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How long until venlafaxine begins to work on my low mood?

Posted , 8 users are following.

chloe1512
chloe1512

I've been on 300 mg Venlafaxine prolonged release capsules for 2 weeks now. I was feeling an improvement last week, but have felt severely depressed for three days now. I'm feeling incredibly hopeless, and really not in a good place. I don't want to give up on the drugs, so would anyone have any advice on when they'll start to work properly? 

Thanks 

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • sara20313
    sara20313 chloe1512

    Posted

    Hi Chloe

    I'm probably not the best person to give advice on this as I'm desperately trying to come off venlafaxine.

    There are such lovely people on this forum who have a ton of experience and advise.

    But I was wondering if something set you back. It could be someone or something or even alcohol that caused you to fall into a low mood since taking your medication?

    • elizabeth41242
      elizabeth41242 sara20313

      Posted

      Hi Sara. How are you doing getting of the Ven? I took my last dose, after tapering off VERY slowly, about a month ago. Now in a serious depression and wondering if I should start taking it again. I don't want to start again, and in my past experience, once I have stopped an Antidepressant, it no longer works. Hope you are doing okay?

    • chloe1512
      chloe1512 sara20313

      Posted

      Hi Sara 

      Sorry to hear that you're trying to come off venlafaxine. How come you're coming off it, if you don't mind me asking? 

      Nothing has happened that would signify a fall in my mood, which is what is so frustrating. I don't drink alcohol at all, and I've not changed my diet or anything so there's not really any factors other than myself that's the cause of the low mood. Very frustrating! 

      Good luck coming off venlafaxine smile 

  • elizabeth41242
    elizabeth41242 chloe1512

    Posted

    Hi there. You shoud start feeling better soon. I would estimate 2 or 3 weeks.
    • chloe1512
      chloe1512 elizabeth41242

      Posted

      Thanks Elizabeth, that's really good to hear. I suppose I'm probably quite impatient, and need to learn that these things take some time!

  • elizabeth41242
    elizabeth41242 chloe1512

    Posted

    Chloe, tha is completely understandable! Depression is horrible, and we just want it to be over!
  • ian72355
    ian72355 chloe1512

    Posted

    That's an unwelcome but "normal" temporary side effect, if it gets too bad see your doctor.   Myself, I went through 4-5 weeks of various side effects and for me (having been on every anti depressant under the sun) Venlafaxine has totally changed my life smile   Clear headed, zero depression, zero anxiety and I'm motivated again.

  • pixie22
    pixie22 chloe1512

    Posted

    My psychiatrist warned me that recovery from depression will rarely be smooth, it will include better phases and less good phases. So just because you are feeling worse at the moment, it doesn't mean that the medication isn't working. Over the weeks, the good phases will get longer and the less good phases will get better. Tell yourself that things are improving gradually, and that will continue, even of it is two steps forward and half a step back.

  • Purpledobermann
    Purpledobermann chloe1512

    Posted

    Improvements will start coming in gradually over the next month or two. Hang in there. That said, as someone already mentioned, ups and downs will go in waves for a while. Think months. Hope it does for you what it has done for me. I am grateful for this medicine. It pulled me through.
  • Mazzaroony65
    Mazzaroony65 chloe1512

    Posted

    I've had major depression for 4 months and I found it took a good 12 weeks. Still not 100%, but the fact that I've have some really good days is keeping me going. Hang on in there. It takes time.... x

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