Venlafaxine

[Downandout123]

I'm on 150 mg per day of the anti-depressant Venlafaxine. I am running out of pills and am going to my GP on Tuesday for hopefully something that works better. So I am trying to ration them out since there is not enough. I missed only one day yesterday. Can anyone tell me if this has happened to you and what exactly did you feel, if you only missed ONE day??, Did you feel any different? anything?

[HearYou]

Oh, please reach your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible to ask that question and get more if possible until you see the doctor. I don't know why you have run out, and do not know what side effect you may have.

All I know is I had a seizure twice, broke a vertebrae as I fell and woke up in the hospital, when I was in your situation but on a different type of medication.

If no one can assure you that there will not be a serious side effect, please call your doctor and pharmacist. Be safe.

[Downandout123 in reply to HearYou]

That is AWFUL what happened to you. I hope that you are ok now. I skipped one yesterday, took one today and have one for tomorrow or Tuesday. I did not want to get more because I wanted to be put on a different medication. I go on Tuesday to my doctor to find out.

[HearYou in reply to Downandout123]

But please at least call your pharmacy and ask about the possible side effects by doing what you are doing. I want you to be ABLE to see your doctor on Tuesday. And ask for just enough pills to get you to Tuesday if the pharmacist says there will be a side effect, OK? xx

[Downandout123 in reply to HearYou]

They are not there on a Sunday.I'll do some googling on the internet. Thank you.

[HearYou in reply to Downandout123]

Oh my, not Google! Call a crisis line, they have access to a great deal of med info. xx

[Downandout123 in reply to HearYou]

Thank you!

[HearYou in reply to HearYou]

Or call the ER of a hospital.

[HearYou in reply to HearYou]

And please let me know how you are and if you reached anyone.

[Downandout123]

Thank you. I will.

[Downandout123]

I reached someone and she said not to worry if only one dose is skipped. It's an extended release medication. The symptoms I feel are EXTREMELY DEPRESSED , lethargic and I was hysterically crying on and off so far today. I don't have any dizziness or nausea thank goodness.

[Denhans]

Hi there, I had only one left on a Sunday , on Monday I rang the GP at 8am, got a appointment for 9.29 am. Time I got there I was feeling so dizzy and rough. I had to run outside at one point as I thought was about to vomit. I’m still waiting, then some woman got pushed in front of me! When I got in to see the doctor I was hysterical I said he wasn’t supporting enough and I went on and on... meltdown.. forced myself to go to chemist. Some old lady.. who is harmless... kept asking me questions “what’s wrong “ my friend who works there, appeared from nowhere and bundled me into a tiny room and told me to sit still and get my breath back. It got worse before it got better as I was howling and speaking jibberish. She knew it was withdrawal. Once I got home and sat down I started to calm down. He also doubled my meds, so now I’m on 300mg. I can’t even begin to think what that withdrawal would do. So yeah I felt so I’ll and manic 🌸

[Downandout123]

Wow Denhans-what another horrible story!! I'm not feeling well mentally at all, but I do not have the horrible side effects that you and "Hear You" have had.I'm so glad I was able to take one today and at least have one left to take tomorrow or Tuesday.

[Denhans in reply to Downandout123]

Thank goodness you’re ok. My thoughts and memories had been stifled. Since I came on here , ( I always would say to myself I have experienced sooo many of life’s scenarios) when I came back on, so far I’ve have a story for almost all of them. Maybe one day I should write a book. If I did I would dedicate it to all of you.🌸🌸🌸🌸

[Downandout123 in reply to Denhans]

Thank you!

[Denhans]

I feel I have to encourage you to carry on with your meds until you have seen your doctor. Honestly I became angry, agitated dizzy, I really did lose control for a bit, just happened to be in the pharmacy with compassionate staff at the time. And that’s not the firs time it’s happened! Like we haven’t got enough to deal with! That’s come from a good place, I wouldn’t want anybody to go through that! It’s a scary place.🌸🌸🌸🌸wish you well 🌸🌸🌸🌸

[Downandout123]

Yep-angry and agitated too. Not dizzy though. Thank you!

[HearYou]

Who did you reach that missing one extended dose was ok? How many do you have left before you have another script of something is filled. If you were taking 2 a day....you aren't going to last, are you? Hope my math is off and that you have been so patient with me "nagging you" about this. Really think tomorrow the druggist may be able to call your MD to get you enough until you have a script in your hands to fill with whatever you take if filled on Tuesday.

