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?

That sounds difficult Pearlsteapot
Crying can be therapeutic. But have you found the venlefaxin ok? Have they made you feel less depressed or anxious?

It’s been a good start, I think I feel less anxious.

Its day 28 for me tomorrow and I think I feel better, more clear in my head, paying more attention, better memory (slightly). I had huge concentration problems, memory, focus, vacant head, brain fog, feeling completely out of it, couldnt process information properly, to the degree I was (and might be still) convinced I have some sort of cognitive decline. I was also dropping things a lot, balance was poor and my typing (Im usually a touch typist) was bad, lots of mistakes.

Since being on the meds, some of that is lessening. I got another month prescription and will stay on the same dose of 37.5 of the normal tablets for one more month and see about going up a dose, not sure about that.

I cried yesterday and at times am still angry or laughing so not too emotionally numb but not turning up for work crying my eyes out for no reason.

I missed a dose last night by mistake, I thought I had taken it so didnt take one, I really noticed this morning I woke up with terrible anxiety, a headache and a bit dizzy and then realised I did actually miss the dose judging by the tabs I still had left

God knows if you missed more than one.

That's a good warning about not missing doses. I'm in hospital currently so no chance but I'll be careful when home. My dose was doubled to 150 today. I don't want to go any higher.

Venlafaxine isn’t an SSRI, it’s an SNRI. Similar but not the same, works on the norepinephrine receptors as well as serotonin.

I know its an SNRI, Im on it, I didnt say its an SSRI. I know from other SSRIs what the side effects are, which is what I said.

Oh okay, no worries. I wasn’t being picky, just trying to be helpful. ☺️

How is everyone getting on with the venlefaxin? Im still scared to start it! Have been unwell with a virus so not wanting to take anything that will make me feel more unwell. Will probably start it next week.

Week 3 for me and I went up to 150 a few days ago and feel fine. I definitely feel less anxious I think. Good luck.

Glad you’re feeling less anxious Pearlsteapot. Sorry you were in hospital. Sounds like the venlefaxin is helping you x

I think/hope so! I'm optimistic anyway, although I started on a new antipsychotic at the same time so don't know which is having the positive effect really. I guess both.

I was on it for years as a last resort and tried and tried but, the withdrawal if you missed a regular does by a couplevof hours, the brain zaps, the mood swings. I hated and after nearly 20 years on it, dose imcreasing, I'd given up all hope of coming off it.

My then new wonderful wonderful GP actually listened to me and gave me a schedule to taper the venlafaxine and replace with duloxetine.

Omg, the difference. I never felt happy on Venlafaxine, not even content, it was just awful. Duloxetine is another SNRI and there were no problems with switching the two over a controlled few weeks.
I love it. Finally I have found my thing. I'm calmer, I'm... I'm just okay. I can laugh, I can cry, no problems sexually... If I miss a dose there is no sudden whoosh downward, no irritability. The first sign would be a mild head zap, very mild compared to Venlafaxine.
It's like it's more gentle cousin 😂
It's been a life changer.

Interesting about duloxetine, I will bear this in mind. I cant remember if I took my morning dose yesterday, dont seem to have had any side effects if I didnt.

However we have been drinking this week every night as we are on holiday and last two nights, awful insomnia just like when I first started venlafaxine, is this likely or just a coincidence?

Also from when I first started it, Ive had quite weak leg muscles, has anyone else had this? Weak and a bit like jelly at times.

No but I've developed a restless leg, which is driving me bananas!