Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Original poster

Venlafaxine - side effects?

26 replies

Mvshrln · 04/08/2020 16:27

Hi,

I started on venlafaxine about 3 months ago due to severe anxiety and have found they've helped a lot with the anxiety/intrusive thoughts etc. Haven't really noticed any other symptoms, but I have felt achier/heavier limbs. Could be totally unrelated/clutching at straws, but wondered if anyone had felt similar?

OP posts:
WhoWants2Know · 04/08/2020 16:29

I haven't particularly noticed side effects apart from some trouble sleeping. But make sure you don't miss a dose, as that's where it can go horribly wrong.

AuntMasha · 04/08/2020 16:41

I think it takes a while for the body to adjust. It took me a good few months before I felt ‘normal’. Having been on them for nearly 5 years, I do find them very effective. As the above poster says, try not to miss a dose - on the few occasions when I’ve missed a dose, I get the dreaded brain zaps.

Original poster
Mvshrln · 04/08/2020 17:02

That's what I'm wondering, as I felt a weird heavy cramp in my limbs 3 times, and they've all coincided with when I haven't taken a tablet for a day or 2. I don't think I've experienced the brain zaps, and sleeping wise I was given additional medication to help me sleep/stop night panicking!

Thanks!

OP posts:
WhoWants2Know · 05/08/2020 15:06

I'm on a moderate dosage and didn't really have much difficulty starting the drug. If I miss a dose, the first thing I'll notice is vivid dreams and struggles to wake up. If that doesn't clue me in that I've forgotten, then I progressively get more tired and nauseous, then headache and brain zaps. It gets near 48 hours without a dose, I'll be vomiting and can't walk straight.

It's a good drug, but very unforgiving. In a lot of ways that actually helps keep me stable because I daren't miss a dose.

Jarofflies · 05/08/2020 15:10

I find it an excellent drug and have been on it for 10 years now. You really can't miss doses though the way I could with previous meds, the brain zaps are the worse!

The only side effect I have generally is very vivid dreams.

thinkingcapon · 05/08/2020 15:16

Hi op. I can't really tell you what the side effects are as I've been on them for most of my adult life!
I think they make me sweat more, eat more, nightmares most night as if there any period when I'm not on them I always lose a lot of weight and sweat less! I'm on a very high dose though......
Are you on modified release? Sometimes this can tweak things a bit?

Original poster
Mvshrln · 05/08/2020 15:28

wow those are some intense symptoms when you miss a dose! I've not been on them that long and I'm on a 75mg. I have found them so beneficial in terms of helping with intrusive thoughts and anxiety making me unable to get out of bed.

@thinkingcapon that's really interesting to know, thank you!

I can't say I've noticed excess sweating, maybe in the beginning I sweated a bit more at night? it's hard to tell as it's been so warm recently, and I have had an increased appetite in general since lockdown began and I've been working from home. Can't say I've had very vivid or noticeable dreams though. I also take promethazine occasionally at night if I've been unable to sleep, and that really knocks me out.

OP posts:
Pimpernella · 05/08/2020 15:30

I think we are all different. For me it was toxic. I am doing a six week withdrawal after almost two years. It gave me regular migranes and I feel so stupid for letting them talk me into staying on it and taking ever increasing doses. More importantly, I don't believe it worked for me.
Agree, any side effects can be down to missed doses or even takung it a bit later than usual.
Horrible drug. (for me)
Good luck.

JudgeRindersMinder · 05/08/2020 15:34

I’ve been on it for 15+ years and am on 300mg, having reduced from 375 recently. If I miss a dose, the brain zaps are unbelievable, but I also feel really sluggish, not heavy limbs, but a feeling of not quite being on the planet, it’s hard to describe.
It definitely makes my body run hotter and sweat more-I have an under active thyroid so should feel the cold, but I’m the one not wearing more than a hoody in the depths of winter!

Cloverglens · 05/08/2020 15:39

I'm on 225mgs and have wondered if anyone struggles with awful fatigue on them. I am planning to reduce down to see if it is this medication that is causing it as blood tests normal.
If I miss a dose I like others have terrible brain fog, dizzy spells and nausea.

