Is this side effects??

[Lizziedee]

Hi everyone, I came off mirtazapine on Wednesday and started venlafaxine this morning 37.5mg I feel awful 😢 hot flushes, random tingling, nausea and just really weird. My own gp is off today so I spoke with another,she said this is “normal” she has said I could either stick with just the 1 dose each day or not take any more until I speak with my own gp on Monday. I’m really wanting to give this a try though but as you all know with anxiety I’m worried I’ve took a bad reaction? Would be so grateful for any advice. Thankyou x

[Chase888]

I was on Mirtazapine and it just slowed me down and I put on weight. Good to help you sleep but the next day effects.I changed the pills 3 times and it will work out for you eventually

[Lizziedee in reply to Chase888]

Yeah the only thing they really helped with was sleep. Thankyou.

[TangledUpIn in reply to Chase888]

Hi Chase,You mentioned next day effects with Mirtazapine... what do you mean?

I'm on Mirtazapine so I'm curious.

[TangledUpIn]

Hmmm in my opinion, stay on the dose until you talk to your gp. As we know, the body takes a while to integrate new medications. If the side effects get too out of hand, stop immediately obviously.

[HyacinthBucket1]

With venlafaxine...yes I would say they are the side effects. I was on it and definitely don't recommend. Miss or late with one dose and you are turned into a Psycho 😔My friend started on it a few weeks ago and had exactly the same side effects as you mentioned. She then decided to stop taking it too.

Maybe different with different people but if you decide to stay on it...always take it at the same time and when you are done withdraw very very slowly. Much slower than the Dr might recommend or you could end up in a right pickle x

[Lizziedee in reply to HyacinthBucket1]

Thank you for replying 🙏🏻 I’m going to take the 1 a day for now as I can’t bear to take the 2 if 1 has that effect on me!! I’ve taken a diazepam 2mg my doctor has prescribed these to help for a short time until my body gets used to the venlafaxine. I am never one for taking the diazepam but I was in a right mess. I usually react to medication very quick so this is the first time I’ve felt worse with a new medication? I’m hoping it settles down soon. It won’t help that I can’t eat a thing for feeling very sick so I’ll need to try eat something before taking it. I really appreciate your help. X

[Dbaja in reply to HyacinthBucket1]

Yes, it does have that affect on me if i miss a dose, but i do love it, it really helps me feel much better! (Vanlafaxine)

[HD1960]

Hello,I was on Xanax for many years and I stopped talking it 1.5 years ago.

This has been the most difficult thing in my life.

In your case you can ride it out for a few weeks. I started talking lexapro and at first it was very in my mind not working,

However 2 months later it’s like a dream come true. And I don’t believe in the stuff but it works 🙏🙏

So give it some more time and see

[CoryTrevor in reply to HD1960]

I’m at 3 weeks on Lexapro and there’s been slight improvement, but not much. When did you start noticing significant improvement?

[madmanacrossthewater]

please hear me! almost 2 years ago my gp put me on venlafaxine for clinical depression and acute anxiety and panic disorder. this was because i couldn't get in to see a psychiatrist until 3 months more. as soon as i did she immediately wanted me off it. i am still trying to get off it. its a son of bitch to wean off. im still trying. my advice. dont start until you have seen a psychiatrist. i wish to hell i never met that drug.

[RCJH8610]

Venlafaxine (also known as Effexor) has been life changing for me. I used to have terrible anxiety and depression. There are pretty bad side effects when missing a dose but during my pregnancies I have easily weened off with no issues. I’ve been on 37.5mg for over 16 years (with breaks in between during my pregnancies). The effects you are feeling could be the withdrawal from mirtazapine. What you are describing are withdrawal effects and not side effects from Effexor. You would feel the same ugly side effects if you were to stop Effexor. Best of luck to you.

