Fetzima

I learned since the blind study is nearly over I have been on fetzima .currently at 80 mg dose nightly. Anything I should expect on a long term use of it?

I had side effects to that medicine years ago so I had to stop. I made me hot, angry, I had trouble spelling and saying simple words and sometimes my mind went blank. I also got a headache if I was late taking my dose. Hopefully you won't have those side effects. The side effect that I liked is that it made me lose weight.

Fetzima and I didn't get along. I only ever got to 40 mg (was never allowed to try higher doses), but I would get what seemed like withdrawal symptoms in the early evening... Brain zaps, dizziness, feeling like I was coming down with the flu, etc.

If you've made it this far with it and it's helping, I see no reason to worry about it or change it. I've heard that a lot of people have trouble tolerating it, so if you're tolerating it well, you're among the rare few. There likely isn't any long-term effects to be concerned about. It's an SNRI, but unlike the other SNRIs, it is stronger on norepinephrine reuptake inhibition than serotonin reuptake inhibition. This should theoretically be good for some of the "reduced positive affect" (what Stahl calls them), which includes loss of happiness/joy, loss of interest/pleasure, loss of energy/enthusiasm, decreased alertness, and decreased self-confidence. It should also help with ability to focus if you're having issues with that.

The max is 120 mg, but my previous pdoc told me that "you never go above 80 mg because that's too high" (she was all about prescribing everything at super low doses that didn't actually do anything), and my general doctor told me that there was no 120 mg dose and that 80 mg is the highest dose (but then again, he has admitted to me that I know more about psych meds than him... not trying to brag but he literally told me that... lol).