Hi, I have been trawling through this forum but most posts seem to relate to withdrawal and coming off Venlafaxine so not really what I'm looking for.
I have been put on 75mg daily today after problems with other drugs:
1. Citalopram - worked amazingly for couple of months - if anything I think I was experiencing the 'manic high' side effect which was great, but didn't last and back to square one.
2. Sertraline - didn't notice much difference and could not sleep at all which made my depression worse.
3. Mirtazapine - cured the insomnia but nothing else. I felt detached, numb, irritable, constantly hungry so put on weight, sweating just to go to the shop 2 mins away.
So now I'm on venlafaxine and looking for reviews from people on it or who have been on it? Did it make your mental health problems better? Did you experience side effects? How quickly did it work? etc. Any advice you can give me would help, like everyone on here, I'm just desperate to feel normal and be me again.
Thanks
I would strongly advise that you stay away from it. I've been on it nearly 5 years and it has been hell coming off. It will make you constantly tired, forgetful and listless. Horrible, awful drug. I've sleepwalked through 5 years and had no benefit. I'd rather be depressed than on that stuff.
Ok thank you. Do you mind me asking why you have been on it for five years of its had no benefits? Or is there some benefits it's just the other effects outweigh this? Thanks.
Hi I have been on it now for about 3 mths after having similar to you in the past. I felt really sick for 2 wks and then ok, no other side effects. I feel quite steady in it now, not a zombie and not high but ok. Depressive symptoms have def lifted though still very short tempered and lacking in patience. Due a review in a few weeks missed last appointment due to family reasons.
Know coming off it might be hell have gone into it with eyes wide open. So far so good for me xxx
Thank you that's really helpful 
I think as long as you are aware you have nothing to lose. Give it a try. I was in cymbalta for quite some time until it too stopped working. I'm come to end of line so this was all that was offered x
Everyone has a positive and negative to all antidepressents. I read avidly before I started to take it and came to the conclusion I should give it a go
For me it's worked the best by far, I've been stable for 2 years on it, after coming off citalopram.
I have no intention of coming off it,
Good luck
The only benefits I derived from it is that it didn't make me depressed, yet it didn't make me feel anything at all. You don't have a care in the world and its like going on holiday from yourself. I got trapped in that state for a very long time and life passed me by.
In all fairness it sounds like some people have really benefited from it and I'm pleased it helps people. I probably just had a really bad experience but please be mindful that it is a very powerful drug and it's very tough to come off. I suffered two seizures and was hospitalised when I took some strong painkillers to help with a tooth abcess. So be careful with mixing meds with it. I went down to 37.5 after that and even at such a low dose I really struggled to come off it.
All I can say is that I got next to nothing from it but a 5 year coma but in all sincerity I wish you nothing but the best and I hope that, should you decide to continue to take it, it really works out well for you.
Hi I have been on this med for seven years, it was slow to work at first I was on 75mg and after two weeks I went back to the doctos and he increased it to 150mg and within a few more weeks I started to feel more like myself again, I didn't have any side effects other than extreme night sweats and always being hot even in the winter but that was bearable as I felt so bad before I could put up with those, I think I should have come off them when I fetl better but I was so worried that the depression would return. Just lately I have felt quite numb and would like to see if I can manage without them so I have dropped down to 75mg this last week and up to now I have felt fine but you never know after hearing some of the stories on here I was really worried but I have warned family and friends if they notice anything strange to let me know. There's a lot of worrying stories on here but everyone is different, maybe they won't work for you but you need to give them a chance I to had been on many different meds before but they worked for me and if I need them again in the future I will go back on them.
good luck
sue
I've been on it since march and had it slowl increased since then to 215mg daily and I can honestly say it saved my life. The side effects of starting them Weren't pleasant but the benefits outweigh them massively. I've heard that the withdrawals etc are horrific however as I'm only on the start of the recovery journey I can't think about that yet.
