Effexor not working as well as it did...

[MuppetBaby]

So back in Oct. I was prescibed effexor by an emmergency room doctor for depression. I was very hesitant and diden't take it until I saw anopther doctor who also agreed with the prescription. So I was ultimatley at 225mg for about 2 months. Overall it helped with my anxiety but not so much depression. I also lost weight which was cool at first until I started getting really weak.The positives started tapering off about the third month. At that point my insurance started f---king me cause the Effexor so expensive, also it was constipating me ,so I went off it cold turkey...I DO NOT suggest this.
Anyways, I am now going to a psychiatrist, she seems pretty well informed. She put me back on effexor, this time with a better insurance program. However,it has not helped me at all..the side effects are totaly different as well. Before I had bouts of insomnia now I have hypersomnia, also I am gaining weight as well as I have NO ENERGY. I am a massage therapist so this has really been messing my work up. I have no energy for work, my dog or buying groceries. I never drank coffee now I absolutely need it. I even went through a few days of shooting up cocaine because it gave me temporary energy and "happiness".
  My doctor was concerned that I may actualy have a form of bipolar but wants to give a little more time on the effexor.
Has anyone had similiar experience going off Effexor then back on it?
or been misdiagnosed and actualy had bipolar?

and no matter what we are Awesome!!!

[JKJ]

I had tried Effexor in the past as well (also countless other ADs)....and it didn't work.  Let your pdoc know, you have a choice, you don't have to suffer with a med that doesn't work.  I hope you find a good med for you.

[Hensley258]

I had taken Effexor for about 4 years prior to my current medication.
For me it worked wonders, but these AD meds effect different people in different ways.

For example, I tried Cymbalta for about 3 full months and I swear it made me feel like walking death. On the other hand, I know many people having a good experience with Cymbalta.

It's often very hard to find a medication that will agree with you and control your symptoms of depression. I can't even begin to tell you how many different AD meds I have tried. Treating depression and anxiety with medication is often a trial and error process.

I have found that if at the 3rd month on a particular medication, if I am still not feeling better that it's the wrong med for me.

Don't be afrade to try different ones.