Iamnotmad · 05/08/2020 16:42

I am on this too and am usually fatigued. I also find that my motivation is significantly diminished. However, I stay on it because nothing else has really been beneficial. I have tried being off it but I always relapse dramatically. I have not had any sensations with my legs. The main side effect was nausea when I first started them (so bad that I did not want to eat), and after continued use feeling apathetic. It sucks.

thinkingcapon · 05/08/2020 17:04

I certainly feel like I'm walking on cotton wool at times and apathetic too.......

I'm pretty sure I should change my meds but the mountain seems to high to climb

Iamnotmad · 05/08/2020 17:09

My GP says that I'm apathetic because of my depression. I said then that means the medication doesn't work, and he was gobsmacked. I personally swear antidepressants DO make people apathetic.

thinkingcapon · 05/08/2020 17:19

@Iamnotmad in my experience I agree.....just more "numb"........

Lockdownlooks · 05/08/2020 17:23

My only side effect is severe insomnia. I take something to counteract that. Have tried weaning off with medical support and side effects really bad. It really works for me so happy to stay on it.

Iamnotmad · 05/08/2020 17:29

@Lockdownlooks yes I agree about the insomnia - especially when I first began taking it.

Pimpernella · 05/08/2020 18:45

Lockdown - could you say more about coming off it?
I took my last dose of venlafaxine last night and started 20mg of fluoxetine this morning as per psychiatrists instructions. I'm feeling horrible now and wondering if I should have carried weaning myself off a bit longer - chopping up pills to 18mg then 9mg. Trouble is I don't think I can do that now I've taken fluoxetine which has a half life of 25 days rather than venlafaxine's 5 hours... Sorry I'm not asking for medical advice... Will ring GP in the morning - Just wanting to hear more about your supported withdrawal.
Sorry for the hijack!!

CurtainWitcher · 05/08/2020 18:50

I've taken it for just under ten years and think it's very effective.

I like the fact that there's no chance of me missing a dose as I have immediate nausea, dizziness and even diarrhea (sp?).

I was once running late for work and rushed out without taking it. I felt absolutely awful all day and unfortunately shit myself in the car on the way home! It was absolutely horrible.

Flowersmakemyday · 05/08/2020 19:59

If you want to come off them, please don't listen to your GP who will suggest halving your dose, or missing one every other day. It causes so many problems. I'm now on day 50 of reducing at 10% of my dose. I leave at least 4 weeks, sometimes 6 weeks between reducing doses and am not getting any side effects. It may take longer but it's better for you in the long run as it is an awful drug to come off.

Fantasmic143 · 05/08/2020 20:06

@Lockdownlooks, yes totally agree with you re: insomnia. I have been on it for 18 years and it keeps my MH stable but I struggle on and on with sleep issues. I figure it is worth it but sometimes I long to sleep!

Iamnotmad · 05/08/2020 20:17

@Pimpernella what dose of venlafaxine are you dropping from? I have done the fluoxetine thing to withdraw from venlafaxine.

thinkingcapon · 05/08/2020 20:18

@Pimpernella what dose were you on and how long have you been reducing?
Sorry you shit yourself........! 💩😂

Pimpernella · 05/08/2020 21:15

I reduced from 300 to 206 quite a long while ago but wanted to wait until the summer holidays (teacher) for the final 6 week planned withdrawal reccommended by the psych.

I started nipping away at it with 9mg reductions 10 weeks ago. Then started the 32.7 weekly reduction just before the end of term.

I was really surprised that the 2 day migranes I got each week following a drop down, were the same with a drop of 9mg as 32. By the final week I didn't get the migrane at all.

I wasn't the shitter! I did fall literally flat on my face the other day though. I'm blaming the V for that too! 😁

Iamnotmad · 06/08/2020 07:15

@Pimpernella when I tried using fluoxetine to come off venlafaxine I too felt rotten. I ignored my gp's dosage of 20mg per day and took 40mg per day for the first week, then I dropped down to 20mg per day for the following week and then with what I had left I took those every other day until I had no more left. I did still get brain zaps after that, just not as bad as the venlafaxine brain zaps.

kateybeth79 · 06/08/2020 07:44

I've been on 225mg for the past 11 years and it's been a lifesaver for me. Side effects are vivid dreams (which I actually love) and night sweats. I've found all ADs make me a little lethargic but it's worth it to live a relatively normal life.

Other ADs such as Citalopram, Sertraline, Fluoxetine and Mirtazipine just didn't seem as effective.