Venlafaxine for Surgical menopause symptoms - side effects debilitating 5 weeks in, has anyone seen it improve?

[bluemagicpenguin]

Hi first time poster, be kind and sorry for the long post.

I'm 53 years old have 3 children, 15, 12 & 8. Youngest is Autistic, dyslexic and we have a provisional ADHD diagnosis, she struggles with school as needs have not been met (in the process of EHCP). I am 3 months post op of a total hysterectomy, I had a confirmed cancer diagnosis. 25 years ago I had ovarian cancer. Consultant has not ruled out HRT but would like me to try alternatives first. I'm happy with that considering both cancer diagnosis. Post op my ferritin and vit D were low so I'm taking supplements to get them back up. Physically healing well but my main menopause symptom has been the rage and irritability. Not helped as 2 weeks post op I was dealing with my youngest school as they had taken away agreed support while I had to step back for my surgery and we were dealing with stage 4 complaint and trying to get the parental EHCP application in. Also to add husband is a carer for his father so is very supportive but he is also very stretched. Saw the menopause clinic we decided to get ferritin & vit D up first and then look at antidepressants. My stress levels were really high and could see how much I was screaming at my girls and starting to have feelings of hopelessness (in relation to school stress) and had some suicidal thoughts and also some intrusive suicidal thoughts I decided to give anti-depressents a go.

So I have been taking Venlaxfaxine for 5 weeks now (started on 37.5 and now on 75mg) and I'm really struggling with the side effects, I am absolutely exhausted to the point I am struggling to function, I need to nap everyday, sometimes for a couple of hours, I have a small window in the morning before I take it that I have some energy and motivation and then a couple of hours in from taking it I'm done. The last week and half I have hardly been out and pacing myself at home - do something then sit down but none of this is sustainable. I have 3 kids and once we are back to school I'm back on the daily battle of supporting my youngest regulation and her going to school and will be dealing with the EHCP. The only plus is the rage has subsided and I have more patience with my daughters (especially the 12 year old who is hormonal and in that teen phase), but mainly as I'm to exhausted to shout. I am speaking to my doctor next week but how I currently feel I just want to come off it but also feel like I need something else to manage my symptoms, not another anti-depressant though. Also to add I'm the kind of person that likes natural remedies, acupuncture (hospital have referred me).

I have had 6 weeks of NHS talking therapies which didn't hit the sides and coincided with the medication which at times left me feeling numb and too exhausted to feel anything so they have taken that as I'm feeling better so won't extend the therapy.
My sleep is deteriorating, I get a couple of hours and then I'm in and out of dreams and consciousness. I even felt my eyes flickering during REM which was a really odd sensation.

I guess what I'm asking is has anyone had similar side effects and held out to 8 weeks and they have gone?

Thanks in advance

I’ve been taking Venlafaxine for over 15 years. At that dose, taking it at night might be better.

once you go over (I think) 150 it actually stops you sleeping but I don’t notice any side effects at all anymore.

I can’t help with Venlafaxine as I’m on HRT but don’t underestimate how awful low ferritin can make you feel. Mine was 5 at the beginning of the year and I was exhausted but couldn’t sleep, very tearful and low, and could easily have started an argument with myself. Once my levels were improved via an iron infusion I felt heaps better.

Thank you, it's so hard to know what causes what and the medication just seems to have added another layer of symptoms.

I'm on venlafaxine, and found that the side effects took a few months to settle (sorry!) but it's worth hanging on for, I feel SO much better. The fatigue is likely to be much improved by getting your iron stores up, anaemia really does a number on many of your bodily functions, so you should feel better within a few weeks.

Thank you. Did the side effects stop you being able to function? I know my iron is low but I didn't feel like this even post op!

This is an interesting thread as I am on venlafaxine and beginning to wonder if it is causing some similar issues for me.
150mg slow release, has definitely reduced my really extreme anxiety. However I feel really listless, can’t organise myself or concentrate. Don’t look forward to things, no energy to exercise, am always tired.

only yesterday I began thinking about whether venlafaxine could be the issue. I am usually super organised and focussed, was obsessed with exercise and my house was always in order.

at the moment I could not care less about anything

How long have you been taking it?

