My experience with Venlafaxine (Effecor, Velafax)

Hello! I wanted to share my experience with venlafaxine because it's a postitive one, it's a realy good fit for me! When I was first prescribed, I was scared to start it because of a lot of negative experiences I read, I was worried my psychiatrist didn't mention problems with it. So I'm sorry for the horrible things some people went through, for me it's been great. I didn't have a reason to stop so I don't know about withdrawl and those problems yet.

MENTAL HEALTH / THERAPY / MEDS I started psychotherapy for depression and anxiety. Even though I had racing thoughts, horrible self-worth, struggled to function, I didn’t fully see myself as "depressed." I thought I just needed to get my life together. I was struggling with daily life and finishing university, constantly tired, sleeping poorly, anxious. Talk therapy helped me open up and manage my anxious thoughts. Early on, my psychologist recommended I see a psychiatrist and consider medication because of sleep issues and depression. I was first prescribed Zoloft. It helped me to some extent - I had less anxiety, better mood, but still tired, low mental energy, sleep problems. I see a different psychiatrist now. I take Trittico for sleep, stoped Zoloft, been off antidepresants for couple of months, now on Velafax for 6 months. He suspects I have some form and symptoms of ADHD, also prescribed Mefeda. I’ve continued therapy throughout, which has helped a lot.

VENLAFAXINE EXPERIENCE 75 mg I feel better than I felt in the last couple of years! I have more energy in general, more focus, more will to live actually. My anxiety and racing thoughts are way better. I function so much better with daily life and tasks. Its honestly been amazing help.

SIDE EFFECTS Night sweating! When I started taking it the night sweats were horrible and I would be drenched in sweat, had to change my pjs during the night. After a month or 2 it got better. Generaly I sweat a lot more and I'm more sensitive to heat. A light workout and I'm completly sweaty. Where I live the summer is realy hot, so far I havr managed but I'm always sweaty. I do think the medication sometimes affects my heart rate when I work out, mentioned it to my doctor and it's ok.

I don't think I had any weird mental side effects. I also don't think it affected my weight - I did put on weight in the last couple of years and have trouble losing it, but it is consistant on venlafaxine.

I hope I stay on this medication for a while because I feel so much better, I feel like I got myself back. No withdrawl for some time, I hope.