cannonwillI have been diagnosed multiple times with severe clinical depression. Recently (for the last 6 to 8 months) was prescribed Effexor that did absolutely nothing for me. My depression increased so much I found myself in a very dark place.
I discovered what I understand is that Effexor is traditionally presecirbed for those suffereing bi-polar disorder which is an entirely different brain chemical than that affecting those with clinical depression. Then had Lithium added on top of that for mood stabilization.
I am seeing a new psychiatrist who has now prescribed Pristiq. In my research I am understanding that Pristiq is similatr to Effexor (related, a cousin).
I am very concerned that I am not being properly medicated. I have had a long hard time over the last year with medication and it appears the general practitioner had me way off track. I told the new psyciatrist that Effexor had me in a really bad place. I am concerned that I am still going in the wrong direction.
Are there any experts out there that can give me some information... questions to ask... suggestions when speaking with my doctor?
Thanks.
PS - I posted this question and it does not seem to be appearing in my list of questions. How do you know your question has actually been submitted?
kaismama
Anonymous 
cannonwill
I was taking 75mg twice daily for 6 to 8 months. My depression increased something terrible and I rarely had a good day, most were pretty somber, and I ended up suicidal.
My primary care giver would not refer me to a psyciatrist upon my request and just added Lithium 300mg to my daily regimen for mood stabilization.
I did not read anything about Effexor until a phyciatrist in a psyc ward told me that is was most commonly used for bi-poar conditions. And then the literature I read while there supported that conclusion. However, most else I have read refer to major depression. Here on drugs.com it mentions anxiety (I have that some) and panic disorder (not me). I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping over that past year or so.
Expand this post...
What has worked best for me in the past has been prozac, paxil, zoloft, etc. I started on Wellbutrin a few years back and that is when I started feeling worse again. I would say over the last 5 years my mood and depression has changed dramatically for the worse. From what you say it is very possible the dosage was severly insufficient.
We changed around the SSRI's over the years because they have a tendancy to taper off over time and I would tend to get moody. I have been taking medication for depression for the last 30 years or so.
The psyciatrist in the psyc ward put me on Remron. I took that for about a week. First appointment after release a different psyciatrist put me on Seroquel and took me off Remron. I was in a cloud for the first half of the day on the Seroquel. I complained and she put me on the Pristiq, currently 50mg. I was very upset as I did not feel she was listening to me and seemed very scattered in her questioning and reviewing of my records. So, I was assigned another psyciatrist in that office (the one I saw in the ward). I have not been in to see him yet, I am scheduled for next week.
I came to this site to do a little research and gain some understanding as to what has been happening to me and gain some insight into the medications I have been taking.
A little more background, I hope not to much information. I am reaching for answers. This problem has affected me, my work, and most importantly my family. I just want to get on the right track and be back to being myself and feeling healthy.
Thanks.
PS - with the exception of being a user of Pristiq, do you have any qualifications that bring you to your reply?
I've been a nurse for 45 yrs. If those others worked for you why did they docs change it? I've never seen lithium used for depression at all. Now that is purely for bipolar disorder. If you need a change, going on to something else, then back to what worked before instead of trying something else. I know once in a while they give effexor for bipolar that is chiefly depressed, but it is first and foremost an anti depressant. Pristiq is the newest of them. I've been on effexor. If it doesn't help after a month, then talk to the doc right away, maybe you need it increased. Maybe you need a different one.