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Sharing positive experience of Venlafaxine

4 replies

Cakemonger · 27/06/2022 14:40

As the title says I just wanted to share a positive experience of taking Venlafaxine. I started taking it 5 years ago and was on a steady dose of 150mg. I had fewer side effects when I started taking it than with any other SSRI in the past.

The drug worked really well for me - gave me a resilience I didn't have, helped me function and didn't make me more numb which other pills did. The downsides were waking up too early which made me more physically tired, and the odd night sweat with bad dreams.

I've recently reduced my dose and am now down to 37.5mg a day as I hope to try coming off it. I've gone from 150mg down to this over a two week period and I feel absolutely fine. I had a very slight headache for two days and that was it. I've been lucky but just wanted to share as there are so many scary stories out there.

OP posts:
Cakemonger · 10/07/2022 08:26

Update: Withdrawal continues to be undramatic. I am cutting my 37.5mg pill in half now so as to withdraw very gradually just in case and have really hardly had any problems. I am a bit headachey and rough in the morning for a few days whenever I lower the dose but that's it. Hope this is reassuring.

OP posts:
boymama82 · 15/07/2022 09:43

I really needed to read this, thankyou!!! I'm currently on 15g, I had terrible postnatal psychosis after our first baby which led to me being sectioned for 6 weeks, the worst time of my life. I now desperately need to get off it as the sweating is unbearable. People look at me with pity when I go into a shop as it's literally dripping off my nose. I now have a 1 and 2 year old so I'm never still, eat really well yet my weight is stuck at bloody 15 stone 5lbs and isn't moving!! I have a phone call at 10 today to discuss coming off it, thanks again

Cakemonger · 15/07/2022 12:52

Glad to hear it helped - I'm on my third day of being completely off it now and really feel fine x

OP posts:
YouLookLikeVivieneLeigh · 16/07/2022 18:04

I have been taking 225mg Venlafaxine for over 10 years. I think it is very good, apart from it has taken away any appetite. I never feel hungry. I also feel slightly 'numb' too. It also took away all feelings of desire, but I am happy with that.
On a positive note, I am still the same weight and a size 10 just as I was at 18 years old.

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