I’ve been on venlafaxine for 3 months (and was also on for about 2-3 months a year ago before stopping). In that time we’ve increased monthly from 75 to 225.
I’ve struggled with side effects (insomnia, appetite loss, double vision, sweating/dry mouth) but managed, but the increase to 225 is wiping me out. My anxiety is through the roof and my muscles are so fatigued.
I’ve been experiencing a lot of muscle shaking/spasms in my legs and general weakness/ stiffness. I can’t tell if this is a result of the insomnia and appetite loss or a sign of something deeper. Last time I was on venlafaxine (lower dosage) I had no muscle symptoms, but instead experienced full body bruising.
I definitely want to try to push through as I’ve exhausted a number of options medication wise, but I’m not sure if these symptoms will go away. Has anyone experienced similar and found it gets better over time?
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JazzyApple
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Hi JazzyApple.When I first went on Venlafaxine I had really terrible symptoms at first. I had developed general anxiety after a couple of life traumas and I started on 75 mg then rose in two steps to 187.5 mg which I am still on now 6 years later.
I am so glad I persisted as I do now feel amazing. Better than I did before I became ill and I wasn't really an anxious person then but did over worry at times which I no longer do generally now.
The symptoms you are getting are different to the ones I got when first taking this medication but mine were pretty severe. I had nausea and loss of appetite for the first few days but that quickly passed. The worse symptoms were a severe increase in anxiety which was very bad for a few weeks but persisted on and off for a few months. I would have strange attacks of feeling very unwell and spaced out suddenly which started before the medication but seemed to increase a bit after starting it. These went after a few months. I started to be afraid to go out, meet people and even talk to my daughter on the phone which I had not experienced before starting Venlafaxine.
I had insomnia for the first few weeks which had developed before the medication due to the anxiety and was prescribed zopiclone to help me sleep in a low dose which worked well for me. I had to be very careful not to increase the dose and to follow a good sleep routine. I used this most nights for about 2 months then phased it out over a year or two. I never need to use it now and sleep well.
I also had pins and needles in my arms and legs and shock like zaps in them at first which went after a few months. A very troublesome symptom was breathlessness which actually persisted for about two years I think. These two symptoms may have been the result of the anxiety rather than the Venlafaxine but only started after I started the medication.
I would say I started to feel alot better and more like myself again after about three months and to feel really well apart from breathlessness after about a year. I gradually realised that the breathlessness would go once I stopped worrying about it. That is easier said than done ofcourse.
Dr Claire Weekes has written some great books on how to deal with anxiety which are well worth reading.
As I said I definitely feel great on Venlafaxine now and am so glad I stuck with it through the difficult time of getting used to it.
You are on quite a high dose which may be needed but perhaps if your spasms don't improve over the next few weeks you should discuss with your doctor whether the dose should be reduced slightly which you will need to do gradually.
Very good luck with it. You are doing great to persist through the difficult times. I am so glad I did. The only side effects I get now are slight constipation and very vivid dreams at times, particularly if I forget my medication.
Hi Further to my last message I would like to add that I did have alot of tiredness at first as you are having. This went gradually over a year or two.
The other thing which may be similar to your leg spasms were the zap sensations I would get perhaps in a toe or part of my leg. I only got this once or twice in the first few months of going onto Venlafaxine. I didn't worry about it and it didn't return. Perhaps the answer is to try not to worry and the symptoms reduce.
I had many strange symptoms really. If for example someone told me they had a pain in their hip I would suddenly seem to get the same pain in the first few months of starting Venlafaxine. Again I'm not sure if this was caused by my anxiety or was a side effect of Venlafaxine.
Once more good luck, I do know how hard it is. It sounds as if you are on the road to recovery and will get there if you persist.
I can relate to your story totally, was on before and it worked. Shouldn’t have come off but did and after relapse doctor suggested to go back on and like you I’m on 225 and have been for almost 5 weeks and have had insomnia, metallic taste in mouth, anxiety about just everything to name a few. Like you I’m praying this gets better🙏 hope you feel better soon
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