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Mental health

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Original poster

Efexor / venlafaxine?

15 replies

TattyFanny · 02/03/2011 16:20

Does anyone have any experience of being treated with this antidepressant?

I've taken Prozac / fluoxetine before but it was a long time ago, my GP suggested I try this instead (75mg). There wasn't a leaflet with it so I consulted Dr Google, which was probably a mistake.

OP posts:

lubeybooby · 02/03/2011 16:23

It worked wonders for me. Took it for 6 months, weaned off under GP guidance and never needed any since. That was 13 years ago.

You do get side effects, and if you miss one you feel terrible... also you need to be patient for the first 4 weeks or so as with any antidepressant while the symptoms settle.

Good luck xx

Original poster

TattyFanny · 02/03/2011 16:30

Thanks lubey, that's good to hear. I must admit I scared myself to death with Google , hence the rather stilted OP.

Were the side effects you experienced severe? Did you get very, very, fat?

OP posts:

lubeybooby · 02/03/2011 18:13

No if anything I lost weight with efexor, after that initial 4 weeks when it started to work I finally had normal amounts of energy again so a few lb's came off. I owe my life to that stuff

I think the horror stories are mostly to do with withdrawing from it, but if you wean carefully it's fine. I would have been happy to take them forever if my GP thought it necessary though

Original poster

TattyFanny · 02/03/2011 19:49

Thanks again.

It's so stupid, I've been needing to ask for help with my depression for a long time. It took so much for me to see the GP about it and I resigned myself to needing meds, but now I've been and I've got the drugs I'm terrified to start taking them

OP posts:

GetOrfMoiLand · 02/03/2011 20:22

I have been taking Venlafaxine for about 2 weeks now - I started a thread last week because I had some awful side effects (if you have a look at mental health it will be there somewhere, it has venlafaxine in the title.

I had hideous side effects at first - feeling nauseous, really woozy, and a bit out of it. Also very tired and sleepy, but not able to get to sleep. Plus you feel slightly 'high'. And excessive yawning.

It is very tough tbh but those symptoms have died down for me now, the only symptom I have left is complete lack of appetite. I have no desire to eat and have to force my dinner down. Hopefully that will die down.

I have not noticed any benefits as yet but it takes up to 4 weeks but I am going to persevere to give it a try. I have tried Citalopram and Prozac with no result so would like this to work.

Like you I have googled it and it is quite scary - however I see that it is one of the things which may work when other medications haven't, so fingers crossed. I suppose the thing is not to forget to take it at all, and to wean yourself off under guidance.

I am on 150mg btw.

Good luck - I know it is scary but it is well worth giving it a go.

lubeybooby · 02/03/2011 22:12

Should have said I was all sorts before it, nothing worked. All had pretty bad symptoms at first, and efexor were no different apart from they actually worked for me and I had a real improvement which carried on through the time I took them so those initial crappy bits were well worth it.

Well done getting some help and I hope they work as well for you as they did for me... same to you GetOrfMoiLand

giraffesisonadiet · 02/03/2011 22:14

It gave me my life back, been amazing for me.

Original poster

TattyFanny · 03/03/2011 08:23

Mmmm. Right, after reading the experiences of people on your thread GetOrf, I'm going to wait with starting them until I can speak to the doctor in more detail about exactly why she's prescribed this particular drug.

I have an appointment tomorrow morning. I'm happy to take what is needed to help me but this really does seem to be a second line of medication and I haven't been tried on anything else yet. The fluoxitine I had years ago worked fine and her reason for giving me this one was 'because it's newer and works better' .

OP posts:

GetOrfMoiLand · 03/03/2011 16:24

OK - that sounds like a good idea, especially if you have had a good experience with prozac in the past, it would probably make sense to try that again.

Anyway good luck - I hope you find something wjcih works soon.

HettyAmaretti · 02/04/2011 10:43

Tatty here. Just wanted to say I starteded taking the meds after speaking to my doctor and they've worked miracles. The side effects weren't that bad at all and really quite short lived. I feel so, so much better now theey're working, tis unbelivable. I whole hartedly wish I'd got myself some earlier

shesparkles · 02/04/2011 10:55

I've been taking Venlafaxine for about 8 years - and will possibly be on it for life.
I can live with that as it's given me a life.

I'm on a high does (375mg) and when I started the side effects weren't good to be honest, the nausea and general feeling of spacedness did knock me off for a day or 2 when I started and then with increased doses.

I was prescribed it as along with the depression I also had issues with anxiety and the psychiatrist thought it best treated with 1 drug rather than a cocktail.

The ongoing side effects can be a bit of a nuisance, I tend to run very hot (despite an underactive thyroid!) to the point where it does get a bit embarrassing when I'm wearing short sleeves and everyone else is wearing multiple layers! The other side effect is what's described as "brain shocks" if I'm more than 12 hours late in taking a dose-these are well documented on the net-annoying but not life threatening.

This may all sound a bit negative, but I sometimes think that without the drug, I might not actually be here, so it's a small price.

luckywinner · 03/04/2011 20:01

I am on 300mg and have been on it since October for very serious depression, was v close to being hospitalised, esp if it hadn't worked. It has honestly saved my life. The side effects were tough to begin with, no appetite, felt pretty dozy/out of it, but to be honest my depression was so bad I really didn't care, nothing could have been worse, I was ready to jump out of a window. My psychiatrist slowly increased my dosage from 150mg to 300mg. I am the same as shesparkles, I honestly think I wouldn't be here if I hadn't been taking it. Citalopram did nothing for me. My main side effect is no appetite, which is slowly slowly coming back, however I have lost about half a stone in weight, and I am not someone who needs to lose half a stone. If you do try it, give it a month or so. Good luck. I never believed any medication could have helped me, but today (only 5 months on) I am smiling, happy, able to start sorting out why I am like I am. It has let me live my life. And with two children under 5, that has been crucial.

Keziahhopes · 04/04/2011 01:01

Hi - am on it and my psychiatrist said it was only a psychiatric prescribed AD when I was first on it 5 yrs ago.Have to have yearly 12 lead ECG's as it can affect heart and 6mthly blood pressure checks (my heart and bp are always ok). It has helped, so did sertraline (had to stop sertraline due to completely different reason) but when I tried to come off it found it it horrific ... so much so I had a reaction caused by being off them which meant I had to go back on them. Had dose increased when in psychiatric hospital last year. Put on some weight but not loads. It works, but so did sertraline for me - but sertraline I could get off. Just my experience - but would recommend asking for psychiatrist referral if you not got one and supervision of this medication.

Amaru · 04/04/2011 01:04

years and years of experience (and a good one for the majority of the time) just not at the moment.

Awful withdrawal though if u ever want to come off it.

300mg right now, usually 225mg.

GetOrfMoiLand · 08/04/2011 15:11

I must say that the side effects have worn off mostly now - I have still not entirely got my appetite back and I could go without eating for days if I wanted to. I have lost over a stone in weight (I have been ill with MRSA as well so that is probably partially responsible).

The difference they have made is amazing - i am a lot more positive now and I am so much happier. And relaxed.

I must say I terrified myself reading about the side effects such as brain shocks, but I have no woozy, nauseous, drugged up feeling now. Also I never take the tablet at the same time every day, and have forgotten it once, and have never had any ill effect from that.

I am not being supervised by a psychiatrist, though, however the DR doesn't repeat prescribe me, I have to go to the doctor and speak to him every month.

I am glad that it has worked for you Tatty - it is the only AD that has worked for me as well.

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