Has anyone reacted badly to SSRIs but OK to venlafaxine?

[Medea]

Traditional SSRIs like cipralex and sertraline have been awful for me (every side effect possible plus no relief from my depression) and now my doctor wants to try me on venlafaxine which is evidently part SSRI and part something else.

I PLEADED with him to find some way to treat me NOT using drugs but he's adamant. . .I've had a particularly serious & intractable depression that landed me in hospital in August and since them I've had suicidal feelings several times a week. Normally I can shift depressive episodes on my own after some time passes, but I'm completely stuck in this one.

I'd appreciate any feedback on venlafaxine. Do be honest. . .I'm not just looking for reassurance.

hello, im on sertraline at the moment and am having really bad hot sweats and headaches and am thinking of coming off them tbh.

ive never heard of this other one you are considering though-sorry, what side effects did you have on sertraline?

Well, I was on sertraline 5 yrs ago. . .what I remember were tremors, bruxism (involuntary jaw-clenching), fatigue, and a medicated/zombified feeling that didn't shift. I also had constant heart palpitations, which can happen to some people with arrythmias (irreg. heart beat) like me. I was on cipralex more recentlyit's like an ultra new & improved version of prozac, with fewer side effectsbut I had pretty much the same side effects I had on sertraline, minus the heart palpitations & tremors. I also became anorexic--I literally had no appetite and lost even more weight than I'd lost during the depression. I didn't get headaches or sweats on either, though.

A word of warning: if you do go off sertraline, taper off gently. You'll feel awful if you go off them cold turkey. I don't recommend it at all, and neither would any doctor. The worst are these weird sensations in your headalmost like vertigothat are incredibly scary & unpleasant.

I had a breakdown a few years ago and was put on venlafaxine.I was on high doses and it was ok for me.No side affects and felt ok.I went cold turkey to come off it eventually (3 years)as I wanted a baby,and would not advise this.Best to wean of any anti-d as you do feel v dizzy and sick (like you have been spinning round)

I have known a few people take v and all said ok and worked for them
x

hi
I was on venlaflaxine last year on a high dosage and found it a lot better for me than normal ssris. I only came off because I got pregnant but los tbaby. Now 28wks pg and when baby is born will be going back onto venlaflaxine. Only down side was the coming off them. Dont know if it was worse as I was pg at the time or is it owuld have been like that anyway but had terrible headaches, nausea, dizziness and generally lethargy but within 2 weeks of taking last tablet was fine.

Hi Nemo
My doc had my tabs on standby in case i needed them after baby born but have felt ok (and shes 2 in nov)

But then again,a lot of my depression was about not having a family...

I am on venlafaxine and had few side effects, disturbed sleep and clinching jaws. but these faded within a couple of weeks and now I am glad i persested.

GP tried me on Prozac a while ago but it made feel so much worst for 4 weeks and gave up on ADs until recently. I wish i went back then and asked for a different medication. Instead I suffered in silence.

I have been also on seroxat for a year 4 years ago.it seemed to be working for me. i thought I was ready to come out. But my depression/anxiety disorder will always be with me. always had it, it just gets worse at times and have to use AD. the rest of the time i try to live with it like you