Venlafaxine

[LHMBF]

Have been prescribed this as I have always suffered severe depression and also have anxiety, PTSD, BPD and social anxiety. Was on Seroxat for 26 years but stopped completely almost a year ago when I fell pregnant. Have developed PND and my other mental health problems have worsened so was prescribed Sertraline which gave me terrible diarrhoea. So I asked for an alternative and have been prescribed Venlafaxine. Just wanting to hear any views and experiences of it?

I’ve been on VEN for 6 years. It has helped but it’s very difficult to come off. If I miss a dose by an hour or two I have awful withdrawal symptoms. I wish I’d known before I started taking it.
I was originally on lexapro for PND. I can’t remember why I switched to venlafaxine

Hi, I'm on it. Have been on it on and off for 20ish years! I'm currently on 225mg slow release capsule......it's saved my life for sure a few times and it's made me function with life almost all the time!
Have you started it yet? May make you feel really sick......capsule better than tablet on that one for me. X

Thanks for replying. I had a really hard time coming off Seroxat and ended up wishing I had never taken it. I'm very reluctant to get on another antidepressant for this reason but I need something as I just can't cope without anything. I've taken my first one today, 75mg, capsules x

Op is it a slow release capsule?

@LHMBF Yeah I’m on 75mg. I felt sick and spacey for a week. I know how you’re feeling though. PND is brutal

I guess you have to way up whether coming off it is worth keeping better whilst on it. It is for me......I think I may be on it forever though so may not have to go through coming off it again. The only good thing is the bloody massive weight loss when I'm coming off it! X

dietcoker it says prolonged release on the box. I think I'll see how i go on it as I honestly haven't been this bad before, PND has really hit me hard and self loathing which I've always had, but nothing like this. I hope they don't cause me to gain weight as I have body image issues too. I'm such a mess.
OkPedro I'm sorry you're suffering from it too

@@LHMBF if you can at all possible keep at it for another week to see if it kicks in?
It doesn't put weight on everyone, some say the opposite. Thinking of you. If it helps at all keep posting to us! X

I was on this when I had pnd, it saved my life. I'm not being flippant with that comment, I really don't think I would be here today without it. But I did get quite bad side effects and struggle to come off it due to withdrawal symptoms. But you can cross that bridge when you need to. Keep on keeping on op, I'm sure it will kick in soon.

I’m allergic to it , had a bad reaction and ended up collapsing into the freezer at a local supermarket - I kid you not :) but that’s a very rare occurrence and for others gives great results. Like all anti d’s they can take 28 days to kick in and side effects pass so please persevere with it

I take 337.5mg Venlafaxine MR a day which I feel has saved my life, I rarely feel low or suicidal now & when I do the Venlafaxine soon 'picks me up'.

There are side effects on this high dose but I'm happy to put up with them.

It’s a bitch to come off !
So if your really thinking off coming off ad’s in the future I’d say leave this one out

I’m on it @ 225mg Effexor capsules
I say stick to one brand, take with breakfast
Wether it be toast, biscuit
And try to take it at the same time, or as near as.

dietcoker thank you
Thank you Canadianpancake
mrsbyers oh my god, that sounds awful, glad you were okay
Thanks everyone, I'll see how I go, am very reluctant to become stuck on one again

I'm on it, 300mg at the moment. I I've been on it for 7 years. I want to come off it or reduce as I hate the side effects. For me these are tremor, chronic constipation and inability to orgasm.

Thank you. Mixed feelings about it at the moment

I have taken this for years, on and off, and it has been the most effective of all the antidepressants I've tried. If it's giving you bad nausea ask the doc for some cyclizine. For me it took about 6 to 8 weeks before I began to get any benefit from it. I have had a lot of experience of taking this medication so ask away if you have any questions. No matter how bad you feel now remember it will eventually pass.

Thank you, my DP says he already noticed an improvement in my mood after taking the first one although I don't feel any different and doubt it would work that quickly. I struggled to sleep last night and so was quite tired today, I've been very tired recently anyway though.
I have IBS and I'm wondering if it can affect that at all, as Sertraline gave me an upset stomach

Did the tablets come with an information leaflet in the box?

Yes they did

I was on them up to the max dose but unfortunately ended up in the darkest of depressions so came off. When they tried to switch to the slow release it knocked me out for the day so I ended having six of the normal tablets spaced throughout the day, but I understand this is very unusual and every doctor raised their eyebrows when they saw my chart, I’m just very slight and experience side effects TO THE EXTREME! I really hope they help ❤️

Sorry to highjack

Onehanded
What was your max dose
Was you ok when you decided to come off
Over the years?

LHMBF - does it say anything on the leaflet about IBS being affected?

Iamnotmad no it doesn't say anything about IBS

LHMBF how are you doing?

Full of cold and feeling a bit rough. Been feeling much calmer since taking the Venlafaxine. Feel frustrated that my brain clearly doesn't function well without antidepressants. Wish I didn't need to rely on them