Since February. At first I couldn’t sleep at all on 75, now I can’t wake up. I used to be a 5.30 and run kind of person

there is no doubt it has helped level off some quite extreme anxiety, and it has given me a chance to feel less intense ups and downs.

it could be other factors making me like this, however I am beginning to question as I have read it can have this impact. The thing with all ADs is they don’t suit everyone.
I couldn’t get hold of venlafaxine a few weeks ago and was really scared because of the withdrawal horror stories. I went 4 days without and looking back I didn’t have any withdrawal, in fact I felt really awake and focussed.

speak to your GP, there are lots of different ADs, it can be trial and error. You may find SNRIs aren’t right for you and SSRIs are worth trying instead

Thank you, I'm speaking to my doctor next week at the 6 week mark, I'm trying to decide do I continue another 2 weeks after to see if it wears off. Like you I'm quite active, up and at it and self motivated. I dont even want to do nice things at the. moment. My daughters are at their grandparents and I'm not even able to make use of the time as I'm sleeping or resting between simple activities like having a shower!! Feeling very frustrated! Thats interesting & helpful you see to have had a similar experience to me though. Good luck with how you get on to.

I've been on venlafaxine for nearly 20 years now. Initially I had trouble sleeping so the dr gave me a very low dose of trazadone (in liquid form as it was too low for the pills) which was enough to help with sleep - I didn't necessarily take it every night but just when I really needed it. I had this for 6 months or so and it helped. I would look to the iron as the first culprit for exhaustion. DD has been v low with iron and having a transfusion has transformed her life in the last 3 months. Maybe push really hard for this? If you are taking oral iron and trying to eat iron rich foods do remember to have vitamin C in some form with them to help absorbtion.

im the same on can’t be bothered doing nice things, can’t even be bothered buying shite I don’t need 😂

The thing that struck me is you're only 3 months in from major surgery. Don't underestimate the recovery time you need for things like this. Especially as you have children, so you presumably haven't been able to rest totally. Long after the scars have started to heal your body needs to rest to recover properly. Add to that your low iron and vitamin D and I'm not surprised you have fatigue

Women tend to push ourselves too hard and it doesn't help in the long term.

Thank you. My ferritin and Vit D were low prior to surgery and this is definitely a reaction to the Venlafaxine and it feels very different to how I was post surgery. Even with kids I have rested physically but my stress levels have been harder to manage. I'm not comparing my energy to before surgery only after. I'm just trying to figure out if I can continue to 8 weeks when I am unable to function even to post op levels.

HRT is not contraindicated for ovarian cancer (depending on the stage etc)

I honestly think that as you are now in surgical menopause it's not fair to expect you to continue with something other than HRT.

The treatment you're on is more for hot flushes and won't help many of the other issues you're having. It's really reserved for women who simply cannot take HRT (eg after breast cancer.)

If your consultant is okay with HRT my advice is to get on it asap.

If not, you can get a 2nd opinion, maybe privately which will be quicker.

It's a no brainer.

It can work very quickly and you might feel better in a week.

There is no point struggling on as you are.

Thank you, I also had a recent diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma which also makes me more cautious but I think you're right, this is also not right!! Thank you

Can I ask something else?
If you had ovarian cancer 25 years ago (at 28) how was that treated because you went on to have 3 children (unless you adopted?)

Were you ovaries left or were they only removed now along with a hysterecotmy?

I had a rotten time on venlafaxine - made me suicidal. Had to wean off very carefully was awful but seems to affect everyone differently. Good luck op.x

Gosh, that sounds absolutely brutal, mate. Five weeks of debilitating side effects is just bloody exhausting. Are you finding it hard to just keep going with everyday things?

sorry I had replied but hadn't posted, I had my ovary and tube removed, I was young, it was contained and everything else looked good so I went on to have 3 children with my remaining ovary. It didn't affect my fertility and all were natural. Everything now removed as they suspected cancer prior to surgery.

Thank you it's been really hard as I have to pace myself and keep stopping. \if I go out then thats it I'm done!

Thank you all for your comments have decided to come off it and my doctor agrees I given it enough time. Hopefully the tapering off period wont be to rough! Thanks