Efexor/Venlafaxine

[ghengis]

Has anyone experience of taking this ad? I changed recently from 40mg Cipramil (citalopram) to 75mg of venlafaxine and after 3 weeks I felt constantly weepy , anxious and even suicidal. My GP suggested I double the dose yesterday and today I feel totally zonked! Zombified! Does it get better?

I was on venlafaxine before getting pregnant and I was fine on it, sorry. I would speak to the doc again. Hope it gets better for you soon.

Hi Ghengis - why did you stop the cipramil - I think I remember you saying it had stopped working?

Im not sure but I think venlafaxine is from a slightly different group to cipramil so it could be that after 3 weeks there was no cipramil left but the venlafaxine hadnt had time to build up - if that makes sense.

How long is it now since you stopped the cipramil?
Kizziex

I can't take it. Even one pill makes me unable to get out of bed, or even to sit up. Took me a week to recover from it, and I have tried to take it more than once. It could be combining with the effect of my epilepsy though.

Kizzie, I stopped cipramil because after 2 years I was still very up and down. My GP thought Efexor would even things out more. Lou33, that is how I feel on 150mg - totally out of it and I can sleep all day. On 75mg I just wanted to kill myself.

I am hoping things will settle down and get better but it's too early to tell at the mo.

This was only after taking one pill though Ghengis. I had told them I couldn't take ssri's but they insisted on trying me again.

ghengis - how long how have u been on the 150?

I was on Effexor, and it did nothing for me. I never felt any benefit from being on it. However, it did not give me any side effects either. Sorry, I can't think of anything else to add, or anything that would help you...I'll go now

hi i was on venlafaxine up until 4 weeks ago til i found i was pg but had too stop it doc said i seemed happy an well but i found it did balance me on even level iwas on prozac which did send me a bit strange, i feel now thou very hypo just hope i dont come down with a bang but taken it in my stride , but you need too sort your meds out xxxx

Kizzie, have been on 150mg for 3 days now and even though I am woozy today, dry mouth, etc. it is getting better. At least I don't feel suicidal or weepy at the mo. I'm going back to my GP this morning to discuss my medication and am hoping for a miracle! I can't function like this.

ghengis - glad its starting to lift a bit. The first couple of weeks either on something new(or just upping the dose) can be so so difficult.
Hope it goes ok with dr.
Kizziex

Hi all. . . . .

I have Been on venlafaxine for 7 years since son was born, was put on fluoxitine whilst preg and was taking venlafaxine before that. Had to cold turkey last time and doing it now again .
was on 150mg daily until 5 days ago,
then took 35mg, daily for 3 days ,
now I am on my 2nd day of nothing.

OMG never thought stopping such a tiny harmless looking tablet would affect me this way.
physiologically its sheer hell,
shaking and sweating, head is all over the place either racing and paranoid or crying and suicidal.muscle aches, low b p, eyes feel a bit weird (not sure why)....
and sometimes during the night I wake dripping with sweat. when I pass urine my temperature drops to a level where I am shaking so much I cant breathe properly until I warm up,

Before I knew I was pregnant I was self medicating with alcohol(not advised on medication) and have stopped drinking completely and am adamant, I wont touch it whilst carrying.
I have an iron will when I am pregnant and I am seriously considering not taking them after the baby is born.
I suffer post natal depression as a rule and am usually given progesterone pessaries after childbirth,
which I found a life saver after my 2nd and 3rd.
I cant remember how long the withdrawals last but am taking a day at a time, and not expecting too much of myself until i am clear of the venlafaxine.
I am thinking that's probably where the hard work starts regarding coping mechanisms and sensing episodes before they happen. I cant go on fluoxitine (doc given me script in case)as I know I will only have to come off them at some point too.
I am determined that this pregnancy will change me for the better. I am seeing it as a good excuse to get off the tablets as I cant think of any other way I would have been able to actually stop them. I know it isnt advisable to come off straight away and the symptoms of doing so are awful, but for me I think its manageable because I am thinking of the baby as opposed to myself.
Anyone got any idea how long for shakes n shivers to go??
coz they are the worst.

Hi - have only reduced from venlaflaxine very very slowly as withdrawal any quicker for me is hell!!

There are other SSRI's to try instead of venlaflaxine if it is not for you OP - escitalopram my psychiatrist says is similar to venlaflaxine but less side effects (am going onto when off venlaflaxine), or sertraline.

It is good practice to increase dosage slowly when starting and similarly to decrease slowly when coming off or swopping to something else. My psych increases/decreases from 37.5 to 150 over a period of 3-4 weeks. Also venlafaxine is an snri not ssri. Good luck, you shouldn't be suffering like this.