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Original poster

Did Venlafaxine change your life for the better?

142 replies

Crispsmakemehappy · 14/10/2022 09:29

Venlafaxine prescription sitting a few days now and I’m unsure what to do. I’m AD free as week now but scared to try these incase they make me have suicidal thoughts like others have….

Tell me your positive stories please, I know they are meant to be horrendous to come off and needs to be done at a super slow pace.

TIA 😌💐

OP posts:
Original poster
Crispsmakemehappy · 08/11/2022 10:02

@Buteverythingsfine thank you. Yes just a really tough time. They are getting too regular for my liking tbh. This morning I’ve taken two 37.5 tablets so 75mg, maybe a increase will help instead of going off them. I feel so frustrated that I’ve had to resort to AD when I’ve gotten through tough times before without them

OP posts:
Buteverythingsfine · 07/11/2022 19:11

It sounds like a tough day, you poor thing. you need to reach out to your MH team/crisis team or the GP and let them know that- I think you should tell them. The Samaritans are also very sympathetic, I've called them and cried a lot on occasion as well but of course they can't advise on meds which your MH team/GP will be able to do.

www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/

Original poster
Crispsmakemehappy · 07/11/2022 15:35

Feeling very depressed and suicidal today

OP posts:
Grenola · 06/11/2022 21:38

They have been an ok drug for me, as in don’t cause me major side effects but in review after taking them for 2 years and now trying to come off then I wish I hadn’t started them.
they are a terrible drug to withdraw from and it is. A very slow process. I find myself so dizzy most days and have to up my dose slightly just to function.
but when I started I didn’t worry about the future I needed the fix then.

I hope they work well for you, just make sure you don’t stop taking them without gp help x

Buteverythingsfine · 06/11/2022 20:03

Personally, I moved up after 5 days and then stuck at that dose (75mg), it took another 2 weeks or so to see any effect. I am not sure the dose you are on is quite enough, but you need to discuss that with the dr. In the end I thought I need to try this properly for a few weeks, otherwise it's just mixed in with all my previous anxiety/problems. Unless it is making you much iller, of course. No anti-depressant works immediately, or at least they don't on me anyway.

Original poster
Crispsmakemehappy · 06/11/2022 18:57

I’m just so bloody moody and tired all the time still. Overthinking and procrastinating constantly. I need it to stop.

OP posts:
Original poster
Crispsmakemehappy · 06/11/2022 18:55

@hugznotdrugz i spoke with GP on Friday but didn’t say I wanted to stop, just to continue with the 37.5 instead of moving up after 2 weeks, but now I am wondering should I just stop, maybe I’m jumping to quick and should
give it more time. I’m so confused. Plus I left house today without taking it and won’t be home
til later tonight, do
i take it then or leave todays dose?

OP posts:
hugznotdrugz · 06/11/2022 18:45

I would speak to your GP there's others options you can try- but whatever you do don't just stop without medical consultation

Original poster
Crispsmakemehappy · 06/11/2022 18:34

This just isn’t working, to stay on and give it time
or come off
it now

OP posts:
Original poster
Crispsmakemehappy · 01/11/2022 22:12

@Buteverythingsfine thank you. Yes that’s true, I couldn’t keep going on as I was. A few years back I had a breakdown and I got through it god only knows how, without ad’s, maybe i’m comparing now to then and feeling guilty. I dunno! I just don’t want to be reliant on them. I forgot to take it for 6 hours today and experienced my first brain zaps! Lol. That’s another thing, I’ve got so so forgetful as past few days…anyone else experience this?

OP posts:
Buteverythingsfine · 01/11/2022 12:42

I would take advice from your MH team on dosage. Constipation you can use laxatives. I would also try reading the books I suggested, not so everything is transformed, but it gives you something to do when you are feeling anxious, it explains why palpitations/anxiety occur and what to do during them. Keep going OP, it's really hard but you will get there- something has to change as you couldn't keep on as you were.

Original poster
Crispsmakemehappy · 01/11/2022 12:20

Update.

9 days in now. Palpitations are bad. Constipation is really bad. Insomnia still there, maybe not as bad as last week.

apart from that no real change in mood. Suppose I won’t feel no change for a few weeks. Still so so anxious am I doing the right thing taking them. But like one of the PP said, it’s not that high of a dose and should be easy to come up. I am meant to double the dose from next week but don’t think I will?

