Hi I am now in my 2nd week on 75 mg having been on fluoxetine for 2 months, had bit of breakdown. Due to this I get regular visits from CPN which have helped so much. However they are considering putting me on 150mg next week even though I have told them I feel slightly better. Is this normal?
Luckily the only side effect has been insomnia, which I seem to be getting used to, none of the usual tablets seem to help at all. Will increasing the dose lead to side effects?
Stu
hi Stu :mrgreen:
it's quite normal to increase the dose of venlafaxine to 150 mg :ok: :wink: in fact it's quite common for some peeps to be on up to 300 mg :shock: you should't experience any significant further side effects :ok: :wink:
you mention insomnia, when do you take your tabs ?? :huh: it should usually be in the morning as venlafaxine has slight 'stimulant' properties, as well as being a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) it's also a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) norepinephrine is an adrenalin cousin :shock: :wink:
anyhooooooos good luck and take care,
cheers,
Ken~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :cheers: :rainbow: :mrgreen:
Hi Ken.
Thanks for all that info, you really have become an expert, think you should make a career of it! There alot of people out here that certainly appreciate your input! 
I take it in the morning but find I am exhausted by mid afternoon, then get about 3-4 hours kip at night. CPN thinks that a stronger dose may help me relax more during sleep. If not I think they do a mallett in the pound shop!
You dish out sound comments to loads of people, but how are you getting on?
Stu
hiya Stu :mrgreen:
thanks for the compliment Stu, it's all part of the service sir lol :wink: having been plagued by depression for 40 + years (theres a big genetic element with me :? ) :shock: i've become a fifth dan blackbelt in it and psychiatric probs in general, dont forget Stu, 'knowledge is power' !!! it helps a great deal to understand what's ACTUALLY happening with this illness :huh: :ok: in fact 10 years ago, as a very *cough, mature student i did a degree in psychology at newcastle mainly to understand the workings of that miraculous organ that is the known as the human brain, it's a pretty clever trick for something that is composed of 75% water by weight innit ?? :shock: :whistle:
i'm doing ok. thanks Stu, but as i state, it's a long roller coaster ride back to full recovery, the 'one step forward and two steps back' lark, a couple of years back when venlafaxine stopped working for me (i'd been on it about 4 years) i decided to try life without meds, i'd forgotten what it was like lol :shock: :wink: BIG BIG mistake !!, i kept it togetherish :huh: for about 18 months using cognitive techniques :ok: the next salute was i'd spiralled into that black bottomless pit that is depression :cry: and had to hit the 'panic button' it was a very close call, i was very close to turning the lights out PERMANENTLY by last december, the deeper you go into that black abyss the longer it takes you to get well again :? that's why it's soooooo important to 'nip depression in the bud' :ok: :wink: if i have to take meds for the rest of my life, well so be it !!!! :shock: :cheers:
enough of my ramblings, well you did ask Stu lol :wink: :whistle:
anyhooos keep trucking and be kind to yourself Stu :wink:
cheers,
Ken ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :cheers: :rainbow: :whistle: