Venlaflaxine increase

[Beckycw]

Hi everyone. Just writing on here to see if I could get some positive reassurance, so please no horror stories. In October I was admitted to the mbu with severe depression. They put me on venlaflaxine and quitiapine. A few months on and I have seen some improvement but the last couple of days I have felt so anxious and had some suicidal thoughts. The psychiatrist wants to increase the venlaflaxine slowly. I've been naughty and used Dr Google so much and seen horror stories of people just not getting better and I'm scared I'll be one of those. I have twins after 3 rounds of IVF so I feel like I need to be in a decent place to deal with them. My relationship with them has improved and I'm enjoying them a lot more. My anxiety just is still getting the better of me. So I suppose I'm asking had anyone been in this situation and noticed an improvement with increasing their dose of venlaflaxine? Please just positive comments. Thank you x

Sorry you're suffering. I take Venlafaxine. What dose are you on?

If you are feeling that low you need to try and speak to the dr or someone in RL.

Thanks for your response. I'm on 150mg. I think he wants to increase me to 225mg. What are you on? Do you find it effective? X

I found 150mg effective but everyone's body is different. If you don't feel well after some time I'd take the advice and up the dose. And if that doesn't work consider trying something else.
You don't need to suffer. X

And I've been reducing my dose but have had to up the dose a little again as wasn't feeling well. Took at least 3 weeks to feel the full benefit.

Thank you! I'm just still pretty up and down but I'm not in the awful place I once was and I know that progress had been made. Did you find the venlaflaxine worked for your depression and anxiety? X

I was in a similar place to you a few years ago and although I initially felt a bit better on 150mg, 225mg completely sorted me out.

I have been on 225mg of venlafaxine for about 6 years now and have no plans to come off it. It completely changed my life. Stick with it, I remember my psychiatrist describing me as being on the side of a mountain, I managed to climb up a bit but risked sliding back down as I hadn't made it to the top. When I got to the top, life completely changed and I felt (And still feel!) like i can do anything!

Wow that was such a corny post! But hopefully my positivity came through

I'm also on 225 and find it great. I did used to struggle around my period, so now I take the combined pill on a continuous basis, and everything stays level. Honestly, it's been life changing.

Thank you so much for replying and taking the time. That's really helpful and not corny at all!! I'm so pleased you're better. Maybe a dose increase might be the best thing. It's so nice to hear something positive rather than negative comments you find on the internet! X

I felt so much better on my dose I started reducing my meds! May not have been the time, but shows I felt well for a long time or wouldn't have attempted it. I suffer depression and anxiety, too.

Thanks lovely. Is that like the mini pill? Funny you mention that as I've literally just had my period and am wondering if this could have tipped me over the edge! 🤦‍♀️ X

I was on 225mg for about three years. It really helped with the depression and anxiety. The only side effect was I sweated more, although I'm not sure that they weren't anxiety sweats. Venlafaxine saved my life.

Did you see a big difference between the 150mg and 225mg? X

After trying other medicines my gp started me on venlafaxine 225 dose. I was on this dose for about 1 years. I then reduced my dose to 150 (with gp supervision of course)
I stayed at that does for 3 years and I felt at my best mentally.
I am going through a bit of a hard time just now but i am still able to identify my anxiety is sneaking back in so I am going to meet with my gp to discuss going back up to the 225 dose.
Don't be afraid to dicuss it with your gp, even if you chose not to up your dose, sometimes just a chat helps get your head clear.

Anchovies 12 can I ask how long it took to notice an improvement between 150mg and 225mg? X

Hi ladies. Do you mind me asking how long it took to feel better in the dose increase? It's been 8 days (God I can't believe I'm counting)!! Xxx

I’d say 2-3 weeks here.