posted
You may recall the thread about my sister in law who attempted suicide a couple of weeks ago. My girlfriend is currently interstate looking after her. She saw a state therapist yesterday, who has referred her to a private therapist - who can't see her for four weeks.
The hospital has put her on effexor, but she seems to be having some fairly wild highs & lows throughout the course of the day.
I'm also a little worried about that particular drug, given what I've read online.
Without wanting to jump to conclusions, can any of our resident medicos give me a little more info on effexor or anything else that Justine (who's now having daily migranes, she's so stressed with worry about her sister) can do to help.
Posts: 2245 | Registered: Nov 1998
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No, she's home with my girlfriend living in with her. She's going to work for a few hours a day as it keeps her mind off things.
Posts: 2245 | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I think you need to call the state therapist and ask her for another recomendation. There have to be tons of good therapists in Melborne, one that has an opening for a new patient.
As far as the Effexor goes:
Everyone reacts differently to antidepressants. The biggest piece of advice you'll find about them though, is to give them a chance to work. Four weeks at the least. Unless of course your sister is experiencing some serious symptoms (you can find these on Effexor's website).
She could get lucky. Effexor could be the one for her. Of course she could be like many of us (myself included) where it took a few tries to find a match. *Ask mack about this and she'll give you an earfull*
Those websites can sure scare the hell out of people. Just be sure to remember that on the forums for these drugs, it's a playground for people who like to complain about the side effects their drug is causing. (Say hello to my mother for me).
I wish your sister the best of luck. Give her a hug for me. Tell her there is hope. I'm proof. (Effexor was my wonder drug)
Posts: 2064 | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
All the antidepressants have suicide warnings, and long lists of scary sounding side effects. Also, if you do any googling you'll find lots and lots of people on websites talking about how antidepressants are terrible.
In reality, though, antidepressants are amazing drugs. They can do wonderful things when used correctly. A lot of people who don't fit criteria are put on antidepressants nowadays. Just like any drug, they can have side effects. Side effects are often worse in people who aren't depressed or who are put on the wrong drug. And, suicide does slightly go up in frequency the first month then drops. Someone as sick as your sister definitely needs to try medical treatments.
Antidepressants take time to work. Most don't make much of a dent on depression symptoms until 2-4 or even 6 weeks later. Your sister in law must have pretty serious depression and she is also dealing with the consequences of her failed attempt. It's a hard time for her. So this may be sort of the normal progression. OTOH, 20% of people with depression are actually bipolar. Most bipolars are diagnosed with depression by mistake when they present with depression or a suicide attempt. So if her highs are pretty severe, then bipolar needs to be considered by her doctor. You haven't said enough about her current state for me to tell anything. A therapist is very important and can help decide if she is manic but a medical doctor, a psychiatrist, is the person adjusting her medications. That is the person she needs to see. He or she can help figure out if she is having side effects, mania, or just needs more time.
Oh--And I wouldn't worry more about effexor than the other most commonly used drugs. These newer ones are all pretty good. Read about any of them online too much and it'll scare you half to death.
Posts: 1014 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
I don't have anything useful to say about the suicide risk, except that I suspect that they've saved more lives than they've taken, and they have improved quality of life even in those who would not have become suicidal.
My personal experience was that Paxil (an SSRI) had unpleasant side effects. After three days of anxiety, an upset stomach, and feeling like I had a caffeine high all the time, I tried a different drug in a different class of antidepressants (Trazodone). The side effects were few and mild, and my life is very much different. I compare my life before and after antidepressants to a conversion experience.
I know this really isn't the information you wanted, but hopefully you will be able to encourage your girlfriend and her sister. Things will almost certainly get better for her, although she'll probably have to try a few different drugs. From my experience, what Justine can do to help is to love her sister unconditionally, and in such a way that her sister cannot deny it. She can be aware of the signs of suicide, and intervene if necessary.
I'll be thinking about you, and your girlfriend, and her sister. I hope things get better (and I'm confident that in a month or so, they will--antidepressants really are miracle drugs).
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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posted
Sometimes people need combinations of drugs as well. I was put on Effexor and then Paxil, both of which had similar effects on me as they did on Shigosei. After I came back to the States (I was in Italy for those two), I was put on a mood stabilizer and just recently they added a different anti-depressant (Lexapro) which also treats anxiety.
Because I don't know much more about the situation, I can't really say anything more than I hope everything works out and that her mood levels out.
Posts: 2867 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I'd also wonder about the mood swings when on effexor and a possible connection to bipolar disorder. It's one of the constellation of symptoms. It also depends on if she had exhibited mood swings prior to the start of effexor and if effexor made it worse or what.
As for the suicide warnings for antidepressants, it's mostly got to do with how recovery from depression works. There's a baseline, you see, this zone of "normal" emotional ups and downs. With depression, there's a "bottom" zone, as it were. When you start the recovery process, with drugs and therapy, you don't shoot right back up into normal. You work your way back up, by the nature of how long it takes antidepressants to work. See, when you're at the bottom, you probably want to die. Except, you just don't have the energy to DO anything about it. It's the middle spot, between bottom and baseline, where you could still be feeling suicidal, but you've got the energy to do it. Hence, the suicide warnings with antidepressants.
Now for the anecdotal part. Most folks here, I think, know about my own mental disorder. It's taken a few years to settle out, but I've been fine for a year this month, actually. It took a mix of medications, including a mood stabilizer (Lamictal), a tiny dose of an antypical antipsychotic (Seroquel), a tiny dose of an antidepressant (Celexa), and Adderall (for ADHD). Now, because I carry a diagnosis of bipolar type II, my psychiatrist never wanted to put me on Effexor or other drugs like it. As Theaca said, it has to do with the types of neurotransmitters they work on. Effexor can more easily trigger mood swings in someone with bipolar disorder than say...well,no. Wait. Effexor can also be used for ADHD in some ways. Wellbutrin as well. But like any antidepressant, it can trigger a manic or hypomanic episode. It bears watching.
But I'm a staunch supporter of proper therapy, both with drugs and talk therapy. And the support your partner and family and you are giving the sister is an integral part of recovery.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Troub, I don't have any advice, I'm just glad for the update. Your partner is an awesome sister and I know the support you are giving them both is crucial.
Posts: 2711 | Registered: Mar 2004
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