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Tuesday, October 07, 2008 laura asks

Q: effexor not working anything else i could ask to try

i am a 21 yr old female ive suffered from depression for about 7 yrs i was ok up until the birth of my daughter 6 months ago i am now severly depressed and have anxiety problems. since then i have tried citalopram and now effexor 225mg. but they just dont seem to be doing anything my psychatrist has told me to stick with them and keeps increasing the dose. is there something else i could ask to try??

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10/ 8/08 9:11pm

Laura - I know that it is horrible to feel the severe depression and anxiety that you are describing. Post-partum changes can really wreck havoc on a woman's emotional wellbeing. Although I am not a psychiatrist, the choices that yours has made seem quite legitimate. Waiting for results is very hard when you feel bad but one of the realities of using these medications is that the full therapeutic effects can often take some time because getting to the proper dose can take a while. Nonetheless, be an advocate for yourself and inquire about medications that you can use temporarily to manage the anxiety. Getting that under control can sometimes make the wait for the antidepressant effect less agonizing. Best wishes!

 

Rick Wirtz

 

Rick Wirtz is a Psychologist, not a Psychiatrist. Although the majority of Psychologists are not authorized to prescribe medications or give you specific advice about them, they typically have experience working with patients who take a variety of medications. The response above is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or mental disorder. Any information given in a post about medication is for educational purposes only and primarily to aid you in having an informed discussion with your own physician.

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