New prescription of Venlablue: any experiences?

[Bringiton2016]

After being a zombie on citalopram for the past 2 months I've just been prescribed Venlablue. Has anyone had any experience of these? I see that they're supposed to "wake you up" as well as acting on the depression. I've googled and not sure entirely how they work. Does anyone have any knowledge please? Thanks.

Anyone? I believe the generic name is Effexor.

They are venlafaxine. I took them for postnatal depression 13 years ago and they were brilliant. I was on 375 mg in the end and came off really gradually with no problem at all. I recently used for an episode of anxiety but they didnt help at all and I was really constipated which made me feel bad. In the end I stopped cold turkey from 150mg which was not a good idea as the withdrawal was awful. So I have had two very different experiences. All I can say is that if and when you get to the point of stopping them do it very gradually. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

I've been on venlafaxine before. For me, it didn't help, but over the years I've tried lots of meds and so far nothing has helped, so it could just be me! A friend of mine found venlafaxine literally a lifesaver, it worked amazingly for her.

I found stopping it very, very difficult though. Horrific brain zaps and headaches. Ended up breaking into the capsules and counting out the little grains, reducing by one grain every few days. Maybe a technique to remember for the future!

Hopefully it will help though, it does help a lot of people, and that's the important thing, not the eventual stopping of it.

Eeek. This is my 4th type. Never been on an SSNRI before though. Obviously quite concerned about it. I can't even function on citalopram. I know all about doing slow withdrawals from bitter experience. Fingers crossed. I start in 2 weeks.

Venlafaxine is one of the most effective antidepressants out there. I've seen it help people when nothing else has. The dose can be increased if first doses don't help. But yes you'd need to come off it carefully, withdrawal is very unpleasant. Good luck.

Thank you. I have to taper off the others first. Back on the roller coaster!

Venlafaxine literally saved my life: well worth trying an SNRI if you've not found anything that continues to work so far - I had already been through fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline and paroxetine, all to maximum dosages, before I went on to it.

One thing to note, though - I did have really horrific side effects at 225 (nine months of only sleeping for 3-4 hours every third night, for example- ugh! No noticeable side effects at lower doses though), but these largely subsided at 300 and 375 (only mega dreams and horrendous night sweats, plus lots and lots of serious sleep!): if you feel you are getting side effects, please, please go to your doctor. I wish I had, as there were things I could have had (even though it would have meant tablets for side effects) and I am certain I wouldn't have got as bad as I did if I had been having basic things like regular sleep!

You feel like you're getting to the end of your options when nothing's working, but don't lose hope: even if velafaxine ends up not working for you, there are still plenty of things licenced as treatment options.

Good luck

Thank you for the advice. I'm starting on 75. Just tapering off the others first.