OP posts:
Athenen0ctua · 30/10/2022 10:14

petalflowers95 · 30/10/2022 09:12

Hi all,

My doctor has recommended that I try Venlafaxine. I had one pill of Sertraline and had the craziest side effects (dilated pupils, feeling drunk/high, insomnia, grinning/laughing at everything, shakes, cognitive dysfunction). So I’m now really scared of trying Venlafaxine in case I get another bad bout of side effects. Did anyone else have terrible side effects with an SSRI but milder ones with Venlafaxine? And am I likely to have bad side effects with all SNRIs and SSRIs if I did with Sertraline?

thanks!

I didn't have side effects with SSRIs as bad as you describe but the effects were bad enough that I couldn't make myself take them for any length of time. Venlafaxine wasn't bad to start with, but didn't do anything to help for some time, and it took building up to a very high dose. The trouble for me is that it took the ups and downs and cancelled them out to a nothingless, no interest or joy in anything.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 30/10/2022 09:27

Hotpinkangel19 · 29/10/2022 23:52

This is interesting- I have been in it for years and now have had high blood pressure. Do you think it's linked?

Show quote history

I thought Ven was for people who didn’t respond well to normal ad’s. It has a higher success rate.

Yoir team sound out of touch. I’ve been on practically every AD. Venlafaxine is the best.

petalflowers95 · 30/10/2022 09:12

Hi all,

My doctor has recommended that I try Venlafaxine. I had one pill of Sertraline and had the craziest side effects (dilated pupils, feeling drunk/high, insomnia, grinning/laughing at everything, shakes, cognitive dysfunction). So I’m now really scared of trying Venlafaxine in case I get another bad bout of side effects. Did anyone else have terrible side effects with an SSRI but milder ones with Venlafaxine? And am I likely to have bad side effects with all SNRIs and SSRIs if I did with Sertraline?

thanks!

Hotpinkangel19 · 29/10/2022 23:52

BertaHoon · 15/10/2022 17:32

That's good.

I'd say they stole my life. I am a slave to them and their side effects now. Especially excessive sweating for years. High blood pressure and dental problems.

I can only say how it has affected me, like everyone else can.

For me too, it was the only option after trying all others.
The crisis team called it a 90's drug that's very hard on your system, and it is, if you forget one dose.

I just don't think it's the one to go straight on to.

This is interesting- I have been in it for years and now have had high blood pressure. Do you think it's linked?

Leomii81 · 29/10/2022 19:16

Been on it for 20 years it's helped with my anxiety and to lead a normal life and lead a busy career. Don't miss a dose tho as it makes you feel very strange. X

Deguster · 27/10/2022 07:37

i found the insomnia resolved after a week or so. Took a month to do anything about the depression and anxiety. Hang in there OP.

Fraaahnces · 27/10/2022 05:28

@Crispsmakemehappy hope that helps

Original poster
Crispsmakemehappy · 26/10/2022 15:13

@Fraaahnces i take it at 12 noon, just stuck with that time since I first took it 4 days ago but might gradually bring it to 9am if I can.

OP posts:
Fraaahnces · 26/10/2022 11:28

@Crispsmakemehappy Do you take it in the morning or the evening? My GP advised that it can initially mess sleep up and to take it in the morning to limit it’s effects. It settles down though.

Original poster
Crispsmakemehappy · 26/10/2022 09:15

Day4 - my goodness, 3 hours sleep last night, insomnia and anxiety😕 after i was thinking yesterday my side effects were not too bad. Today I’m a shaking mess due to lack of sleep. This better be worth it 😳😆

OP posts:
ThatCheeseIsMine · 25/10/2022 16:31

Crisps so glad to hear you're sticking with it so far. Anxiety about taking it will probably exaggerate any side effects you feel. If it doesn't work out, you'll look back on this time as just a few weeks of your life, but you could be looking back on your MH symptoms and saying goodbye to them, like me and many others on the thread, so it is worth it to try.

unsync · 25/10/2022 14:28

Stick with it, the first week is bloody awful. Nausea, dizziness, out of body experiences etc but settles down fast. Very important to take at the same time each day. I have been on these for over ten years for depression, anxiety and panic attacks. This was the only med that allowed me to function normally. Was on the max dose for a while and been working my way off them since last year with no adverse effects. Still stable on 37.5 a day and should be off completely by next year.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/10/2022 13:53

It made me put on weight.

It made me care less about it though.