Venlafaxine 37.5mg start up - PTSD/GAD/PND

Hi Everyone

Long story but diagnosed with PTSD/GAD/PND and over the past few weeks have been on the following:

Fluoxetine - 11 days - made me manic
Setraline - 4 weeks - made me suicidal
Mirtazapine - 11 days - made me distant/disconnected/motionless

I've since had a 4-5 day break and seen my GP who has put me on Venlafaxine.

I have a 9 week old baby and my anxiety begins in a morning usually when I wake up and tends to fade late afternoon. I started taking the Venlafaxine yesterday as soon as the doctor prescribed it 1.30pm ish
about 1/2 an hour later I had terrible nausea and began to have a tingling in my arms and had to go to bed. This was followed by hot and cold sweats and toilet trouble.

The symptoms eased slightly late rafter noon early evening and just thought I may be coming down with something. However - woke up this morning with bad nausea and tingling in my arms again (however no anxiety just felt really ill). This has since eased off this afternoon.

If anyone can help my questions are:

Has anyone been on this medication and are these side effects common?

Will it or when will these side effects fade?

Could it be that my anxiety has been replaced with these unwanted side effects as the timings are the same? And if so will they go as the tablets kick in?

Hope this makes sense and any advice/info would be gratefully received.

Thanks X

Hello and welcome!

I am sorry you hare having a tough time finding an Rx that is just right for you. I know this must be frustrating since you just want to feel your best at this time!

However, it's great that you are continuing to find recovery with your continued perseverance...and lets hope this current med is the one that helps! :)

The side effects you describe are typical...and as you suspect, could also be a crossover mix of anxiety in there as well.

The good news is that with coping skills, and time, all this will phase out as you continue to progress.

The worst of start up side effects usually are gone after the second week...and therapeutic levels are reached around the 6-8th week...

...so hang in there and do your best to work some self help exercises daily...it will make a big difference! We have great material in our Resources at the top of the main forum page here.

Keep posting with us as well if you find it helpful. We understand, care...and support is key!

Talk soon,

Scaredy Cat

Hi

Welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear you have been dealing with anxiety you are in good company here and we can relate to what you are going through.

I have been on Venlafaxine and found it to be a good medication but it seems to be the norm for the first few weeks of any medication to be tough and things seem to get worse before they get better so stick with it if you can.

Also look into talking therapy is I feel this is the most effective way of gaining recovery.

Keep us posted.

Hibee