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Getting back on venlafaxine

Posted , 4 users are following.

valerie48279
valerie48279

hi

Having tried to reduce my venlafaxine I am now on the way back up. 37.5 for 2weeks 75 for two weeks(my original maintanence dose). Feeling less panicky but very depressed, so now gone up to 75 am and37.5 pm. After a week the panic has come back and I feel worse. I know sometimes you feel worse before you feel better and now I am confused . The last breakdown I had I was on 75mg am and pm. Do you think it's to low a dose and I should carry on increasing. I feel I am getting nowhere . Any advice or experiences ?

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • linda73099
    linda73099 valerie48279

    Posted

    Valerie please see your GP. I also was attempting to come of Effexor completely. I am on 3 a day, which I generally take with breakfast. I managed to get myself down to 11/2 tablets per day ie 225 mg. my depression kicked in big time, I had heart palpations and could sleep for 48 plus hours in one sleep. This was manageable (sleep) as I work part time. However after having had a cardiac ablation due to faulty heart beat, I was not prepared to allow myself to fall into ATrial Fibrillation again. I immediately reinstated myself to the 3 tablets a day or 450 mg. I need to accept that I have chronic depression and Effexor does keep me at a level. I do feel down at times but not so far down the well I can't get out or feel like suiciding. This has all happened under supervision of both my GP and my psychiatrist. They were more than happy to help me come off but are happy with my decision to keep taking the med also.
    • valerie48279
      valerie48279 linda73099

      Posted

      Yes am seeing G.P but disappointed at going 2 steps forward and 1 back all the time and wondered if others felt the same. She seems to think that it shouldn't be that difficult to wean off or wean on!! Clearly this forum seems to indicate it is!
    • lucy159
      lucy159 valerie48279

      Posted

      Aghhhhh...GPs say this all the time...they're wrong. They can't have read any of the literature...the short half-life of venlafaxine makes it hellish to come off. 
    • jaye76671
      jaye76671 valerie48279

      Posted

      Its a very potent antidepressant an the doctors dont know what there playing with when they prescribin this drug..they either need to be educated more on it an use it as a last resort for bad suffers an make the patient aware the extreme to get on or come off this med..it does help alot of people an I was one until this time round tryin to get on an not been successful an the nightmare of comin bak off an the docs telling me its not possible blah blah blah yet there not the one that are taking the meds so go with what feels right for you...I know it's hard bit is possible to get off ven you may need to try another anti to help the process. .
  • lucy159
    lucy159 valerie48279

    Posted

    Wheni first started taking venlafaxine i got way way worse before getting better - very very anxious...took three to four weeks before i started to feel better. I wonder also if the depression might be related to going back on the medication? When i came off it once before and had to go back on it i felt really down and a failure for having to start taking it again (a feeling i know is not an accurate reflection, taking medication is in no way a failure...it saved my life)...but it doesn't always feel that way at first. 
  • anne240
    anne240 valerie48279

    Posted

    Unfortunately with this drug you have to decrease in very small increments.  If you stop at 37.5mg you will get bad withdrawals.

    What I did was ask for the pills.  I then bough a pill cutter.  With the 37.5mg pills I cut them into smaller and smaller pieces.  It took me many months to withdraw from 150mg daily.  When I got to 37.5mg that is when I cut the pills.  First I took 3/4 of a pill, then 1/2, then 1/4 and so on.  I was at the end taking a tiny amount on a finger tip.  Took 10 months but I did not get any withdrawal symptoms.  It is 14 months since I stopped.

    This is such a difficult anti depressant to withdraw from.  My doctor suggested I stop.  She could take me down to 37.5mg but it was myself who decided to cut the pills.  I was doing well on this medication, apart from weight gain, but I think my doctor thought as I am old and had been on anti depressants for over 20 years see if I could do without.

    In the past when I have stopped the depression always came back.  Usually within months.  I am hoping this time I will not have to go back on. 

    I hope things work out for you.

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