not myself/effexor xr/paxil - Mental Health Message Board

morbidkitten · 09-13-2003, 02:54 PM

I was diagnosed as Bipolar (among a few other things) at age 14, and have been on and off meds since then (i am 24 with 3 children). I had been off of all of my meds for 3 years nows, and a little over a week ago restarted on Effexor XR and Paxil. Next Friday the doc will give me the Lithium and Valium back. But since starting on these meds, I feel like I am not myself. I dont sleep much, I have very few emotions left, and dont want to do anything. I am usually a very physical and motivated person, but now just after a week, I cant seem to feel or do anything. Can anyone tell me if they experience this with meds, or gve me some advise.?

Shaunna

cattys · 09-13-2003, 06:24 PM

Shaunna,

I was on effexor and discontinued it. Maybe it is because you are on both paxil and effexor. It sounds like they are taking your emotions away. I would say somthing to the dr. I am on zoloft now and at 100mg I had no emotions and felt blah. I now take 75mg and this is a good dose for me.

I think you just need to find the right med along with the right dosage.

Good Luck,

savysac · 09-17-2003, 11:44 PM

I too took both Paxil and Effexor.

Paxil left me so tired, but unable to sleep. I also had a lot of bothersome sexual side effects on the Paxil, so after about 8 months, I asked my doc if there was an alternative.

He then put me on Effexor. I was able to sleep and felt like I had more energy, and the sexual side effects went away.

The biggest problem I had on both meds was not being able to have any emotion at all. When the September 11, 2001 events occured, and I watched people jumping out of the towers to their deaths, and the ultimate destruction of both buildings, I new that it was teribly sad, but I was unable to feel any emotion, I tired to make myself cry, but couldnt. When my favorite Grandmother died, I felt no emotion. When I got divorced I felt no emotion.

I am finaly off both of these for now. I have been doing ok, but lately the anxiety has been building up and I may need to consider going on something again. I cannot afford therapy since I am recently divorced and my "me" money now goes to child support, creditors and lawyers. Thank goodness there are meds out there that can help, but I honestly dont know which is worse, not being constantly depressed or feeling no emotion at all. So confusing and frustrating.

Take care.

peace

terry