Venlafaxine

[Bonkersy]

I'm on loads of meds to help with my bi-polar, including Venlafaxine (375mg xl). For the last 7 years I have been taking a brand called Venlallic in tablet form. Recently I started to be given various different forms, tablets, with different markings, capsules etc., I didn't really take much notice as many of my meds change brands without issues.

For 6 weeks I was nauseous, tired, had a headache, and generally felt unwell, and low mood. It was only after 6 weeks that the penny dropped, the magazine had changed. I fished out an old pack of my usual brand, and within days, all the side effects had gone.

Has anyone else experienced this? My doctors are refusing to change my script back to my old brand, they say Venlafaxine is venlafaxine regardless of how its packaged (capsule, tablet etc). I'm running out of left overs, and I don't know what to do

[kenster1 Moderator]

hi I am on mirtazapine and every few scrips its a different brand as well.im on 45 mg but some of them said 15 on the tablet but 45 on the box the doctor assured me it was 45mg and mirtazapine is mirtazapine.just take whatever ones you are prescribed and try not to overthink it as you will just have your mind playing tricks.

[medindexer]

Venlafaxine is not necessarily venlafaxine. I think all brands are now slow/modified/extended/prolonged release. You might take it in one tab at one time of day (designed to release over 24 hours keeping the level the same all the time. Or in 2 doses a day.

It's important for venlafaxine to have delayed release as it has only a half-life of hours

It's hard to be objective about side effects.

Personally, I've begun to feel more sure that trying to reduce doses is difficult to do unless you do it very very very very gradually. That's because if you stop it over only a week or two, it's a shock to the brain (due to its short half-life).

As a scientist who accepted the medical model of depression and antidepressants, I've now found myself having a lot more doubts about these drugs, especially with long term use.

Good luck.

[Bonkersy in reply to medindexer]

Thank you for responding to my post