Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi,
I’ve been on venlafaxine for over 12 years and been able to manage my anxiety / depression on 75mg daily until last year when it came back to haunt me. My GP has increased this to 150 but still not feeling better. I have been off work a few times with this and it is now causing issues financially. Has anyone else had a similar thing when increasing the dosage?
Many thanks
Chris
0 likes, 9 replies
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davhill chris_82515
Posted
Hi,
I found that upping to 150 gave similar problems. So I did some research and found that the standard release tablets have a short half life. Realistically, one's serum level can drop enough for the original problem to surface again. Now, I'm managing well on 75mg of XR tablets.
chris_82515 davhill
Posted
Thanks for the advice. I will speak to my GP and push for some changes.
tammy76379 chris_82515
Posted
Hi Chris! Yes, I was on the generic for over 12 years and had great!!! success until one day the company that made the generic discontinued making it and CVS replaced it with another generic. I started feeling dizzy within days and had major anxiety after about 10. And being that Effexor is a very hard medication to wean off of my doctor suggested I start Lexapro. Lexapro was not the medication for me. So I am back on Effexor XR 75 mg.... But I'm on the name brand. For a 30 day supply, the cost is over $500 and my insurance doesn't cover it. Right now we're waiting for a pre-authorization to cover it. But I found on the Effexor website a discount card for $30 a month for 13 months for the name brand. CVS honors that discount! Thank heavens!
Call your pharmacist and asked if there was any change in generics if you indeed are taking a generic, that could be the cause. Don't necessarily have to bump up to 150 either. You can probably add a 37.5 tablet.
The bottom line is not to feel anxious or panicky, right? Good luck!!! Feel better! Breathe!
chris_82515 tammy76379
Posted
Thanks for the advice. I am going to speak to my GP and get some answers on this.
Kind regards
Chris
christina21598 chris_82515
Posted
Hi Chris82515 I was immediately started on this medication at 150mg a day, wow that was not only to high to start a 'patient' but to high & to much for me with alot of side-effects but also was not helping, but only making me feel a whole lot more worse.
So decreased to 37.5mg to which I'm still on & still no improvement but I'm intending to stay on this dosage too eventually come of off!
I'd suggest seeing your GP to perhaps explain that the medication is not helping you.
Hope you feel better soon.
chris_82515 christina21598
Posted
I thought the GP was not interested in reviewing my issue and I haven’t been monitored since I’ve been on these. I am seeing a specialist to get some answers and hopefully a plan moving forward.
I hope you start to feel better soon
christina21598 chris_82515
Posted
Thankyou Chris82515 yesterday I started on taking 1/2 of the 37.5mg per night I'm not to sure at such aower dosage if you stick to this now for a while or 1/2 every other night
chrisk89 chris_82515
Posted
The GP increased the dosage from 150mg twice a day to where I was taking another 75mg or 2 in the middle of the day. This made me feel a lot worse, but maybe I could've given it more time.
Britishbutch chris_82515
Posted
I'm holding a prescription for the same dose and Im scared them after bad experiences with other tablets what side effects did you experience?