I have been on 150mgs of Venlafaxine XL for 9 weeks now. I spent about 6 weeks thinking I had really recovered, and now, bank - the anxiety (not depression) seems to be coming back. I did read somewhere that Effexor is the better opt8on than Rodomel brand - phoned pharmacist and he said that the brown (Rodomel) and the yellow/white (Effexor) are exactly the same, but I found I felt better on Effexor. Has anyone out that had a similar experience.
I was suffering with IBS which went away completely after about 2 weeks and now, with the return of SOME anxiety, it has also returned and that was a great trouble to have out of the way.
Any news would be appreciated - as I don't seem to get replies to hardly any of my postings! Would be good to hear from someone.
Regards
Marion
Man, I'm in the same place as you. I have been on ven. for about the same amount of time as you, for the second time this year after trying citalopram in between, at first the kick is great but i feel anxiety myself again. I also suffer clinical depression and anxiety. I've got doctors on friday so will bring it up then. Maybe talk about dosages, other medications although am sick of changing medication all the time. They prescribed me seroquel on my first stint with venlofaxine for anxiety. Its an anti-psychotic but is used for anxiety sometimes with certain anti depressants and it seems to work well with venlafaxine. But it turns you into a right zombie!
To be honest i just feel totally emotionless now except for the anxiety which just never goes away!!
Good luck
Hi Dave - yes, as you say, we seem to be in the same boat. The only reason I am here is because they discontinued Fluphenazine which I was on for over 20 years and if tell you that that rocked the boat (and nearly sank it) it is only the truth. I could have murdered the pharmaceutical company who decided it would discontinue it (although I know that that drug is anti-psychotic medicine but boy did it keep me well) relaxed and with NO ANXIETY (never had depression). Anyway Psychiatrist seems happy with results but I don't. Although I am much better and can even go out alone which I couldn't before as I felt weak, wobbly and generally light headed. Well Dave, I hope on your visit to the GP that you get a few things sorted. I was also on Citalopram and Prozac which nearly drove me demented. If you get anything good happening, let me know. I don't think I want to take anything together with Ven and end up more of a zombie than I am. Anyway, all the best and keep thinking positive, which is what I TRY to do.
Regards
Marion
Hi again Dave
Just thought I would keep in touch, seeing that you are experiencing similar problems as I. I think we have now been on Ven for over 11 weeks now and I am not feeling quite so free of anxiety as I did as first. As I said I don't suffer from depression - do you Dave? I must say I feel sometimes that I am not me and people and things seem distanced from me. This doesn't happen all the time - mostly when I am feeling a bit disorientated which does occur quite often. When I mention this to my mental health team, they just tell me it is the result of bad anxiety - but I am not so sure I believe them and I feel that the medication, good though it is, is tending to mess my brain and feelings up a bit.
I will close now Dave, otherwise I shall go on forever and bore you to death. Let me know how you are getting on, and if you are still in Venlafaxine.
Best wishes and Good Luck!!!
Marion