Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi guys I’ve come off fluoxetine for many years straight swap next day to citalapram I was on them for 5 weeks then got changed next day to venlafaxine... I’ve got absolutely no appetite I’ve lost around 10kgs in 8 weeks and when I lay down at night I’m getting pins and needles in my hands
My insomnia is so bad im having to take quatiapine has any one else suffered from this it’s been even a pretty scary ride
0 likes, 11 replies
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betsy0603 carl67287
Posted
Yikes, Carl! These drugs are not interchangeable! How was the switch between fluox and cita? They are a little more swappable because they are SSRIs, but ven is an SNRI. Hard to know if you are in WD from the fluox, cita or having startup side effects from the ven - maybe all of the above! What dose of ven did they put you on? Can't say what you should do but definitely see your prescribing doc ASAP.
Why were you on cita for such a short run before switching again? Prozac is a longer acting SSRI which is why they use it as a bridge to get off others, but that also means its own withdrawal may not show up right away. If you had increased anxiety/depression on cita, it may have been withdrawal from Prozac. How long have you been on the ven?
carl67287 betsy0603
Posted
The doctor reckoned that the citalapram was making me worst I felt really bad on them but yeah feeling pretty horrible at the moment
carl67287
Posted
irene55873 carl67287
Posted
I don't , personally, think Doctors understand these Meds and haven't a Clue how to deal with changing from 1 to another! Not to mention the Drug Company running out of Venlafaxine! I have been through hell because of having to change from Vfx IR to Vfx XL then back again. I wasn't told how to take the V XL properly ! **Well, to try and limit the damage, I reduced the dose, Myself.. If you see my previous comments re- the Venlafaxine Shortage!! I had to half the dose..so far so good, 20 days and I feel ok but not brilliant. I DO NOT !!!RECOMMEND ANYONE!! DOING THIS ON THEIR OWN !! EVER!! IT HAS WORKED FOR ME, So far.. But If I Do feel bad I will be calling Doctor!! So, Please, DO NOT DO WHAT I HAVE DONE.. Reason I did, is because if the Drug company can't supply it , Again.. I do not want to go through changing meds again. I can't sleep either at present..Best wishes
Keep_trying carl67287
Posted
Hi Carl , I've only joined the forum and noticed your post for help. What I can say from experience is. As you were on the first one for several years you should have been weaned off this slowly before going on the next one , to allow yourself to adjust. Seems to me you have have too many changes too soon. If that was me I'd get a second opinion , don't suffer in silence. IT won't have been done intentially but it doesn't sound right to me.If you want to benefit and think the venlafaxine might help then I believe 4 to 8 weeks before benefit. I know it seems like a long time when suffering but if it helps it will be worth it.Hope this is some comfort to you, but it's not you it's how it's been handled I believe.
ironchic89 carl67287
Posted
I have been on five different medications in the last 18 months. Venlafaxine is the medication I am currently on. I have also taken fluoxetine and citalapram. Out of all of them I hated the citalapram the most. I was more depressed on it than I've ever been. I've only been on the venlafaxine for two weeks but so far it's the BEST medication I've taken. I've been having the numbness and pins and needles feeling in my fingers also but my doctor said that will go away once my body gets used to the medicine. My doctor also prescribed something that helps with the insomnia. But I feel so much better on it. I know different medications are different for everyone and just because I like it doesn't mean that you will but I thought I'd let you know my opinion of the medicine and tell you that you're not alone with the crazy side effects. Hope it gets better!
irene55873 ironchic89
Posted
Hi, you are right, different meds suit different people. I have been on Venlafaxine so long that I can't even remember How, I felt when I started taking it.. I do want to stop it now because of the fiasco, that happened, when the company ran out(with No explaination to patients) I, myself, need to come of the stuff now.. Withdrawal is terrible..not going through that again. I would just advise you to make sure you remember to take each dose at the correct time, set an alarm to make sure, please as missing even One Dose can make you forget the next, and so on. It's a nightmare if you forget to take it. Take care set your Alarm and you'll be fine.
carl67287 ironchic89
Posted
ironchic89 irene55873
Posted
I have to set an alarm anyway because I have a terrible memory. I missed a dose for the first time yesterday and I did not like the feeling I've had today. It's weird and kinda hard to describe. Kinda floaty and out of it but not in a good way. Definitely don't want to miss a dose again. Good luck to you coming off of it!
carl67287 ironchic89
Posted
irene55873 ironchic89
Posted
Yes, set alarm to make sure you remember . I wasn't making light of forgetting tablets..if you forget, you then forget altogether! If someone had told me that was possible, I wouldn't have believed them. It is, so please set the alarm.. Best of luck. I'm doing ok. So far :-)