Anyone on a long-term high dose of Venlafaxine: Do you suffer from emotional blunting?

[Coldwetlettuce]

I’ve been on a high dose of Venlafaxine for a few years for depression. It’s the antidepressant that’s helped me the most, but in the last couple of years I’ve found I’ve become a bit emotionally numb. I’m so chilled out I’m practically horizontal! I’m not complaining about it as such. I was an emotional mess before, but in the last couple of years I’ve noticed my default mood is almost always relaxed/calm/a bit ‘whatever’ about everything. It’s largely positive- everything is like water off a duck’s back to me. I do feel positive emotions - I feel intense love for my kids, I get excited about things (although not as much as I used to maybe). I feel pretty positive most of the time but I also sometimes feel like I’ve got a permanent filter on and all the stuff that would annoy/upset/frustrate a normal person just bounces off, and I’m not feeling feelings genuinely. I’m probably not explaining it very well, but does anyone feel similar on it?

I am on a low dose -like you, it works best for me compared to others I have tried.

Yes, it numbs me but it is better of 2 evils IMO

I struggle with feeling happiness especially for others, but apathy is an issue .

Sorry, not much help really x

Yes. I’m on a much lower dose than I used to be years ago and it was much worse then. I tried to stop it but eventually went back on as I just couldn’t manage without it.
I don’t really mind as much now that I’m in my forties. It was much harder in my twenties because I felt I was missing out on so much.
It is shit but I’ve accepted it as the better option in a bad situation.

Thanks for the reply. Would you be able to describe how you feel on it and give some examples, especially about how it dulls joy? It’s not necessarily a negative thing for me that I feel so apathetic most of the time, I generally have a feeling of calm and relaxation and a deep sense of relief that I’m not depressed anymore. But I also made some major lifestyle changes around the same time I increased my dose, so it could also be that.

Hi op
I am thinking of asking my doctor for it. Im on 100mg sertraline for anxiety and very low mood, but my mood is still awfully low.
i was wondering if venlefaxin would help me more. I’ve read that some people feel bad on it, but the replies on here have given me hope.
Im not sure I would care about emotional blunting as Im too emotional anyway.
Would you ever consider coming off it, or are you planning on staying on it indefinitely. I was hoping eventually to not be in meds but my awful low mood is dying my life and the anxiety about my intrusive thoughts and insecurities is harming my relationships. So, if I have to take it forevermore, that would be ok.

Well, I’d been on several different types of medications for a few years when I first noticed I had emotional blunting (it was then confirmed by my psychiatrist).
I was watching a tv show with dp. There was something very sad in it and he got tearful and it suddenly dawned on me that I had zero urge to cry. Then I thought about it and realised I hadn’t cried in a long time. Years. Before I went on meds, I cried a lot. Now when something bad happened, I didn’t cry. I just felt a dull sort of remote feeling that passed quite quickly.
The more I became aware of it, I realised that I also rarely laughed anymore. Sometimes I actually faked a laugh to hide it around other people.
It can sometimes be hard to “access” my feelings for other people. I know they’re there, but I can’t feel them properly. It is hard to describe.
I don’t feel excited about things. I have to fake enthusiasm and it gets very exhausting.
I get anhedonia especially when I am off meds and that is really awful. Emotional blunting is the better out of the two but it makes things difficult, mainly socially.
When my psychiatrist confirmed it was likely a side effect, she was still reluctant to lower the dosage on the meds because id been so unwell before.
I was young at the time and it bothered me that it might mean I was missing out on things I would never get another chance at.
Now I’m older, if it gets me through the day I don’t really mind.

I wish it worked like that for me. I just cry all the time and I have been through every antidepressant known to man. Nothing helps. I am desperate but not getting any help from anyone at the CMHT.

I have lost my marriage, my relationship with my son and my job. I am really struggling

Yes. I'm on 300mg, have been on every dose from 37.5 to i think 375mg over past 25 years. Sometimes I feel like I just can't be bothered. Want to stress I've never felt suicidal ideation, so not a can't be bothered living feeling, just I can't be bothered doing things feeling I have to fight a fair bit.

Im sorry
How long have you been feeling this bad and why have you lost your son because of it? Is there anything you can do to talk with him about your feelings?

