Venlaflaxine experience

[Richdp]

Hi all

Has anyone got any experience with venlaflaxine - possitive or negative.

I was taken off escitalopram, and that was replaced with Venlaflaxine, around 2 years ago.

I'm still getting severely depressed, which I didn't on escitalopram. In fact I was a little numb to emotion, which I don't like also.

Now, I feel at the depths of despair on a daily basis. Feels like I've lost all spirit of life and nothing can make me feel better.

There's have been changes in circumstance that's contributed - like getting divorced ect, but that was a couple of years back.

Any advice or words of wisdom?

I can't keep going on with this!

Thanks

Richard

[tunas]

Hi Richdp, venlaflaxine is the one I have been on for a long while. It has been of benefit to me with the only side effect occuring if I forget to take the pill/s. I wish you good luck, luckily I have found a good person to talk my things through too.

[cat3]

Sorry to hear you're struggling with depression Richard.

I started treatment for depression in my teens (long family history of depression) and managed on Amitriptyline and Valium for years, then in the 90s I was prescribed SSRIs.

The first 10 months was like a bad dream as one SSRI after another proved incompatible and with each one needing 4 - 5 weeks of trialing to see if I could assimilate it .......or not.

I tried Venlafaxine (followed by Reboxetine, Citalopram, Prozac, Sertraline and others) and every one caused incapacitating side effects. When I finally found one which proved compatible and which showed me what quality of life feels like, I never looked back.

It's basically trial and error finding 'The One' which proves compatible with an individual's own physiology. But if you have the wherewithal to stick with it, there'll be a far more effective SSRI out there for you.

I hope you'll find the help you need Richard ; depression is a cruel illness. Cat x

[Pairofboots]

Hi I was on esitalopram, then venlafaxine was added, when I moved, the esitalopram was switched to citilapram (which is cheaper than esitalopram, but has a few extras). I had several crisis when the GP meddled with my meds, then mertazepam was added in by the neuro-psychiatrist, citilapram was stopped.

As for venlafaxine, I'm not sure how helpful it is, but it did help for a time. I agree with the dulling of emotion.

I recently had a chat with my GP, who described venlafaxine as one of the dirty meds, by meaning that it has long term negatives. I am on quite a pharmacy of medicine, this particular GP appears to have an understanding of psychotropic medications, and after my medical results returned she wants to rationalise my meds as I am having some difficulties cognitively.

This doesn't really answer the question, but, but as a retired MH nurse, I am only just finding out some of the negatives, so I'll let you know what happens. I am worried as previous medication change's have always been a disaster, and resulted in additional meds. I have already started reducing clonazipam, this will be a slow process of trying to eliminate the medication that has served its purpose but has not been withdrawn.

With regards to mertazepam, this was like turning the colour back on when this was started.

If I forget to post, prompt me in a couple of months.