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@merpreb

@notaround- I hear your anger and frustration. I really do. The medical profession has really turned on us. They say that healthcare is a commodity but it isn't. With a commodity you have choices. Doctors are often shoveling patients through their offices before they are finished asking questions.
But we can't give medical advice. I can't make any further recommendations because other than the fact that you feel overly sedated and are slowly weaning yourself off of Effexor I have no idea what else could be causing your sedated feeling. Depression can cause this. I knew someone that was so depressed that she'd fall asleep sitting in a chair during therapy sessions!
But I'm not hearing what you think that your next step should be. So, putting my assumptions aside, what do you think is causing all the sleepiness? Other than depression do you have any other symptoms or are you taking any other medicines?

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Replies to "@notaround- I hear your anger and frustration. I really do. The medical profession has really turned..."

PS @ could you have narcolepsy?

I know that only a doctor in a doctor-patient relationship can provide treatment. I just wanted to point out that it's not really helpful to tell someone to ask a doctor if it is assumed that they have one who cares when that isn't the reality for most people. To me, it's like when I've been told to take a vacation to treat my depression. It simply isn't in my reach to do so.

I have no idea what my plan is. For now, all I can do is wait. Increasingly I'm considering going to an "alternative" doctor. I can't actually afford it but what's another four grand in credit card debt compared to this suffering? If it works, it will be worth it because the way things are headed I can't live like this. Or I can start playing the lottery. Not much I can actually do.

As for other causes, no diagnosis. Nothing showed up on the tests that were done.

For meds, Claritin but I've been taking that daily for about 15 years now. And I've dealt with depression since my childhood - this is different. I've had hypersomnia before but then I always chose to sleep because I didn't want to be awake, rather than being sleepy. This feels like my body is not cooperating rather than depressed.