Anti depressants - Venlafaxine
Discussion
Thanks for replying - do you mind if I ask did they manage to come through it and hwo long it took? I have been on them for 7 years, and when I tried to come off them (with docs support) the side effects were terrible - awful mood swings, a feeling of being drunk without the good part (lightheaded and diassociated to reality) and these very strange almost 'tics' that felt like somebody had connected a battery to my brain. Horrible! The doctor has given me diazepam to deal with the side effects but I don't want to replace one with another.
Georgiegirl said:
Thanks for replying - do you mind if I ask did they manage to come through it and hwo long it took? I have been on them for 7 years, and when I tried to come off them (with docs support) the side effects were terrible - awful mood swings, a feeling of being drunk without the good part (lightheaded and diassociated to reality) and these very strange almost 'tics' that felt like somebody had connected a battery to my brain. Horrible! The doctor has given me diazepam to deal with the side effects but I don't want to replace one with another.
The most recent one was about four months to feel that she was back to some semblance of 'normality'. It was not easy at all at times, there were bad days and good days. She did persevers with it and she's very happy that she did. Stick with it Georgiegirl, it does get easier.As mentioned previously you shouldn't try to come off AD quickly. You may get 'withdrawl' symptoms. They should be less extreme if you reduce the dosage slowly.
Can I ask why you want to come of them? I appreciate being on the drugs for 7 years is not an ideal situation and ideally you want to be drug free. Are they not working anymore or are the side effects becoming an issue? As another poster mentioned there is an array of ADs, some of which work very well for some people and not for others. You may want to try another type.
I would look very serously into Diazepam before beginning to take it. I believe it can be addicted. I'm not a Doctor so please speak to him first before making changes to your current nedication or any issues you have about Diazepam.
Good luck and I hope you feel better soon
Can I ask why you want to come of them? I appreciate being on the drugs for 7 years is not an ideal situation and ideally you want to be drug free. Are they not working anymore or are the side effects becoming an issue? As another poster mentioned there is an array of ADs, some of which work very well for some people and not for others. You may want to try another type.
I would look very serously into Diazepam before beginning to take it. I believe it can be addicted. I'm not a Doctor so please speak to him first before making changes to your current nedication or any issues you have about Diazepam.
Good luck and I hope you feel better soon
Hi, thanks for the useful replies.
Long story short – been on antidepressants on and off from age 14 - 17 (now 25) Started off on Cipramil , amitriptaline, citalopram etc. None of them seemed to help much, so at 17 was put on Venlafaxine. Have been on this since. I am in a completely different place now, much more stable and have learnt some good coping techniques (all of which I have had to research/do on my own – last time I visited doc when I was feeling low she told me to drink more water, but this isn’t an anti nhs rant) so would like to try life without them.
To be honest, I’m pretty annoyed I was put on them in the first place, but they do dish them out like sweets. I don’t know if I need them or if I ever needed them but I will find out I guess.
Doc advised taking one every other day as 75mg is the smallest dose they make and is powder in a capsule so hard to half correctly. The trouble is, turns out I am very very sensitive to venlafaxine – so much so that if I miss one dose I am pretty much a wreck. Shaking, sweating, feeling drunk and disassociated, panic attacks, even full on hallucinations. Definitely not safe to drive and work would be..interesting! Went to doc who referred me to psychiatrist at hosp – their advice was ‘if she wants to come off she will have to cope with the side effects but here have some diazepam to take the edge off’.
Humph, that turned into a longer story than I intended – sorry! I’m just interested to hear others experiences so I can decide what to do best.
Long story short – been on antidepressants on and off from age 14 - 17 (now 25) Started off on Cipramil , amitriptaline, citalopram etc. None of them seemed to help much, so at 17 was put on Venlafaxine. Have been on this since. I am in a completely different place now, much more stable and have learnt some good coping techniques (all of which I have had to research/do on my own – last time I visited doc when I was feeling low she told me to drink more water, but this isn’t an anti nhs rant) so would like to try life without them.
To be honest, I’m pretty annoyed I was put on them in the first place, but they do dish them out like sweets. I don’t know if I need them or if I ever needed them but I will find out I guess.
