Question/Comment:

Does anyone know if effexor xr or any anti-depressants cause you to lose you abillity to produce sperm?

Question/Comment:

My drug list suggested that it may cause serotonin syndrome. I can find no information on this sydrome even though I have searched several sites. Can ou give me some information or lead me to the information I seek on the internet?

Answer/Reply:

I just found the same thing with my medications. I searched and searched and came up with only one article that made any sense to me. Basically it stated that the use of opioids (narcotics such as morhpine, fentanyl, etc) as well as taking an anti depressant can cause this supposed overload of seratonin. The anti depressants are given to increase the seratonin levels in your body because apparently the majority of depression patients have low levels - so by increasing them thru these meds, it helps people deal with their depression issues. I believe they are just now discovering this new "seratonin syndrome" and are primarily guessing on the causes since there seems to be so many medications associated with getting the syndrome.

It seems to me that even if no narcotic pain reliever is taken (for those with severe chronic pain) but more than one medication to treat depression is used, this also could cause this new syndrome. Currently there's just not enough study done and because of it, doctors are now scrambling to figure it out - but like any new medical issue that arises, especially one like this that can cause death, it will take time, trials and errors before they finally figure it out.

My advice would be to print out what you can find and bring it to your doctor along with a list of all medications - including motrin, advil, asprin, etc., especially if you're being treated by more than one doc, and see what he/she has to say about it or even if they've heard of this syndrome and go from there. That's exactly what I plan on doing at my next appointment next month. Especially considering I take morphine for pain and he just increased my anti depressants from 2 a day to 3 a day. I've been alive so far and it's been years that I've been on these meds, so I believe I can last another month at least!

Good luck with finding more info on it - if you do find a good article, please email me at lauriemiller01@comcast.net

Laurie

Question/Comment:

i honestly believe that many people that are taking anti-depressants of any sort, should accompany the medication with counseling. i know that for some people their chemical levels are imbalanced and that is causing the depression. i am not in any way arguing that. but for a lot of people, just coping with life is too hard, throwing them into a depression. again, not anything wrong with that. i am just trying to make the point that no matter what medication you take, it wont make problems go away. it just allows you to deal with them in a more rational way. nobody has lived a life that hasnt had it's issues. i suggest a bit of counseling to go along side of medication. i have found that thru the combination of counseling and the aid of medication, the success rate of becoming mentally healthy is much higher. especially long term. i personally have gained much from this.

Question/Comment:

I have been on Wellbutrin SR for over 2 months. I been getting more suidical thoughts than I have started. I keep telling the doctor that the med is not working. He keeps highing it.I know that I do not need to be on this med because it is not working.

Answer/Reply:

I had the same problem with Wellbutrin. So did my uncle. It is not a usual side-effect, but also not unheard of. Talk to your prescribing doctor immediately!!!

Answer/Reply:

I cannot take any anti-depressants as they make me sucidal - I have tried them all - finally a new doctor came up with an alternative - I now take Adderal XR - it is a reversal system and for the first time when I took it = I actually wanted to live. I was on it for almost a year - lost too much weight and too high - so I choose to go off of it. I did fine getting off ot it but I cannot get off my xanax - I have been on it for 16 years. I was almost off of it when I lost my job - then I had to go back on as I was so depressed and this is all that works for me. But, I need to get off the xanax - my dr. has tried everything but they make me too high, weird, etc. - so I am struggling = down to .25 mg but need 1 1/2 in the am and down to .25 at night - but I also take 2 benedryle and 2 melatonin to be able to go to sleep. I am sick of meds! I divorced after 34 years - and moved to FL - which was too much at one time leaving my friends and family but I was seeking a new life!!! and before I had tried the Adderal XR - I am so scared and do not know what to do - I still think of suicide but am not really that depressed with the Adderal - seem to make it though each day but I now find myself staying home all the time = just no self-esteem it seems and date very very little. Anyone know how to get off xanax???

Question/Comment:

I have been taking Lexapro for a year now and I do believe it is working for me. I can tell the difference if I have not taken it for a while. The problem I am having is paying for my copay and when I do not have the money to pay for it I may have to go about 2 weeks with out my meds and my body tend to feel the difference. I beleive that once I go with out Lexapro for a while I tend to start getting Migrains. I am unsure if this is a side effect of the medication if you just stop taking it or not, but nothing seems to help the headaches until i start back up on the medication. Could this be a side effect of the medication or is this a definet side effect of the medication?

Answer/Reply from iGuard:

Although there is usually little information about what happens to patients when they stop taking a drug, it is not unusual to feel differently - particularly with drugs like antidepressants. That said, it's important to discuss these feelings and symptoms with your doctor - you may also want to talk to your doctor about other more affordable treatment options - some antidepressants come in a generic form and these are often less expensive or have a lower insurance copay.

Answer/Reply:

I just wanted to add that the drug companies do have help for most meds that are on the market they just dont advertise it. Also there are in some states have waviers that you might be able to qualify for contact your state medicade to fin out more..