venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor )

[Sandraan]

HI ALL, PLEASE COULD ANYONE GIVE ME GOOD ADVICE ON THIS ANTIDEPRESSANT ????

MANY THANKS

[Hidden]

Hello Sandra

What sort of advice, the write up on this medication is extensive.

Generally used in moderate severe depression and is in the group of many medications that regulate chemical imbalance in the brain.

BOB

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi borderriever Are you a Mark Knopfler fan by any chaance? Just noticed your user name.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hello Poppy

No, I just live on the England/Scottish Border. My wife and I are supposed to have Historic connections and names of various Clans of Border Rievers way back in history. We also live near an old fortified tower where our ancestors would have possibly rustled cattle from.

BOB

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Bob. Mark Knopfler writes a lot about the Scottish boarders and having just returned from beautiful Northumberland I can see why. How amazing to live near a fortified tower!!

'Boarderriever' is about the scottish truck manufacturer- Albion

The song is about the hard life of a truck driver at the end of the 60's. (just thought I'd let you know!!)

KInd regards

Popps.

[jrcnpg]

I have been taking venlafaxine for quite a number of years now and find it to be the best anti-depressant ever given to me. The only downside of this medication, for me at least, is that it has the most foul taste imaginable so instead of water, which has no taste, I take mine with milk which takes the foul taste away. Your doctor will generally increase the dose you are taking over a number of weeks and then maybe decrease it if s/he thinks the right dose has been found for you. One mistake many people make when taking this anti-depressant, and probably with all other anti-depressants, is that it does take time to kick in, maybe six or seven weeks, and so just stick with it until you find some good from it.

[Sandraan in reply to jrcnpg]

Thank you so very much that's just what I needed to hear that there good, I have to decrease the one I'm taking now, before I startt talking that, I'm so very low at the moment ( because the medication is not working ) and I always dread the swapping and changing anti dpress as I know how bad it is, I just pray to god I don't go any lower I can't bare it. Thank you so much that's made me feel better knowing it works x

[jrcnpg in reply to Sandraan]

It's my pleasure. Depression and depression with anxiety are quite simply devastating with a 'normal' life seeming so far removed from yourselfthat you will never achieve it. You will, eventually. As I say, the one thing I dislike about venlafaxine is the foul taste hence the taking of it with milk.One other thing is that for around two weeks you will feel 'spaced out' but that goes as long as you persevere with the medication. Good luck and I shall be thinking of you.

[Sandraan in reply to jrcnpg]

Thank you so very much, yes Iv got all the above and post dramtaic stress disorder, I have taken antidressants for over twenty years now, so have tried and have lucky most of them have worked for many years, but I have never heard of this one, but to be honest I think this time I need HRT but my blood tests are coming back normal, I just don't know how to get the doctor to see my body's screaming out for more than Antidepressants ???

[jrcnpg in reply to Sandraan]

I have been on this type of medication for around forty years and have found venlafaxine to be the best. I cannot help you in respect of HRT because I'm a man, John. The only thing I could suggest is to be firm with your doctor in order to get s/him to do what YOU want. The doctor is there to help you and if you have certain opinions or worries you must express them. I know that can be difficult, I have found it difficult in the past, so if you think you may not be able to say openly to your doctor what your worries and concerns are then write them down and hand the piece of paper to s/him saying that this is what you feel and this is what you want. Way back when, I felt completely lousy and went to my doctor who told me I had a chest infection and so prescribed a three week course of antibiotics. Later that evening I had to call for the paramedics who took me to hospital where I was told that I had diabetes. I've been on oral anti-diabetic tablets and seven injections of insulin per day ever since. Doctors are not infallible. I wish you all the luck in the world.

[Sandraan in reply to jrcnpg]

Thank you very much John the information on the antidressants is great comforting news, yes I'm going to persist this time I get the right results, thank you so much, hope your ok

[jrcnpg in reply to Sandraan]

My pleasure. As I said, you are the one in charge, not the doctor. Let me know how you get along. My thoughts will be with you.