Doc advised taking one every other day as 75mg is the smallest dose they make and is powder in a capsule so hard to half correctly. The trouble is, turns out I am very very sensitive to venlafaxine – so much so that if I miss one dose I am pretty much a wreck. Shaking, sweating, feeling drunk and disassociated, panic attacks, even full on hallucinations. Definitely not safe to drive and work would be..interesting! Went to doc who referred me to psychiatrist at hosp – their advice was ‘if she wants to come off she will have to cope with the side effects but here have some diazepam to take the edge off’.
Humph, that turned into a longer story than I intended – sorry! I’m just interested to hear others experiences so I can decide what to do best.
Edited by Georgiegirl on Wednesday 8th September 13:05
Hi GeorgieGirl, thanks for the additional information.
As far as I know the drug you are on has a very short half life i.e. it leaves your system very quickly and thus you have the full impact of the withdrawl symptoms after even a small reduction in the drug.
The recommendation is to come of the drug slowly, depending on how long you have been on the drug for. Some Doctors recommend taking a few months and gradually reducing your dosage. I appreciate it is difficult to reduce the dosage when they don't have the drug in smaller dosages. You could ask your Doctor if they have a liquid form of the drug, then you could measure exact amounts.
Unfortunately the withdrawl symptoms you describe are common in AD, which I know doesn't make it easier for you. It sounds like you are in a good place and have a positive attitude, so best of luck.
As far as I know the drug you are on has a very short half life i.e. it leaves your system very quickly and thus you have the full impact of the withdrawl symptoms after even a small reduction in the drug.
The recommendation is to come of the drug slowly, depending on how long you have been on the drug for. Some Doctors recommend taking a few months and gradually reducing your dosage. I appreciate it is difficult to reduce the dosage when they don't have the drug in smaller dosages. You could ask your Doctor if they have a liquid form of the drug, then you could measure exact amounts.
Unfortunately the withdrawl symptoms you describe are common in AD, which I know doesn't make it easier for you. It sounds like you are in a good place and have a positive attitude, so best of luck.
Hi there,
Fairly new to forum, but lurked for some time. Venlafaxine can take some time to come off as it can produce interesting effects as the dose decreases. Get problems with dizziness and swirliness.
You could used to get a lower dose tablet of 37.5mg as well as the 75mg capsule so the dose can be eased back even more slowly, these can then be cut if needed. Its the sudden drop that causes the problem.
Realistically it can take a good few months to completely come off them without going cold turkey. It does eventually pass however. Good luck.
Fairly new to forum, but lurked for some time. Venlafaxine can take some time to come off as it can produce interesting effects as the dose decreases. Get problems with dizziness and swirliness.
You could used to get a lower dose tablet of 37.5mg as well as the 75mg capsule so the dose can be eased back even more slowly, these can then be cut if needed. Its the sudden drop that causes the problem.
Realistically it can take a good few months to completely come off them without going cold turkey. It does eventually pass however. Good luck.
Thanks Guys - It's good to hear this is common and thanks for the wishes too! I think I will go back to the doctor and have a serious chat with them about it. What gets me currently is the fact that the withdrawal is worse than the actual feelings that caused me to first go on them! Talk about law of sod!
You have to see the humour in things as well though, last time I tried to come off them I was driving and swear blind I saw a piece of roadkill come back to life and start running about again! Horrific at the time but funny now!
You have to see the humour in things as well though, last time I tried to come off them I was driving and swear blind I saw a piece of roadkill come back to life and start running about again! Horrific at the time but funny now!
I was on Citalopram for 18months then they put me on Prozac for about the same time - when I eventually came off that it took me quite a few months on ever decreasing doses. If I dropped too fast it was like I was completely pissed, to the point that I would stagger into walls and doors - I broke every single glass in the house in about a month!
Even when I had come off the drugs I would still get the occasional giddiness with no warning. I guess you just have to sit it our but your symptoms do sound very severe. As you say, replacing one mind changing drug with another doesn't seem that clever.
Good luck and just do it very slowly, I used to split capsules and try to reduce the amount that way but it's not very scientific
Feel free to PM if you want.
Even when I had come off the drugs I would still get the occasional giddiness with no warning. I guess you just have to sit it our but your symptoms do sound very severe. As you say, replacing one mind changing drug with another doesn't seem that clever.
Good luck and just do it very slowly, I used to split capsules and try to reduce the amount that way but it's not very scientific
Feel free to PM if you want.
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