Venlafaxine

[Moominy12]

Hi all.

Just wondering if anyone else is on the antidepressant venlafaxine and what their side effects were?

Been on the just over a week and found that i have completely lost my appetite which honestly has made me very happy as I need to lose some weight. Is this a normal side effect? And will it last?

Hi moominy, I have been on venlafaxine for almost 5 weeks 35mg instant release for 7 days then 75mg extended release since. I have also had a completely loss of my appetite since starting this medication. I never feel hungry ever and have to force myself to eat which I’m struggling with. I am unhappy with this side effect myself as I’m actually underweight so need to eat and it’s not doing me no favours.
I have posted on here myself asking if it’s a side effect that will wear off, having done some research I think for some people it wears off for others it doesn’t.
I guess all medications affect people differently some people report weight gain, others report weight loss.
I actually want to come off this medication because of this side effect and I’m not usually one to give up medications so early on because of side effects.
Regarding other side effects, I experienced many awful side affects for the first 9 days they all went besides the suppressed appetite and I suffer from Episodes of gagging/dry heaving from the minute I wake up and through out the day, thankfully no actual vomiting.

I was just coming on here to ask - thanks for starting the thread.

I'm nearly 6 weeks in and a stone and a half off.

I'm not nearly as anxious but I'm like summer - having to force myself to eat.

I'm signed off work (had actually resigned the week before I had to start this, citalopram had stopped working)

I'm in two minds - venafalaxine didn't work for a friend of mine... and did the citalopram stop working really or was it the build up to resigning (a massive decision and huge deal).....?

Back to docs on 5th March and I'll go from there, stick it out til then.

Then I have huge guilt about being signed off so close to the end of my notice....

Yes I'm currently in 337.5mg daily. I did lose 7ibs at the start but am back to my normal healthy weight. No other side effects- I've been on it for two years. Hope it works for you 💐

Mammysin how long did it take for your appetite to return? Also was it with dosage increase?
Psych initially said he wanted to me to up my dose when I reported this side effect being an issue for me. My gp however was unconvinced and said she doesn’t see how upping the dose is actually going to be helpful if I’m experiancing this side effect to the level I am at an already small dose and thinks they need to consider switching my medication rather then increasing it because of the fact I am and already was underweight. I reported this back to my CPN who had meeting with the psych doc who has asked me to go in and see him next week I guess to discuss it.

Trooper - I know it’s hard especially with anxiety but try not to feel guilty about being signed off work before resignation. Treating your mental health is more important in the long run. Hope you feel better soon.

Hi I'm on 150mg slow release capsules. Have been on and off for the last 15 years. I loose a fair bit of weight for first few weeks then pile it all back on and more!
Ask for capsules not tablets. Made me feel so much better , less sick, normal appetite etc
It's been a life changer for me (bipolar). It has saved my life on a few occasions now
It's a real real fucker to come off, but the good outweighs the bad for me x

Thanks Summer - really appreciate that.

I'm struggling today and that means a lot

Oh and I actually resigned and then got signed off - have another thread asking for some HR advice (I think this is slightly better?!)

It saved my life - though sadly didn't have an impact on my appetite after the first fortnight

There's a good article in today's Telegraph talking about a study that's published in the Lancet proving the efficacy of ad drugs - Venlafaxine is one of the more effective ones. In terms of side effects, I found I had much better quality of sleep for the first couple of weeks (not that that was a high bar, as previously I was only managing to doze off every third night for a series of catnaps) and after a number of years on 375mg, I still have incredibly lurid and film-like dreams.

I also take mirtazapine, and the side effects have been horrendous - but from my perspective, it's worth it, as the alternative is pretty permanent.

I saw that in the Guardian, Hefzi.

It did make me feel like I wasn't a failure. I've always thought I should be coping better.

I'm very lucky in most ways but as my lovely counsellor reminded me this week, I've been thought so much actual trauma in the last 12 years, I really need to allow myself some self compassion.

Lots of tinkering about with dose amounts, yes weight came back slowly with increased doses. To be fair I was vigilant with trying to eat well ( as I could not exercise) I didn't want to be moderately depressed and fat😳😬.

I found that when I started taking it, and with dose increases since. Lost my appetite and had trouble sleeping for about 3-4 weeks then went back to normal. Still have some wild dreams though!

I’m not new to venlafaxine as I e been on it since about 2012 dose now at 150mg Slow release.

I’ve got anxiety bad at the moment , it’s been up and down over the years.
I’ve had anxiety/depression since I was 25 now 60. Should be used to it, but every time it’s high I freak😂
I’ve have days I can cope and others I have to take Diazepam 2mg to get the high anxiety down a little.

Over the last 6 mths I’ve lost a stone in weight.
I literally now a days have to force myself to eat, I get the empty stomach feeling but find it really hard to want it. I’ve no interest in food at all because of high anxiety.
Today that’s all I’ve managed is weetabix and just now banana.
With me it anxiety that always effects my eating, when it’ lower or not there(have had months when none) I’ve no problem eating.

