Venlafaxine

[CircusMistress]

Please share with me your experience and knowledge of taking venlafaxine. Never heard of it before and no leaflet in the box. Read a little online but conflicting information or maybe me just struggling to take it all in. Feel like I want to know more before I start. First time on antidepressants and nervous. Will probably phone the gp back too but on my mind in these early hours.

Bump

I'll find links to 2 recent threads. There are some older ones too.

I've only been on it a month. Think it's beginning to help me but it isn't my first antidepressant, so I have a previous one I'm considering returning to (each has a different side effect I wanted to avoid). Not meaning to put you off, just that unless you are very lucky it might take trying a few to see which is best for you. Don't be afraid to go back to the GP if side effects don't settle after a few weeks - but be aware it'll take longer than this to start working.

For me (everyone's different) venlafaxine made me feel nauseous in the first few days and reduced my appetite. I was exhausted at times. This all improved quickly, though the tiredness hasn't gone completely. (It's on and off). I tried altering the time I took it and it seemed to help a bit. I've also experienced sexual side effects. Not everyone will but they are quite common with a lot of related antidepressants. The one I might change back to was better for this but worse for something else (weight gain).

Venlafaxine is said to be difficult to come off but I haven't found out yet. The doctor should be able to support in how to do this carefully.

The second thread is linked on this one:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/feeling_depressed/4294174-venlafaxine-some-support-please

:)

Hi ive been on ven for a few years. It works quickly, I started to feel much better within 10 days. It does me sexual dysfunction though.

Oh was constipated at first, happening less now (good to drink more water if you can to help with it). Some eye effects but they went too (pupil dilation & dry/sensitive).