Breaking point. ... 4 weeks on efexor
Posted , 5 users are following.
hi i started efexor xr 4 weeks ago for a mixture of high anxiety and depression. i have been increased frim 75xr to 150mg 2 days ago but took 112.5 for 3 days before moving up i feel the constant side effect is anxiety not much better than prior to starting. gp has give me diazepam i take it occasionally when im about to go mad but i really want to see this drug settling all this. i am bit worried about increasing as im fine build and am worried about the noradrenaline component would this make you more alert my initally feeling was fight and flight stuck in i overdrive beforei started . i would love to know any opininons as my patience is running very thin and my life is crap cant even go to work
thank you for reading
0 likes, 19 replies
john198534 helen07497
Posted
like most drugs it will take time for the ven to take full affect , sometimes even up to 2 months , you will suddenly realise after a while that you are less anxieous , dont give up on the drugs , like i say just give it time
helen07497 john198534
Posted
thank you John i hope so i feel bit foggy headed going up
the dose hope that disappears too
lynn67615 john198534
Posted
JOHN didyou notice an increase in anxiety going from 37 to 75 been 4 days now.
john198534 lynn67615
Posted
yes i did notice a small increase as my body was taking time to adjust , i think it was about a week and a half before i noticed a positive change , but all bodies are different , so bare with it
helen07497 john198534
Posted
thank you John
lynn67615 john198534
Posted
did it take a while to kick in
Fistanbulus helen07497
Posted
Hi,
all SSRI / SNRI do take about a month to start kicking in. Since you have been on it for 4 weeks, I would give it another couple weeks before deciding if the drug works for you or not.
I personally was on Effexor for 3 years, at a 187.5 mg dose. It did work wonders for my anxiety (GAD & Social Anxiety) and depression. HOWEVER...
After briefly trying Cipralex (Did not work for me as it was screwing up my sleep pattern and giving me really weird dreams), I am now on Sertraline (Zoloft), which I think will be a good fit.
helen07497 Fistanbulus
Posted
thank you for your advice im terrified to changing as i visualise another few weeks of hell withdrawing after researching it
nigel45109 helen07497
Posted
hello, I am now on 335mg of ven, having started on it last may. it took 10 weeks before i noticed any benefit to my depression, and then the improvements speeded up. my improvements started around the time id been on 150mg for 6 weeks, after being gradually increased for 4 weeks prior in increments of 37.5mg. i was also on 2.5mg of diazepam morning, afternoon and night. i would take first 2.5mg of diazepam as soon as i got up, so it didnt give anxiety a chance to build up. this worked very well for me. im now still on 2.5mg of diazepam morning and night. dependency is an issue, but needs must. these are very low doses of diazepam, so you needently be over concerned about dependency. main thing is to concentrate on the now, not the future. i resisted diazepam at first, but anxiety was terrible, when i accepted i needed diazepam, it was much easier. depends on the individual though. i only ever increased by amounts of 37.5mg, and after 112.5mg, with an interval of at least 4 weeks in between each increase. i tried an increase of 75mg for one day by mistake, and quickly dropped it by 37.5mg, as the initial anxiety was too much. after most increases, either not much happened for a week or i felt better, then for next 2 to 3 weeks, my anxiety, or tension as i thought of it, increased quite a bit, but it then started to come back down. most increases bring on initial increases in anxiety for a couple of weeks. just when i thought id overdone on an increase, it would then drop. you have to give ven plenty of time to work. in my case 10 weeks from start, to even notice first improvements. after first 10 weeks, it would take about 4 weeks for each increase to show improvements. ive got to a very high dose, but it has helped considerably. i practice active yoga twice a day, and now im refining breathing technique and proper warm downs with self hypnosis. this is now making a big difference, possibly more than medication. its hard, and will take a long time. dont wind yourself up by thinking i feel like s**t, when will it work. it takes a long time, stick with it, and judged your progress only by comparing how you felt on average for the last week, compared to previous weeks. always look back for signs of progress. all the best with ir.
helen07497 nigel45109
Posted
thank you for your encouragement i think thats what i need right now i know im practising meditation anf getting psychotherapy soon so hopefully all will help . i have a concert next week with friends i just hope form gets better it will include alcohol which im nervous sbout and def wouldnt take them with diazepam . im just bit miffed that this drug needs diazepam alongside as it is aimed at anxiety but you are right focus on the now as im looking to much to the future and fear setting in i wont get better. keep up your hard work i hope it pays off
Fistanbulus helen07497
Posted
FYI, I never completely quit drinking on any SSRI or SNRI (although, I agree, do not mix Diazepam / Attivan with alcohol).
What I'll say though is go slow and careful... I noticed that my drinking treshold was drastically decreased while on those meds.
helen07497 Fistanbulus
Posted
thank you i know prob one or two just
nigel45109 helen07497
Posted
forgot to mention, for your concert id recommend a diazepam, and dont drink. i used to drink when taking anti depressants, and had a great time. however the hangovers steadily got worse, to the point of waves of anxiety, stomach cramps, and feeling guidy. alchohol is a depressant. you will feel good when taking it, but when it wears off, will leave you in a lower mood, hence your anxiety goes up, normally next day. long term, it will make your anxiety worse.
helen07497 nigel45109
Posted
thank you i think that prob would be wise i will decide if i go monday just have to be open to my friend who i havnt told my situation
nigel45109 helen07497
Posted
forgot to mention, for your concert id recommend a diazepam, and dont drink. i used to drink when taking anti depressants, and had a great time. however the hangovers steadily got worse, to the point of waves of anxiety, stomach cramps, and feeling guidy. alchohol is a depressant. you will feel good when taking it, but when it wears off, will leave you in a lower mood, hence your anxiety goes up, normally next day. long term, it will make your anxiety worse.