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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nataliee on June 24, 2004, at 15:32:08
Help Help Help me.
I'm coming off of Effexor and the withdrawl is destroying me...and THATS besides the point. I'm REALLY upset about the fact that i sleep 18 hours a day. I've always been one to sleep in, always been a dreamer, But since Sept.03 i've been slowly developing a major problem with sleep. It started around the time i started the Effexor, but i'm not sure ifthere is a direct link. I have really bad OCD when not on meds, and i have panic attacks and anxiety attacks and all that when i'm awake. SO to avoid all the bull i have to go through awake, i've just been sleeping more and more. Now, i have a job that starts at 4:30pm and Ends at9:30 pm. I sleep the rest of the day. I wake up for 10 minutes or so to take care of basic needs, eat /shower etc...but i obsessively sleep AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE every single day. I 've even been not answering when my Boyfriend calls, even skipping Dr. Appointments because i'm in the middle of a dream, and need to finish it before i can go on. for the first hour of being awake, i'm a total zombie, totally out of focus, unable to cognitively change my negative thoughts/behaviors, and i often just end up giving up on the day entirely and going back to bed, skipping work, or other "necessities of awakedness". When i do show up for work i'm yawning, spacey...i smoke Marijuana when i'm awake too, a habit that i'm ashamed of, but one that seems to be my only awake escape from my depression. Its the only time i have hope, or can smile or laugh...when i'm high.
I hate being awake. Has anyone else ever slept this much? how can i snap the hell out of this ?
thanks,
Nataliee
Posted by justyourlaugh on June 24, 2004, at 16:18:39
In reply to HELP; I SLEEP 18 HOURS A DAY ) : (1st post), posted by Nataliee on June 24, 2004, at 15:32:08
hi sleepy head..
7 days ago i quit my meds (the mind altering ones)
because i was sleeping 18 - 20 hours aday..
when i was not sleeping i was "zoombied" on the couch...
i couldnt live like that and certainly not suggesting your sleep habits are from your medication or you should stop them..
i know for me "sleep"was a big part of my depression and i needed to stop the cycle..
my pdoc is aware what i have been doing.i would rather be funtioning..
sorry i didnt help much,,
just wanted to share.
i understand
jyl
Posted by tterees on June 25, 2004, at 0:37:02
In reply to HELP; I SLEEP 18 HOURS A DAY ) : (1st post), posted by Nataliee on June 24, 2004, at 15:32:08
Effexor had that same affect on me -- I am a sleeper anyway, can easily sleep for 10 hours at night and take a 4 hour nap during the day. But with effexor it was worse. My pdoc prescribed Provigil/Modafinil and that helped a little, but eventually we took me off Effexor. We did it nice and slow (about a month) and towards the end introduced Prozac and then stopped that as well. I still do the Provigil and it helps with the excessive sleepiness.
Posted by octopusprime on June 25, 2004, at 10:04:34
In reply to HELP; I SLEEP 18 HOURS A DAY ) : (1st post), posted by Nataliee on June 24, 2004, at 15:32:08
hi Nataliee
smoking pot is nothing to be ashamed of. (the only real shame is that the drug is illegal).
however, there are some drawbacks to smoking pot:
* marijuana induces sleepiness (like alcohol)
* marijuana reduces sleep quality (like alcohol)these two side effects of pot may make its use contraindicated (no good) in your situation. think carefully: which would you rather do - escape, or feel better? it is your choice.
i would highly suggest you speak with a doctor and try another medication regime. do you have somebody to help you talk through your day-to-day sh*t? it helps
best of luck to you
(heh i always want to type best of lick! maybe it's a sign you should eat ice cream :)
Posted by Nataliee on June 25, 2004, at 14:46:15
In reply to self-medicating » Nataliee, posted by octopusprime on June 25, 2004, at 10:04:34
Awe,
thanks everyone who posted to me (:
Depression runs in my family, and i find it counter productive talking with them, as it justs upsets them, which upsets me, blah blah blee blee blah.So, its SO AMAZING to know i'm not alone, that theres a zillion of us out there dealing with misery in our minds everyday...
I'm doing much better today, although i'm not at work, i've been up for almost five hours now, and i;m not going to let myself back in bed until a "normal" bedtime. My BF, who has NO IDEA what its like to be clinically depressed,(who still loves me even though he doesn't really understand what i'm going through) piled chairs and other heavy things on my bed,so it would be a challenge to get back into it and escape into sleep. what a great guy (:
I'm just not in control of my emotions. I hate it. Blah.
Yeah,and i'm really trying to cut down on my smoking Pot. I know it effects my sleep, and makes me feel dopey. But, it saved me last night. I felt like my mind was digging at the inside of my skull and sinuses, i was full of PANIC! AHHH!!! MY BRAIN WAS YELLING IN UPPER CASE!! AHHH!!!! all alarms going off...then i decided i couldn't take it anymore, and within a minute of smoking the gange, I felt almost normal. not even really "high" just calm, something i haven't felt in days and days....
Anyway, i'm rambling. thanks again everyone, just knowing i'm not alone, wow, does it ever feel good.
I wish i had been told i'd feel such INSANE withdrawl symptoms during this transition from Effexor/Epival to Prozac. Why won't doctors just tell you the truth? Grrrrarraaarr.....again, thankyou,
Nataliee
Posted by octopusprime on June 26, 2004, at 16:09:27
In reply to Thank -yous, posted by Nataliee on June 25, 2004, at 14:46:15
Hi Nataliee -
good to hear you are feeling better and you are so not alone!
prozac takes a month or so to kick in ... even then when i took it i think i took two or three months to straighten myself around
please talk to your doctor about YOUR BRAIN IN ALL CAPS SCREAMING ARGH! boy oh boy do i know that feeling. you may need something to augment your prozac until you're feeling a bit better consistently. i think you will find it easier to do what you need to do when you've found the right med combo. i know it's hard
good lick! time for ice cream :)
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