Venlafaxine feeling high! Is this normal?

[Sunnyscot80]

Hello,

I'm looking for some venlafaxine advice please.
I tried to start v low dose venlafaxine slow release last week, but only managed a couple of days.

I'm super sensitive to meds. I found when it kicked in, later in the day, I felt so high! For want of a better way of putting it. I felt kinda out my face, like I may have taken an illegal drug.
I was also clenching my jaw. Woke at 3am both nights wide awake, wired. And used diazapam to get back to sleep.

I couldn't face another day of it. So I didn't take any more but I'd like to try it properly again. I know 2 days is nothing. But does that pass? Is that reaction normal? I really wish I wasn't so sensitive to these meds.

Yes I had this. Wanted to grind my teeth and gurn- I was advised to get the pill rather than capsule and take half doses.

I instead decided against taking it

I had this on a higher dose of venlafaxine. Felt like I was coming up on something illegal! Also had it with anther anti depressant which I can't recall the name of right now.
I ended up switching to sertraline altogether, which seems to suit me better.

@Tiger401 can you half the time release tablets? I thought they could be broken. Good to know.

@ReiltinDubh I'm so glad you found something that works. Setraline made me super aggitsted and a thousand times more anxious. I'm not having much luck with ssri's hence the ven. Feel ill never find one that works! And I was high like that on just the starting dose. I wonder if it might have passed?

I took venlaflaxine for a couple of years- worse anti depressant I've ever had. Yes I was the same, when I started taking it I felt high as a kite, also if I was ever late taking it I'd get these effects. When I eventually came off then ( VERY gradually) I had to take time off work as it was so horrific, I'd never use it ever again

@Tiger401 sorry that was meant to read 'couldnt be broken'

@lardass88 did the those high feelings pass? Did you find another drug that worked any better? I feel ill never find one I cns tolerate.

@Sunnyscot80 for a few weeks it felt like that. But I always felt like I was "on" something. I piled on weight and it really messed with my head. I'm now on citalopram

@lardass88 how was citalopram to start? Had you tried any other ssri's before ven?
I had an awful experience with setraline so I'm a bit scared of ssri's!

I can't take venlofaxine or duloxetine for the same reason, I was gurning and rushing my tits off, awake for over 24 hours and responsible for 2 small children. Absolutely awful experiences. Sertraline is too brutal for me also and my anxiety sky rocketed. I'm on fluoxetine now and very content with it. There were no side effects when starting it and if I forget to take it there are no awful head zaps or spaced out feelings. Some people are just very sensitive to certain drugs.

@MattBerrysHair that's how I was exactly, rushing my tits off! Lol. It wasn't the worst feeling in the world, I definitely felt worse on setraline
, but it felt bonkers, like how can I look after two small kids when I'm off my face. I wouldn't have wanted to drive either.
My doctor told me fluoxatine is one of the most activating drugs. I have too much nervous energy so he thought it would make that worse. I definitely don't need a boost. Might be worth just trialling it though. Thanks x

@Sunnyscot80
Completely different! Don't even know I've taken it.

@lardass88 does citalopram slow you down or give you tons of energy?
I need slowing down! And most of the meds I've tried have activated me.

@Sunnyscot80 definitely not full of energy 🤣 to be honest it just kind of gently numbs me.. like I can be happy or sad but not to the extreme if you know what I mean? It's the only one that has worked for me long term x

@lardass88 im really glad you found something. It's such a lottery with meds isn't it. I wish i could be that person who tries one and it works!
I feel kind of detached from my feelings just now because the anxiety is so high. And id so love to just be able to relax and not feel that awful dread feeling / verge of tears all the time.

I've tried that. It was awful. I'm also very sensitive to meds. I've been taking citalopram 5mg for the last two weeks. It had similar head feelings but much less. I could cope. After two weeks it finally stopped. I'm now supposed to go up to 10mg (the standard starting dose) but I'm a bit scared to step it up. I hate taking anything at all but it is helping the anxiety.

@Sunnyscot80 I'd go back to your doctor and ask to try something else. But for me I'd never go back on venlaflaxine x

@WildCoasts that's brilliant that citalopram is helping the anxiety. So you kind of felt a bit off your chops but not too much?!
Had you tried other meds first? Apart from venlafaxine of course. X

@lardass88 I will thank you and no it definitely won't be venlafaxine. I think I'll ask for citalopram or fluoxatine x

OP, I was on venaflaxine for OCD, I literally took it once and decided against. I am managing now with propranalol.

Citalopram and Sertraline were awful for me, did nothing and I was on highest dose. Did cause extreme weight gain though.

You can speak to GP about half dosing, the Mental Health nurse who I had to see first was the one who told me a lot of people do it like that.

Also, OP, just be aware that if you continue to take it you cannot just stop. It can make you drug test positive too, so carry the info around to ensure you're protected. If you come off it, you get very sick, complete drug withdrawal and this can happen even if you miss it by hours. So only continue taking if you are diligent. I am forgetful so knew it wasn't right for me.

Also if you search venaflaxine on here, you will see some people swear it is the best drug in the world and has given them their life back. I've always read more positive than negative. So just consider everything.

[quote Sunnyscot80]@WildCoasts that's brilliant that citalopram is helping the anxiety. So you kind of felt a bit off your chops but not too much?!
Had you tried other meds first? Apart from venlafaxine of course. X[/quote]
I tried Lexapro as well. That didn't suit, though I liked it in a way. Citalopram did give me some discomfort but it wasn't so overwhelming. The hardest part for me is probably the pyschological part of taking meds at all. I really don't want to and don't like the idea, but know I need to give it a good go at least.

I found the XR dose wiped me too much and I am now on the non XR version. It makes me feel less out of it.

That said, it is the best one for my combo of anxiety/depression