I was on a high dose of venlafaxine for years and every time I lowered it due to things like libido loss, loss of joy, loss of creative thought (this is just my opinion of side effect by the way, although libido loss is proven) I suffered and went into a downward spiral. Eventually I got down to 75mg pill and was then using a pill splitter to halve it again and within 3 months I had a breakdown.
I was then put back onto a higher dose again.
I dont think I would ever recommend venlafaxine to anyone. The only way I could get off it was by moving onto a therapeutic dose of another anti depressant which has fewer side effects.

I’m just starting venlafaxine now (started last week) and this thread is worrying me!

I’m on it. It’s been good for me mostly although I’m now on mood stabilisers and think they’ve been more useful.

I've been on it for years, and then dose upped due to a terrible trauma that's still ongoing. I feel nothing, but then again, I don't want to feel anything. I am still depressed and spend most of my day lying in bed (since I lost my job to redundancy). It's definitely blunted my feelings, and I am glad for that.

Hi Pearlsteapot
Are you taking it for OCD? Think I just commented on another post asking you first ERP recommendations? You have an unusual username.
Im thinking of asking for venlefaxin, but worrying about side effects. I wouldn’t mind the emotional blunting if it stops the worry and obsession/compulsions

Is it helping so far? Any side effects?

I have been on every increasing doses for 8 years. I can't go any higher and I try to get help from the CMHT but nothing forthcoming. My son is/was addicted to weed and I rarely get to see or speak to him. He won't let me visit him ( he lives 100 miles away) and he won't speak on the phone. He blames my depression for his own battles.

Would you mind saying which pill you switched to?

im trying to get of Venlafaxine too, has destroyed sex life 🤨

Hey @Touty , im sorry to read that you've had the same experience. The GP has moved me across to Vortioxetine.
It's only been about 4 months on the new one but honestly I haven't noticed much difference in libido.
I think the long term use of these anti-dep drugs (since 17 and i'm mid-40s now) have given me so much but also taken away.

I'm on a high dose too and I couldn't have written such a perfect description as you have. Like you, that works well following major traumas over the years.
I really wish I had the same enthusiasm about things that I know I love to enjoy.
I've got a cba with invitations nor entertaining the way I used to.
I keep myself and my home looking very well. Hiding away like all is good.
Sigh

Hi no this will be for depression. I take flupentixol as well.

I’ve been on venlafaxine for the second time for a few years. I’ve been on 225mg a day for about three years which is a high dose but not the highest. At first it was a bit “blunting” and I couldn’t cry but that has worn off. Works well for me and keeps me on an even keel. I lost my dad about two years ago and I still cried and grieved “normally”. I’m also on HRT as my moods started to become a bit erratic and that has also helped. I think the combination is the right one for me long term (I’ve been diagnosed with anxiety and depression for 27 years & taken various antidepressants, but have always “functioned”- gone to work & looked after the kids etc).

It is well known to be an awful drug to come off of , however that isn’t a reason not to try it as the benefits may be worth if .
I came off 37.5 slow release (wiped me too much ) incredibly slowly (taking the beads out )
I did this over about 2 months .
I then tried another AD which didn’t work and then went on the standard venafalaxine which suits me
much better .

I would 100% recommend it if you have long-term chronic depression that is not caused by life circumstances, but is due to likely chemical imbalance in the brain. The emotional blunting I feel is a million times better than crying and feeling suicidal every day. I’m not really complaining about it, I’m more just curious whether it’s the meds or if it’s due to some lifestyle changes I made recently. One thing that’s important to know about Venlafaxine though - you cannot miss a dose ever, or even take a dose more than 10 hours late. eg. If you’re going on holiday and you get to the airport and realise you’ve forgotten your Venlafaxine- treat it like you forgot your passport. Missing even one dose causes horrendous ‘brain zaps’ in your head, nausea, headache, vomiting. I missed 2 days once when I ran out and I was so ill

Thanks for your helpful response op. I am going to ask for it because Ive become frightened and obsessed with being over emotional.
Its ruining my and my loved ones lives.
Do you take the extended release one mentioned earlier by another poster, or the normal tablets?

That’s interesting cos I’ve been on fluoxetine and citalopram previously and both caused lack of libido, but on Venlafaxine my libido is great. Odd how it affects different people in different ways