Effexor/Venlafaxine support thread

[Mindfullness]

I am on week 2 of taking Effexor for Generalised Anxiety Disorder and it would be good to hear from others taking it.
I am having an increase in anxiety, is this normal and will it settle?
Thank you x

I'm on 300mg venlafaxine for PTSD, the first couple of weeks heightens what it's trying to combat so it will feel worse before it gets better xx stick with it x

Thank you Combat xx I have tried many others and this is the best for side effects apart from raised anxiety. How long does it usually take to settle? Xx

Hello,

It should take 6-8 weeks to settle. But the first couple are meant to be the most difficult in terms of side effects...

If in doubt speak to your prescriber..

Very best!

I found it was easier after first couple of weeks, that said I started on 37.5 around Oct and now on 300mg but feel so much better in terms of living day to day, I too have had several med changes and this is the best by far in noticeable changes.

Just take it day by day, I found keeping a score out of 10 daily helped me as I could actually see it was starting to work - you will get there x

Thank you and so glad to hear Combat! I am so pleased it has worked for you.
It's hard having to work full time and cope with the side effects, fingers crossed this is a better week x

Wow - 300g is the highest dose I’ve heard of. I’m on this at 225mg for extreme anxiety.

I know, I'm already starting to stress about when they want to start to reduce....this is the first time in over 20yrs that I've felt "normal"

Thankfully I am able to still sleep on these which u couldn't on any others. I am a week and a half in and my anxiety has definitely spiked but fingers crossed it calms down soon!

Day 10 is apparently the spike, after that it starts the plateau stage. Just try to remember it's trying to trick your brain to not go into fight or flight, brain gets confused then gives in to the tablets.

Hi
I’m on venlafaxine been on it 5/6 years
Had good episodes going through a blip at moment since Oct and can’t seem to get settled
I’ve had about 4 blip episodes on this med in 6 years?
I currently upped 7 weeks ago to 187.5mg from 150mg, just some better days but nothing dramatic
Still horrible morning where I have to literally push myself but more importantly thoughts that stop me doing things. Positive one minute then within 5 mins changed my mind. I just don’t seem to have the determination . is it harder the older you get, im 60
Just want to be happy and able to go out without a thought changing my mind and making me agoraphobic it’s not for the want of trying.

I got propranolol of gp on Thursday
Started it Friday, I started having chest sensations on 187.5 five weeks in and seemed more headaches so dropped back to 150 on Friday
Today is day 3, and I’m getting feeling like I’m going to lose it and go mental
I went out into the garden doing a bit but couldn’t stop the thoughts coming
I’m sure I’ve got more the GAD and depression
Is it possible to keep having blips on s med?
I’ve had to take 2 mg diazepam to bring me down
Partner doesn’t know what to do, I just snap st him so he tends to stay out of the way and get on
Then I feel he doesn’t care(I know he does)
So tomorrow I’m back up to 187.5mg and back to the go Tuesday (bet she’s sick off me)
Healthy minds in my atea(Manchester) won’t let me go back to see psychiatrist, just told go to up ven to 225mg without seeing me
Didn’t really like her, she was to pushy and didn’t have time for you
Too many nhs patients and she’s the only one for my area.

I don’t know if I’m coming or going and my partner must be peeed if with me like this now on and off for years

I’ve done a thread on thoughts , have a read please

It should settle. The first few weeks are very odd. It has really really helped me. Stick with it.

A better week but still having spikes of anxiety. I am seeing the physciatrist next week so she will probably increase the dose to 75mg!

I was on it as a teenager and suffered very badly - I’ve heard they’ve stopped giving it to under 18s now. I hope you have good results with it, I had some odd side effects, like chattering teeth and all sorts of strange things, but those did settle within a few weeks I think.

Haribogirl - poor you. I would go back to your gp and ask for a 2nd opinion. You shouldn't have to suffer like that!

I take 300mg MR.

It's really worked for my depression!

I do get 'down' moments but the pills soon put my mood back up.
I don't feel suicidal all the time like before.
I would say it's saved my life.

However side effects for me are extreme tiredness (I take high dose anti psychotics & anti epileptic drugs too); eyesight problems (the muscles in my eyes get tired so I have to wear glasses), & bladder problems which I have to take Oxybutynin for.

Despite this it's still worth taking Venlafaxine in my opinion.

How long do you think until you noticed benefit for anxiety? I have just upped to 75mg. Thanks x

I can't help there as I took a higher dose straight away for depression & never had anxiety but hopefully someone will be along who can help

Thank you tierraj xx