1st timer - anyone got anything positive to say?

I felt exactly the same when I first started taking Venlafaxine, I have now been on them 5 and half years with no problems. They have given me my life back and if that means taking 1 tablet a day even if its for the rest of my life then so be it. People go on about weight gain and different symptoms but I don't think that is always the tablets fault. You have to give it at least a few months trial to see if it works for you. I stuck with it and I'm so pleased I did. I think its brilliant for anxiety.

I have been on venlafaxine for years now for anxiety and without this drug i would have been confined to my house forever. It does have its down sides ( when you miss a dose) but overall this is the best antidepressant i have tried.

Was on it for over a year, horrible side effects mainly nausea. Try to take your meds at exactly the same time every day as I found if I got my timings wrong I felt very spaced out. However, I do feel that at the time the side effects were worth it for the benefits the med gave ref the anxiety. Have been on all sorts on and off over 13 years, but apart from the benzos, this is the best long term for anxiety. I did find that taking them with cereal made me feel sick, but toast was OK. Or that taking them and sleeping for a while helped with the sickness. But as I commute, I could sleep on the train into work. Hang on in there.

Hi Gina,

I've just posted a similar message to yours. I due to take my first 75 mg of Venlafaxine tomorrow after suffering anxiety stemming from post natal depression. I've just been switched from Citralopram as am still pretty up and down.

I agree with your concerns after reading the posts here, I note 2 things 1) they seem pretty negative but 2) They seem pretty out of date. Maybe we'll get some more encouraging responses from our more recent messages.

Meanwhile maybe we can share our experiences of starting on this drug - you're a day ahead of me so I'd be interested to know how the first night goes. Very best of luck.

MB

Sorry just realised you're not called Gina (sorry I'm not with it).

Anyhow some interesting and helpful replies on here already. Thanks from me to all who replied. And good luck to the first time.

MB

Just read through everything again, and wanted to add that the nausea is worst the first week, like really bad, but you won't actually be sick. Try not to eat sloppy food as I found that made it worse, but dry food would help thus toast etc. Don't let the nausea put you off though as this this is one of best for anxiety, you just need to work out how to minimise the effects. MB - I've had citalopram before - didn't do much for me either. Also, ref the negativity of posts, I just wanted to tell you how it is with this med, but the positive is that it does work and quickly too, you just need to manage it properly I'm gonna check back later to see how you are getting on, so let me know OK?

Ive been on Citalapram for about 2 years. They dont help . They did at first for about a year. Before that i was on Fluoxatine. They stopped working after about 4 years. I went to docs on Tuesday. I was a real mess. Crying. My doc has now perscribed me Venlafaxine. Ive not started them yet. Have to cut out the citalapram first. I hope these work, cause i cant live like this.