To Ask for your experiences of increasing venlafaxine from 37.5 to 75mg??

[Halffacts]

I’m extremely anxious, getting about 2 hours sleep a night, can’t even concentrate on the telly. Started on 37.5mg venlafaxine a week ago, and told to go 75mg tomorrow.

Im so frightened of the increased side effects… I feel like my anxiety has got worse and I’ve developed apathy and lack of motivation for anything, very very tearful.

do the SEs get worse on higher doses? I’m most frightened of disrupted sleep

any experiences would be so helpful, thank you

How long have you been on your current dose?

A week (well 8 days)

I moved up a dose after about 8 days, I was a mess during that time, more jittery but was a mess before as well. So kept going. I found after 2/3 weeks I was managing a bit better but it took 8 weeks before full anti anxiety/antidepressant effect kicked in. These are low doses by the way, people take several times that much. Given how upset and distressed you were before starting I would keep going if you can.

Can your GP prescribe sleeping meds or valium in the very short term just to get you over the hump? I mean a week's worth? I had this and it helped a lot.

I’m under a mental health team and already on zopiclone and Valium (5mg twice a day!!) and it’s not helping at all. Feel like that’s another thing to worry about too - know they are really addictive and have been on them 2 weeks.

I just feel so hopeless at the moment. It’s like a limbo - I don’t want to make things worse by upping the dose but I can’t stay like this. I honestly don’t think I’ve got the strength to endure 2/3 weeks of insomnia etc.

My diagnosis is OCD, but to the extreme. Rituals every minute of the day to stop “bad” things happening.

Yes, you should be fine. Aso agree with asking for 5 or 10 tablets for sleep until you adjust to the new dose.

I take 150mg of it each day.

I didn't experience any side effects and the increased dose has helped with the anxiety and depression.

Everyone's different esp when it comes to Venlafaxine. So only pay attention to your own experience and what your doctor advises Inn response to it. Try to give any med or dose change a couple of weeks, as side effects usually improve.

Does the zopiclone not work? Perhaps have a chat to your team about what is/isn't working and how to get through this period.

Don't panic about the addictiveness right now either, I have not found stopping difficult once I was mentally more stable, now is not that time.

Thank you for being so kind.

The zopiclone gets me off to sleep but I’m up after 2 hours with the racing thoughts and panic attacks. I then fall into a light sleep/feverish sleep where I’m not actually asleep if that makes sense.

Just feels hopeless even with Valium and zopiclone I can’t get any peace!

You are still getting rest and some sleep, even after those two hours. Your body is too agitated at the moment to relax but over time it will. I found reading self-help books in the middle of the night would provide me with distraction and give me some additional tips for morning, I've used Claire Weeks, there's probably lots on Amazon. Listen to music, waves, free stuff and try not to get agitated as that's perpetuating the cycle of anxiety.

OP how are things now with your side effects?

Are they immediate release? The modified release help with the side effects. I couldn't tolerate immediate release, as I felt so rough.
Though they did start me on 75mg.

Ask for the modified release. And if they are reluctant (more expensive) you can change back to immediate release when you've got uses to them

@TooMuchStuffArghhh i am on vensir xl prolonged release hard capsule. What are these like? I’m suffering really bad at the moment with a increase from 112.5 to 150mg.

I started on a higer dose but my consultant prescribed a smallish dose of trazadone at night which served as a little boost to the anti depressant and also calmed me down at night. Might be worth asking if you could go on that sort of routine for a couple of months until the venlafaxine settles down?

@londonmummy1966 I will ask for that to see if it’s helps. I have cried all morning feeling unbearably low

@Sugardonuts - I'm so sorry to hear that - you might need a higher dose or just a bit of time for it to work through your system. I have the prolonged release too as the normal one makes me throw up.