Posted , 79 users are following.
I'm taking venlafaxine feel very ill on it I suffer Gad and deppresion I would like to try valdoxan will my gp change it ? I have awful side effects on venlafaxine had enough please any information on valdoxan would be massively appreciated thank you
3 likes, 234 replies
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david36045 louise37661
Posted
I am from UK but been in Australia for 14 years now.
Luckily my GP is a family ffriend, so when the Depression / Anxiety hit I had someon with time and patience to try and find the right solution ( we tried many).
Valdoxin (despite not being fully approved here) was by far the best, although I have read it may not be effective for a long term solution.
It helped me sleep like a baby at night, levelled my moods out and also did not adversely reduce my libido, (sad as that sounds it is a very big negative for a guy a lready depresswed when that happens!).
At one time I had Aropax added to address the anxiety, but had too many side effects, so at the moment (nearly a year on) I have simmply had a low dose of Lovan added and this is working well, despite the Lovan initially making me sick the very first time I tried it several tears ago.
Hope this helps in some way, as I know I was in despair at times trying to get advice and the right balance, as already mentioned, as much as I have to forece myself, Meditation and Excercise (find something enjoyable) helps a lot. Many good mediitation things you can download from You Tube.
Dave
adam46192 louise37661
Posted
Hi everyone. I have started taking Valdoxan on the recommendation of my GP. I have previously been taking Cymbalta. I found Cymbalta to work within only a few days/ 1 week but did make me feel a little 'fuzzy' and definately affected my sex drive and sensitivity. No such side effects with Valdoxan. I took it for 1 month recently and found I did not start feeling any better until the 3rd or 4th week. I stopped at the end of the 1st month's prescription to see how I would feel. I started to relapse after only a week or two so have started taking it again and am 1 week in this time around. If anything, I feel it has not started working yet, possibly making me a little worse but this is consistant with the first course so am sticking it out hoping to feel better by week 3 & 4. Hope this is of help to anyone experiencing similar or considering this treatment. Best of luck to all xo
grace55901 louise37661
Posted
I have been taking Valdoxan for 4 weeks. I have been on sodium valporate for 8 years, so am taking Valdoxan for a way to ease off of S/V. My problem has not been with cronic depression - my problem has been HORRIBLE panic attacks. I have noticed a significant increase in my moon on Valdoxan. Its a slow process, does not happen over night... I just found myself thinking "I like my life, happiness is here" - but the panic attacks are so bad. Not worse, just no different.
THE PROS of Valdoxan for me, zero side effects as I am so sentive and have VERY bad side effects to all SSRI and any other drugs. This drug is the best!! Yes, yes stomach problems in the first 2 weeks - have LOTS of Inner Health Plus, it helps! And being more tired than normal - but i think its getting better. It does help with a sense of calm.
CONS - I still have panic attacks. Really bad ones
where I shake, cannot breath or function, and they come on so sudden I have no control.
Does anyone know - how long it takes before Valdoxan starts to help Panic attacks??
Would love to hear form you!!
kylie19482 grace55901
Posted
The best combo for me to reduce panic attacks has been sodium valproate PLUS ssri. I have about one attack a month now.
On Valdoxan alone I still had attacks about once a week (compared to daily - med free) so still had to take Valium and lorazepam during stressful times.
grace55901 kylie19482
Posted
Thanks Kylie
What are you taking now?? I'm taking Valium more than normal. I'm still on sodium valproate but I don't like the thought of how toxic it is to the body long term 
My panic is SO weird. I even get it just talking to people now. I feel very alone in all this.
kylie19482 grace55901
Posted
Ur definately not alone.. my panic used to be that bad too.
Now am taking valproate plus ssri.
