Hi Everyone,
I'm soon to be starting Venlafaxine, after coming off mirtazapine and after trying , Citalopram, Fluoxetine, and Sertraline. Venlafaxine is my last hope against my depression and anxiety before a psychiatrist.
Has anyone had any positive experiences with Venlafaxine as all I can see on here is negatives. I'm desperate to benefit from this as I'm only 21 and worried of a life with depression and anxiety with nothing to ease.
I'll be starting 37.5mg 2x Daily
Thanks ,
Luke
Hi Luke, I have just come off of Venelafaxine and started Pristiq. Venelafaxine was helping greatly with my depression and anxiety. The only reason I stopped the medicine is because I am itching. The itching started as I was tapering off Cymbalta and was titrating up on Venlafaxine. There is no assurance that Pristiq won't have the same side effect as it has similar properties. It is a rare side effect. Give the med 6 to 8 weeks to fully help you. I wish you the best. Venlafaxine is a good medicine. Remember there is always hope.
Hi. I had excellent luck with this drug when it first came out and am going back on because its the best out of everything I've tried. Was on it ten years and it gave me my life back. Only switched to another newbie(cymbalta) due to Dr offering me to try. I rate it the best for anxiety /panic/depression. Good luck.😊
Hi luke yes i have a choking phobia and suffer anxiety constantly through the day i was so much worse off though until i started on venlafaxine they are the best deug, im like you i have tried them all but these are the best ... If you see a psychiatrist they can mix them where as doctors cant ... Im on 30mg mirtazapine and 300mg vanlafaxine so yeah i hope it works for you mate
Thanks everyone for your reassurance and hope that it is a good medication 
. I had to push my GP for this so I hope my fight at least with the doctors may be over, and I can get back to some 'normality' what ever that is ha ha
Thanks again
Luke
Hi there. I just did the switch over to effexor xr today and feel fine, no side effects. You'll be fine. Good luck and keep in touch.
As per RICHARDJ1985, I took mirtazapine for depression (helped with sleep) and then psychiatrist added Venlafaxine (instantly lifted depression, killed anxiety), I ended up on 15/300. I stopped in the end because I felt better and because side effects (mainly sweating) got in the way. Don't be afraid of getting referred to a psychiatrist, I've been seeing them on and off for quite a while. At last (now different diagnosis/drugs) I've been completely free of depression for months. It really is possible. I smile driving to work 
Don't give up, it IS possible to get out the other side. Doesn't matter how long it takes, it's fantastic when you do.
I'm on them ,they have helped me ,I take 225 mg a day.
I think they are the best ,my nurse prescribed them for me when I was going through chemo treatment ,because I was desperate.
she said the doctors don't like giving them out because they are double the price of all the other antidepressants.
only side effects are if you forget to take them you get the chills
Hi Luke, I am also just starting Venelafaxine and am a little worried. I've tried everything for anxiety and depression but nothing works. Can anyone suggest what time of day works best for them? First thing in morning or at night before bed? It says to take with food but when I did this morning I felt a little queezy. I'm starting out with 37.5 mg once a day. I also take Adderall in the morning for ADHD so I'm not sure if mixing both of those made me feel sick. Any suggestions or advice would really help.
Thanks,
Bethany
Hi there, it affects your stomach in the beginning so eat something with it. I just went back on this, and I've gotten queasy but it passes.its an excellent drug as I was on it when it first came out and boy it gave me my life back. You nigh notice you also wont be as hungry. Stick with it cause it works.
Thank you, do you take yours at night or morning? I'm wondering what is more effective or if there are less side effects if taken at a different time of day depending on how much food you have consumed. Anyone have any experience with morning or night differences?
I take in am per Dr. Around 8am. I know some drugs you have a choice, and some are better in am.
Hi there, I took Venlafaxine at night because you sleep through some of the initial side effects. Some people feel nauseous after they take the med so if you eat something before you take it then go to sleep you usually don't notice the side effects. Sometimes I was a little nauseous and sleepy during the day but that was improving the longer I was on Venlafaxine. Quite often doctors recommend taking your med at night. I work in the mental health field and I know many people who have switched from day time dosing to night for this very reason. Keep your chin up. You will get better.
Hi beth im on 300mg of venlafaxine and i take all of mine in a morning but mine are slow release .... They wirk better than the normal ones because they work all day long and not just when i take them, i would go to the doctors again and ask for them changed to modified release there much better, i only know because when i had the normal ones ... When i took them yes they worked for about 3 hours but then nothing after that .... Deffo ask for the slow release ones i couldnt live without mine now x
I've now started it at 37.5mg morning and night. Has anyone else has problems with excessive uncontrolled yawning and the chills. I'm normally a warm person but am reduced to bed when not at work due to the yawning and feeling so cold.
Luke
Hi Richard, yes I forgot to mention they are the ER perscription. I plan on starting to take the first one tonite, so that if I have any sickness, hopefully it won't be at work tomorrow and only at night. Also, at least I have food in my stomach from dinner where I don't usually eat breakfast and am afraid I will be nauseous without food. Here's hoping tomorrow I'm not too nauseous to make it through work.
Hi, I was wondering how long it took you to see that it was working for you? I have been on it less than a week with no noticeable change but I know it may take longer plus I'm on the lowest dose. I'd love to hear from others how long to give it to see if it's working for me
Its different for everyone, plus it depends if your switching over meds or just starting. But I did the switch over from paxil and it was brutal. (I hated paxil). Each week got better and it wasn't long, just be patient, I started out low dose also and worked up to 75mg. best I ever was and effexor xr gave me life back and symptom free and went back to school. Each day you'll feel better and better.
Hi Luke,
In December 2015 I started on 75 venlafaxine and increased to 150 after a few weeks. Initial side effects included night sweats, dizziness and sexual delay. On the plus side, my mood has completely improved to the point I am happy to wake up each morning. I start conversations with strangers and enjoy interacting. I know there are negative experiences mentioned on this forum, but for me this AD has been a true life saver.
I take the full 150 in the morning, as taling it at night kept me awake.
The only major side effect I still experience is delayed sexual release. However the benefits are so fantastic that for the time being I am completely satisfied.
All the best, please keep us posted on your progress.
I first got diagnosed with anxiety/depression in 2012 and used to take 50 increasing to 100mg sertraline but after many incidents and it not feeling beneficial I came of it. And just been on propranolol mainly since. Last Friday also got diagnosed with emotional instability by a psychiatrist Started taking 75mg venlafaxine this morning and been in bed feeling sick and being sick since 11am can't keep anything down was instantly sick after attempting to eat a bacon sandwich even the smell was bad. Haven't been able to drink much either and diarrhoea. also jaw lock hot and cold sweats and light headed am not liking it so far but it's only day 1. I also take 40 mg of propranolol and 25mg promethazine but was told it was fine by the psychiatrist. I hope this passes very soon