Anyone else taking venlafaxine?

[Summerfalls]

Hi, I have been on venlafaxine approximately 1 month now, after switching from a previous antidepressant I had been on for a few years that no longer was working.
To begin with I had multiple side effects as expected, but thankfully those wore off after about 9 days, however the one side effect that I am still experiencing is a total loss of appetite, I literally never ever feel hungry since starting this medication and I am having to force myself to eat which I’m finding extremely difficult and basically living off couple slices of buttered toast in the mornings and a small meal in the evening, nothing else between then at all! The thought of eating and cooking repulses me, I used to enjoy cooking, had an extremely sweet tooth and enjoyed chocolate, cream cakes etc daily and have not consumed any of this in the last month. The very little I am forcing myself to eat, I am not enjoying one bit I’m just forcing it because I know I have to!
I have definately dropped weight in last few weeks, how much I have no idea because I don’t own scales but clothes feel looser etc.
I am naturally a very thin person anyway and have been all my life but the complete surpression of appetite and loss of weight is worrying me now as I need to gain not lose.
I was wondering if any one on venlafaxine has experienced the same thing and can tell me if extreme appetite loss is a common side effect that will go away or if it’s a long term side effect. Because if it’s something that isn’t going to get better then I will have to ask for medication to be changed because I really cannot afford to lose any more weight, I just want to feel hunger and enjoy food again instead of feeling repulsed by it.
On a more positive note it has helped lift my depression from severe non functioning to functioning but that’s no good on its own if I end up severely underweight and self conscious from lack of appetite.

What dosage are you currently taking? Also, are you on the modified release?

It's not unheard of in terms of symptoms, but I'm just wondering if the inappetence is a sign of your mood rather than the meds. I've been on Venlafaxine for 16 years now, they can make a big difference but do your research about them.

I’m currently on 75mg of the modified release. I think it’s in my treatment plan to be increased soon but worried about increasing with this appetite loss.
I do lose appetite when depressed, but nothing to this extent. Usually when severely depressed it’s more not having energy to make food etc but I would still feel hunger and if I hadn’t eaten feel sick. But since starting the venlafaxine I feel nothing in terms of hunger or even feeling sick through lack of food like I norm would. It’s a different level of appetite loss and Iv never experienced it before to this degree thats what is worrying me now.
I do have medication review this week so I will bring my concerns up but I was just seeing if anyone had any personal experience with this when first starting venlafaxine.
Thank you Davies Mum.

Yes lost a lot of weight at firat but then hunger went back to normal after a few month s

Thank you Ruth, I will try stick it out and hope that my appetite returns. Where I was already thin to begin with I was worried about dropping too much considering I never had ‘spare’ wieght to lose in the first place. I have also realised tonight I rarely feel thirsty either and have barely been drinking either which I will try to make sure I do from tomorrow, I just never really realised until I thought about it tonight because I was too focused on the loss of appetite.