing with meds. Makes sense if someone has been tested and their's are still nil on massive amounts of meds. They won't be the only one.

I also don't want to try new meds, but will have to be honest with my doc about still not being as stable as I would like to be when stressful things happen.

I know what you mean about feeling silly avoiding talking about symptoms to avoid changes or upping of meds. My doc wants me take a 2nd dose of seroquel in the morning as well as at night if I feel worse, but I don't want to take it during the day and feel sedated, plus I need to be able to drive.

Meds - certainly are not a quick fix.

:hug:

 

[Abstract]

Honesty is always the best way Shellbell. Especially when you are so destabilised. I am grateful that I am semi functional at present. Wasn't at all for the last 2+ years.

Sometimes taking the same meds but for longer can start to improve things so hang in there.

 

[Bilby]

Shellbell, I'm sorry to hear you're having such a rough time at the moment. The dose of Seroquel that he wants you to take in the morning - what does is it? You can get 25mg tablets that you can take that will probably have a calming affect but not sedate you quite so much?

Inordinate - do you mean Zyprexa?

 

[Shellbell]

My Seroquel is 50 mg, so I take one at night and I can take one in the morning as well but so far I haven't. My doc gives me these at the moment, as I'm not offically diagnosed with Bi-polar, so it will be very expensive to buy on prescription, so I have to just take what she gives me.

I'm worried I won't be able to drive okay if I take it in the morning.

 

[Innordinate]

Inordinate - do you mean Zyprexa?

Nope, not Zyprexa. Celexa. Just another anti-depressive.

I just said on someone diary post about being medication resistant and maybe it's the serotonin levels not increasing with meds

My understanding isn't that the meds increase serotonin levels but inhibit or help (one of the other) the brain to deflect or absorb the current serotonin levels. Not change the active levels. So, yeah, if your brain hardly produces any serotonin, it doesn't matter how many medications you're on, you won't be producing more - and so meds would be virtually useless.

 

[Bilby]

Sorry Shellbell, I forgot about the expense of them if you don't have the BPD diagnosis. Have you got a tablet cutter that you could use to cut the 50mg tablet in two? Perhaps try it one day whilst your husband is at home and you're not needing to drive so you will know how it affects you during the day?