Venlafaxine symptoms and conditions

There are a lot of bad reviews from people going from buproprion straight into budeprion, I took buproprion for 19yrs, then venlafaxine for 2yrs. I have recently asked my doctor to discontinue the venlafaxine (due to side effects) and put me back on buproprion, but ended up with budeprion sr instead. (insurance issues, of course) Venlafaxine (Effexor, Cymbalta) was a good drug during an extremely traumatic time in my life, but it made me sleepy and "stupid". I was skeptical about the change to budeprion because of posts on this website, but took the chance anyway since most of the bad experiences were from people who went from buproprion to budeprion with little or no warning of the change.

Remember, I was on buproprion for 19yrs, but had a 2yr break before taking budeprion,

I now have my life back. After 2yrs in limbo on venlafaxine, I am now energetic, hungry, and excited. I no longer have to sleep 12-14 hours to feel rested, I no longer feel 'hungover' when I wake up, and I no longer spend my life sleeping or wishing for sleep. Buproprion always worked the best for me in the past, but due to some sudden and traumatic upheavals in my life and a major and very nearly successful suidice attemp, my doctor changed my prescription to venlafaxine and seroquel(now THERE is a BAD drug). Maybe it was the 2yr break from buproprion, or, maybe it just works for me, I don't know. But this drug has changed my life. I don't have mid-day crashes like other people have reported, the nausea that I occasionally experience is beyond minor compared to venlafaxine, the only side effects I relate to are mild headaches and mild trouble swallowing which are a minor side effect when considering that other anti-depressants can seriously affect your sex life and over-all quality of life. If this drug is an option for you and you have been on buproprion, by all means, this site does by volume alone, prove that it's may not be the best one, but if other antidepressants have failed, especially if you have addictive issues, this just may be a drug you definitely want to try before chucking it because of bad reviews. I'm glad I gave it a shot, and if that should for any reason change, I will come back to this site and revise my opinion. After all it has only been 4months on this drug. For now, it works, and I love it. Best of luck to you all, I know how hard it is to find a really good antidepressant that works and does not have undesirable side effects that interfere with your quality of life.

Hi, I'm rapid cycling bipolar. I was taking 300mg of lithium a day and it helped a lot. Then started the crying and paranoid feelings again. I also took venlafaxine 150mg. My psych doc increased the venlafaxine to 225mg time released and the lithium to 300mg twice a day. I have really bad headache that make me sick to my stomach. Bad hand tremors, weight gain, extreme thirst, dry mouth, constant urination, confusion, memory loss, bad concentration, heart palpitation that are very scary and problems with my balance. I've been taking these meds for a year now. I'm hoping that I just need to get used to the new dosage. On the plus side mentally I'm great, it's just the physical aliments that are getting me. I have an appt. with my doc on the 13th. I'm hoping that he'll have some answers for me. Hang in there I know how you all feel! please tell me if anyone else has these same symptoms. Thanks,

i was advised to go onto this drug for depression 3years ago. i gained weight and lost my emotions had no remorse,guilt nor feelings for anything that was dear to me. i had no life. i feel that this drug has robbed me of the three years that i was on this devil drug. i lost my partner and close friends. i lost touch with reality. i was basically dead. i was in a catotonic state for three years. i was forced of this drug as it was causing problems to my heart. whilst comming off the drug i had memory loss and very nearly killed my partner and myself. i tried to hang myself and beat my partner up who had done nothing to me apart from love me. i told him on many occasions that i loved him but was not in love with him. which was far from the truth. it is the most horrible thing to be on this drug and then to come off it only to find that all your emotions come flooding back. even harder when you realise that your partner had had enough and left for his own safty! we are just retrying to repair the damage that this drug has done to our relationship and our lives. we due to this drug may not be alive today. please do not even attempt to try one day of this evil devilish drug. it is not worth it at all. god knows how many people have died and are suffering due to venlafaxine! i took it as i was told that it would help me. i trusted the doctors and took it. never again, NEVER

was on venlafaxine 75mg for about 6 months had to come off it as i was pregnant! felt sick tired dizzy but put it down to pregnancy. Was then put on dothipin which i could take while being pregnant but had to come off before baby was born.
Was put back on to venlafaxine in april 05. Developed a rash but was told it would go and to persist. Carried on taking instead of loosing weight after the baby i am putting it on also rash has come back over chest hands and feet are really itchy. Told my doctor i was coming off them. tried everyother day but i could not move my head was like jelly i felt sick tired my eyes were blurry i had to really focus. my brain felt like it was wobbling in my head it was so difficult with a young baby and a 10 yr old. I went back to the doctor who reduced me to 37.5mg i dont know what to do with myself my mother has had to have the kids my head it throbbing i cant see properly i feel sick so tired !
i am going back tomorrow as i need something to help me get off this vile drug. It should be banned i feel sorry for anyone who is experiencing what i am right now its an evil drugs and should not be recommended to anyone.

Positive: I get a good nights sleep.

Negative: I feel no emotion & weight gain. But I take with bromocriptine & venlafaxine. The venlaf.. & Quetiapine help the depression and insomnia caused by the bromo. I don't know which out of the three, or if the combination of all three, is causing me to some nights shake like I am freezing and my teeth chatter. But I have the heat cranked, three blankets on and i feel like I am sweating under the covers but I am still shaking like I am very cold. I don't understand that.

At first I was convinced that venlafaxine was a godsend after so many other anti-depressants failed to help me. However, i soon came to realise that i was becoming increasingly dependant on the drug as the side effects after missing a tablet were completely unbearable. not only does my depression come back with avengence, the dizziness and blurred eyesight has an immense effect on my day to day life. An hour after taking the drug again, however, I'm fine. being this dependant on such a drug will never help me overcome my depression, it just masks it. i want and need off this drug, it's pure evil.

Having been on Venlafaxine for 2 years and feeling well, I am trying to "get off" them, have reduced from 37.5mg twice a day to a quarter of a tablet ever second day over 3 months and I thought it would be fine to stop now, one week on, I feel terrible, started with a terrible pain in the left side of my head and very bad pain in left side of neck, couldn't stand bright lights, during the week I have had weak arms, sore throat, pain in chest like being kicked, dreadfull dizziness, can't think properly, feel close to tears for no reason, head feels like i'm inside a box, sort of muffled. Dry mouth, waking very early in the mornings- about 5am. bad diaroea for two days, feel like I have jet lagg, now today on day 8, feel low mood and am terrified of depression coming back, think I will take a quarter of a tablet tonight as have a holiday coming up and job interviews, can't deal with this now, so may have to go back on them for while ? I was fine taking them, and felt completly well again although I have put on about 40lbs, am also on Lithium so could be that ? anyone out there having same problems with this drug, all advice appreciated.

I have been taking 20mg Zocor (simvastatin) for 14 mos post heart attack/stent placement(2) in L. ventricle. About 2 monts ago I developed severe muscle pain and weakness in right forearm/elbow, left elbow, dexterity problems in the hands from time to time. I have had for some time; a burning sensation in the right leg, foot cramps, fuzzy vision and other symptoms. I am also taking other drugs; atenolol, lisinopril, asprin and venlafaxine, so they all had their part.