Valproate is toxic long term?? I only knew it's bad for women of child bearing age...I would stop taking it but it just helps so much with mood swings.
grace55901 kylie19482
Posted
Valproate yes It's amazing for moods - however for me after 8 years on it, I just want to know exactly what I would be like without it. How long were you on Valdoxan and what SSRI do you take? I feel like nothing helps my panic. It's so bad that even when I'm laughing now, I can fully break into a full on panic. People don't notice it - but I feel it takes over my whole body and the after effect is horrible.
Valdoxan is the only thing I've had with no side effects. Every SSRI I tired, I was bed ridden the effects were so severe.
kylie19482 grace55901
Posted
How long where u bedridden? I was too for the first days whenever I tried any ssri cpl years ago without being on valproate, thought I was going crazy, it was torture, so never lasted. That's when I settled on valdoxan. For about a year I took it. It helped with anxiety but made me depressed and moody.
The ssri is Zoloft. The first days where still torture but stuck it out and after 2 weeks started feeling great. But really I think the reduction of the panic attacks and anxiety is 50% Zoloft and 50% because before I started taking it for 3 months had an amazing psychologist learning techniques to manage the anxiety.
vanessa06907 louise37661
Posted
Hi everyone. New to posting and feeling very low. Suffered anxiety and depression most my life, on seroxat since 27, now 40. Decided didn't need meds anymore last year and went to a psychiatrist to do proper taper. Fine for couple of months, then bam bad relapse. Havent been ok since. Tried combination of pristiq and mertazapine. Thought I was getting better but now back feeling very depressed, especially in morning. Usually really sociable but don't want to see anyone. No motivation, crying. Now psychiatrist is trying valdoxan, 25 mg .
Just wondering how you're all getting on. I know everyone is different but looking for some hope. Living abroad and feeling very lonely. 3 small kids who need their mummy and husband who needs his wife back.
X
ros23918 vanessa06907
Posted
i also live abroad (with my partner) but being away from the family makes things extra hard
i have been on Valdoxan 25mg at night and also Fluoextine 20mg in the morning for about a year. For the first time in AGES I am feeling a lot better (I was diagnosed with GAD and severe depression)
Amongst other things before Valdoxan I tried Pristiq which I found AWFUL and Mirtazipine which just made me like a zombie.
Do contact me if you want any more advice.
Roz xx
vanessa06907 ros23918
Posted
Roz thank you so much for responding. It means a lot right now. I'm only on day 3 of valdoxan and hoping it will make me feel ok again. So good to hear you are doing well.
Being away is so hard. Also have GAD with resulting depression.
Feeling less lonely just by others understanding. Thank you
ros23918 vanessa06907
Posted
vanessa06907 ros23918
Posted
Singapore! How about you? Can I ask you how long it took for you to notice valdoxan working? I know we are all different. I'm on day 4.
kylie78433 vanessa06907
Posted
Hi Vanessa,
I'm sorry for what your experiencing, medication and getting the right combination can be so frustrating and overwhelming.
I'm 34, diagnosed with clinical depression + bpd about 10 years ago. I have been on the same meds and so many more I can't even remember them all. Going off to have babies and back on meds again and them not working as they did. But generally speaking, as I'm on bare minimum atm for severe depression I'm taking 200mg Zoloft and 25mg valdoxan but just increased to 50mg. It has made a huge difference for me depression wise. I had small side effects for a week or so when starting valdoxan but my experience has been positive and believe it's saved my sanity so to Speak.
I wish you well X
simon04717 louise37661
Posted
Hi everyone,
Just started seeing a new psychiatrist who has suggested I research Valdoxan and Brintellix. Thank you for all your stories!
I'm a 36 y.o. male in South Australia who has had depression for 22 yrs, medication for 18. Tried Zoloft, Cipramil, Avanza, Effexor, Lexapro and Cymbalta. My main issues are Major Depression and I've never been able to keep a regular sleeping routine which has ruined my life, making it very hard to keep regular study or work. I also get anxiety but I've never been diagnosed with a disorder.
