Help with venlafaxine
Posted , 16 users are following.
I am searching for some help and advice please with mainly anxiety. In 2014, I was unable to function and hospitalised. I was prescribed venlafaxine and was on 150mg slow release per day. I got better and was normal so in January this year, having been well for over 3 years, I tapered off the tablets and took my last one at the end of March.
By May, I started to feel down and thought I would get over it but that didn't happen and I started to become ill again. Dread of being alone, couldn't stay in my house all day, unable to carry out all my usual activities but managed to do some. GP reinstated Venlafaxine 75mg slow release once a day. Nothing was happening after 16 days so I asked for dose to be increased to 150mg, the dose I was on before.
Been at this dose for only 9 days but I'm impatient for recovery. I do take diazepam 2mg, one when I get up and sometimes another one around lunchtime but only on some days. I am sleeping, although wake up in the night for the toilet.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? I have been on the tablets for nearly 4 weeks in total but does it only count from the last increase? How did you manage to get through the time? Any help, experience or advice would help me.
Thank you for listening.
June
0 likes, 188 replies
wendy42828 june26145
Edited
I get bad reactions to busirone, quadapel, Venlafaxine, & diazapam, pregabilin feel giddy, dizxy & not so sharp in my mind & often forget things
christina96878 june26145
Posted
Hello Purple doberman,
i don't know if you will see this considering this post is from 3 years ago, but i am so thankful i found this conversation between you and Lynn! I have found so much helpful information from your conversation that has made me feel so much better about my relapse and working recovery! For example, I didn't realize it was normal to have your mood go up and down when changing to a new antidepressant. I was under the impression that once you started to feel better on the new med you shouldn't have any little bouts of depression or anxiety there after, and if you did then the med isn't working for you. So it was a real relief to hear that this is normal.
I've been on Effexor XL 150 mg for a little over 7 weeks now for depression, anxiety, and obsessive intrusive thoughts. Previously I was on Sertraline and after many dosage adjustments for over a year it just wasn't working anymore. I had taken it successfully and been in remission for over a decade.
I was titrating down on the Sertraline while slowly starting and titrating up on the Effexor. To my astonishment, during this period I felt back to my normal self! I expected it to be a difficult transition but it was not. Then around 6 weeks of being on 150 mg of Effexor my anxiety started up again! This really scared me, because i had been doing so well! Now about a week and a half later anxiety is still not good but depression is still better. I talked to my psych and found out that really it can take 8-12 weeks before the Effexor will be 100% effective. So I am trying to be patient, but it's so hard!
Long story short, I just wanted to let you know how much reading your responses has really helped me! I know that the mood drops I'm still experiencing are normal, and part of the recovery process. Thank you so much!!
I hope you're doing well.
With Gratitude,
Christina
Mark4321 june26145
Edited
i think it counts from the increase to current dose. i thought i was feeling better yesterday but feel awful this afternoon
clare1981 june26145
Posted
Hi June.
I'm 5 weeks into venlafaxine 75mg and although I feel better in the morning my anxiety seems worse in the evenings.
Is it safe for me to take 2mg of Diazepam whilst on this medication? I've not had a chance to discuss this with my gp yet. They are supposed to be reviewing me next week.
Thanks in advance and good luck