Should I get back on Effexor?

[lynn5775]

I took Effexor for about 10 months after finding out about my husband having an affair with a young girl - 20 yrs old.  He and I are both 50.  I discovered this in April '06 and finally gave in to the meds.  I told him that I would give the medication about 10 months to "take care of" the situation in my head and heart.  I didn't start taking it immediately after making the affair discovery/  I've recently got off of the Effexor b/c I had taken it for the allotted time that I wanted to allow myself to be on an anti-depressant.  It helped my depression and ruminative (obsessive) thinking, but now that I've been off of the Effexor - for about 5 weeks - I'm back to the depressed feelings and obsessive thoughts of his affair.

I didn't like the way that the Effexor made me feel lifeless and have no energy.  I had immediate energy in the 1st weeks of getting off of it.  Should I get back on the Effexor?  I'm also thinking that it may be hormonal as well.  I had a hysterectomy about 9 years ago and far past my menopausal midpoint.

Thank you for your advice!

[PollyB]

Having been trapped on Effexor for five years and having taken another 2 years to get off it, to avoid the crippling effects of NOT taking it... it is addictive.  I would strongly advise you to NOT get back on this drug. Effexor destroyed my sex drive, my enjoyment in life and my ambition to do things.

If you had a hysterectomy and it was total (both ovaries removed) (I had one at 33 years of age, but they left one overy)... you have not only lost your estrogen production you have lost your testosterone production... that is what makes you feel sexy.

Hopefully you are addressing your estrogen loss with a bio-identical patch like Climara.  Climara will protect your bones, even help build bone.  It will make you feel better also... comes in quite a few different doses, it does NOT have any horse urine estrogen. (Premarin is made from pregnant mares urine and is the Estrogen that caused the problems in the recent testing) Nor does Climara contain any synthetic progestins.  Bio-identical means it is exactly the same estrogen as your body makes.

Also, If you are having vaginal dryness problems they have a bio-identical Estrogen ring that is installed by the woman herself, four times a year.  This deals promptly with any discomfort a woman may be having with sex itself by directly affecting the local tissues, making them soft, moist and young feeling again.

FINALLY, find a Dr who will test your blood levels of testosterone.  THEN write you a prescription for bio-identical testosterone cream, any woman who has had a double oophorectomy has lost her testosterone cream, which is what governs their sex drive.

I have done all these things and it restored my zest for living.  I also took a good high potency multi vitamin-mineral, fish oil capsules and vitamin D capsules... If you can tolerate it, taken in the middle of a meal (keep it cold in the fridge), Carlsons High Potency Lemon Flavored Cod Liver Oil is excellent for mood, skin, general health.  

If you cannot get your Doctor to prescribe topical testosterone cream (you DON"T want the stuff for men... you want a very low dose specifically made for women). you can purchase a testosterone cream made for women from several Australian pharmacies on line or from the company in australia who makes this product.  It is a non prescription item for Americans.

There is also a Doctor and Compounding Labratory who will test and prescribe, compound and deliver topical testosterone in Arizona, they can be reached via the net.

Watch for effects of the testosterone cream, if you get oily skin or breakouts, reduce the amount you are using, I use half of what they recommend... request a dose measurement device when you order.  Part of the cream can be rubbed on the back of your knees, you can easily monitor hair growth there, if your outer vaginal lips are dry or shriveled you can rub a little there and on your clit.  

You will feel better, you will feel sexier, you will stop obsession on your husband, you will find yourself standing up a lot straighter and looking around.  This will make you happier, it will very likely make you more attractive to your husband... if that is what you want.  I use all these items and they make life worth living again.  Try them, if you don't like the effects, adjust the dose.  Don't just sit and be a victim and don't expect your Doctor to solve your problems.  He doesn't live inside your body and feel what you feel 24 hours a day, he sees you 15 minutes and with in seconds has already decided what your problem is and what he/she will do about it.  This is a known fact... so look out for yourself, be proactive... don't count on anyone else solving your problems... they won't.