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Venlafaxine

Posted , 4 users are following.

Trina536
Trina536

Hi everyone,I started on 75mg venlafaxine 2 weeks ago because sertraline wasn't right for me, I suffer from depression and anxiety,for the first 10 days I gradually started to feel better until eventually I began to feel more like myself, I even started to sing along with the radio while doing housework, which I can't even remember the last time I did this, the thing is,in the last couple of days anxiety has started to creep back in,as well as the old thoughts, can anyone tell me if this has happened to them,I am seeing my GP on Wednesday so may ask about an increase, can anyone give me their opinion on this please, I'm scared to death of going backwards , thank you for any replies x

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • victoria37.5
    victoria37.5 Trina536

    Posted

    Hi

    I'm on 75mgs slow release, I've been on them now for about a year. I changed from citralopram as I'd been on them for years and didn't have the same effect. The dose we are on is very very small and if you can cope with this dose then do so. Maybe you are having a bad few days I have them too. I just remind myself that everything will be fine and I will feel better in a few days and I generally do. Try and give it a bit longer before deciding to increase and by all means speak to your Gp. I suffer with anxiety and depression plus PTSD. I find my anxiety is OK but do get down but I'd rather feel down than frightened. Hope I've helped x

    • Trina536
      Trina536 victoria37.5

      Posted

      Thanks for your advice , I will see how? I am in a few days, and decide then, maybe? it's just? a case of 3 steps forward 1 step back, thanks again for your input x

    • phyllis11904
      phyllis11904 Trina536

      Posted

      Hi Trina. I think all of us fear going back to the deep depression. I have been taking mirtazapine and venlafaxine since July 2015 and have had no lapses in mood or anxiety. I realize I am very lucky and hope you will go back to singing while you do the housework. Take care.
  • Purpledobermann
    Purpledobermann Trina536

    Posted

    Don't worry about falling back. It sounds like you responded to the medication well. Venlafaxine is very potent and typically if it is not working it makes it very clear fromt he beginning smile

    It is very normal to have blips in early therapy (the first 6-12 months and especially in the first 3 months before adjustment on your optimal dose).

    Please always bear in mind that a number of things, other than your condition, can also cause the blips. One is illness (even a cold), then for us women monthly cycle/perimenopause, then also any new stress (even a few minor decisions waiting to be made can feel like a huge load while our brain is struggling to adjust to the new conditions effected by the drug). You get the idea. So it is good to examine your current conditions and rationalize possible reasons for any escalation.

    Having said that, any progressive escalation needs to be communicated to the prescribing doctor. So yes, if you continue to feel bad over the remainder of the week, or suddenly get extreme lows or strange urges immediately contact your doctor or visit A&E. Such extreme reactions are rare and their likelihood declines with age with 25 being the average cut-off point. This goes for all antidepressants not just venlafaxine.

    Once your doctor works out your optimal dose, you should stabilize on it within a few weeks and these escalations should become fewer, shorter in duration and gradually further between.

    75mg is the minimum therapeutic dose for treating moderate depression and anxiety. Optimal dosage for addressing stronger symptoms is usually at least 150mg XR where SNRI effect kicks in.

    Don't worry too much about the dosage level your doctor advises - if an increase is warranted, since you are already taking it, better to get the right level than just 'manage' symptoms at minimum. Go with the flow, see how you feel and shout out if feeling stuck.

    Wishing you a smooth recovery.

    • Trina536
      Trina536 Purpledobermann

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your reply,I have had this illness for 32 years and? was great on clomipramine but had to come off it through high blood pressure,so have been on a roller coaster since October, hopefully this med will e the right one , I'm not worried about going higher now I realize that it's better than just managing,I just want to feel better than I do 😂

    • Purpledobermann
      Purpledobermann Trina536

      Posted

      Sorry to hear. You will need to keep monitoring your BP also with venlafaxine. Hope it behaves itself though so that you can relax and feel better soon.

      32 years is a long time to be balancing depression and anxiety. Were you on clomipramine all that time? What kind of depression were you diagnosed with initially? I do hope you have a definitive solution now so that you can progress to recovery as opposed to just maintenance.

       

    • Trina536
      Trina536 Purpledobermann

      Posted

      Sorry for the delayed reply,I was diagnosed with agitated depression and anxiety,I was started on prothiadon,then was put on clomipramine, which gave me my life back,I had a few blips over the years ,but always got back on track, then last year my blood pressure went uncontrollable so had to come off clomipramine,even though the withdrawal was horrific I would still do it all again because I felt good while on them.I have also been on Prozac and sertraline with no improvement , the sertraline side effects weren't very nice either, I have done 2 weeks on venlafaxine ,and now just want to find the right dose, the only side effect I have is insomnia and I have already gained a few pounds 😥 but hey what's a few pounds if I get back to my normal self?

    • Purpledobermann
      Purpledobermann Trina536

      Posted

      Agitated depression is not particularly easy to control, so that makes sense then in terms of the years you have been suffering.

      Venlafaxine insomnia is a very common side-effect in early therapy. It should subside over time. Best to take it early morning with some food unless a doctor advised a different approach. If insomnia is notable, i.e. you are not sleeping more than 4 hrs uninterrupted  each night, then an additional sleep aid is warranted for a couple of months until you adjust and you should address this with your prescribing doctor. Inadequate sleep will aggravate symptoms and prolong recovery.

      So this could actually be what caused you to escalate now by the way...

      I hope you continue to progress.

      Please keep us posted.

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