I've also been trying to get off Effexor (Venlafaxine) without much luck. I've been on it for over 10 years apart from the few months I transitioned to Lexapro (Escitoloparam) and put on 10kg whilst developing a fear of leaving the house. Went onto Cymbalta after that and remember being very angry and anxious all the time so I returned to Effexor.
My last attempt to get off the stuff ended pretty badly. I scaled it down under instructions from my psychiatrist from 150 down to 37.5mg over 4 weeks, and finally to zero. I'd always known there were side effects for dose/medication changes but they usually just manifested as slight vertigo or motion-sickness feeling, a bit of cloudiness etc, but this was awful. After 4 days of no meds I was hysterical because it felt like my brain was on fire. Ever held steel wool over a hot flame? I felt like that was going on inside my head. Doctor was conveniently unavailable at the time so a nurse friend advised me to try opening the capsule and taking one of the 3 pills inside a 37.5mg dose. It worked, but I gradually ended up going back onto 150.
I hate Effexor. I sweat profusely at night and wake up soaking wet and dehydrated. I have low libido and low motivation. I feel nauseous when I try to exercise slightly beyond my comfort level. I feel like I'm only on the stuff because I can't get off it and there's no better alternative.
Hearing everyone's testimonies has given me a bit of optimism though, and maybe with Brintellix in tandem with Valdoxan I can transition a lot cleaner this time. I'm frankly terrified to go through that again
kylie78433 simon04717
Posted
Hi Simon,
I'm so sorry your suffering this way, thank you for sharing your story.
I have been taking valdoxan 25mg and just increased to 5g and can say it has made a huge difference re depression. Combined with Zoloft 200mg daily I feel in a much better place.
Iv also taken cymbalta and found it to be one of the worst experiences in my life coming off of, I read somewhere not long after going off (maybe 6 years ago) the fda were investigating it due due such adverse side effects coming off, it's been compared to heroin withdrawals...
Iv also taken seroquel and was around 400mg daily but found weight gain and misuse a problem, I took it for a couple of years. Also been on respiradone, Thorazine and haloperidol at present, very small dosage.
I find it's taken years to get the right combination for me and with bpd as a diagnosis I survive well on lamictal + Zoloft + valdoxan for severe clinical depression and mood stabilisation.
It took me a week Maybe with valdoxan to settle in but it seemed to work Quickly and small Side effects didn't last. Iv spoken with my psychiatrist about side effects such as liver issues etc and I think that if you are concerned, have regular bloods done. Mine have been fine so far and I have found the med to be quite a sanity saver for me.
It's always going to be hard because people react differently, and I read forums like this and freaked out about taking it before I decided to and I'm feeling ok.
I hope I have been of some help, if not just sharing my experience on valdoxan.
kylie78433
Posted
Sorry increased to 50mg not 5 😊👍
simon04717 kylie78433
Posted
Hey Kylie, thanks for sharing your situation with me too
Unfortunately I failed the blood test (liver function a bit elevated, diabetes) so I have to wait for the Valdoxan. Always good to hear a psychiatrist say "I can't give you this medication in good conscience XD ).
In the meantime he's given me Lumin to use as a sedative which is slightly less zombifying than Seroquel and doesn't have those awful side effects that make you all twitchy (phenergan has the same effect).
Hopefully we can work something out to bring the liver function back to a level where it's safe(r) to take Valdoxan. I believe I'll have to have regular blood tests when I'm on it anyway
kylie78433 simon04717
Posted
Oh that's a bugger! Well hopefully that works. Yeah seroquel is a total zombie drug. I told my new psychiatrist I don't ever want it again. I just wanted to sleep all day and night...not very productive.
Keep us updated on how you go.
All the best 😊
simon04717 kylie78433
Posted
Yes! How many problems would be solved with a decent night's sleep?!
simon04717
Posted
RE Lumin (Mianserin): I put on about 7kgs in a couple of weeks because it makes you sort of half sleepy but not enough to stop you absolutely pigging out at night. I've had the dose reduced now and i feel less heavy, bloated and have lost about 3kgs.