Posted , 13 users are following.
I've heard a lot about this medication. I don't want to be prescribed it because it seems to come with load of side effects and people get withdrawal if they are an hour or so late with their dose. Also sound horrendous to get off; What are people's experiences?
1 like, 51 replies
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stephen85422
Posted
pixie22 stephen85422
Posted
I'm on the XR version, it gives a more constant effect.
Purpledobermann pixie22
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Purpledobermann
Posted
stephen85422
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Bogmonster stephen85422
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Lots of replies already but I thought I would add my thoughts. I am on 300mg non XR. I think the non XR version usually gets split into two doses as it has a very short half life and if you take at night there will be little left for the day. As for coming off, I have gone cold turkey on ven, Amisulpride and Lamotigine for a few days and had little side effects. I alse recently screwed up and on;ly took half my meds on holiday so went down to 150mg with no real effects.
Ven has been a miracle drug for me, I was suicidal when I started taking it and today I am much better. I don't think I will be coming off ven ar Amisulpride anytime soon. My psyhiatrist has suggested I will be on meds for the rest of my life.
It is hard to tell what side effetcs are down to which drugs as I take quite a cocktail. I do get tired (but I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), I have issues with my bowels that may or may not be related, I have put on a lot of weight but I think that is down to the Amisulpride and I have some sexual dysfunction. I also sweat excessively.
Do I regret taking the ven? Nope,m not for one second.
BW, BM.
sharon12462 Bogmonster
Posted
Hi iv been on ven for 3months started on 37 then 75 I started feeling a little but not enough. I'm now on 225 have been for 2weeks.. Iv just got no motivation at all.. just feel I exist but not actually living . I'm not really taking care of myself or managing to keep on top of the house can you tell if possible how long will it take for changes ..Iv been told upto 4weeks ..thanks
Bogmonster sharon12462
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Wow, my typing was awful in my last post....I was very obsessive with my hobbies before my breakdown. Afterwards I became very withdrawn and would happily spend all day face down on the sofa or bed. I am not sure if it is the medication or just part of the healing process? I will say that I am much better now. I have a lot more motivation and have taken up more interestes. I am more laid back than I used to be and that sometimes drives my wife mad
It probably took me 18 months before motivation started to come back. My theory is that I had come from such a low place that I just needed time to rest and get my thoughts and priorities straight again. I am having a rough time at the moment - hospital appoinment tomorrow that might bring bad news - but the meds are keeping me sane and my anxiety is under control. Without the meds I would be in meltdown now.
Meds like ven take 6 to 8 weeks to work so maybe you will be lucky and get yout motivation back sooner than me. If not it may not be the meds fault. I had long conversations with my psychiatrist about this very subject.
BW, BM.
sharon12462 Bogmonster
Posted
Thanku for replying I'm glad your in a much better place .. wish you luck with your appointment x
chloe1512 stephen85422
Posted
Hi,
I'm currently taking 300mg a day, split in two 150mg doses (once in the morning once at night). I've found that taking a slow release capsule has really helped, the nausea isn't as bad as on the normal ones. Additionally splitting up the dose is so much better, it's helped to regulate my sleeping pattern, as I've found that taking one big dose at once actually gave me the worst insomnia.
In terms of side effects, there are a few tricky ones, especially at first. Dizziness and nausea can be quite bad, and if you already have anxiety then expect it to be worse during the first month of taking venlafaxine. It made me quite jittery and on edge at first.
I've been on a lot of different antidepressants and with the high dose of venlafaxine, I can honestly say the pros have outweighed the cons. At the moment, I have at least 5 days a week where I'm symptom free, energised, and content. There's still one or two days where I can be quite down and feel unwell, but 2 days of depression is an improvement on non-stop sadness.
Oh, also, watch out for bruising/bleeding! I get quite dark bruising very easily, and if I ever get a cut it takes much longer to clot. Also unpleasant for any women here is that I've found my periods have been extremely heavy since starting the drug.
In all though, it's definitely not as scary as it seems, and I would really recommend giving it a go!