Venlafaxine - scared to start - [[vortioxetine has now been prescribed, does anyone have experience of that?]]

[Pierrederesistance]

I'm due to begin Venlafaxine next month. 50mg initially.

I'm absolutely terrified of the side effects of starting. Mostly:

Nausea - this and actual vomiting are part of my bipolar anyway, so I have a (probably) disproportionate fear.

Dizziness - terrified of fainting.

Palpitations - this is another big one as my health anxiety often focuses on heart issues and I have quite a high rate anyway.

I've tried lots of other meds and can't take a lot of others due to existing health issues, so this is pretty much my last chance.

I think I can deal with the depression, I can't remember a time I didn't have it, but I would so love to be free of the completely debilitating health anxiety.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for as some people will love it, some will have had awful experiences - I'm taking time to be gentle with myself when I start it, but the idea of the side effects is making me question it all. If it wasn't for the chance it might help the health anxiety, I wouldn't be trying it.

I have an incredibly supportive partner and adult kids, a great GP, and a useless psychiatrist 🤷

Update added at OP's request by MNHQ
I have just found out that it's to be changed to vortioxetine, starting at the end of the week. I'm so grateful for all of the posts that previously helped and a bit frustrated. Sadly, I'm back to square one - terrified of this new medication now. Does anyone have any experience of it? Thank you so much.

I’m on it! I haven’t had any side effects really that I can think of.

Oh really? I just need a thousand people to tell me that!

No palpitations?

Hi, I also recently started and since increased with no side effects

Thank you, that's great - did you start on 50?

I get palpitations anyway as I struggle with severe anxiety but no increase in them.

I have just come off, after eight years on it, as I no longer need it.
It was very effective for me , after years of trying many other options.
If you miss a dose, you will feel it quickly, those times were when I'd get side effects.
Eventually I set an alarm on my phone so I wouldn't miss a dose.
It does require sticking to the routine, but it was worth it for me for the results.

Yes and increased to 75. Effective and no side effects if you take it consistently. Good luck x

I do too - it's scary isn't it? I'm always at a high heart rate. Did your anxiety make you scan for side effects constantly when you began venlafaxine?

Thank you for your reply - is there any leeway, say an hour either side, or did you find you had to be pretty much spot on every morning at the exact time?

Not really as I switched to it from sertraline. Bizarrely don’t get much health anxiety. I think be user I really wouldn’t mind if I died if that makes sense?

It makes complete sense - I often think that if I could just flick a switch I would, as long as the people I love were ok. I'm still very sorry to hear you feel that way and I hope you find a path that brings you peace.

I was ok as long as it was within an hour or two

been on it a long time no side effects that i have found do take it at regular times and remember no pill works instantly give it at least a month

Did you go up in dose after a month, or before that?

the doctor did me in baby steps yes after a month give my body time to get used to and settle i tried just about every other tablet so i hoped it would work and would be ok to take thankfully it was

Been on it for years, the only time I get nausea is if I take it before food, so I take it after breakfast.

Other than that the only side effects I have are if I miss a dose.

Thank you, yes I've read that it's best to eat first - I never have breakfast so I'll have to get used to that!

I’m not a breakfast person so I have ‘brunch’ around 10-11 and take it after that. I call it breakfast as it’s my morning meal.

As long as you don’t take it first thing in the morning before food, that gives me awful nausea.

I was on 225mg no side effects. I’m off it now, don’t forget to take a dose and when u do come off it u must do it very gradually to avoid side effects

I’m on 300mg MR, I find it very effective. Was on 337.5mg but kept going hypomanic too much.

I take it first thing, before breakfast. No nausea.

Ive had great success with it, I think this might be my 3rd month. The first 4 weeks or so, my sleep was quite disturbed as Ive heard about insomnia but thought I wouldnt be affected but I was

I didnt get any nausea,, and quite frankly I was hoping for the effect of being put off my food but that didnt happen

Im only on 75mg, once per day, the long release

I started on the 37.5mg twice per day but read that this was likely to affect sleep more than the slow release, so I asked the GP to swap

I dont think I need to go up a dose, hope not but I will do if necessary.

I get palpitations anyway. Ive always had a very slow heartbeat and I have noticed an increase but nothing concerning.

NDN’s on it with a heart condition and she’s never had trouble. 75mg.

I was told it might cause nausea but the only side effect I had was trouble sleeping. I had difficulty dropping off and slept really lightly for a couple of weeks and then it was fine.
It was a bit tricky to stop using it but it wasn’t a big problem, I just had to decrease it slowly.

I started on 75mg, now on 150mg and had no side effects at all. It’s been a miracle antidepressant for me! Good luck x