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Thread: Here I am again!!!

  1. #1

    Here I am again!!!

    Been on sertraline for 8 years approximately. Then they stopped working? Or the stress of the coronavirus and working in the hospital. Its been like working on a battlefield! Alas Christmas eve I couldn't even get out of bed. My anxiety was terrible and no energy. I can't believe this has happened again!
    Have been trying mirtazipan for 6 weeks with no effect.
    So now been put on venlafaxine.
    Any words of encouragement be grateful. I now on day 3 so will use this thread to keep a diary. Just hope these will help get me on my feet and back to work???
    Kind regards 😇

  2. #2
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    Re: Here I am again!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Siggsy49 View Post
    Been on sertraline for 8 years approximately. Then they stopped working?
    How much were you taking when sertraline stopped working and if it was less than 200mg was increasing the dose tried?

    Or the stress of the coronavirus and working in the hospital. Its been like working on a battlefield! Alas Christmas eve I couldn't even get out of bed. My anxiety was terrible and no energy. I can't believe this has happened again!
    Even those who have never had an anxiety disorder or depression are crumbling under the strain. Everyone has their limit.

    Have been trying mirtazipan for 6 weeks with no effect.
    Not really a surprise. It is mostly just a sedative, not an AD.

    So now been put on venlafaxine.
    Any words of encouragement be grateful. I now on day 3 so will use this thread to keep a diary. Just hope these will help get me on my feet and back to work???
    Kind regards 😇
    Unfortunately, there still isn't any way of predicting which AD will mesh best with individual biology. It all comes down to trial and error. That said, venlafaxine has a good chance of working, certainly better than mirtazapine. Fingers crossed 🤞
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    The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.

  3. #3

    Re: Here I am again!!!

    Hi there! Thank you for your reply. So I'm having a good day today. I actually didn't have to drag myself out of bed. I did my hair put make up on. Walked into town. Omg my back and legs were killing me but I just kept sitting and resting as I felt more clear in my head and my body seemed more attached to my brain! I hope this isn't just a placebo?
    Yes mirtazipan wasnt good for me at all!
    I hope this continues 🙏

  4. #4

    Re: Here I am again!!!

    I was on 200mg sertraline

  5. #5
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    Re: Here I am again!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Siggsy49 View Post
    Walked into town. Omg my back and legs were killing me but I just kept sitting and resting as I felt more clear in my head and my body seemed more attached to my brain! I hope this isn't just a placebo?
    It might well be down to the exercise. It is unlikely to be the venlafaxine. No AD works that quickly, unfortunately. But exercise can do wonders.
    __________________
    The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.

  6. #6

    Re: Here I am again!!!

    Now finished week 2. Im now able to do more than I've done in 3 months. Onwards and upwards!
    My only problem is my sleeping. Ive gone from sleeping excessively to not much at all. Hopefully this is just medications adjusting?

  7. #7
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    Re: Here I am again!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Siggsy49 View Post
    My only problem is my sleeping. Ive gone from sleeping excessively to not much at all. Hopefully this is just medications adjusting?
    SSRI induced insomnia is a fairly common side-effect. It often diminishes after a few weeks, but can linger. Nytol tablets/liquids containing diphenhydramine often work, as may herbal supplements for insomnia. If they don't then ask your doctor to prescribe a small dose of mirtazapine (if you can get it 25mg immediate-release trazodone would be even better as it has a much shorter half-life, but UK GPs are reluctant to/can't prescribe it for some reason).
    __________________
    The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.

  8. #8

    Re: Here I am again!!!

    How do you know if your dosage needs increasing?
    Doctors are reluctant to prescribe alot of medications these days. But its the government apparently saying this.

  9. #9
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    Re: Here I am again!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Siggsy49 View Post
    How do you know if your dosage needs increasing?
    Keep increasing the dose until symptoms diminish. The trick is to be as anxiety (&/or depression) free as possible. The usual venlafaxine dose range for healthy adults is 75-225mg/day with a recommended maximum of 375mg according to the NHS with most taking 100-225mg extended-release. Venlafaxine only begins to inhibit noradrenaline, aka norepinephrine, reuptake at around 225mg, albeit still only weakly.

    Doctors are reluctant to prescribe alot of medications these days. But its the government apparently saying this.
    If by "a lot of medications" you mean high doses, then yes. But many seem quite willing to add another med or more instead of exploring the upper limits of the dose range which is, imho, madness. Some people, e.g. me, need to take near maximum doses of an AD, sometimes even above, to get a good result. I've always needed to take more than the recommended maximum dose of every AD. After 34 years almost continuously on these meds my brain still hasn't turned to porridge.
    __________________
    The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.

  10. #10

    Re: Here I am again!!!

    Why i asked this question is I've had a few really good days and now I feel as though I've gone a few steps back. I've requested a call back from the doctor to ask to increase my dosage. I hear alot about the slow release venlafaxine. Is this better? I'm only on 37.5mg twice a day. This has been for 2 weeks now.
    Thank you for your input PDU! Are you taking venlafaxine yourself?

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