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Severe indigestion on Venlafaxine

Posted , 5 users are following.

Catian
Catian

I have been taking Venlafaxine for almost 2 weeks, having taken Citalopram and Sertraline in the past 3 years with no improvement. I was prescribed Venlafaxine by a psychiatrist and I am about to begin what I've been told will be years of psychotherapy. Im finally feeling like I'm getting somewhere with my depression/panic/anxiety/agoraphobia. I have had some of the usual side effects of Venlafaxine but one which isn't listed on the info sheet is indigestion. I'm in so much pain with it and I just wondered if anyone else has suffered from this.

Catherine x

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Purpledobermann
    Purpledobermann Catian

    Posted

    Hi Catherine. I have taken venlafaxine for 12 years and have a close friend who was on it for a lot less. We did not have any notable indigestion with it but that doesn't mean anyhting - everyone reacts differently. Did you try taking it with food to minimize the issues?  Are you sure it is from Ven? Have you taken any other medicine or supplement in the last few weeks other than the above? Like ibuprofen/diclofenac/aspirin or any antibiotics, new multivitamin? Or did you recently have any intestinal issues or a viral illness? Just brainstorming. Maybe it just coincides with something else like that. If you see it persists do speak to your doctor. Meanwhile it may be good to go easy on oily, spicy food, coffee, cigarettes, alcohol...just to recover. Do you have heartburn or pain/swelling in stomach? Indigestion tends to be related to stress as well. Hope you feel better - in every way.
    • Catian
      Catian Purpledobermann

      Posted

      I'm not taking anything else at the moment and i have been taking it with food. I have just rang my GP and she has prescribed me some medicine to deal with the indigestion...apparently it can be a side effect but not very common.

      Thank you for replying x

  • vickyw75
    vickyw75 Catian

    Posted

    I've been on venlafaxine for a few years but when I started my omeprazole was doubled to 40mg a day to protect my stomach. I'm on an anti inflammatory which had bothered my stomach hence the original dose. It must be a known side effect for my other meds to have to be changed.

    Hope the venlafaxine works, I loathe it because it's so awful if you forget a dose but it's made a huge and life changing difference to my mental health so worth putting up with for that.

    • Catian
      Catian vickyw75

      Posted

      Hi Vicky, I've just been given Omeprazole also...I'm just happy I don't have to deal with this pain anymore. Thanks for replying x
  • Sunvally59
    Sunvally59 Catian

    Posted

    Sorry Catherine,

    I have not suffered indegestion as such that I can link to venlafaxine.  But I have suffered chronic indegestion - if that makes sense.

    My advice is to go cautiously with venalafaxine and do not up your dosage too quickly or too high.

    If it is working for you at a lower dose, keep it low.

    I have suffered from severe depression for years and tried many medications.  I had a particularly bad experience with Seroxat.

    The main problem with venlafaxine is withdrawal so be careful.

    It is very good that it is helping you but becareful please. x

    • Catian
      Catian Sunvally59

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply and your great advice x
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