Help!! The switch to Venlafaxine...

Treatment and medication
1

I need someone to respond.

I am in the process of switching from Sertraline 150mg/daily to Venlafaxine 75mg/daily.

I was taken to hospital by an ambulance on the 2nd of July due to being a suicide risk. I called NHS 111 as advised to if this happens, and they called an ambulance out due to me being on the side of the road in my car (they were worried I was going to drive and/or harm myself or others). I'd lost my job half an hour prior to that.

After being taken to hospital, I was transferred to a mental health facility to start seeing a therapist and also see a specialist (who has been brilliant this whole time!).

They decided to take me off Sertraline due to the fact I was on quite a high dosage and still feeling very low, anxious, and suicidal.

The switch to Venlafaxine has started and I was told to cut down my Sertraline by 50mg each week. Once I reached 50mg/daily, I was then told to stay at that for a week before starting Venlafaxine at 37.5mg/daily for three days (as well as 50mg Sertraline), and then increase to 75mg/daily (as well as 50mg Sertraline).

I have been on the Venlafaxine since August 4th, and now on the 75mg Venlafaxine and 50mg Sertraline since the 7th of August.

But I feel not like myself!

I struggle to concentrate. I am constantly SO tired, today I was at my desk at my new job and could barely keep my head up and eyes open (I ended up going home early). On top of this, my paranoia is through the roof, I am unfriendly, low, and have very bad self esteem (worse than usual).

PLEASE tell me it gets better?? I am on the verge of tears constantly. I get no joy anymore. I want to stay in bed all day, every day, and the only thing that gets me up is knowing that I simply cannot get into debt or be late on my bills.

I can't handle it. My specialist isn't back from holiday until 22nd August, but I really need advise before that.

Anybody??

2

I feel you anxiety Kage100. I think you probably need a higher dose of the Ven. Maybe see another doctor till your usual one is available. It can take quite a few weeks for the medication to kick in but the way your feeling is would see a doctor ASAP xxx

3

Hi, ask your Doc first but dont take it if you have other choses..I'm not a doc but I'm on 150 a day and trying to get off if it after been on it for only 5 months and I'm going crazy..the side effects of coming off are horrible. I get brain shocks and zaps . Heart racing, and can't concentrate. .every body is different on this drug but after reading all the blogs here are just saying how bad it is . But check for doctor first. Good luck and to anybody doing the same thing..I hate this drug tho. .never again ..

4

It sounds like our depression isn't being treated at the current dose. Can you see a colleague of your specialist. The extra benefits of venlafaxine over seroxat etc, only kick in at 225mg per day. I've been on it for many years and it is the only medicine that works for me, but as nikki1963 points out, coming off it isn't easy.

5

Hi, I am in very similar shoes to u.i went to the pain team at beginning of July and after being told, they had nothing more to offer me in relation to my pain control I fell head on into a suicidal depression . I was lucky and was taken like u by ambulance to another hospital who has a mental health rapid team and referred on to my local crisis team who have been amazing.

It was this team who changed my antidepressant from escitampram to venlafaxine. I have worked my way up to 150 mg so far and I am beginning to feel the benefits. It did and does make me very tried and somewhat spaced out so on advice I now take it at bed time. It's not perfect but a lot better than taking it in the morning ( for me). I know like with all these types of drugs u get the people who fall on the good side ie get on with and find benefit from the tablets and those who will shout how bad the tablet is.

i think if u find it helps good, if not try another. A lot of the way u r feeling is so similar to how I was even a few days ago. For me I find it useful. So yes it does get better and as an antidepressant and anti anxiety drug it is beginning to tick the boxes.  

You say your mental health team have been good, so tell them how bad you are feeling, they are best placed to advise you as to how long the side effects should go on for. I do know you will need to increase the dose to at least 150 mg daily for the drug to be at a treatment level. Also a lot of what you are feeling may well be down to u reducing the other antidepressant u are taking. 

As with all drugs it seems you get most side effects when either building up your dose or reducing ( with the view to coming off of it)

you do need to speak to someone tomorrow and get to see another member of the doctors team, you do not just have to sit and wait. It is at the end of the day our mental health and we are best placed to know how we are feeling. It is then up to the doctors to listen and get us on the right path again.

it will get better but I won't lie you probably have a few more days till it starts to get better. I hope this helps. 

If I can be any help just ask or PM me. I will get back to you

good luck and soft hugs

caroline 

6

Thank you for your reply, Caroline. I will call the team as soon as possible.

There are many side effects I seem to get stuck with, Sertraline was awful for me at the beginning.

Hopefully most of what I feel is coming down from the Sertraline.

7

Thank you Elaine.

I am going to speak to another Dr today.

I hope this gets better.

8

Venlafaxine did make my anxiety worse to start with but with time and after finding the optimum dosage for me I did feel better.

Hope your you and your Dr can work things out and that you begin to feel better.

9

my husband as been on venlafaxine for 3 weeks 75mg and quatapine at night to help sleep he is being treated for depression but he  as lost all his emotions and nothing at all is bothering him is this what it is supposed to do he says he cannot feel anything now