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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Effexor and Xanax - bad mix?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Effexor and Xanax - bad mix?
by eastwood, Feb 26, 2004 12:00AM
I have been battling depression and anxiety ever since i was a teenager (I am now 31 years of age). After trying out Paxil, Wellbutrin and Zoloft over the last 5 years (always short term ) and disliking all of them, I have been on Effexor for the past year. I am taking 2 x 37.5 mg a day. Some side effects occured during this time, like increased sweating and sexual dysfunction, but all in all i was content and improved immensely. Also, seeing a therapist helps a lot. Everything was fine until 2 weeks ago. I ordered Xanax via the internet because i was about to take a plane trip and to move out of the apartment i was sharing with my boy friend at the time. i felt overwhelmed by what the future was holding for me ( just broke of a relationship, moving into an apartment by myself for the first time ever, being by myself, having to go onto an airplane ect.), so i thought that an anti anxiety medication would help me through this.
Now, after finishing the xanax i now feel worse than i did before. i never exceeded the max. dosis, but did take it infrequently, and now after i took the last dosage about a week ago i am suffering all kinds of symptoms up to a point where i feel physically immobilized. i don't know what brought this upon me and if i will ever feel normal again. i am starting to freak out.
i am unable to sleep due to muscle tension all over my body. my feet and hands are constantly cold. i am sweating excessively. i am twichy, nervous, irritated, uncoordinated, clumsy. unable to think and function straight. my sense of time is distorted. i feel like my energy sources are completely depleted. i have no physical strength whatsoever. i can't focus on anything. i am slow. detached from myself. developed a slight stutter. what is happening? what should i do?
is this going to stop?
Now, after finishing the xanax i now feel worse than i did before. i never exceeded the max. dosis, but did take it infrequently, and now after i took the last dosage about a week ago i am suffering all kinds of symptoms up to a point where i feel physically immobilized. i don't know what brought this upon me and if i will ever feel normal again. i am starting to freak out.
i am unable to sleep due to muscle tension all over my body. my feet and hands are constantly cold. i am sweating excessively. i am twichy, nervous, irritated, uncoordinated, clumsy. unable to think and function straight. my sense of time is distorted. i feel like my energy sources are completely depleted. i have no physical strength whatsoever. i can't focus on anything. i am slow. detached from myself. developed a slight stutter. what is happening? what should i do?
is this going to stop?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Mar 01, 2004 12:00AM
, Mar 01, 2004 12:00AM
You should see a therapist. Your symptoms are probably not related to xanax at all, and in fact, it may be you have not taken enough to deal with your new level of anxiety. Think of this as just the difficulty you anticipated, and an opportunity to learn how to be more independent, which is now frightening you. See a therapist, and if you need some help before that online, you can go to www. masteringstress.com and take the session on transitions first.
AND HERE IS MY COCKTAIL IN 6 MONTHS
1500 DEPAKOTE THEY HAVE CHANGED THIS 3 TIMES
4. KLOPIN CHANGE THIS 3 TIMES
900 LITHUIM
4 DOSAGES OF EFFOX 37.5 CHANGED THI MED 4 TIMES
MY SLEEPER IS ZYPREXA 10 MG CHANGED THIS 3 TIMES
UISED TO BE ON TRADOZONE 100 150 MG DIDNT DO ANYTHING FOR ME
SEROQUEL MAKES ME VOILENT
PROZAC CANT TOUCH ME AT ALL
RIGHT NOW I AM ON A MANIC HIGH BEEN ABOUT A MONTH IF NOT LONGER
I GO IN WEEKLY TO MY DOC MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS HIGH GAINING ABOUT 3-6 POUNDS PER WEEK
BASICALLY UNTILL WE FIND THE RIGHT DOSAGES I AM IN THIS STATE
I AM NOT COMPLEATINGLY TOGETHER HERE SEEMS LIKE I AM LOOKING INTO MY WORLD NOT PLAYING A PART OF IT ITS SO HARD ON THE FAMILY PLEASE ADVICE WHAT CAN I DO
THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME AIR THIS OUT
I work with clients daily that are in trouble with benzodiazepine medications.
Raz