I do still suffer from excessive sweating and night terrors but you get used to them. Hope everything goes as you want it to x
Thank you, this is really helpful. Sorry you had such a tough experience. That's how I felt on mirtazapine so I can empathise, sort of detached from myself. I didn't feel strongly about anything in particular I missed getting excited for stuff. I feel that's probably a good drug for going through grief but not when you're just trying to be yourself again.
Thank you, this is really helpful
Thanks this is really helpful. I'm worried about the sweating as that was happening on mirt and really getting to me but I will give it a go
+2
I was on it since July 2011
If you want to feel as if you have an aquarium permanantly installed on your head then go for it, otherwise, the suppression of "life" for want of a better word is personally not reccomended.
I think the effects are different depending on how people think etc, but I emotionally react quickly.
The VF slowed this process so I had more time to think before saying /doing / feeling something I'll regret later, but the downside is close to "Oh theres a car coming -- meh I'll cross anyway." so the self preservation was not there.
You'll see in other posts that I went cold turkey a week ago and I almost physically feel as if I have walked out of the floor of ocean into the air and sunlight - its been that different.
Hi Charlotte
Something I asked myself was "did it save my life?"
OR
Did I think "I'm on meds so I'm ok, I'll get over this" and THIS is what allowed me to save my OWN life.
The descision to lake your life is yours, not any med or doctor or anything
As far as I am seeing, the pattern is these type of meds delays thought, and allows you to take a "helicopter view", before you make a quick descision.
So hopefully off the meds, if I get into a bad situation again, I'll say "Yknow what? I got over it last time myself" and train myself to use the helicopter :P
BTW the helicopter view was described to me in a confrontation course... The lady said what you do is pull back from "My Boss did this to me" to "This conversation has happened. This is what I'm feeling now.
Pull away from "I am sh*te" to "I feel like I want to call myself names today - why do I want to do that? What started me thinking this way this morning?"
Hope this makes sense.
Hi! I'd recommend trying venlafaxine. Everyone reacts differently to it. It's really helped me, I've been on 225g for several years and had no serious side effects. It started lifting my mood after about a week, and continues to keep me steady. I'm in no hurry to come off it while it is still working and I'm feeling well and able to get on with my life - and enjoying life again!
Hi Fran
I agree with you that most of the posts are about coming off or saying bad things about the drug.
I was on Venlafaxine 75mg for 11 years and never ever had any side effects. From time to time, usually about a year or so, I would come of them. I would cut down on them and I have never had any trouble with withdrawing. After a while the depression would raise its ugly head again and so I woud go back on them.
As I said I was on it for 11 years but two years ago they just stopped working. My GP tried me on several different ADs but to no avail. Then last November she prescrbed Mirtazapine 15 mg. They worked more or less immediately. However, they to stopped after 3 months. My doctor then upped the Mirt to 30 then 45 mg but no luck. She then said I should go back on Ven.and put me up to 225 which was horrendous.
I then asked if I could go to our local hospital and see a psychiatrist as they are supposed to know more about the drugs. Anyway long story short the Psychiatrist prescribed 15 mg Mrt. and 150 mg Venlafaxine. I said but they both stopped working and she said sometimes they don't do so well singly but they make a good combination. I walked out feeling it was a waste of time but to my joy they started working in three days. I have also got a couple of friends who are on Ven with great success. One friend was actually in hospital for weeks as she was so bad. She has just been taken off her second drug and just on 150 mg of Ven.
Like you In the main I found that most people only say bad things about Ven. I can honestly say I have found it to be an excellent drug. I don't think doctors would prescribe if it was as bad as people say,
I hope you have the success with it that I have had. I will look out for your posting.
Love
Pat x
Hi! I too find a combination of venlafaxine (225mg) and mirtazapine (30mg) has worked well for me. I've been on it for several years and have no wish to change it while it's keeping me OK. I did find my psychiatrist had to prescribe it, my GP hadn't come across them being used together, and the local pharmacist queried it the first time. I have just recently started getting very thirsty and weeing gallons (??????) and my GP wonders if that's caused by the antidepressants, but it's only just started and I've been on the drugs for several years. Anyway, that's a minor problem compared to desperate depression/anxiety!