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Feel shocking!

Posted , 4 users are following.

vicki27618
vicki27618

So after 8 weeks on this venlafaxine (2 weeks 75mgs, 2 weeks 150mgs and 4 weeks 225mgs) , I found out today that it’s been totally prescribed wrong!! I’ve been prescribed immediate release to be taken ONCE a day instead of divided doses of 2-3. So been taking 225mgs rapid release once a day in the morning which has a half life of 5 hours. Been feeling exhausted, flu like symptoms, headaches and just been staying in bed or coming back to bed as I felt so rough. After speaking to a pharmacist about my side effects he picked up I was taking it IR once a day. Now changed  to prolonged release which is one a day lasting 24 hrs. Im on day 2 of prolonged release and still feel rubbish. Do you think it will take a bit to adjust and stabilise? And for side effects to go away? I could do with some advise/reassurance as I feel s**t! 

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • phyllis11904
    phyllis11904 vicki27618

    Posted

    Hi VickI. I have been on venlafaxine xr (extended release) capsules for 3 years now. I think they may be the same as prolonged release. I take 300 mg once a day and they work great for me. It is possible that you feel so bad because they haven't kicked in yet. I was told it can take 6 to 8 weeks to feel the optimum effect. It's a good thing your pharmacist noticed the mistake in your prescription, but it might be your body adjusting to the change in your meds. I hope you will start to feel some improvement soon. Good luck.

  • nigel45109
    nigel45109 vicki27618

    Posted

    Hello, it will probably take a few weeks to adjust, a bit like a dose increase. I read an article somwhere that a trial was done with taking immediate release being taken all in one dose, and divided into 2, spaced apart. There were no discernable differences between the 2 groups. It was only one trial, and not sure of doses. Having said that, its allways pescribed spaced out during the day. I would say that no damage has probably been done, but youve not had the chance so far to recover to the extent you should have done, i take immediate release, and find i get anxious if im a couple of hours late, but then im only taking 75mg at a time. Its hard to put a time on things, but would guess it would be similar to a dose increase, for things to settle down, ie 3 or 4 weeks.
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