Just starting Effexor (Venlafaxine) for PND- positive stories please!

[RJH83]

My 2nd DS is 14 weeks and since he was 3 days old I've been struggling with postnatal anxiety & depression. Cutting a long story short, I'm now under the perinatal team & I've just tapered off Fluoxetine. I took that after DS1 was born & it worked wonders, but after 12 weeks on it this time, it wasn't working for me. I'm also taking 30mg of mirtazapine at night to help me sleep.

I'm only on day 3 of Effexor but feeling quite wobbly - anxious, upset etc. I know it's normal to feel worse before feeling better, but really could do with some positive stories about this medication to keep me going. It just feels like this has been going on for so long now - I need to see a light at the end of this tunnel. Some days I worry that I'll never get the old me back x

Ps. Once my medication is sorted I will also be seeing a counsellor. The perinatal doctor wants to get the meds right first before we move on to that.

I'm on 337.5mg Venlafaxine MR, it's great for depression.

There have been side effects as I'm on a high dose but it's worth it.

My adult daughter has taken it for 3 years for awful anxiety. Nothing else worked. She was awful on it to start with, shaky, nausea, brain zaps etc
But its changed her life, she went from sitting in her room to now going to work, living alone and leading a normal life.
Stick with it op

Meant to say,she has put on weight on it but that's a small price to pay for getting her life back!

Thank you so much for your replies xx

Do you know how long roughly it took to feel the benefit? I know everyone is different. My mum is actually on the same medication so I'm hopeful that it will help me too.

I felt better a lot more quickly after the birth of DS1, so I get frustrated, but I need to just accept that it's worse this time around.

Anxiety is just horrible - I really feel for anyone going through the same thing xx

I would say it took a good 4-6 weeks for my DD to feel better, she wanted to give up but is so glad she didn't.

I've been on it for years and I find it helps with both depression and anxiety. I'm more stable than I was on other antidepressants, possibly because I daren't miss a dose. Watch out for that, forgetting to take it is not fun.

Yes, I've heard it's not good if you forget a dose. Last time I was diagnosed with just PN anxiety but this time it's depression as well.

Fingers crossed it works for me too xx

Day 6 of Effexor today & feeling really rubbish. So anxious for no reason at all. DS2 is 15 weeks tomorrow & I feel like time is passing by & I'm still no better. Every day is a bit of a battle at the mo. I'll keep it persevering though x

I am just starting week 4 and the side effects do get better. I think they are slowly starting to make a difference and my physical anxiety symptoms have calmed down. My GP said they can take 4-6 weeks until you begin to feel the difference so hang on in there OP.

Thank you - that really gives me hope. Good fo hear that you are starting to feel better x

I was on fluoxetine & gave them a good 12 weeks or so but only felt 'ok'. The perinatal doctor said I need to feel completely better so I made the decision to switch. Hopefully it pays off in the long run x