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75 mg only works on seratonin?

Posted , 6 users are following.

Kutiebug
Kutiebug

Is it true that this works like an SSRI and doesn't touch the other receptors unless you're taking 150 mg or higher?

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • odishon
    odishon Kutiebug

    Posted

    Yes I believe that is true. I ended up on 300 which worked for me. It's quite 'numbing' though in that I found I didn't get emotional at all on it.
  • sweetmere
    sweetmere Kutiebug

    Posted

    yes it is true - lower than 150 mg and it acts as an SSRI. it is at 150 mg that the action on norephinephrine. even higher than that (not sure at what dose), that is when the action on the dopamine receptors kicks in.

    that said, if you didn't have much luck on a different SSRI and are worried that a dose of effexor less than 150mg will be ineffective, give it a try before increasing to 150 mg. not having a response to one SSRI doesn't mean you won't have a positive effect from another SSRI.

    I am sort of in that boat - i just switched from citalopram (an SSRI) after it not working and have been started at 75 mg effexor. i feel like SSRIs don't work for me and am eager to jump straight to 150 to get the norepinephrine too but will see how things go in the next couple of weeks.

    good luck!

  • a-jay
    a-jay Kutiebug

    Posted

    That's mentioned here:

    "Daily doses of Venlafaxine of 150 mg or less, do not exert any effect on noradrenaline re-uptake and so acts in a similar manner to an SSRI. Daily doses of Venlafaxine greater than 150 mg inhibits re-uptake of both serotonin and noradrenaline."

    http://www.comingoff.com/snri.php

    It doesn't provide any source for that but I've seen it mentioned elsewhere.

  • Purpledobermann
    Purpledobermann Kutiebug

    Posted

    Apparently so. 150 is the way to go for true Effexor SSNRI goodness. Otherwise you may as well be taking much any SSRI. x
    • sweetmere
      sweetmere Purpledobermann

      Posted

      except that everyone can react differently even to SSRIs so despite one SSRI not working on you, venlafaxine may still have a positive effect, even at the dose of only being an SSRI, simply because your brain happens to response to the specificities of aborsorbtion and distribution - the drug's pharmacokinetics. 

      that said, i didn't respond to citalopram, the SSRI, so am eager to bump venlaxafine up to 150mg so i can also start reaping the sweet sweet N benefits.

      cheers smile

    • Purpledobermann
      Purpledobermann sweetmere

      Posted

      absolutely true. It is very individual and also very dependant on the disorder being treated or mix of disorders. If you do end up going up to 150 let us know how it goes for you smile
  • Kutiebug
    Kutiebug

    Posted

    Thank you everyone!! I might think about upping the dosage. Zoloft made me so tired and this doesn't I feel a little better as far as anxiety so we'll see. I just don't want to be taking it for nothing. I've been on 75 mgs for almost 3 weeks maybe it just needs a little more time? Thanks again for all of your responses
  • ashley26820
    ashley26820 Kutiebug

    Posted

    I recently went from 150 to 187.5 and found a very noticable difference. I am quite comfortable in social situations and my depression has basically disappeared. I recommend if you are not getting the bennefits of lesss than 150.
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