Does Venlafaxine work ?

Hi Stu

I was on Venlafaxine a few years ago and it did seem to help at the time although coming off it wasn't easy. I am on Mirtazapine now and find it better but like yourself have found the side effects to be troublesome.

Venlafaxine vs Mirtazapine, I personally think the Mirtazapine works better for my problems.

Hi Stu, I'm assuming the drug you refer to is a Benzodiazapine? These are notorious for negative side effects.

I'm no doctor, but as I understand it, these drugs are from 'the dark ages'. I've suffered from anxiety for many years without much relief using drugs,

My most recent 'crisis' highlighted the benefit of a drug called Pregabalin, which I'd been prescribed for another condition. Putting my observations together and discussing them with my consultant, I found this drug is a relatively new one in the treatment of anxiety. it's apparently now used to replace the benzodiazapines; a) because it works. b) there are minimal side effects, (it gave me a mild headache for about a week).

It may not be for you and your condition; but my experience suggests you and your GP should consider it.

Best of luck mate, let me know how it goes.

Alex just for the record mitazapine is not a benzo and is 1 of the newst around. i am on propananol for anxity and panic attacks this also is a beta blocker and used to prevent migraines.i can eat bannas +choclate now and don't get migraines(i sufferd long enough to find my trigger)glad we both have found a med that works

Hi Stu,

Welcome to the forum,now then i have never had venaflaxine(effexor) but I know some close friends who have and although it seemed to work OK according to them I was not so sure,my son's girlfriend was on it for three years,she'd visit us talk for one day and then you wouldn't see her for a week,and she is now being wened off it and she has had a hard time apparently,sweats,high anxiety,phobias etc.

I have been through a terrible three years,lost my dad,lost my job,two knee replacements and nearly lost my wife due to one of my impulsive periods,my doctor prescribed mirtazapene but it upset me and by pure chance on one of my visits to see my dad when he was ill,I had forgotten my pain-killers and my brother gave me one of his 300mg pregabilin and boy after a dizzy start I felt great,confident and pain-free.

So on returning home I asked my doctor for it and have been on it ever since and it is wonderful,but stick to the dosage,I took 600mg one day and suffered double vision,incoherence but felt on top of the world despite that.

I noticed someone else also takes this,ask for it mate,you won't regret it after the first dose.

Unfortunately my doctor limits me to 400mg per day,which is adequate,but my depression and anxiety worsened and now I may be put on carbamazepam,an anti-psychotic,200mg of pregabilin would probably fix it but my prescription would only last 3 weeks instead of four and my doctor would know I've exceeded the dosage.

Anyway Stu,give it a try,it may be the answer.

By the way are you bi-polar?

Regards Malc

HI, Maz, appreciate your return.

Nice confirmation that I'm no doctor! I've found this forum a friendly and supportive place to be. Each of us have our own burden to carry and not all sizes fit all, eh?

It's good we share what little we know. Somewhere out there there's got to be an answer for each of us.

My best wishes, Alex

Hi Alex

sorry if i came across as a know it all...i like to research what meds i'm on... dr's get in wrong and it would be less of a headache if it were 1 size fit's all...yeah it's good to have forums like this to share and support each other...i have bn on mitazapine and propananol for over a year now and will pass on my knowledge to those that want it...having said that my dose of mitaz has been upped and i needed advise on that.

Rehards maz