Venlaflaxine me and depression

I fear that Venloxaxin will not be the panacea that you seek for your problems. I had been on it for years - 150mg and was still heading for a major breakdown, despite being on it. It was only when I was put onto larazopam too that I was able to put the brakes on my downwards spiral. I am deserately trying to come off it now. Tried cold turkey - started sliding again and I am now trying to slowly reduce my dose.

In my experience, all the Ven seems to do is make you unable to feel anything at all. Its like it has put a block on all feelings at all - maybe that intially will be a step in right direction for you, as at least you can function. I feel lethargic all time and even the smallest things are an effort. Plus I have virtually no libido at all. Like I said, its as though I have been switched off !

hi ajess33 :mrgreen:

i'm a long term recurrent depressive, bipolar in fact (recently diagnosed with bipolar) i was on venlafaxine for about 4 years, it eventually works great and your motivation will come back :wink:

it has a VERY short half life, 24 hours in fact, so it's imperative to take your dose when prescribed :shock: if different doses (higher) are not working any more, it's time for you to see the trickcyclist again, have you done so ?? trust the mental health team :huh: :ok:

cheers,

Ken~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :run: :rainbow: :cheers:

Hi - I don't know whether venlafaxine will be the right drug for you as we are all different - but it seems that you are getting a lot of the right support which will be ongoing - so they will be able to suggest any changes to meds if it looks that venlafaxine doesn't help you.

I have had depression for about a year and a half, and spent a month in hospital at the beginning of the year. Since then I have still had a lot of support and I still have some bad days but I am undoubtedly better than I was at the beginning of the year. I found hospital to be a pretty positive experience, and I hope it's been the same for you.

Take care and I hope that things start improving for you soon.

[quote:73a512d77f=\"ajess33\"]Hi Im new to this but here goes...I have been off work with depression for coming up to a year. I was on Citiliapram? but five weeks ago was put on Venlaflaxine 150mg. I have now ended up in hospital on an acute mental health ward having been unable to eat or get out of bed for 10 days. I believe the depression just took hold of me and I couldn't fight it any longer.

I take Zopiclone at night as I cannot sleep with out it. I am an ordinary bloke.

In the mornings I have to force myself to get up get dressed thats if I get up in the morning.It takes hours to get going. Suicidal thoughts constantly enter my head and i have to think them away. My head has a constant dull feeling and any energy i muster can evaporate at a moments notice. I hate going out in case i see people i know as to them I look so well...i have lost 2 stone. I have now lost my job having been in it 29 years.I have forgotten what normal is. I was the life and sole of any party. Will Venlaflaxine save me and return me to the man I once was as my wife would like to know. I hope to be out of hospital soon and have support from a local mental health unit. Is it me ,the drugs or the depression Help. Thankyou[/quote:73a512d77f] Almost identical story as yourself wife two children, Been taken off Citalopram today put on Venafaxine, Also on Olanzapine and Pregabalin, They wanted me in hospital six weeks ago, I did not go they wanted me to go in hospital at lunchtime today I am @ home. They also advised me about ECT shock treatment all very scary. My wifes question and my question are the same as yours.

hiya Marvinvv :cheerup:

do not agree to ECT, it is a last resort and additional ECT is required after a length of time :shock: it's 'old hat' there is no need to do it these days, it's in the same league as frontal labotomy :? it's not a good idea to put a big voltage into the brain, when the brain works on milli volts ?? :huh: :roll:

ECT works by erasing the memory banks (amongst other things), therefore that equals NOT being able to remember what is causing the depression, think hard and deep about agreeing to this NON REVERSIBLE *cough 'treatment' :roll:

cheers,

Ken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :run: :rainbow: :cheerup:

I have a friend who has recently undergone 4 or 5 sessions of ECT and the effects have been impressively positive. He now leaves his flat, has a sense of humour, is interested in other people, is interesting to listen to. He is still depressed and unable to work, but has a level of optimistic outlook that seemed impossible a couple of months ago. He was always quite dazed and confused after the sessions for a number of hours, but the improvements were evident and dramatic after the second or third session.

As for the treatment itself, it is now a controlled series of pulses of about 800 milliamps for a few seconds. The aim is to bring on a seizure. ECT certainly has a history of inducing memory loss, but this is from a certain type of ECT that is far less controlled.

Follow up sessions are certainly a possibility, as the effects are relatively short-lived. The aim of ECT treatment, as I understand it, is to offer a window of relative normality, or great improvement in mental health, allowing psychotherapy and drug treatments a chance to have an effect.

From what I've heard and read, it is generally considered to produce impressive, positive effects, and from what I've seen personally, is well worth considering.