Happy New Year Everyone 🥂 pharmacist advised Med change !

[Help47]

Happy New Year Everyone 🥂 small query my meds have been revised from Duloxetine to venaflexine for Fybro, has anyone used this tablet please

[Hidden]

I haven’t used it ever for my fibromyalgia as it’s an anti depressant but I have been on venlafaxine for 7 years for depression. Warning, it’s notoriously a very hard medication to withdraw from. And do not miss doses.

[Hidden]

what dose do you take?

[Help47 in reply to Hidden]

They have increased me to 170mg and taken me off my high dose of Duloxitine.

[Hidden in reply to Help47]

That’s quite high dose to begin with, I started on 75mg

[Help47 in reply to Hidden]

Yes i had 1 week of 75 along with Dulox - now on 175 and no Delux

[Erica50]

hi, I take both duloxetine120mgs for fibromyalgia, I couldn’t take gabapentin duloxetine does help a bit have been on them now for about 6 years they are used also for diabetes neuropathy., I’m also on VENLAFAXINE 75mg morning and 125mg at night, also along with a few other meds like zopiclone 7.5mg diazepam 5 mg, and my pain relief is dhydrochloride 2x 3 times a day along with paracetamol with give opioid relief instead of patches, didn’t want fentanyl patch as you can control tabs better than patches causes once on them you go up and up with them, I have a lot of issues just not fibro why so much meds, I had breast cancer which my treatment has caused lots of issues, bowel bladder constant uti antibiotics every night been on trimethoprim for 7years cause the minute I stop uti again also took hiporex with them but stop then 2 years ago retaining lots of fluid. Antihistamine every day for constant itch plus few more, duloxetine worked well at beginning but not so much now waiting to see neurosurgeon as I had a TIA MINI STROKE IN June. I need my meds reviewed, I also have cervical stenosis thoracic stenosis and lower lumbar stenosis which is the worse. As for VENLAFAXINE cannt say has helped with pain but all meds work different in people. Yes VENLAFAXINE is an antidepressant but it helps relax you in which hopes to help relax your body and nerves which helps to reduce pain. The one I found good at the start was Amitriptyline at a low dose yes antidepressants again but in low dose great for relaxing nerve endings took 5 mg and had a good sleep also. But due to breast cancer and cancer meds I had to come off them, also weight gain with them rapidly, but with duloxetine small weight loss. But as I say everyone different and venelafaxine worth a try.

[Help47 in reply to Erica50]

Thank you so much for your reply. I was on Duluxotine (high dose), very low dose of Venlafaxin found it was working well, also co-codamol on really hard days. I am on a Blood pressure tablets also. The Pharmacist then contacted the GP stating I should not be on both tablets Duloxotine & Venlafaxin so take me off one and up the dose. mI kept stressing is this for my Fybro and the Dr was more stating it will help with Depression. My argument was i came to you for help with Fybro not Deoression.....so i'm really confused now

[Help47 in reply to Erica50]

I just want to say i am so sorry for everything you are going through Erica.

[DjangoReinhart]

Hi there. I was switched from duloxetine to Venlefaxine two years ago as the duloxetine was becoming less effective. I take it for depression although it is supposed to help me with anxiety which in turn helps with the fibro.It's difficult to tell if they are helping with the fibro as I take Gabapentin as well. I was taking amitriptyline too for pain but my Dr wants me to come off these so I'm doing that at the moment. I'm not convinced that it's working but we'll see.

[Help47 in reply to DjangoReinhart]

Thank you so much, hope they do start to work for you xx

[ChristCornHell in reply to DjangoReinhart]

Love that name. I may need some advice if my hand doesn't heal properly since I had "tennis elbow "(my left hand is like a claw but back to front from "carpal tunnel syndrome " a useless pinky and semi useless ring finger")🎾🎱 can't play pool yet either...

[Aurorasparkle]

I was on Venaflaxin many years ago and they gave me severe epileptic fits.

I ended up in hospital. I would say this drug helps many people I’m sure but take with caution.

X

[Help47 in reply to Aurorasparkle]

Thank you so much xx

[Twin4Life]

I take venlafaxine for my depression and anxiety disorders. I don't know if it helps with the pain. But, it does help with the depression and anxiety. But, as someone else has already said above, it is a very difficult medication to come off of. I get awful withdrawal symptoms if I forget to take even one dose, which is my main issue with it.

[Help47]

Can i ask did you have any symptoms going onto it ie. headaches, feeling sicky, weight loss/gain.... xx

[Hidden in reply to Help47]

I had no side effects when I started venlafaxine but I had already tried many other medications for depression before of which some made me suicidal and some had awful side effects: when I went onto Venlafaxine I either didn’t notice any side effects (!) Or I was just so used to them….

[Bethenny]

I have been taking Venlafaxine for the last year. Since taking it I have noticed when I have a flare up my fatigue has lessened quite considerably. Yes, you have to make sure you take it at the same time every day otherwise you do get withdrawal symptoms but it has really helped me 🙂

[Mason1975 in reply to Bethenny]

Thanks so much Bethenny. Not many seem to be taking this medication and i was concerned i was being fobbed off tbh

[Hidden in reply to Mason1975]

It’s not the most widely used medication due to the strength and withdrawal. I had to try many many anti depressants before I was put on venlafaxine it is not often you will just be given it and usually doses are low to begin with

[blueisgreen]

yes, I’ve been using venlafaxine for many years. No side affects that I know of.

[unie]

I realize I am not on subject but. My doctor has been using amantadine for fibro with success. I have only been on it one week and it has made a big difference.

[unie in reply to unie]

Thank you. It is fairly new to my dr, but she also is having good success.

[ChristCornHell]

It's not very helpful when you are not being heard by a doctor. A lot of them don't consider the interaction with other drugs, but I have heard of Duloxetine being the most helpful antidepressant for fibromyalgia pain. It worked for me but I couldn't take it due to many side effects. I was put on 300mg twice daily before it became a controlled substance due to abuse (so I just reduced that over 6 months) I also hear amitryptaline can be good but again I couldn't take this due to my mouth being unbearably dry. Although doctors "should" know about the interactions with certain drugs people are all different (fortunately) and we can feel like we are being experimental guinea pigs but I am sure we are not. The main problem with antidepressants is that you have to be on them for a month or two to find out IF they are right for YOU. And this can seem like forever if you have depression as well as pain. You have done the best thing by asking on here for clarification as it seems like you got none from your doctor. The best of luck with whatever you take but I do like the saying that "meditation is better than medication" I am most certainly not saying don't take medication though, just maybe try meditation too. Less side effects for sure. 🤭