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Venlafaxine - When will it work?

Posted , 6 users are following.

gen07717
gen07717

I've posted recently but am feeling rather desperate.  I've been on venlafaxine for over a month.  The last 9 days on 225mg and prior to that 150mg for 10 days so nearly three weeks at a high dose.  I'm not seeing any improvement at all.  Should I have seen anything yet?  I also take 30mg Mirtazapine n the evening.  I'm scared this won't work and then I don't know what I'll do next.  I know there are lots of medications but venlafaxine is known to work where others haven't - so frightened that I'm not going to get better.  Please help.

0 likes, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • scifiyvonne
    scifiyvonne gen07717

    Posted

    I wish I knew.  I have been on venlafaxine 150mg for 2 months and actually feel worse.  Not sleeping and no appetite.  
    • scifiyvonne
      scifiyvonne gen07717

      Posted

      I was on mirtazapine 40mg for six months.  Fluoxatine for 1 year.  Psychiatrist changed them as tbey stopped working. 
  • anne240
    anne240 gen07717

    Posted

    Please give the medication longer, as you have not been on it long.  Anti depressants usually take between 6 to 8 weeks before you feel they are helping.  I am sure you will begin to feel better soon, just give it a bit more time.

    Keep in touch, and let us know how you get on.  Effexor did help me a lot, and many other people will tell you it helped them too.  Stick with it. 

    #Take care.

    • gen07717
      gen07717 anne240

      Posted

      Thanks for your response Anne.  My depression is classified as melancholic, no appetite and much worse in the mornings (amongst other things). I spend all my time looking on the Internet for answers about when I'll feel better which I know doesn't help.  I'm told this type of depression responds well to medication and that the combination of venlafaxine and mirtazapine is meant to work on depression which is hard to treat.  I think that's why I'm feeling desperate as its not working yet and I'm afraid it never will xxx
    • anne240
      anne240 gen07717

      Posted

      Mydepression is always much worse in the morning, and other people say this is the case with them. I have never heard the term melancholic, I though that was just another word for depression.  I know it was a term used hundreds of years ago before it was called depression.

      When I was in psychiatric hospital because mine was hard to treat I was offered ECTwhich I refused.  I found tha anti depressants did help take the edge off the depression. Sometimes it is a matter of finding the right medication which helps you. What suits one person may not suit another.  Keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

    • gen07717
      gen07717 anne240

      Posted

      Hi Anne, I know you've suffered for a long time, bless you.  Did you ever find that you got a few days of being completely back to normal when you started on the tablets/after a dose increase only for it to all go backwards again after a few days?  Is there a tablet that has worked better for you than any other?
  • 1979
    1979 gen07717

    Posted

    Hi, u need to give it time, don't google for answers be positive x
  • lisa03229
    lisa03229 gen07717

    Posted

    It will take time to work & I know it's easy to say but try not to worry too much about it not being effective yet. Take care and hope you feel brighter soon.
  • pixie22
    pixie22 gen07717

    Posted

    Combination of venlafaxine and mirtazapine has worked for me when I was really low and desperate. You do need to give it time to work, in the mean time do your best to keep positive and concentrate on one day at a time.  You should find you gradually get some better times, but there will be ups and downs.
    • gen07717
      gen07717 pixie22

      Posted

      Thank you.  I've been on the Mirtazapine for nearly 8 weeks and the Venlafaxine for 4 weeks, I really thought I'd see some improvement by now.  I'm really scared Pixie that this isn't going to work and I'll be like 

      this always.

  • pixie22
    pixie22 gen07717

    Posted

    I do understand, I've been there myself. Have you got anyone you can talk to about how you feel? Sometimes letting it out and sharing it helps. Is your doctor sympathetic? Can you keep yourself a bit calmer by occupying yourself? I found crosswords and other puzzles kept my brain busy and took the edge off how awful I felt. You'll need to find what suits you. I still find crosswords calm me down if I get anxious. Try not to think about what the future could be at this stage, just get through one day at a time.
    • gen07717
      gen07717 pixie22

      Posted

      I think I'm panicking because if this combination doesn't work, when it's well known for helping hard to treat depression, I don't know what else will.  My husband and friends are lovely but they're frustrated because they aren't able to make me better.  My husband just left for work and said 'try and pick up, it's hard for me going to work when you're like this'.  I'm sorry to offload onto you.  So scared and sad xxx
    • anne240
      anne240 pixie22

      Posted

      I do crosswords and puzzles because it makes my brain active doing something else.  I agree with what you said about crosswords.   Play games on the computer. 

      How are you doing Pixie?

    • anne240
      anne240 gen07717

      Posted

      Oh please try not to panick.  I know my words don't really help, and I do know how you are feeling.  I took medication for a stomach problem this year, doctor said it was gastritis.  But this drug gave me awful agitation. I looked it up on this site, and found a lot of people had many different side effects from this drug including agitation.  Shows that any drug can do this to us.  I also had strong pain killers once that made my depression much worse.  I think what I am saying is expect to have side effects with drugs, but try and give them time.  Only you know whether they are helping. 

      You have a supportive husband and friends, and that must be a great comfort.  No you must talk to us here, as you need support.  I seem to be giving you miserable advice, and I don't mean to.  Sorry.  I find if I smile, no one here to see it, and hum a bit, or just say silly things out loud (live alone) then it helps with my mood.  OK sounds stupid, but hey that's me!!

      Keep posting.  I know you are scared and sad.  I want to help so much.

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