Is Venlafaxine safe?

[haggis1984]

Bit bored so was randomly clicking on links for sites related to consumer issues and came accross this: The Effexorfx (Venlafaxine) Website

 

 

Does anyone know if this information is up to date? Has the drug been changed at all?

 

Been taking for a few months now with no severe problems but a bit scared now!

[My Real Name]

Many drugs have serious side effects. There is a balance to be made between the benefit and known risks.

 

The problem is where the risks and costs are either unknown, or ignored.

 

If you're concerned, ask your GP / specialist about the known side effects, how you can monitor them effectively, and whether they are worth enduring.

 

The website and links from it appear to be based on unitary anecdotal evidence.

[haggis1984]

Thanks My Real Name, ill be asking the Doc.

 

The concern I had was the links to the FDA wesbite.

 

Was really shocked to find that when I was just blindly following links on consumer issues.

[pmduk69]

I was taken off this because I have high blood pressure and there are some concerns about the use of venlafaxine in hypertensive patients. Talk to your GP if you're at all concerned

[geriann]

i'm on 375mg venlafaxine xl.

my onl side effect has been feeling constantly tired.

although that only started on the 300mg and higher dose.

[yogidee]

Ive had really bad side effects when over 225mg, but have had problems with wthdraw sysmptoms when trying to reduce this, has anyone else experienced the same??

[haggis1984]

Yup yogidee.

 

Serious insomnia. I cannot get to sleep before 3am since starting venlafaxine. Doesn't matter how much excercise I do, what time I wake up the previous morning or anything.

 

Havent tried reducing the dose but I have heard that venlafaxine is one of the worst anti-depressants for withdrawl symptoms.

[Turning Worm]

I tried venlafaxine but i didnt like its onset effects.

A few years later (after becoming more drug mature ) I requested duloxetine an SNRI - which felt like venlafaxine when i first started taking it, but I had real success and no discontinuation syndrome when i experimented with stopping.

 

have a look at erowid - unlike FRANK, its unbiased information:

Erowid SSRI Vault

[geriann]

have a look at erowid - unlike FRANK, its unbiased information:

Erowid SSRI Vault

 

venlafaxine [effexor] is not a SSRI, it's a SNRI.

here's the erowid link:

Erowid Venlafaxine (Effexor) Vault

 

there's so much information about the side effects on any medication on the web.

all the different sorts of psychiatric medications have lists of the side effects and some have withdrawel effects too.

everyone reacts differently to a drug.

some people on venlafaxine have terrible side effects, some might have small managable side effects, some might have no side effects at all.

it's very easy to get scared from all stuff written about these drugs, but i know i'd rather take a drug that "might" hve side effects, than be overwhelmed by my depression/anxiety if i didn't take anything.

 

each time i've been put on a new medication i've collected infomation off the net, put it all together and kept it.

so i have a 9 page file on everything about venlafaxine on my computer and in my diary.

 

i've been on venlafaxine xl for about 13.5 months. i've been on 375mg for nearly 9 months.

when i was on 75-225mg i had no side effects at all.

when i went on 300mg i started to get tiredness.

since i've been on 375mg i've been tired every single day and i get "hot flushes".

the hot flushes didn't bother me in the winter, but now the weather is warming it is annoying me.

 

i have sometimes missed 1 days dose, but i have noticed one withdrawal symptom.

say if i missed my friday dose, then on the saturday morning i'd wake up remembering a weird, long, complex dream. not usually a nightmare, just a strange dream.

it doesn't bother me though.

 

HAGGIS1984 -the fact you've had no side effects after a few months might mean you never have any.

although there is always the chance you might have side effects if your dr increases your dose.

my psychiarist says venlafaxine is one of the best antidepressants!

if you ever have side effects or you're worried about what medication you're on don't be afraid to tell your dr.

[Turning Worm]

Thanks geriann,

I was trying to find a link to Duloxetine, which is an SNRI like Venlafaxine, but Erowid pointed to the SSRI vault. Rare error: I'll get onto Fire about it. Sorry I posted the wrong link.

 

I actually take SNRI for muscular pain (it effects norepiniphine, as well as serotonin) and has less side-effects than Amytriptaline. It also lifts my mood noticably within an hour .

 

Yes, I have noticed very long dreaming session lasting upto 5 hours. I just take it as a form of entertainment now.