Fetzima?

I am on my third week of this medication. First week and a half were a bit rough, Tingling, loss of appetite, anger, etc. Now I am feeling pretty calm and weirdly enough, my body aches are almost non existent. I am actually looking forward to getting out of bed and starting the day instead of counting the hours to when I can go back to bed. Also, I am not procrastinating as much, I am actually able to get things done instead of backing myself into a wall and waiting until the last possible moment to get things done. Hope this post helps other who are considering trying this medicine.

I started Fetzima about 2 weeks ago. My psych doc and I thought the idea of titrating 2 days at 20 mg then to 40mg the 3rd day sounded a little weird. I took the 20mg for a week to see if it would be sufficient. I was concerned about the potential for increased anxiety on it so I take .5 mg Xanax 2x/day, too. He also gave me a scrip fow a low dose of buspar just in case. After a week at 20mg of Fetzima and not really feeling much different, I bumped myself to 40mg.

I feel a slight decrease in appetite, maybe somewhat more motivated. I'm curious whether another bump up in dosage would be beneficial. I think I see the doc next week so I'll ask him about it then.

It's not, at least so far, been a life-changer, but I've tried so many meds...my expectation bar is set way low now. I'd be satisfied with a decrease in appetite and kicking my extreme avolition to the curb. Between those 2 things and DBT therapy, I'm thinking (hoping) my mood (and life) will be better.

I hope this thread stays active, I'm very curious to know more people's reactions to Fetzima. I started it almost a month ago and have very mixed feelings about it. I've been in a depressive state for a year, no real instances of hypomania, just a lot of anxiety on top of physically feeling apart from my body (feeling very heavy). I went from 120mg Cymbalta to 40mg Fet because the Cymbalta wasn't doing anything for the depression anymore. Fetzima hasn't done anything noticeable for the depression either. It did make me very irritable for a while, but that's mostly gone (besides my normal amount of irritability). This drug makes me very dizzy, very "brain zappy", and very tired- not at all the response I was hoping my body would have (like energy or motivation). BUT about 8-9 days ago, I started having the weirdest insomnia. I can go to sleep no problem (with the help of Saphris), but every morning, I wake up at about 4 AM completely unable to go back to sleep. When I try to go back to sleep, I'm either so hot that I'm drenched in sweat or so cold that I'm shivering, within about a 2 minute time frame. It's like I'm exhausted but my body and mind can't be comfortable long enough to fall asleep, so I just toss and turn and have little five minute power naps where I have REALLY vivid and weird dreams before waking up because I'm uncomfortable. I stopped taking my stimulants because I figured they were the cause, but 4-5 days off of those and I still have the same issues. I stopped taking the Fetzima for 3 days, but it didn't help at all (I've started taking it again).

I go see my pdoc on Tuesday and I'm going to discuss this all with her, I was just wondering if anyone else has had issues with insomnia? If this med is working for you, how long did it take for the antidepressant feature to really kick in?

I'm on 40mg - wasn't feeling much of anything on 20mg for about 2 weeks so I bumped myself up. I don't feel "speedy" but I have gotten a TON of paperwork worked through that'd been accumulating for 2+ years.

I may or may not be experiencing some sleepiness from it - hard to say (I don't have the most stellar sleep hygiene...something to work on...)

I think it amps up my anxiety and, possibly, my irritability to a degree. My pdoc gave me a scrip for a low dose of Buspar to take in this case but I haven't had it filled as yet. Been sporadically adding .5mg of Xanax a few days to see if that would help take my edge off.

I see the pdoc again on Thursday and will discuss the Buspar again.

I can't say it's done worlds for my depression but I am damned proud of myself for getting as much accomplished in my home over the long weekend we just had here in the US. I'll take that!

Possibly an increase in dose may help with the depression? I'll talk to the doc about that, too.

Saw the pdoc yesterday. Bumped up to 80mg Fetzima daily plus low-dose Buspar. No longer to take Xanax during the day; I think it may have been contributing to daytime sleepiness feelings. I'll continue to take the 1mg Xanax at bedtime, though. Starting the Buspar at 5mg 2x/day for a week, then moving to 10mg 2x/day. Based on the reading I've done, I just have this feeling that the Buspar is going to help. We shall see....

I've been on Fetzima, 40mg and Ambilify, 10mg for 3 months. I have been on a lot of different meds over the last 15 years and I feel better now than I have felt in a long time. I had a hard time with the Fetzima at first, felt terrible, but no side effects now. Give it some time before you give up on it.