How many people are taking Effexor for anxiety? This is my 4th week on 225 mg and I’m finding it very stimulating/activating e.g I feel very shaky, jittery, nauseous and nervous… not the way I want to feel when I’m trying to treat anxiety 
I've been on venlafaxine for 18 years + give it time you will be fine regards Michael
Hi Michael
What dose are you on? I too have been on Venlafaxine for about 17 years. I started on 75 mg then 150 mg with 15 Mirtazapine. Then I was increased to 225 mg. However I have seen another doctor because I have had quite a few falls. She has put me back to 150 mg as she thinks the high dose could be something to do with the falls. Also I have high BP and she also said Ven isn't good with that I know I read it somewhere.
I just wondered if you are on a high dose and how you are on Ven
Pat
Hi Michael, so you dont find it weird that i'm so bad 4 weeks in on an increase?
can you tell me your story, please?
hi pat I was on 225 ven and 50 mert . I have stopped the mert now and I am on 150 ven only . it's only been 2 days so see how things go . I wish I was off it altogether pat . best wishes Mike
many years ago in 2000 I lost my business . which my late father and I built up . in 2003 I lost my wife to cancer . and in 2004 my son suffered a massive heart attack and passed away . that's a very short description of what turned me into a nervous wreck . a nervous breakdown. and a 6 week spell in hospital . that is when all my deppres ion. started and 18 years on I'm still that nervous wreck of a man ...
i'm so sorry to hear <3 So venlafaxine didn't help?
Oh Michael what an awful time you have had. No wonder you got depression ! There is no reason for me to be depressed. I sometimes wish there were as then I could understand why I still feel off after all these years.
Hey, not sure I can offer much advice but can certainly sympathise! I was started on 75mg of venlafaxine 3 weeks ago for anxiety and depression, and I felt incredibly restless and jittery the first week, constantly feeling like I'd had way too much coffee. Nausea was bad for me too but that went away after a week (still got no appetite though). The energy rush and jittery caffeinated feeling I had went away after the first week too, but I'm still feeling very restless and irritable and bored of everything, even things I usually enjoy. From what I've read, it's definitely worth sticking with it, hard as it is. So many people say that this is a really effective drug, and I've heard people say it took as much as 10 weeks to feel the benefit. I'm not giving up until I'm 100% sure that it isn't working, because I don't want to be back to how I was and wondering 'what if I stuck with it just a bit longer?' Good luck, I hope you start feeling better soon! xx
dear stephanie, has it heloed you in any way and what are you taking it for, please?
thank you God bless x
this is my second day moving up from 37.5 to 75. for anxiety. how long after raising the dose does anxiety get less
Hi Lynn How long did it take for u to start feeling better from going from 37.5 to75? i am 2 weeks in that raised dose and am feeling extremely tired and anxious in the mornings still
I've been on 150mg for 5 weeks and the last week i am very jittery 24/7 with anxiety, my mood has been elevated quite a bit though and i really hope it stays that way, hopefully my anxiety will go away in a few weeks! Good luck to you!
6-8 weeks is what i've heard
Stephanie, are you tired at all after that jittery feeling ended? I'm scared that i will get super tired when my body adapts to the medicine (i have that jittery feeling all the time now). Thankyou and best of luck!
8 weeks on 150 still quite jittery/anxious, hope it settles within 4 weeks before i try mirtazapine.
i found the higher doses too activating but was on 75mg for about 10 years.