How are any of you dealing with the not eating issues? Any tips, methods on how you get through. I fed-up of that empty feeling and stomach grumbles.

I came of cipralex onto venlafaxine, and had a bad time
So I’m scared to death of upping dose, incase I get suicidal thoughts again and where I was scared to even move!

I'm on 300mg venlafaxine mr - main side effect is tiredness for me

I find it very effective for depression

I personally don’t think it’s a venlafaxine SE, as if my anxiety is lower eating isn’t a problem
It’s only when My anxiety is higher that I just cannot or want anything to eat😂 even my favourite foods even chocolate or crisps which I normal love 💖

If you think about it
If your body is in an anxious state and it is sending out fear signals to your stomach/brain you won’t want to eat. The stomach can’t cope with stress ie so not wanting to eat. The brain and gut are connected
So if our anxiety is high or were Doing an increase in venlafaxine(which heightens anxiety levels for a while) this decreases our appetite until we feel calmer and more relaxed

Ebony do you have high anxiety ? Or was it more depression with you.

I have depression, I'm lucky I don't get anxiety but I do have schizo affective disorder so I take Aripiprazole too which unfortunately makes me hungry!

I've been on 225mg for a couple of years, and it's made a huge difference to my life. I do have a certain amount of sleeplessness, which makes me tired during the day. I'm also on the pill, which means I'm always hungry. Amazing when I have a week's break and suddenly don't need food anymore.

Haribo, I agree that anxiety can make you lose appetite. But it is definately a side effect of venlafaxine also. It’s actually more common to lose appetite and have weight loss with venlafaxine then it is weight gain according to patient leaflet.
However I think people complaining of weight loss or loss of appetite as side effect is prob far less then people reporting weight gain. As majority (but not all) people are prob far more concerned about gaining weight than losing weight. If that makes sense

I was on it for about 18 months, 150 mg per day, until last year. It didn't affect my appetite but the side effects for me were completely stopping my periods (good) and really excessive sweating that became unbearable for me in the end. It definitely saved my sanity though when I was in the depths of PND and anxiety.

I used to take it for PND. I found it really helped. I lost 1/2 stone in the first week but then my weight stabilised and after a few weeks I had no side effects at all.
Definitely slow release capsules are best as it can give quite strong withdrawal effects between doses otherwise.
It worked very well for me.

I've been on 225g for about three years now.

To begin with my appetite reduced and I had terrible sweats - during the day and even worse at night.

None of the side effects lasted very long. My appetite was back to normal within weeks/months. Can't quite remember but it wasn't long sadly!

Just curious

How you ladies managed to come off it?
It’s supposed to be a bitch to come off and not many are successful and have to go back on it.

My friend was on 150mg slow release capsules and weaned down really slowly over a year right down to 37.5mg. Eventually off altogether and within couple months she was worse than the first time round.
Housebound with severe anxiety,shaky,extreme tiredness, she’s now upto 225mg after 5 months and still not herself.

I know everybody is different, and not one cap fits all.

I love this medication.
We have been tinkering for about a year with medications both under the GP and psychiatrist.
Was on Citalopram before gp weaned me onto Venlafaxine. If this didn't help I would have been referred back to psych. In a way I enjoyed Citalopram it seemed better than previous meds, but it made me so sedated.
Ven, however, is like the miracle drug for me. three side effects but they are manageable. Lucid dreams which I have had on every single medication, but unlike others, I can wake from the dreams if I need to. Which for me is a huge relief.

The second is the weight loss and lack of appetite. I had this on sertraline. I got through this by eating when I was actually hungry. So I had the crappy kids cereals because of the high calorie along with full fat milk, no semi skim or diet anything. Full fat, full everything. Cereal bars again not good for you. Soups including things like cup of soups. Quick boil rice like the golden wonder. Pot noodles etc. Full fat cheese for cheese on toast.
Everything I ate was calorie high and max 10 minutes to make/heat up. But not heavy. I found that if I hadn't eaten in this 10 minute window, the appetite went.
Liquids included mainly milk, water and when i could smoothies. I was reminded though not to rely on liquids too much because the stomach gets used to this.

The third, my periods have massively slowed down. This is awesome, and I have decreased other meds I was taking for this. So I am not complaining.

It's a case of trial and error to find what works for you, and to find out what side effects you are going to compromise with.
Some I came off after a day because of the side effects and said hell no am I ever taking that again. And I didn't I was given something else.

Side effects usually subside within about 6 weeks and this is when you notice if it's for you or not. Sometimes the dose might just need upping, other times the meds simply arent' for you.

Withdrawal symptoms are a bastard to deal with if you forget to take it, and I wonder if that's why it's more effective for me- I daren't forget!

Out of curiosity, when do you all take it? I find that I'm more likely to forget in the morning, so I take it last thing at night. But with the slow release, I usually wake around 5 hours later.