How long until you felt better on Venlafaxine?

[Imwussgetmeouttahere]

Hi. I've been Citalopram for years, it helped but I've had recurring episodes of very significant depression. I've been put on Venlafaxine instead. I was instructed to reduce the Citalopram and introduce the Venlafaxine 75mg at the same time. I've now been on just Venlafaxine for 2 days at 150mg.

I feel awful. Insomnia is horrendous and I feel really shakey, jittery and like my mind is racing. I work full time and have children, so I really need to get through this quickly. Has anyone experienced similar difficulties and how long was it until the symptoms settled?

Many thanks.

i think a week or two been on them 29 years so can’t remember wish I never started on them

@Imwussgetmeouttahere same here was on citalopram for 10 years maybe then put on venlafaxine for me it wasn't too long around a week my mood started lifting good luck 👍🏻

I had vertigo at the start but it settled after about 5-7 days and I've been fine since. Don't miss a dose though - even one missed dose leaves me feeling sick and dizzy.

Another night spent staring at the ceiling. I'm exhausted. Even Zopiclone didn't help. Today will be a write off. I really need this to pass quickly 😩

I can’t take it on its own. I’m on Effexor in the morning and mirtazapine at night and I find it balances out really well. I have atypical bipolar though. Zopiclone doesn’t work on me either. It has the opposite effect of making me wired. Have you ever tried mirtazapine?

I had a terrible time on venlafaxine- it didn't get better. Ended up on duoloxetine which suits me better. Go back to GP if things don't settle soon - i left it too lone was really awful. Hope you do better.

Hiya. I might have to see if my GP is willing to try that. The Venlafaxine was prescribed by a psychiatrist, but I'm not seeing them again for a month. I can't deal with this that long. I've not tried mirtazapine. Zopiclone used to work well for me, but it's not been recently. I've been on it 10 years though. I'm so exhausted and just grumpy with it.

It took 6 weeks at 150mg for me. It’s the only one that worked though. Mirtazipine just made me fat.

I was on the lowest dose for about a year but found it knocked me out too much (at night was great) but the fog the next day was TOO much to function. I was on the slow release though so that perhaps made a difference !
It helped me with anxiety when sertraline stopped working, but I am back on sertraline now as fewer side effects. I am on a higher dose than before. If it doesn't help then I will perhaps try something else

I have been in them for years,less than a week I felt shift then gradually got better ,higher doses give me insomnia

You came also add on mitrazipine low dose to help sleep works fab but it caused me massive heaviness in tummy so habeibg to withdraw the mitrazipine good luck stick with it give it time to work

I've been prescribed venlafaxine but too scared to start, but only have one more week of citalopram... My depression has lifted a bit in recent weeks but so anxious. Does Venlafaxine work for anxiety as well as depression?

It lessened mine slightly i have raging depression found mitrazipine worked well with it xx

I found it helped with both.
Hope it does with you too x

Dh is on 75mg. Many years and it works for him well

20 years of anxiety, depression and severe OCD I was put on venlaflaxine about 2 years ago after trying what feels like everything. It has been a game changer for me and wish it had been tried much earlier. Absolutely no plans to come off it. It did take 3-4 weeks to settle after a dose increase and missing a dose does make me very dizzy but my depression has lifted and my anxiety is well.controlled xxx good luck x

I changed to venlafaxine after years on Sertraline. It has been life changing for me. My anxiety is much better and my head is clearer. It took about 3 weeks for them to start working but I feel much better now.

Game changer for me too.

Makes me feel sparkly and genial.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow @Givenupghost , I was on 37.5 extended release and whilst it helped for my anxiety combined with depression far better than sertraline , I had to stop because it just wiped me out (permanently ) Did either of you find this ? are you on the extended release ?
I was on it a while too, so it wasnt a case of me not giving it a good try !
I am back on sertraline 100 now and the anxiety isnt helped by it !

I owe my life to Venlafaxine. At one point I was on 375mg a day. Take it in the morning but always after having something to eat even if it’s just a light bite. 4-6 weeks and you will feed your mood lift.

Thank you this is making me feel more positive. I hope it starts to work for you OP.

The insomnia terrifies me though. I have terrible insomnia already.

The first week is the worst. Hang in there. It should get better quickly. Just make sure you take them at the same time each day and dont miss any. It's very sensitive to timing as it has a short half life.

I didn’t take the extended release. It’s more likely to mess up sleep. I just take the normal in the morning.

l was very tired at first, but it wore off.

How are you feeling OP?