Venlafaxine - anyone have issues with it

[WaitingToGo]

I'm making a thread of its own as I asked for this info in another thread and it was getting lost.

They are going to put me on Venlafaxine. I'm a bit concerned about some of the potential side effects. Have any of you nice people had any issues with taking it. I was taking Olanzapine but stopped as it wasn't doing anything for me except increase my appetite.
I'm concerned about the following in no particular order
insomnia (have this already and take either Zolpidem or Dormidina which have stopped being effective even after doubling the dose)
constipation
hair loss
drowsy feeling (I need to drive to work)
lack of concentration (I work in IT and I need the few brain cells I have left)

The shrink said take it at night, but other sources say take it in the morning so I don't know what or who to believe.

Thanks

 

[bjop]

I used to take Venlafaxine (Effexor) for about six months at different doses, at first 75mg then 150mg. Didn't do anything for me. Didn't help with depressive episodes but didn't get any side effects either. But of course that's just me. Meds work differently on everyone, the only real way to know is to try it and (if possible) stay closely in contact with the person that prescribed it to you to share any of the effects (positive or negative) to adapt your treatment. I wouldn't worry too much, Venlafaxine is a commonly used drug and it's easy to go on and off it if it doesn't match your needs. In any case, i hope it will help you, good luck on your journey!

Edit: I forgot to say i used to take it in the morning after waking up.

 

[downndone2]

My issue was withdrawing from it. It definitely added to manic rage u experienced after illness.

 

[WaitingToGo]

The trouble is for me I'm so far down the road of depression I doubt anything can fix it, either chemical or so called therapies. I suppose I'll have to take this stuff and see what happens. I think they were starting me at 75mg. But did you folks take it in the evening or morning because I've got conflicting answers

 

[cwsyf]

I was on Venlafaxine for almost a year and it's the only medication I've ever been on that actually helped with my depressive episodes but it also kept me from feeling much of anything and ruined my sex drive and the combination of those made me feel arguably worse, other than those I didn't notice any side effects but of course different medications will work on everyone differently so that shouldn't deter you from trying it and seeing if/how it works for you.

 

[WaitingToGo]

I was on Venlafaxine for almost a year and it's the only medication I've ever been on that actually helped with my depressive episodes but it also kept me from feeling much of anything and ruined my sex drive and the combination of those made me feel arguably worse, other than those I didn't notice any side effects but of course different medications will work on everyone differently so that shouldn't deter you from trying it and seeing if/how it works for you.

Thanks for your reply. Lack of sex drive is the least of my worries. I'll have to give it a try as Citalopram wasn't working anymore for me.

 

[cwsyf]

Thanks for your reply. Lack of sex drive is the least of my worries. I'll have to give it a try as Citalopram wasn't working anymore for me.

I honestly can't remember all the different medications I've gone through but all I know is that was the one that had any effect for me. The lack of sex drive thing definitely wouldn't be a deterrent for a lot of people, it did put a lot of unnecessary stress on my ex-fiancée and myself at the time so just a very specific scenario. I do hope it turns out well for you though.

 

[WaitingToGo]

I honestly can't remember all the different medications I've gone through but all I know is that was the one that had any effect for me. The lack of sex drive thing definitely wouldn't be a deterrent for a lot of people, it did put a lot of unnecessary stress on my ex-fiancée and myself at the time so just a very specific scenario. I do hope it turns out well for you though.

when did you take it. Morning or evening

 

[cwsyf]

when did you take it. Morning or evening

Mornings if I recall, it's been 4 years or so since I was on it. Been unmedicated since because I tried to ctb and now find it impossible to get prescribed anything that works at all.

 

[WaitingToGo]

Mornings if I recall, it's been 4 years or so since I was on it. Been unmedicated since because I tried to ctb and now find it impossible to get prescribed anything that works at all.

Thank you. That's what I heard but my shrink says the evening. I'll take it in the morning. I'll be picking it up on Tuesday

 

[Dubito]

A common sideeffect of venlafaxin is sweating in higher doses from 150mg. But when it helps you can leave with that.

 

[cwsyf]

Thank you. That's what I heard but my shrink says the evening. I'll take it in the morning. I'll be picking it up on Tuesday

Good luck my friend, really hoping it does help you.

 

[WaitingToGo]

Good luck my friend, really hoping it does help you.

Thank you. This is the last chance for me. I've already made my provisional ctb date and if I still feel like this in mid July I'll carry it out. Thanks for the info on this new for me medication

 

[suicidesheep31.1]

I was sweating a lot with this medicine.
And I was having a lot of night jerks. More than usual.

 

[WaitingToGo]

I was sweating a lot with this medicine.
And I was having a lot of night jerks. More than usual.

@Dubito also mentioned sweating too. Was that on 75mg dose?

 

[suicidesheep31.1]

Was that on 75mg dose?

I don't remember. But this is possible. I kept it only for one month due to that.

 

[chr74]

i took it for years and didnt have any sweating, its worth giving it a try as it can be very good for some people

it shouldnt matter if you take it in morning or evening as i believe it is an extended release medication? (so it is released evenly over 24 hours)

i ended up taking 150mg and the only side effect i got was vivid dreaming, it might give you some start up side effects such as dry mouth or tiredness but then that tends to pass after a week or two

i used to take mine in the morning

 

[WaitingToGo]

i took it for years and didnt have any sweating, its worth giving it a try as it can be very good for some people

it shouldnt matter if you take it in morning or evening as i believe it is an extended release medication? (so it is released evenly over 24 hours)

i ended up taking 150mg and the only side effect i got was vivid dreaming, it might give you some start up side effects such as dry mouth or tiredness but then that tends to pass after a week or two

i used to take mine in the morning

That's interesting. Thanks for your reply. I'll just have to see how it affects me

 

[chr74]

if your life is in 'ok' order then there a good chance it will be helpful

i think thats what a lot of psychiatrists etc say.. they basically say if your life is terrible (eg no family or relationships, no job, no connection to the community, living in poverty etc etc) then they dont expect antidepressants to magically make everything ok

you mentioned you have a job in IT so thats a good plus already :)