[Sandraan in reply to jrcnpg]

So very kind of you, I did try this with my male doctors last year and year before to no avail, but hopefully now with a lady doctor il get further, thank you I am dreading the next few weeks as I'm weaning off meds and you know how bad that is and starting a new one, not very good at the moment to be honest John. So thanks again

[jrcnpg in reply to Sandraan]

I'm sorry to learn that you do not feel well at the moment. Maybe your new female doctor will be more sympathetic towards you as you suggest. Anti-depressants are difficult medications because there are so many of them and it is a matter of trial and error, I think, before the correct one for you is found. Yes, coming off medications only adds to our discomfort. I can vividly recall that when my first son was born, his mother developed the baby blues and wanted nothing to do with him which left his care to me. At the time I was taking two different lots of benzodiazepines at night to help with sleep. I knew that I had to come off those in order to look after my son. No one had ever mentioned to me the way benzodiazepines become so addictive and you needed to withdraw from them slowly using other benzodiazapines. I simply stopped them completely and I felt I was dying. Anxiety rebound and sleep rebound I had never heard of. Yet, for the sake of my son I tolerated the withdrawl effects. I wish you well.

John

[Sandraan in reply to jrcnpg]

Thanks John, it shows you have great strength, I don't know if Iv got any strengh left to fight this any longer, it's the worst ever time of my life, I'm worried people on here are going to be sick of hearing me saying it, but when your stuck with noway out its so hard . Thanks John

[jrcnpg in reply to Sandraan]

I appreciate your comments. People will not get tired of you because they know what you are going through. The only people who have no idea what you are going through are, ironically enough, doctors! They know about drugs, symptoms, signs, worries but have no idea of how you feel. When they say 'take this three times a day and within a month you will be a different person', how the hell do they know? Because it says so on page 59 of their drugs bible. I'm ranting, aren't I? It gets me so cross though. Still, I wish you luck and my thoughts will be with you.

John

[Sandraan in reply to jrcnpg]

To be honest with John that's exactly word for word what I told the pyscaratrist before I stopped seeing him, he didn't have a clue was treating me for bipolar Iv never had bioplar and his

Medical team I have saw over the years pyscolgist / CBT therapist ALL agreed with me they had never saw any signs of bipolar in me, yet because he was reading the medical bible !!!!! It was a private counsellor I see was very alarmed to see he had me on a very height strengh of s powerful drug I didn't need, I proved myself right when I came off them, he said I'd go in a maina state once I stopped, well it never happened so yes John I agree with you 1000% with GPs etc but have to say I think pyscaratrist are the worst, they haven't got a clue, how bad it is, we are just a number to them drug us up send us on are way, couldn't agree with you more

[jrcnpg in reply to Sandraan]

About drugging us up and sending us on our way your are perfectly right. They are the 'shut up' pills! If I began a list of the 'diagnoses' I have been given over the years I would be here until midnight tomorrow! And none of them are accurate. At the moment, thankfully, I have a very good GP, a female one who always seem the best to me, who I have been seeing for around seventeen years now and she is well aware of the fact that I do not get along with the consultant psychiatrist I see - I have an appointment to see him tomorrow afternoon actually - and I always see her the day after the appointment with the psychiatrist. We usually have a good laugh about his comments and if he ever changes my medication and she does not agree then it does not get changed. I know life can seem cruel and harsh and not worthy at times but as long as you wake each morning and can get through the day then there is hope. Thinking of you.

John

[Hidden]

Hello Sandra

You will need to give the medication around four weeks to work well. You will suffer reactions and contraindications until you know it is working. Give it a chance.

Are you taking any other medications ??

