My story- can you please help?

[mum23girls]

Hi everyone.  I have been suffering depression for a good 9 years now.  Originally it was brought on by having my first baby and I didn't know any better leaving it undiagnosed for 4 years.  After my second baby I went onto Zoloft and had great success.  Feeling ready to extend the brood, baby  I went off my zoloft just before getting pregnant and no. 3 came I went to go back on it after she was born, but it made me terribly sick (vomitting sick).  Since then I have tried several different meds and even none at all.  I just don't think none at all is an option anymore as my children are suffering because of me.  I find it very hard to play with them and interact as a mother should.  I have a very supportive husband and I really don't want to leave my family however sometimes I think they would all be better off without me.
So, yesterday another trip to the Dr and she decided to try my on Efexor-HR as it is a totally different family to what I have been on in the past.  She gave me a sample pack of 75mg and told me just to start taking that.  I was a bit concerned about starting on such a high dose, but being capsules they can't be halved.  I took it at about 7pm last night but at about 3-30am I woke up with terrible anxiety (and I am not one that usually had anxiety).  I was so wired, couldn't sit still had to move, I was so sick running to the toilet and it wanting to come out both ends (sorry TMI).  My breathing was hard, pulse about 120, my eyes really felt like they wanted to roll back into my head, I had to keep closing them, when I did close them all these visions went rushing through, the thoughts going thru my head OMG! I was warned about the hot flushes, but geeze, these were stinging make me sweat episodes!  I seriously thought I was going to die, or have to be carted out on a stretcher in a white jacket.
When my husband woke up (I did this all very quietly so not to wake anyone) I said I will not be taking another one of those.  He has taken the kids out for a while, I went back to sleep with no problems at about 7am.  Now it is 11am and I feel a little better, but still a bit out of my body feeling very hard to explain....my hands are sweating and palms are burning.
If you have got thru this much thank you very much.  My real question is do you think I should take another one today (my Dr is closed today) or not take one and speak to her on Monday.  She wanted me to try this drug, before the next step of a psychiatrist.  Will the side effects get better with the next?
Thank you.

[LeftCoastChick]

I really suggest that you go to one, GP's aren't trained enough in psychotropic drugs. You might be on the wrong class of drugs, or maybe even the wrong diagnosis, especially since you've tried a few drugs that haven't work, it indicated other disorders. There's no shame in seeing a pdoc, they're brain specialists!

[mum23girls]

Thanks LCC.  It is only my local GP.  She will refer me to a shrink if this doesn't work... which I think is where I am headed.

[LeftCoastChick]

Is this your shrink or GP, sorry I forgot to ask?

[LeftCoastChick]

I remember when I went on Luvox, I was sick to my stomach for a week, it was simply horrible. Remember the drug is working on your nervous system. If there is an emergency ph#f for your doc, I would call. I did that, because I've been really sick to my stomach,because I thought it was the drug they just upped. He called me, I explained what what going on, he said most like it's not the drug and would be fine to see me at my next app't. I already have an appt on tues with my GP, to follow up on some blood tests. I've been feeling sick since NYs. So I can relate.

Effexor works a different way slightly then Zoloft, it works on different neural pathways then  Zoloft.  Drink plenty of fluid 8+cups, make sure your sugar levels are balance. Eat small meals more often.

You've only taken one, so if you feel it's that uncomfortable, at least you won't have the withdrawal symptoms really, the w/d's are nasty on that drug, with zap,s hot flashes to name a few.

Hang in there LCC