Venlafaxine

[bookletters]

Hi Leo,

It took 8 weeks for venlafaxin to work for me, I was convinced it wasn't working at first but I was on it for years and it gave me loads of stability, great drug!
The doc gave me some sleeping tablets until the meds kicked in and that helped as I was not sleeping restfully at all and that was making me very tearful.
Apart from loss of appetite and insomnia I don't recall any major side effects....
Best of luck!!

[Leo]

Thanks, good to know its worth persevering with.

Just had my dose increased to 150mg and have been given sleeping tablets too. Touch wood no furthers side effects.

[bookletters]

Yes deffo!
I was convinced it wasn't working at all before the 8 weeks and it kicked in nicely :)

[Catbrian]

Most AD's are the same, they take time to find the right dose for each individual or to have any noticeable effect.

Hope it goes well

[bookletters]

I have been on citalopram for 7 months (dose was upped and I had a nasty relapse in july) and I am despairing that it's ever going to get me out of this!!
I feel like I am on a rollercoster: 2 okay days then the rest of the week bad!
Thank God my mood lifts in the evening, I least I have that!!!

[Catbrian]

My mood improves at night too, most people suffering depression experience similar fluctuations

[bookletters]

if the new meds haven't been working, could it be that I am slowly getting better "by myself" if that makes sense?

[bookletters]

Hi Leo,
How are things?
The side effects and symptoms you describe with Venlafaxin I had with citalopram.
Don't hesitate to let your GP up the dose if they think that can help. If doesn't help, don't despair, there are plenty of other drugs out there as not all of them work for everyone. Citalopram was an awful drug for me but it works great for other people....
I am off work too, luckily I am also self employed in addition to my main job so I am earning a little bit of money with my online business. What I like is that I can work at my own pace, at night if needed when my mood is better and it does bring in extra money for when I need to be off work.
I am going to post something about self employment in a different thread now.

[Leo]

Hi, I don't feel any different to be honest.

Been on the increased dose for 1 week now and no change. In fact I had such a bad day yesterday I stayed in bed all day.

I am looking into part time jobs at the moment. It's not that I don't want to work, just not where I am currently working.

[bookletters]

Leo, don't hesitate to tell your doc if you feel it's not working for you.
It's always a dilemma as you know it can take some time so you're not sure if it's best to give it up or not.... in any case, you can agree a date by which if it's not working you can switch or something I am sure.

[Leo]

Yeah, that's a point. I'm so up and down just now. Wednesday I didn't bother getting out of bed, but don't feel too bad today.

I. Think dramatically and permanently reducing my working hours will help in the long run.

Had some council today but I only get another 5 sessions so I don't see us being able to achieve much in those sessions tbh.

[bookletters]

You'll not feel that you are able to achieve much because the meds aren't helping you properly yet.
Don't hesitate to tell your GP, not all meds work for everyone. I was massively up and down on citalopram, kept thinking "it will kick in eventually".... just it didn't!
Back on venlafaxin now and after two days I am sleeping like a baby, feeling relax and I have a lot more oomph (which is half scaring me as I am thinking is this not too early?? Am I going bipolar??)

[Catbrian]

It's difficult to know what to do, Leo.  How long have you been on the current AD?  It's easy to get caught in a rut with the same AD doing little for us.  I'd say talk to GP, suggest a change, but sometimes that's never easy either, unless it's a complete cross-over

Good luck

[Leo]

I was on 75mg for 5 weeks and I have been on the 150mg for 1 week. Should the higher dose have kicked in by now?

[bookletters]

Not necessarily no Leo, the first time I took venlafaxin, it took 8 weeks. I was sleeping really badly and not knowing what to do with myself.... then at 8 weeks it kicked in nicely!
Give it a bit more time and see your GP if needed :)