Effexor? SNRi similar to Cymbalta?
 

I asked the pharmacist what might be a good generic for me to talk to my pdoc about instead of the Cymbalta (Insurance has a problem paying for the Cymbalta).
He asked me what the pdoc was looking for. I said, "agitated depression for bipolar."

He said, "Lexapro?" HELLO? That is not a generic.
Then he said, Prozac or Effexor.

Great. That is the same thing I could have come up with on my own web search
=-=

Do you think that I could take small dose Effexor? I want something weight neutral or better. My main concern is that I want something that will help with the agitated depression.


Here is what wikipedia says about SNRIs
Wikipedia does not cite sources for that statement.



M.

have you ever looked at taking alow dose of an atypical, like abilify or seroquel?
a girl friend of mine used to take a very low dose 25mg of seroquel 3 times a day to help with her anxiety issues.

agitated depression
 

Dear Bizi,
Thank you for thinking about me.
I already take 2.5 mgs klonopin to help with anxiety. I prefer to change only one med.

I'm not ready to take an a-typical.
I have depression related to anxiety.
I want an anti-depressant. They work for lots of people.

My only real problem is getting the insurance company to agree to Lexapro or Cymbalta.

Seroquel and Abilify are not available in generic.

M.

I hope that your insurance company approves the cymbalta for you, I read on another forum that it very quickly gets worked into your system.
So I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

insurance company morons
 

Bizi,
The insurance company is not going to give me the med.
THey keep faxing stuff to the pdoc and he answers and then they send more faxes.

Anyway, now I don't trust them.

I had a talk today with the pharmacist about his moronic techs. He apologized for having lots of new people working with him.
Probably the insurance company also has bunches of morons.


I need to get started on a new drug -- a drug that could take weeks or months to titrate up.

I will call pdoc tomorrow and ask him to call in a 'script for Effexor.
He mentioned Effexor when I saw him last but he had samples of Cymbalta in his office so he gave me them.

M.

I am sorry it has been such a head ache for you....
bizi

from your earlier thread...

tired and depressed
 

I'm depressed.
Some nights I sleep 3 -4 hours.
The energy of my life is put into not sleeping.
There is something deeply wrong with me. I need help.


I have appts with mdoc specialists coming up that I have postponed for a while. I see one tomorrow. During the initial examination I will have to explain again that I do not sleep by choice. I'm getting anxious thinking about going over this.


I'm too tired to deal with my pdoc to get an AD. I am afraid to call. I certainly don't feel like making an appt to see him.

M.

Dear Mari

a few things come to mind. no particular order.

depression is getting in your way right now.
tiredness breeds depression and viceversa.
you are sleep deprived.
you have made some psychological progress on the sleep thing - with the affirmations. sometimes these events cause stress, and can make things worse before they become better.

do first things first.

i encourage you to do whatever you can to get in to see your pdoc, gritting teeth, whatever, to get an AD. this is one problem you can fight. it will take one visit. the rest can hopefully be managed by phone.

after the mdoc visit today, defer the rest, and keep working with your T.

i am sending you energy for renewal and healing vibes. :circlelove:

and hugs :hug::hug::hug:

~ waves ~

Thanks, Waves,
You make sense.
I am now going to take a nap before my mdoc appt.
M.

thinking of you today mari....
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

I over slept.
 

ACK!
I'm late.
I am on the computer trying to figure out how to the get to this mdoc's office. It is across town.

M.

oh geez. i hope you made it there ok, Mari! :o

i love driving. it's too bad we don't live in the same place. i could chauffeur you to your appointments. then you wouldn't even have to worry about parking, let alone driving or navigating. ;)

let us know how it went. :hug:

~ waves ~

Dear Waves,
 

Dear Waves,
That is so cool. I've wanted a driver ever since I could remember. At one point my life goal was to make enough money to hire a personal chauffeur.


I cried several times. I left blank some of the forms. The desk person nicely asked me to complete them. I told her that they were confusing, so she briefly explained. Then she wanted payment that was a lot higher than I expected.
I was scattered so I told her I have memory problems. I handed her a signed check and asked her to write out the check for me.
The depression and lack of sleep are causing cognition probs.


The cardio is sending me for a one hour chemical stress test.

M.

I am sorry that happened to you, I am glad that she was able to help you.
May I ask why you are having to have a chemical stress test? Are you having cardio symptoms?
sorry if you have explained this elsewhere....
just concerned
bizi

Dear Bizi,
I'm ok -- just taking care of appts. My heart is fine.
My internist wants this test.
When I had a stroke in July 2009, the hospital docs did lots of heart tests. The internist is being thorough. She thinks this is a good test to run.

Her husband is the cardio. It makes it a little easier.
The cardio was wonderful -- kind and gentle . . . . he seemed sharp . . . did not make me explain a bunch of stuff . . . he just said that he would have his office make a follow up appt with him after the stress test and after he gets copies of the hospital records.

He's a big shot --- chief of cardiology at our huge regional medical center . . . . I learned that when I got to his office and saw a notice. . . . that was reassuring somehow.



M.

Dear Mari

i am glad you made it to the cardio and especially that you had a good experience with the doc.

Sorry the bureaucratic stuff was hard. At least the office people were decent to you and helped get you through it.

i wonder why the heck they want all these tests.

all the same you know, it will be very good to have them in your medical history... when elderly folks have problems, docs like to ask "did you perchance have xyz test when you were younger" and most people don't.

anyway good job. one down.

:hug::hug::hug:

~ waves ~

Waves,
That works if I keep track of my records.
Mdoc keeps giving me copies and then I loose them.
I need to designate a drawer in the filing cabinet . . . .

:eek:. . . whoops I already have a file labeled medical -- most likely there is stuff from 15 years ago. :cool:

Today I explained the tests I took in the hospital by using gestures. It worked. I showed what was done for one and then he said, "Was it a TEE?" I said yes. Then made motions to explain another test.

(cognition level was very low due to depression and lack of sleep. gestures worked better than words)
M.

Awww ((((Mari))))

i am sorry you are feeling so bad. :( i hope you manage to catch up on sleep or something soon... and maybe get some Effexor from your pdoc.

you are very adaptive working with the gestures! http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/party/party0011.gif http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/party/party0049.gif

you got through what you needed to do just fine it seems. that is just GREAT considering how bad you are feeling and how sleep-deprived you are! :Heart:

~ waves ~

I am so hoping that you get caught up with some sleep this weekend.
(((((HUGS))))
bizi

I survived work
 

Hi, Waves and Bizi,
I went to an early meeting and survived without getting myself or anybody else angry or upset.
That was a good day.

M.

this is good to read Mari. :) That is indeed a good day, in my books, too.

Well Done!

now i hope you manage to get some good rest. i am tucking in now... and sending you snoozy vibes. it's a bit early for you but you can stash them for later. ;) :Zzzz::Zzzz::Zzzz:

:hug::hug::hug:

~ waves ~

Hi Mari

Hoping you can figure out a medicine. I know that cymbalta works very
well for me. I sure wish you could get some, I think it would work well for
you.

Donna

Wow Mari that was a good day!
happy for you!
bizi

hello
 

im on cymbalta if u have your dr. call into medco its cost u $65.00 for 90 days no matter the drugs and free if gerneric here is the number your dr.needs to call 1 800 473 34 55 one of my persciptions was $130.00 at the pharm through medco it was 90 day $65.00 no matter how expensive it is on the otside:)