Venlafaxine/Effexor

[BuckysRoboticArm]

Anyone here on venlafaxine/Effexor?

I tried out the extended release over a month ago. It was only 37.5mg but I felt really numb to all emotion and also had depersonalisation which was really scary. Like I was sat behind a glass screen just observing life and not really there. It scared me so I stopped until I could talk to my psych about it.

I have been given the short release ones instead. I’ve been afraid to take them but I just got my period and have been feeling utterly depressed and suicidal before it as usual and can’t go on this way. I decided to take half of the already small dose this morning - so 18.75mg which is nothing really yet I still feel incredibly nauseous. (That’s fine I can handle that.)

I’m so nervous about this drug. Scared of being a zombie and not feeling any joy on it, the depersonalisation, losing libido, weight gain, withdrawals etc. I’m really sensitive to meds.

Is anyone on it right now, or taken it in the past? Care to share experiences?

I've been on the extended release for many years now. Currently on 150mg a day but have been on 300mg previously.
It generally keeps me on an even keel. Without it I can have very low or manic mood swings. I notice my moods changing quickly if I ever forget a dose (young children & poor memory).
This drug has been the best for me after trying many over the years. I do occasionally struggle with feeling numb & not enjoying things as much as normal. But generally, it's good. It can take a while for you to get used to a new drug. Be patient. Hope it goes well for you.

Is the nausea/numbness actually a response to the drug or psychological? The 37.5 is a very small dose and well below therapeutic levels, half of that is even less so. If you’re scared of taking it, could be making you anxious hence nausea. And the numbness that you had could be due to depression rather than the drug. Might not be, but when I’m severely depressed it’s like being in an emotionless glass bubble.

I’ve been on it a while in combination with other drugs so I don’t really know which ones do what but it seems to work. I didn’t get any bad side effects til they put it up to 300mg which was too much for me (I’m a small person) I can feel the full range of emotions and stuff on it though. It might be worth sticking with it for 6 weeks and then re evaluating.

Hi, I take 250mg slow release every morning and they make me so awake and alert almost as if I had taken amphetamines or something lol, however I'm bipolar and take a concoction of meds so this could be why.
I have experienced the depersonalisation also but only when I first started taking them years ago so I think once your body becomes used to the drug you will be fine and won't notice the side effects as much

Hope all goes well xx

Thanks speak I’ve heard missing doses is bad on this drug, with some people having withdrawal symptoms just by missing a dose. I’m glad it’s been a positive thing and helped you.

danger I guess it could be both but I think it’s more the drug, I was fine before. I don’t even feel my appetite as much now. I don’t why I’m so sensitive to ad medication. My psych said some people just are and that you have to let your body get used to the drug and overcome the symptoms. I’ve been on an anti psychotic before and that was the opposite, it made my appetite ravenous despite any anxiety. Even sertraline and imipramine didn’t make me feel sick. Again it doesn’t bother me though, it’s not the worst thing.

Re numbness, she did say it can cause blunting of emotions and that’s what I experienced last time - for example my toddler dd would do something hilarious but I just wouldn’t find it funny - even though normally I would iyswim? Even at my most depressed my dd has been the only thing to make me smile. I was numb in that I didn’t feel sad emotions on it but I didn’t feel happy ones either. Just nothing. I felt normal again once I stopped it. Again my psych said it should get better if I persevere this time and let my body get used to the drug. I guess it bothers me in case it doesn’t. I don’t want to feel suicidal and depressed but I don’t want to feel like a robot either. She’s suggested to start low and slow. Im glad you are feeling all emotions, that’s really positive to hear. I will stick with it and hope I get on better this time.

Thank you Sweet I’m so happy to hear the depersonalisation thing went away as that really bothered me! Yes on the slow release I felt quite wired and I’m an insomniac anyway, that’s another reason I switched. Have to take it early morning! Thanks for sharing x