Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Mental Health (Expert Forum)
efexor XL, diazepam and carbamazepine
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.
efexor XL, diazepam and carbamazepine
by 21stargazer64, Aug 07, 2005 12:00AM
I have been on EFEXOR XL and DIAZEPAM for 2 1/2 years now and have found no difference in my condition whatsoever so my psychiatrist has now put me on carbamazepine aswell. I was getting severe mood swings before new tablets...going into megga highs then down into a deep depression...the highs were lasting about 48hrs at the time once a week.
Since being on carbamazapine i am having more frequent highs that can last up to 4 - 5 days at a time, then i drop into a megga depression lasting about 4days, but my patience has gone altogether and i am very angry and violent, am worried for my children as i cant cope anymore have started self harming again rather than hurt them.
Can you please give me some idea how these medications are supposed to help me and is it normal on these tablets to go without sleep for days at a time,be sick at smell of food,have no energy whatsoever unless on a high and to be so angry and violent, i feel desperate for some information of any kind.
Since being on carbamazapine i am having more frequent highs that can last up to 4 - 5 days at a time, then i drop into a megga depression lasting about 4days, but my patience has gone altogether and i am very angry and violent, am worried for my children as i cant cope anymore have started self harming again rather than hurt them.
Can you please give me some idea how these medications are supposed to help me and is it normal on these tablets to go without sleep for days at a time,be sick at smell of food,have no energy whatsoever unless on a high and to be so angry and violent, i feel desperate for some information of any kind.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Aug 08, 2005 12:00AM
, Aug 08, 2005 12:00AM
Your symptoms mean that the medications are not working well enough. Ask your doctor about something stronger for bipolar, and also consider using that to replace the effexor if you can.
See your doctor immediatley!
In addition, Effexor has been known to have side effects, is very addictive, and the withdrawal symptoms are extremely intense. If you are advised to stop taking the effexor and replace it with something else be sure to speak with him/her about weening you off slowly and I meen VERY slowly. All people's chemistry is different, however the one thing that seems to be consistant about effexor users, myself included, is that it is a complete nightmare to stop using. I cannot overstate the misory associated with removing this drug.
My advice to anyone considering using this drug is to reconsider with your md. Unless there is no other choice, the problems associated with this drug (very short half life, sexual side effects, and dependency unrelated to depression), typically considerably outweigh any benifits.
I would suggest adding an atypical antipsychotic to your treatment regimen (Personally, I use a lot of Seroquel and Abilify in my practice). Often, you can add them as an adjunct therapy to what you're currently using.
Definately see your psych soon.
Hope this helps!
-ckg