If you were me - what would you do? - Mental Health Message Board

Dani_nmh · 10-01-2003, 05:31 PM

Hi my name is Daniella - and about 2 years ago a scary thing happened to me involving my heart (SVT episode) (im 19) it was not dangerous but discomforting. I was in ER all night
SO ....

I went home - and the next morning returned. I was now getting severe panic attacks. I started seeing a psychologist - she diagnosed it as PTSS.SLowly as time went on the Pattacks were less and less.

Then one day it all came back out of the blue. I was seeing Naturopaths - Drs - Homeopaths and a psychologist. I didnt want to take drugs!!

I had bad heart racing and dizziness and was later diagnosed (after searching and searching) with POTS and NMH - (basically - low drops in blood pressure - which make you feel nausea - dizy anxious etc.

I am now on a pill called florinef which retains salt to up fluid and raise bp - it is working ok

I still get Panic attacks and anxiety sometimes - I get depressed and cry a bit too - I feel sick to my stomach with fearful thoughts - or depersonalisation. But i am coping.

My cardiologist prescribed effexor xr 75mg and said if im not feeling good enough on the other pill alone - It would be the next step (as it is used as 1 form of treatment for the blood pressure thing) - and in my mind it would double and help the anxiety stuff as well.

But.... after reading all your posts about drugs and side effects and withdrawal - all in all im not feeling that bad. PLEASE PLEASE - I know this is going to come down to me to answer for myself - BUt - WHAT WOULD YOU DO???? I would really appreciate some input on this - I have gone through the trial and error game with other meds for this condition and know its not fun - Im tired and want to have fun and live normal again im only 19. HELP

ebonyrose · 10-02-2003, 04:30 AM

a normal life?

i havent ever had a normal life. (im 17 by the way) if i was you i would try effexor i know loads of people who are on it, and it works wonders for them. at the end of the day it is completely up to you. i know how it is to feel that you dont have a life of your own coz i dont, but it is just trial and error. keep fighting and good luck.
ebony

[This message has been edited by ebonyrose (edited 10-02-2003).]

blondie_punk_girll · 10-02-2003, 05:30 PM

hey~
First of all I would research alot about Effexor to make sure that it was completely safe to take with your blood pressure and heart condition. Also- make sure u mention the possibility of you taking it to ALL of your drs. Because remember a psychiatrist is not a MD dr and vice versa- so its always important for YOU to do research on what you take before you take. Just remember tho that ALL meds have a long list of unpleasant possible side effects and potential risks but usually the risks of experiencing those are low- so don't get freaked.

Also- I have been on effexor and I am extremely med resistant. I have been on just about every anti-depressant/ anti-anxiety med out there and Effexor was the only one to really really help me alot. Unfortunately I was forced to go off of it because it caused me to gain 30-40 lbs. BUT don't let that scare YOU because i have also known people to LOSE 30-40 lbs. So basically, each med is different for each person. There really is no way of telling how u will respond to the med (IF u respond at all) until u try it for yourself.
Oh yea, one other thing- when i was on effexor and i would forget a dose- i would get so dizzy i would fall down. My head would race so bad. It wasnt particularily painful so much as it was just kinda annoying. But that never happened if i took it daily like i was supposed to.
Probably out of all the medications out there for depression tho- if i were to recommend one to someone i would recommend effexor because it is unique in the fact that it raises 2 chemical levels at once rather than just one or the other. (u can look into that for the exact names im not positive so i dont want to say and then be mistaken.) Also- when i begun taking it- I think my dr told me that effexor works best for people who have a genetic depression- meaning a depression due to chemical imbalances rather than circumstancial depression.
With all said- Good Luck in whatever you decide!!!
~Lacey~

notavetyet · 10-02-2003, 06:10 PM

If I were you I would try it, especially if you want to live a "NORMAL LIFE" there is nothing to a failure but a try. I know someone who was having really bad panic attacks to the point of feeling like he was jumping out of his skin anyway he went on seroquel and started c/o vivd dreams. He is now taking effexor and states things could not be better. I wish you well. Let us know how it works for you.