Starting Venlafaxine
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi there,
So recently I have been prescribed 37.5mg of Venlafaxine to help with my anxiety and depression. The past few months I've had trial and error with a few other antidepressants: Sertraline, Fluoxetine and Escitalopram. I had to change due to the side effects becoming unbearable. I even went back onto my old medication Mirtazapine, which worked for a while but then had a bad reaction due to my dosage being increased too quickly
I've been taking Venlafaxine for two days now, and honestly I don't feel so great. As with the other antidepressants I've been vomiting in the mornings, I feel more anxious and hopeless and I've been having difficulties getting to sleep. My appetite has reduced a bit too, which worries me because I don't want to lose weight.
A lot of people keep telling me to give it time to kick in, but for me I feel like i'm running out of time. I've missed work a number of times in the past few months due to side effects with all the other antidepressants. I feel so embarrassed and frustrated, I just want to be normal again. I hardly go out in public anymore, save for driving lessons, haircuts and sometimes to walk my parent's dogs.
Has anyone else had similar experiences on Venlafaxine?
0 likes, 3 replies
john059 robert47678
Posted
Glo1971 robert47678
Posted
I too suffered terrible side effects from other anti depressants, which also increased my anxiety to the point i could barely leave the house. I started venlafaxine on 37.5mg and initially I had nausea, headaches and leg tremors and some other side effects which gradually subsided after a few weeks. I am now on 150 mg per day. What helped me was changing the time of day I take it as I found taking it in the evening made me struggle to sleep and made me feel very sick in the morning. I now take it every morning with a cereal bar or a bowl of cereal. I still have some side effects, but no nausea. Dont feel embarassed, its a case of keeping trying and giving this a chance, and perhaps varying your routine and eating to see if it helps. Give it a four or five weeks and give them a chance to work.
tammy76379 robert47678
Posted
Hi Robert. You're going to be okay! I know you will!!! Patience, one day at a time!!! You're not running out of time! I know you want to feel better right now, but e know that this topper of thing takes a while to be managed.
Right now your brain is going through many chemical changes. Between weaning off one medication and starting a new medication, well it can be quite difficult. I have been on Venlafaxine for over 12 years. It is a very good medication and boosts your mood and calms down the anxiety and panic.But being on the medication for only 2 days is absolutely not enough time for you to feel better. This medication like ask they other, whether it is an SNRI (Effexor Xr). Or ssri's like Zoloft, Lexapro, etc., Takes 4-6 weeks to reach it's therapeutic level. Sometimes sooner sometimes longer. I started feeling better at about 3 weeks.
When we suffer from anxiety and depression, it's hard to do things. But you must "fake it til you make it". When you stop doing your normal things, your mind isn't occupied and can become more depressed. It may be hard to do, but it's SOOOO worth sticking to your normal daily routine. I found that vigorous walking 3 miles with my dog helped a lot. If you have a relationship with God or want one, prayer definitely helps!!!! No one knows like God what your going thru. Taking to him is always a relief.
I also went to a therapist and she really helped me learn breathing techniques and how to separate fact from fiction that often increased my anxiety. Medication alone won't fix what's bothering us or causing the anxiety. We have to take care of our minds and bodies as well.
So Robert, take the journey one day at a time, stick to the medication and give it at least 4 weeks to start working. Keep doing your normal stuff and before you know it, you'll be feeling better!!!!
God bless you!