I have just had my Venlafaxin increased from 75 mg to 150 mg. It's only 3 days but all I want to do is sleep and I feel sickly.
I would like to know how long it takes to feel any improvement. I know everyone is different but I would just like some idea.
Hi yes I was same mine passed after couple of weeks, hang in there these are great meds xx
I am no health care professional but I was on venlafaxine (Effexor) for years. Talk with your doctor about your dosage. Keep in mind that this drug is an inhibitor and is not always the fix-it pill for everyone. You may need something else cause this is a powerful drug.
But as an alternative if you are taking 2 of the 75mg pill, perhaps you could cut one of the pills in half for a well or so till your brain is ready for 150mg... However, talk with your doctor about these symptoms that you may NOT need a higher dosage of venlafaxine.
Hope this helps a bit and take note, wen you're ready to stop venlafaxine, you must taper very slowly.
Thanks Jackie. Are you on 150 mg? I was on 75 mg for 10 years but when they stopped working they upped me to 150 mg and I felt so awful that I stopped taking them. That happened twice but this time I am going t give it longer.
Thanks baconlaw. The 75 mg wasn't working so my GP increased to 150 mg and said I must give it tiem.
Hi yes I was on these years back and back on them from 4 wks ago started 75 then now on 150 mg made such a difference, :-) it will pass try and eat when u take them xx
Thanks Jackie you have given me hope as I was convinced 150 mg wasn't going to work for me.
Hi Patricia, I'm not a veteran on venlafaxine like most of the folk that have responded to this post but I did start on 75mg and upped ot to 150mg within 6weeks of starting the stuff as I suffer with panic and anxiety disorders and depression and have done for the past 8 years but have only just sought medical help 3 months ago.
I felt exactly the same when I upped them but felt an increase in my anxiety and began getting migraines. I am still getting some side effects 6 weeks after upping the dose, although it is only increased anxiety now, the rest have gone away.
Anyway I hope this has helped.
Danielle x
After a weening period of 7weeks from 75 mg, and having taken them for 7 years, I stopped taking Ven.
The hell I went through over the past week is enough to make me NEVER touch another one ! I am using Benadryl, Omegas, Calcium/Magnesium, chiropractic care, and loads of water to detox.
Although improvement is only masking the true issues, whatever they may be, the Ven takes a good 3 -6 weeks to be fully established into your system.
I hope you decide to go off instead of increase, as the Ven just masks "quality of life". I was on it for 7 years, weened and now off. I can tell already after being off of it for 7 days that dispite the discontinuation syndrome, I do not feel like life is masked anymore. An overall sense of LIFE is an amazing thing! 
Thanks Danielle for your reply. Do I take it that it has cured your depression? I guess I am lucky that I don't suffer from anxiety only the depression. I really hope it starts to work on your anxiety after suffering from it all that time.
Many thanks Pat
Hi I was on Ven 75 mg for ten years with absolutely no side effects. I used to come off them now and then and never had any problems coming off or going back on. Could be because it was only 75 mg and that's why I am worried about the 150 mg .I was really disappinted when they stopped working.
If u need to be on the higher ones don't listen to negatives xx
I guess it's because thse drugs affect different people in different ways. I am definitely going to give the 150 mg a chance.
They sure do and they work great with me xx
This is another vote in favour of giving the increased dose of venlafaxine a try for at least 6 weeks - I'm sure I was told it took this long to have full effect. I've been on 225mg a day (3 x 75mg) for several years and it has really worked for me. I'm in no hurry to get off it while it's allowing me to lead a normal life. Good Luck!
Sounds great Pixie. Do you have any side effects on that dose? Are you feeling back to normal?
Hi Pat.
To be honest I don't think pills cure anything, I think they make things easier to cope/live with.
I don't think my depression has gone as I have Thanatophobia or fear of my own inevitable death and I cant see me ever being happy about it.
I suppose it depends on what it is specifically you're taking antidepressants for to how well they improve your life. For me the antidepressants have stopped the intrusive thoughts of my own demise popping into my head so often and if it does then I know I can calm myself down before a panic attack, that's what they do for me.
So no, I'm not cured, but they help me get though each day at a time.
Hope that little insight has helped Pat and I hope you're feeling better soon.
Feel free to private message me if you wish to talk further.
Best wishes
Danielle x
They do stop working, and they will again, unfortunately 
, I don't know your current situation, and hope you are safe. I have been posting on another discussion about my journey getting off of them. Of course we are all individual, and since we are as unique as snowflakes we all respond differently. My own body/mind/emotions are far too numb taking meds. I've read more than one or two...or hundreds of accounts that this medication is over-prescribed by physicians. I fall into the category: "if there's a side effect I will get it" lol. So very glad to hear that you have no effects when you have gotten off the meds, for me it was absolute hell, and that was with weening for months. I'm off now for a full week and 1 day and finally getting rid of the brain zaps, facial numbness, nausea, deep gloom, uncontrollable shaking, sleeplessness, dizziness.... I am happy to be rid of them, although complete recovery from the meds will take up to 6 weeks. The reason for going on them for me was at the time explanable although I now do wish I quit long ago. Discontinuation syndrome is hell to say the least, but once that cloud has passed it feels like life is real again, and I personally am in a place which is much more loving, positive, caring and overall wellbeing. I certainly would never wish the discontinuation syndrome on anyone, however I'm so thankful to be rid of Ven!! Just sharin' 
Hi Pat
How you feeling today ?
Just been reading posts I've now been off meds 4 weeks tomorrow after 20 years having trouble with aches and pains in back but nothing nurofen can't cure I'm so happy to be off them and like hiphi am feeling amazing it's been hell for so long and maybe if this dosage doesn't work maybe try to come of them for longer than you have in the past I have tried to come off before but thought it wS the depression comim back but since finding this forum which had helped so much I realise it was the withdrawal effects even my gp said last week he thinks I need to go back on them because I had a lot of tiredness thank god I didn't listen to him x