They may cause other complications,

BOB

[Sandraan in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, no just depression and a beta blocker all given by same GP, Iv been on anti dpress for twenty three years so yes I agree with you what happens and that's what I'm so frightened of, as in so very low and stuggling now on maximum strength sertraline, I'm just feeling so bad at the moment I couldn't bare the thought of going worse,

[Hidden in reply to Sandraan]

Hello Sandra

If your medications are causing so much concern you really need to talk to your GP

If you are taking Beta Blockers with Sertralene and you have been on them for an extended period go onto the NHS Choices page on the drugs a to z First enter either drug name in the search engine and the page will give you a list of contraindications. Within that section it will also allow you to search for associated contraindications for both drugs together. Be careful and never assume you have any problems. In most cases you will find you can anticipate problems. Be careful of that. If you are not sure the GP will need to see you.

BOB

[Sandraan in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Bob really appreciate your feed back, I'm weaning myself off sertraline at the moment to start

venlafaxine (Effexor, Effexor ) myadvicevadvice GP has also sent me for a blood test as I have said to my GP for three years now that I'm going through the menapores and need HRT but because my blood test are coming back as normal ???? I have had depression for twenty three years and know this is more than just depression !!!!! I v a new GP ( only saw her twice ) she is listening and supporting me to get well, ( changing medication, sending for blood tests and re assured me to come back to her if I feel worse ( as I was so very bad last Friday ) she like my counsellor are very concerned about how low I'm feeling now, my counsellor thinks I should have far more support than just her for one hour a fornight ??? So at the moment I'm weaning off tablets and battling on, really appreciate all your help, please can you give me any advice on the doctor you suggested ?? Many thanks

[Hidden in reply to Sandraan]

Hello Sandra

Use a clean piece of paper and write down all your concerns, worries and symptoms down and take that with you to Surgery. That will help your memory and use the appointment time you have.

If you also feel rushed with your appointment, book a double one at reception that will allow you time and also not rush you in your explanations.

Remember your new lady doctor is in partnership with you in looking after your health

One thing you can do is ask for any copies of letters from your CPN and anyone else who is giving you specialist care.

This is your right. You only need to ask for this once and after that one time it will be entered on records and that will happen every time. You only ask once, at reception or appointment.

Having this information at your appointment will allow you to to concentrate on the Specialists findings. with your GP.

The will also have the letter like you and tat makes all easier when discussing your Health Problems

All the best

BOB

[Sandraan in reply to Hidden]

Thanks bob, but I don't understand why your telling me this ? And what is a CPN ? I don't have one

[Piggysqueak]

Hello dear Sandraan

I thought about you and wondered how you got on at the GP

Please know we are all here for you

Sometimes the worry of getting worse is worse than you will actually be

And after what jrcnpg has said I feel very positive for you

I'm sure it will all be worth it

Love squeak 🐷🐭xxx

[Sandraan in reply to Piggysqueak]

Thanks squeak il message you tomorrow, been out all day, just got in late, so catch you tommorow, let me know how you are xx

[Piggysqueak in reply to Sandraan]

Hi sandraan

Nice to hear from you

I'm finally at the end of my first day having stopped the gabapentin and slowly restarted low dose of pregabalin .

I'm some ways bit similar to what you will be doing

I woke up petrified of the pain I just knew I would experience and this is the honest truth and so relevant to you

It wasn't to bad at all much better than I thought or knew

I pray you have the same outcome

I know it won't always be like today but day one ✔️DONE

So good night God bless love

Love squeak 🐷🐭xx

[Sandraan in reply to Piggysqueak]

Thank you squeak you take care Il message you later mornings are awful for me xx

[skcim]

Hi Sandraan, how are you today? i hope you are coping and looking after yourself and the anxiety has eased a bit. I feel a bit better today, because yesterday was very bad. xxx

[Sandraan in reply to skcim]

Oh Skcim that's how I felt last Friday I was that bad it frightened me in to going the doctors today, I'm just coming home from my auntys il message you once I'm home, what do you think has triggered yours off to make you feel so bad ?? X

[Sandraan]

Sorry Skcim I'm no good of a morning, speak later x