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I Am A 70 Female Who Runs 3 Miles Daily
Question: I am a 70 female who runs 3 miles daily eats healthy is in good physical health. I have been taking effexor xr 75 mg for twenty years to address sleep anxiety. It has worked beautifully until about a year ago when breakthrough anxiety started ocurring and fear of not sleeping then insomnia. Recently I take .5 xanax every other day.
Should I still be taking effexor or should I increase the dose to 110 mg .?
Should I still be taking effexor or should I increase the dose to 110 mg .?
Brief Answer:
Increase of effexor dose is warranted
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand your concerns.
First of all I like to communicate that this is common condition where the previous effective dose becomes ineffective among individuals with anxiety and depressive disorder. Considering the fact that you are perfect in regard to physical health the relapse of sleep anxiety is probably related with same feature of antidepressant as explained above.
In regard to management of problem it is best strategy to increase the dose to higher level in compare to previous effective dose. Since 75 mg worked for you over the last 20 years adding a smallest dose (37.5 mg) to previous dose is well warranted.
After the few weeks of this addition it is recommended to take off the xanax as continuation of xanax is never recommended unless it is absolutely necessary.
I hope this answers you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Increase of effexor dose is warranted
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I read your query and understand your concerns.
First of all I like to communicate that this is common condition where the previous effective dose becomes ineffective among individuals with anxiety and depressive disorder. Considering the fact that you are perfect in regard to physical health the relapse of sleep anxiety is probably related with same feature of antidepressant as explained above.
In regard to management of problem it is best strategy to increase the dose to higher level in compare to previous effective dose. Since 75 mg worked for you over the last 20 years adding a smallest dose (37.5 mg) to previous dose is well warranted.
After the few weeks of this addition it is recommended to take off the xanax as continuation of xanax is never recommended unless it is absolutely necessary.
I hope this answers you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Brief Answer:
Thyroid check is recommended
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
Thyroid disorders are very common among individuals with depression and anxiety disorders and it is recommended to check before starting treatment or when something unusual happens such as failure of medication to act without any explainable cause as in your case.
The thyroid check is not only helpful in diagnosing the condition but also helpful when managing the person with sleep anxiety.
Considering these two facts I feel thyroid check should be done provided it was not done in last three to six months.
I hope this answers you further.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
Thyroid check is recommended
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
Thyroid disorders are very common among individuals with depression and anxiety disorders and it is recommended to check before starting treatment or when something unusual happens such as failure of medication to act without any explainable cause as in your case.
The thyroid check is not only helpful in diagnosing the condition but also helpful when managing the person with sleep anxiety.
Considering these two facts I feel thyroid check should be done provided it was not done in last three to six months.
I hope this answers you further.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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