If you were taking only one a day, skipped yesterday, but have one for today and Monday.....think you're right, you're safe...particularly if you take the med later in the day as a habit. Hope your app't is early so you have a rx in your hot little hands to be filled ASAP.

Depression is such a nasty creature. If you need to cry, cry....that actually releases some interesting things to help us. Stay off caffeine. Try to occupy yourself with short 15 minute tasks. Enjoy some ice cream if you have any. And take a deep breath.

Looks like you reached the right person who told you it was extended release so you should not feel any worse if you take a pill tonight and tomorrow night.

Please let me know how you fair, ok? And whatever your doctor RX, make cetain its enough to carry you PAST your next appointment date.....and I count the darn pills now. Sometimes good druggist can make mistakes.

(Have no idea Denham was taking.......extended release means a gradual release through your body. Don't think she was on an extended release med for her to have that type of withdrawal, bless her heart.)

The med that I have to watch is one that is rapidly incorporated into my body's chemistry.....and my body has a seizure when it can't find it after one-2 days.

Try to sleep well tonight. Glad you asked about skipping a med, and glad you solved the issue. Intelligent person, you are! XX

[Downandout123]

I take one dose of 150 mg once a day. I reached a pharmacist at Target. I have one left.

[HearYou in reply to Downandout123]

So you took one today, and have one for tomorrow, right?

[Downandout123 in reply to HearYou]

Yes-I can take it either tomorrow or Tuesday. My doctor appointment isn't until Tuesday evening.

[HearYou in reply to Downandout123]

Do you usually take it in the evening? That would be the best bet I think if you take one on Monday (tomorrow) evening, if you took one today in the late afternoon or evening, if you see the MD in the evening. I wouldn't want to skip another day (Monday...tomorrow)

[HearYou in reply to HearYou]

It's been pleasant meeting you and will think about you until Tuesday night. xx

[Downandout123 in reply to HearYou]

Thank you for your thoughtfulness!

[Natsteveo]

Hi Downandout123 I've been on venlafaxine for 15 years and been put on 300mg a few months ago but always make sure you order your pills when you only have 7 days left you must never not take them or miss a day you are on a high dose so you will have some side effects...and even if your Dr gives you some other pill you will still have to reduce the venlafaxine slowly and introduce your new tablet but think about this before you change meds venlafaxine is the hardest to come off and the come down is awful...my doctor put me on propanalol as well as venlafaxine and I'm fine with the 2 I wanted to come off my venlafaxine and try sertraline but my body couldn't except them I had awful side effects and I was so mentally ill I just stayed on it but added another to calm me ...please don't stop straight away slowly ween yourself off them

Hope this helps

Nat..

[Downandout123 in reply to Natsteveo]

Thank you. I cannot believe the meltdown I had today after just missing one pill. Absolutely AWFUL. 😢

[atleastitsraining]

I just stopped taking venlafaxine recently, so I can say with certainty that missing a dose will definitely cause some unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Venlafaxine has a short half life, so it leaves your system fairly quickly -lol to “extended release.” You will definitely feel emotional and dizzy. Probably sluggish but also hyped up. You’re going to be uncomfortable, but probably not in any danger as long as you calm down and keep your head straight. It’ll be ok. Take your pill tomorrow and get back on your normal schedule. You should probably have more by the end of Tuesday if you’ve got that appointment, right? Also ask about getting automatic refills through your pharmacy, because we ALL know how anxious running out of meds can make one. Eliminate that stress from your life and you’ll feel so much better!

[HearYou in reply to atleastitsraining]

Thank you so much for showing up!

[Downandout123]

But it's not working right for me. I want to try either something else or something in addition to it. There is no way to eliminate the stress of everyday life.

[atleastitsraining in reply to Downandout123]

Yeah it didn’t work for me either. But talk to your doctor before you start skipping doses. They’ll be able to give you some pointers/advice on how to go about the change.

When you say it isn’t working, what do you mean exactly? Is it taking the edge of? Are you experiencing the same symptoms or different ones?

[Downandout123]

Well let's put it this way-I KNOW it's working to some extent because look at what happened today by just missing one dose. I have been on so many anti-depressants over the years. I'm still depressed and more recently, very anxious. If my lifestyle doesn't change and there is even more reason to be stressed, how am I supposed to be ok?Meds can only do so much. They can't change your circumstances.