Depression

[Abigail]

I saw the mental health team on Monday for an assessment. I start cognitive behavioural therapy next week. It's done over the phone for 30mins every week. I've also got to chart my mood with a or every hour of the day. So far I haven't started that task.

The sun has had a pretty positive effect on me actually. I just wish I had time to sit out and enjoy it instead of doing work.

[Tori]

Good luck; I hope it's useful!
I had to do the and thing once, but also chart what I was doing to see if it had any effect on my mood...

[Abigail]

I changed from Citalopram to Venlafaxine 75mg prolonged released on Friday. I feel like a zombie already I loaded the dishwasher this morning and it wiped me out. That's all I've done today apart from sleep. I know the first few weeks are always rough on new meds but this is ridiculous. I can't think straight. I have an appointment with my GP on Friday to review.

Has anyone else taken venlafaxine? I've read that the withdrawals are hell but nothing about being ridiculously tired and unable to do anything.

[Perdita]

I changed from Citalopram to Venlafaxine 75mg prolonged released on Friday. I feel like a zombie already I loaded the dishwasher this morning and it wiped me out. That's all I've done today apart from sleep. I know the first few weeks are always rough on new meds but this is ridiculous. I can't think straight. I have an appointment with my GP on Friday to review.

Has anyone else taken venlafaxine? I've read that the withdrawals are hell but nothing about being ridiculously tired and unable to do anything.

Hey Abigail, good to see you here, missed you xx. I don't have any experience with Venlafaxine but good to know you are seeing the doctor on Friday, discuss all your symptoms, hope you can get the right medication to help you without those side effects xxx

[Abigail]

The doctor told me to persist a little longer and ordered some blood tests to rule out thyroid, anaemia and diabetes. Things have gotten worse over the weekend, I can't get up before midday (I just can't open my eyes) and my joints are aching constantly. I have to go back in a few weeks but if this carries on much longer, I'll be going back and asking to stop the venlafaxine. I'm just concerned about the effects of stopping as it's widely known to be the hardest anti-depressant to get off because of the withdrawals. I'm not sure I can feel much worse at the moment so I'm not worrying too much about it.

[alan45]

Abigail

You can wean yourself off all anti depressants. I managed myself by cutting down the dosage gradually rather than going cold turkey on them. In fairness though you havent been on this new one very long so give it a chance to see if the effects lessen. As Perdy says speak with your GP. See if he/she will get you an appointment with a good psychologist. Talking to a Mental Health professional always helps

[Tori]

Hi Abigail, how're you getting on with Venla now? Hopefully the side effects have weaned off now you're had about 10 days to get it in your system

[Abigail]

I had to stop the venlafaxine after 4 weeks, I was sleeping all the time and wasn't feeling any benefit. I know it takes about 6 weeks to start feeling better and the fatigue would eventually pass but it is the worst drug I've ever taken. Stopping abruptly wasn't a good idea though. It has a very short half-life so I felt as sick as a dog for ten days afterwards. I couldn't get an appointment with my GP for several days so I ran out and just decided to try living without anti-depressants. I've taken anti-depressants for 2.5 years and before that I was on a mood stabiliser for 3 years so I'm not really used to regulating my brain chemicals naturally.

I've been off venlafaxine just under 3 weeks and I felt myself sliding back. I didn't want to risk a big crash so I saw my GP today and he prescribed sertraline. I took it this morning, this afternoon I had bundles of energy which is unusual for me. I could've managed a bit longer without. A friend attempted suicide last week and was sectioned. It's been playing on my mind and I'd rather not feel like that again.

Long term I don't know what is going to happen. The current guidelines state patients should be weaned off after 8 months of stability but I've never managed to get beyond ~4 months on SSRI/SNRI before I relapse. I think I'm going to ask for a psychiatric referral with a view to going back on a mood stabiliser. I felt a lot more human and stable than I do on SSRIs.

[Perdita]

I had to stop the venlafaxine after 4 weeks, I was sleeping all the time and wasn't feeling any benefit. I know it takes about 6 weeks to start feeling better and the fatigue would eventually pass but it is the worst drug I've ever taken. Stopping abruptly wasn't a good idea though. It has a very short half-life so I felt as sick as a dog for ten days afterwards. I couldn't get an appointment with my GP for several days so I ran out and just decided to try living without anti-depressants. I've taken anti-depressants for 2.5 years and before that I was on a mood stabiliser for 3 years so I'm not really used to regulating my brain chemicals naturally.

I've been off venlafaxine just under 3 weeks and I felt myself sliding back. I didn't want to risk a big crash so I saw my GP today and he prescribed sertraline. I took it this morning, this afternoon I had bundles of energy which is unusual for me. I could've managed a bit longer without. A friend attempted suicide last week and was sectioned. It's been playing on my mind and I'd rather not feel like that again.

Long term I don't know what is going to happen. The current guidelines state patients should be weaned off after 8 months of stability but I've never managed to get beyond ~4 months on SSRI/SNRI before I relapse. I think I'm going to ask for a psychiatric referral with a view to going back on a mood stabiliser. I felt a lot more human and stable than I do on SSRIs.

Good news, glad you are feeling better xxx

[Tori]

I had to stop the venlafaxine after 4 weeks, I was sleeping all the time and wasn't feeling any benefit. I know it takes about 6 weeks to start feeling better and the fatigue would eventually pass but it is the worst drug I've ever taken. Stopping abruptly wasn't a good idea though. It has a very short half-life so I felt as sick as a dog for ten days afterwards. I couldn't get an appointment with my GP for several days so I ran out and just decided to try living without anti-depressants. I've taken anti-depressants for 2.5 years and before that I was on a mood stabiliser for 3 years so I'm not really used to regulating my brain chemicals naturally.

I've been off venlafaxine just under 3 weeks and I felt myself sliding back. I didn't want to risk a big crash so I saw my GP today and he prescribed sertraline. I took it this morning, this afternoon I had bundles of energy which is unusual for me. I could've managed a bit longer without. A friend attempted suicide last week and was sectioned. It's been playing on my mind and I'd rather not feel like that again.

Long term I don't know what is going to happen. The current guidelines state patients should be weaned off after 8 months of stability but I've never managed to get beyond ~4 months on SSRI/SNRI before I relapse. I think I'm going to ask for a psychiatric referral with a view to going back on a mood stabiliser. I felt a lot more human and stable than I do on SSRIs.

Good luck with the Sertraline and possible mood stabiliser! Hopefully finding the right drug will really help you x