[Gealtachta]

Hi Lizziedee,

I took Venaflaxine for about a year. Coming off of it was absolutely terrible. I felt terrible, sick, electric shock things in my head. I would say don’t take it. Ask for another one that doesn’t have severe withdrawal symptoms. Celexa , escitalpram are better and may work for you. Prozac

[Misseyj55]

Hi Lizzie I came off mertazapine many years ago but had a lot of strange effects coming of it including head banging in my head for some months, yes to most of the things you said your getting . They did settle but I felt quite beside myself at times. The thing is you need to be gentle with yourself while you change from one to the other and your withdrawal should of been slow to get of Mertazapine . And starting a new antidepressant the next day may make you feel very unwell for a while at least that’s what my doctor told me at the time which I am on same one as you , you might be having a double wammy happening ....it takes a while to get used to venlafaxine but it works well with me and after finding my way with this drug, having a hefty build up of my dosage over some months and feeling like I couldn’t do anything, the doc reduced my dose until I felt able to cope with my depression and anxiety , I’m on 75 mg in the morning once a day only and am pretty good except when I get sick or very stressed , then I almost need more , but usually my stress levels settle when I’m getting better or the situation that’s stressful settles. We are all different and if your not coping ring your lifeline people or the triage at the hospital and have a chat to someone about how your side effects are affecting you. They might give you some better advice. Always follow your GPS advice and if you’re not sure go back to them as soon as you can make an appointment. Good luck , stay calm and rest up when you can , in a few weeks it should settle it took time for me .. 💐

[Kkimm]

Hi LizziedeeI have been on Venlafaxine for around 4 years now and it has been life saving and life changing for the better for me.

I felt the side effects you have described for the first few days but the nausea and dizziness did not last more than a day or two. I had become suddenly extremely ill with GAD and depression following three life traumas and prior to this had never experienced anxiety or depression and had held a very responsible job as a manager in social care prior to my retirement and thought I was the last person to experience mental health problems.

The first few weeks on the drug were really terrible although the initial really bad side effects of nausea etc wore off in just a couple of days but I continued to feel pretty ill with flu like symptoms and episodes of panic for quite a few weeks. I nearly came off the drug many times in the first few weeks but very gradually I began to have a few good days and feel back to my normal happy self if just for around 24 hours or so. This was something I had not had for any of the time since I became ill and was wonderful. These days became more and more frequent and after a few months I was back to my normal self most of the time, cheerful and confident again and more sociable than I had ever been in my life.

I also began to see things more clearly and was better able to not over react to things that would have stressed me out even before I became ill. I have remained extremely well after four years but did still have low anxious periods of a day or so in the first year or two of taking it. I also set myself little achievable goals each day and celebrated each tiny achievement as a sign I was on the road to recovery. Getting good sleep and eating a good balanced diet and exercise in particular are also very important.

I am on a fairly high dose of Venlafaxine, at 187.5 mg but not the maximum of 250 to 300 mg. I did the rise to 150 mg within the first few months and did at times experience some high periods with some very mild confusion or disorientation during those periods. While getting used to the increases I did experience some minor increases in anxiety and unpleasant symptoms but these were very mild compared to the symptoms at the start when getting used to my first dose of 75mg.

You have started on a very low dose and may need to increase in gradual steps to the dose that is effective for your condition.

I would say that Venlafaxine has been a massive help to me and I intend to continue to take it for the rest of my life if need be, I am in my sixties by the way. I have gained such alot from it and I have read many accounts from others who have tried many different antidepressants for severe anxiety and found this the only one which has worked for them and are still taking it 20 years later etc. However many people also have found it both difficult to get used to with the increased side effects at the start, and very difficult to come off. I think it can take alot longer to give it's full benefits than doctors often say.

My GP recommended it to me as very effective for anxiety and I later learned it was the one he had taken himself and found it very effective and easy to come off.

I think it is very important to give it long enough to benefit you and to work with it by taking regular exercise maintaining a positive attitude etc.

Very good luck.

Kim