Any experiences of venlafaxine please?

[Greedybilly]

Duoloxetine has stopped working. Mirtazipine turned me into a zombie. Now trying venlafaxine which has all usual potential side effects. Anyone any good/bad stories to share? Ta

Anyone?

My experience has been very positive - it worked better than anything else for me. I also found it easy to come on and off, which I know is not the case for a lot of people

It made me really sick

I didn't find it helped massively (and then ai got pregnant so came off it) but I didn't have any particular side effects. I was only taking a small dose though as I had it in combination with sertraline

Awful stuff. Ridiculously hard to come off. It took my 18 months of gradually reducing to actually stop so I could TTC. If I was even an hour late taking it the side effects we're horrendous. If I missed a dose I couldn't think straight enough to even cross the road. I'd stay away from SNRIs at any cost.

I take 75 mg modified release per day. It’s given me my life back, as I was really struggling. I persevered with the initial side effects of feeling dozy and queasy and just feel like the old me again!

Only one that works for dp. But don't forget to take a dose!

My youngest son,(40) rapid cycle bipolar and severe anxiety and depression,he was prescribed it by the GP,dose becoming high and higher,till GP said he would have to go to the mental health clinic,he couldn't increase the dose anymore. I am his carer (actually took him for bloods today) GP wouldn't prescribe lithium, because he knew my son then much younger wouldn't attend for the regular blood tests. I cannot say,he was any less depressed on it. On the very high dose,he said to me,he was just staring into space dribbling (not literally) stopped taking it, said he would put up with the "lows" in order to actually feel something. He now meditates,does yoga,power walks,eats only very healthy food. He said today,he feels anxious all the time, but does not want to be medicated.

I've been on it for years - only thing that works for me. However it does make me feel pretty sick (like morning sickness) so GP prescribes the prolonged release and I had metroclopromide to help with this. The problems come if you don't take it for a couple of days - I end up with "tracing" where my brain seems to follow behind my eyes when I turn my head etc. I'd ask the GP to prescribe the extended release version rather than the normal if you can.

I was on 225mg and have managed to reduce down to 37.5 but it takes a long time and I'm not sure I'll be able to reduce further. However without it I'd probably not be here so if you need it take it.

Thanks all I appreciate your comments. It's all such a mixed bag/game of Russian roulette.xx

I'm on 337.5mg. I'm still alive so it works...

This has been my most consistent drug. I've been on it for years with my dose varying between 150mg - 375mg modified release daily. I was able to continue to take through some of my pregnancies as the alternative wasn't helpful. I've taken a few things alongside over the years. This year I added sertraline, which has helped but the sweats & overheating - good lord! I agree that if I miss a dose, I can spiral pretty quickly, so I would advise getting a good routine in place to take them at a consistent time to stay on track.
Good luck

Found it a lifesaver, literally.

But yes, being late with a dose or missing one is definitely not pleasant

I think it's a case of "suck it and see" my DH was also on cit for 7 years (severe anxiety, agoraphobia,sociaphobia) just 5mg nocte,he was permanently sleepy, stopped taking it. Had a course of hypnotherapy (which he said previously was a load of bollox,he's a sarf London bloke) it helped, although he didn't follow the instructions,or complete the course. Over 30 years he had all these problems, about 5 years ago,he said I'm done with them and feeling like this,so weird like a switch,no idea what happened!

Can I ask why you didn’t go back to Cit?