Effexor and a stimulant?

[markusinteruptus]

Has anyone tried Effexor and a stimulant? my doc. had me try it a few years ago…. I sure got a lot done in the day but crashed hard around 3 pm. went around grumpy for the rest of the day. I don’t like Effexor especially because of the E.D. issues which really suck!

will a stimulant help in the bedroom department? Ive read a lot about weening off effexor and tried many times without success.

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[Patte Rosebank]

Does the Effexor work on your depression? If so, then why would you want to get off it?

I say this from experience, as I went through a period of wanting to get off it, and, indeed, successfully weaning off it, before starting on Concerta. Unfortunately, a few months later, I recognized that the depressive symptoms which the Effexor had so successfully controlled for so many years, had returned with a vengeance. And that, though initially effective, the Concerta made me extremely anxious.

So it was off the Concerta and back onto the Effexor, and I’m amazed at the difference the Effexor makes. Yes, it does dull the emotions (and the sex drive) considerably (and, as an actress, I found it useful to be able to cry on cue, as I could when not on Effexor), but I simply cannot function without Effexor.

Unfortunately, though my doctor referred me for a psychiatrist specializing in adult ADHD, I am STILL waiting, after more than a year. So, though my bipolar II is being treated, my ADHD isn’t.

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[Anonymous]

hey there,

so stimulants work on dopamine and norepineprhine. effexor hits norepinephrine and serotonin. taking them together would just amplify the effects of each. they will hit all three neurotransmitters instead of just two. re: ED – most antidepressants have this effect. stimulants can have the opposite effect, i.e.: increased libido. although i have had no such luck yet being on stimulants myself.

have you been dx’d with ADHD? i don’t know your history, so forgive me if i’m presuming anything…… if dx’d, you should be put on ADHD meds first, then if your mood is still low you can try antidepressants. the ADHD could be causing the mood issues. rule this out first.

hope this helps.

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[markusinteruptus]

yes I’ve been dx’d with ADD for years , but started the journey at the depression end of things and anti depressants. I have never been on ADD meds alone. so do you recommend the combination Effexor and say Ritalin ??

Larynxa:

I followed your thread the other day and was really routing for you! having had the Effexor battle myself many times and always ended up back where I started : ( I’m glad to hear its working for you and that you have made peace with it!!

It works for me and seems to keep me on an even keel, especially now that major changes are going on in my life. I’m an artist/ crafts person and have been fairly successful over the years but want to take it to the next level and find my ADD symptoms to be getting in the way and limiting my growth a certain amount.I’d like to try a stimulant or other meds to see if they make a difference. That being said I’m afraid to try and stop the effexor without something else to take its place.

I find the amount of Med info on this and other sites over whelming and really need a knowledgeable doc. in the area (Vancouver BC)??

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[markusinteruptus]

Turns out GP knew a lot about ADD meds! checked out drug inter actions ….. all clear ! I’m on 20mg of Ritalin this morning.

feeling a bit anxious and fired up…. not sure I like it ? will keep you posted.

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[Patte Rosebank]

Remember, Markus, the meds are like training wheels. They’ll help us to stay upright when we wobble too far to one side, but we still have to figure out how to do things for ourselves.

Give the Ritalin a couple of weeks—unless your pulse & blood pressure go dangerously high; in which case, you should contact your doctor immediately for advice. If it still makes you more wired & anxious than calm & focussed, it may not be the right med for you. But discuss it with your doctor before stopping it.

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[Anonymous]

I love the training wheels image! People think because we take meds, we should now ride a bicycle like champions 24/7. I’ll know what to answer back.

This spring, I finally got to one of the very few ‘real’ ADHD’s psychiatrists that exists, after many years of waiting. For too long, I’d been diagnosed with many other things (GAD, bipolar and 2 years ago, mild ADHD) and took so many meds, all combined. Results were so-so. I let you imagine what it was trying to apply for life insurance, the endless questions and the additional premium… Untreated ADHD often leads to what seems to be other disorders. We made a big ‘spring cleaning’ and increased my Concerta dosage while getting rid of the rest. Turns out I’m not depressed or Bipolar at all, just plain full blown ADHD untreated before age 43. Now at 45, I only have to take 1 kind of meds. Soon I might get lower life insurance premiums…

Hope it helps. Hang out ’til you get to a ‘real’ specialist.

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[Anonymous]

I take Effexor, along with Ritalin, and I felt a little better but not great. I also suffered from some E.D, which is hard to experience as a younger man.

What I found helped me was adding a 150mg dose of Wellbutrin. It was the little boost I needed to maintain sanity throughout the day and I haven’t had an issue with the E.D in a long while either…even still taking the Effexor.

My GF is happy with the results, but i’m far from perfect. I still need therapy to help get a handle on my emotional issues but I no longer feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders, I can still think clearly and don’t feel like I need a mid day nap just to survive.

I hope you get a handle on your situation and find a combination that is right for you.

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[donsense]

I just started Concerta on a low Dose on top of Effixxor, Thyroxine and a few other meds…by 70 some of the other endocrine disaters may set in …I was very interested in the comments as i also came to ADHD thru Depression and Effixxor and self diagnosis since confirmed . Thanks for your comments and may i add ED was the first instantaneous improvement😎

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[donsense]

The problem with the concerta 12 hour and Effixor Xr is the need for sleep. I have an old history of waking after 4 hours and difficulty going back to sleep. So FP Family Physician prescribed AmiTryptilene for evenings. Doesnt make you sleepy but does make it extremely hard to wake up. Good thing i am retired . Getting up before noon is undoable unless i am asleep by  11:00. I am used to 7, at most 8 hrs. Once i start the “up at noon” i cant get to sleep til well after midnight..  The crazy hours become self defeating.

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