Antidepressants

[Sux2buthen]

If possible I'm looking for positive stories anyone has had with venlafaxine/ Effexor? I've read some negatives and I'm prone to focusing on them and that doesn't help.
My partner has been moved to these and it's only day two. It's an apprehensive atmosphere here this Christmas and a lot hinging on things improving over the next while.
So if you have had success please let me know!

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SSRIs do different things for different people. Personally, venlafaxine worked very well for me but did make me feel sick and I went off fried food or anything with salt for the entirety of my time on it. Nobody here can tell you how well it will work out for your partner, but bear in mind it takes 6 weeks for these things to kick in. Nobody wants to be on antidepressants, if they’ve been given it’s because they’re desperately needed. for you both.

Ah sorry I didn’t see the bit about moving onto them. I was moved onto them too and it was almost an immediate improvement. Fingers crossed the same happens.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm kind of asking because it's day two and there's already a calmer air. I don't know if I could be wrong to think they are having an effect yet but if yours were immediate maybe they are then. I hope so🤞🏻

I’m on citalopram with no issue. Someone close to me is on venaflaxine and it’s destroyed their libido. Everyone is different tho. Good luck

I couldn’t handle venlafaxine, made me feel worse, I’m on duloxetine now which is great, has its side effects but I can live with them. I know people on venlafaxine who say it’s great, other than the sweating.

Citalopram stopped working and sertraline was terrible so these were the doctors next suggestion. Also being referred to a mental health team, hopeful for some calm for him.

Yeah venlafaxine is used to kill libido of certain people in prison, I’m told. However. After citalopram and sertraline were useless for me, it did make a difference. He could also ask for a psych referral if it doesn’t make enough difference. They will be able to mix different SSRIs that GPs don’t feel comfortable doing. There is a bit wait for that though (took me nigh on six months but it was worth it).

@lilyboleyn - god I didn’t know that!!! Thank you, I’ll tell them

But tbf it’s good at being an antidepressant too @Strongmummy. It might be that they have to put up with that until they’re feeling better enough to change.

Yes although they’ve been on it for a very long time and it’s seriously affecting his relationship

I take 337.5mg Venlafaxine MR & it has literally saved my life & allows me to live normally without crippling depression.

There are side effects but they are nowhere near as bad as suffering from major depression & feeling suicidal all the time.

@LilyJade Thankyou, every positive comment reassures me a bit.

Just read the comment re venlafaxine & it's supposed effect on libido - not a side effect I have a problem with thankfully!!

We've got a few young children, I doubt an effect on libido would be noticed by either of us for a while not exactly swinging by the chandeliers as it is lol

Citalopram stopped working for me, too, and Sertraline made me sleep all the time. I'm now on Venlafaxine with absolutely no side effects - it's been amazing for me.

Be careful not to run out though, because in my experience the withdrawal symptoms kick in sooner than with other ADs.

I'm in hell. The first week there was a quick noticeable improvement. I assumed some kind of honeymoon, settling in period. Then the day after Boxing Day...awful. Mood swings returned. Really horrible nasty mood, spoke aggressively to me all day. Same this morning. Veiled threats about not making him angry, criticisms, insults. Then at about lunchtime today, huge atmospheric change. Apologised and was normal, fun, kind. And it was genuine. He was happy.
This evening. Black mood again. I can see it bubbling under the surface. Accusing looks, defensive, snide, nasty.
I feel really worried he's on the verge of some sort of serious breakdown or something. I'm not worried for a second that he would get physical, not one bit. This is so far out of character and changing so quickly I'm terrified my kids are going to hate their dad and lose him and he will lose them down to something that can be helped. This isn't the man I know
But whatever he's going through I have to put the kids first. I've emailed Womens aid for advice, I can't call as I constantly have the kids or him here.
I'm certain that there's an unidentified problem but while we are waiting for it to be recognised or for the tablets to settle my children are seeing him speak to me awfully and I can't let that happen.
Unfortunately I'm stuck I have nowhere to go, he wouldn't even contemplate going elsewhere.
In his rational happy mood he's horrified and desperate to fix whatever's wrong. I just don't know what to do. I cried yesterday and he mocked me in front of my kids
I'm rambling I know

I'm drowning i just have no idea what to do

We talked a little. He says he's scared and wants to be back to normal. I think all I can do is work out how to leave in the calmest way possible but hope that in the meantime things start to work and still pursue the medical route with him. I simply don't have the means to up and leave but I'm struggling to stay
Kids love us both to pieces. They are priority

Hi, is there a relative you could go to stay with for a while?

Is your partner now on Venlafaxine?

Poor mental health is not an excuse for bad behaviour and I say that as a person with schizoaffective disorder who has had bad depression in the past.

Is your partner under the care of the community mental health team, if so it's time to call them for advice.
But keep yourself & the kids safe first.

Thankyou for replying. There's nowhere we could go at all. He could but he wouldn't want to and we rent together so can't insist.
He's been on it for almost two weeks, so I do appreciate it's not had time to balance. It's also a stressful time of year to have started something new. Very pressured.
The gp has referred him and we are waiting to hear back. He's struggling today but I can see he's really trying.
We aren't in physical danger but I'm worried about everyone's emotional well-being.
He directs the temper to me but it's not constant like it was a few weeks back