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Updates after 4+ months on Venlafaxine

Posted , 3 users are following.

t21stapril
t21stapril

Hello to the wonderful community,

I am here to update my previous posts on my experience with Venlafaxine. Long story short, following a failed attemp at using Paroxetine for the nth time (it had worked wonderfully in the past) to cure my recurrent depression and anxiety disorders (w/ panic attacks), I was put on Venlafaxine at the end of July. I progressed from 37.5mg to 225mg, after a long spell on 150mg (mid August to mid November). Last week, I also changed from Effexor to a high-quality (according to pdoc) generic brand available in Europe (also extended release). I am also getting CBT.

Disclaimer: you should in no way be discouraged by what I am reporting, as this medication usually works better, faster and at lower doses than in my case. I am better but not OK yet.

Symptoms that have gone away for good (hopefully): panic attacks; suicidal thoughts; complete hopelessness and despair

Symptoms that come back at times (not every day): mild anxiety; waking up in the middle of the night (but if I'm not waking up with a panic attack, I'll go back to sleep quite easily); confusion/brain fog

Symptoms that have NOT gone away: oscillating low mood (not THAT low, but not good either); difficulty concentrating; drowsiness and some confusion when I wake up, lasting about 1/2 hour.

Symptoms that have appeared at dosage above 150mg: a strange headache which I can only describe as a feeling of internal pressure, appearing around 1 hour after medication, which I take in the morning, and lasting until mid-afternoon (this is not painful as migraine, but it really makes it hard to do anything while I have it); tinnitus in the form of a strange buzzing (all day long, but I can distract myself from it); some memory impairment (need time to recall what I did in the past days); vertigo (at times)

Concerning the last point, I find vertigo and tinnitus quite strange, since they look very much like the symptoms I had when withdrawing from Paroxetine (and, based on what I read, also like symptoms that appear when withdrawing from Venlafaxine). Yet so far I have just kept increasing my dosage.

Positive note: I had no increased anxiety when moving from 150mg to 187.5mg and then to 225mg.

Negative note: I strongly felt the change from Effexor to the generic brand, which I did at the 225mg dose.

I think I have some difficulty with this medication, as it has been working pretty decently with my mood, very decently with my panic/anxiety, but I still feel away from normalcy, possibly because of all the unresolved/new symptoms I have listed.

Honestly, I am a bit afraid that my doctor is going to suggest a further increase, although he has also mentioned the possibility of adding another medication on top of the current dosage (don't know which medication, wasn't told).

I look forward to receiving your comments and suggestions. I also hope that these experiences may be of help to some in the community.

Best, T21.

1 like, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • nigel45109
    nigel45109 t21stapril

    Posted

    hello, have been on a similar ven journey over last 8 months, though different symptoms. i was doing okay on 225mg for a while, but mood went backwards went to 300mg 9 weeks ago. feel like im still slowly improving. your pressure headaches and tinnitus are likely to be just your personal symptoms or side effects. mine are in and out concentration, getting more tense as the working week goes on. i dont get the tension 1 hour after taking it, although i take immediate release 3 times a day. one dose is taken at night, and it doesnt effect my sleep. you should take your bloid pressure 1 hour after taking your dose. make sure you are sat down, and loosen any belt or trousers. also take it at home at other times, for a comparison. if not much difference in blood pressure when you get headaches and tinnutus, to other times during day, its probably just localised tension. any tension at this stage, is still anxiety. i still get it, in form of tension as i dont worry about it. on 300mg, i hardly get intrusive thoughts. im not recovered, but do yoga twice a day, and recently reading and vaping cbd before bed. been doing these 2 for last 5 weeks, and theyve given me a significant improvement. you may need to go to 300mg, no big deal. if you do, increase by 37.5mg, wait until you stabalise, then do it again. 75mg increases in ven are a bit large to deal with. splitting your meds between am and pm, may help you, as it will give you a more even supply of meds.

  • sara20313
    sara20313 t21stapril

    Posted

    Hi

    i had a similar experience with the pressure building up in my head noticeably behind my eyes. A definate side effect. I WAS TAKING 150mg at the time.

    Its interesting to know what other meds your dr is prescribing. Not sure if increasing your ven dose is the answer.

    It sounds as though you have a handle on your medication. I have follwed your story to see how things are for you.

    All the best x

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