M
Mark84
Member
Hi, I hope I am posting this in the right place.
I have been on venlafaxine for some years now approx 6 years. Recently I found the side effects were outweighing the benefits (if any) . My psychiatrist agreed hat a change might be beneficial, I have tried coming off venlafaxine before and gave up as the side effects were horrendous . This time I am down dosing from 150mg to 75mg and also taking fluoxetine 20mg every second day eventually switching to it.
I am only 4 days into this change and I feel so awful it's hard to put it into words. My thoughts are all over the place. Suicidal thoughts are regular to try and escape the feeling. Agitated with people around me , basically housebound even more than usual. Nightmares when I sleep . There doesn't seem to be any time of peace or escape. Physically ; heart thumping , sweating , tired, headaches , weak , loss of appetite.
I really don't want to give in to it and start taking the venlafaxine fully again as I think I need this change but I am really struggling to deal with these withdrawal and changing feelings . Some people say it takes months ,
Is there anyone that can make me feel positive about this ?
I have been set tasks by my psychologist every week and I can't even do them ie outdoor exposure work with these feelings as it was the psychiatrist that changed it . I am scared of not doing the nessesary psychology work and ultimately loosing that service as it was 7 months waiting time .
I can't put it into words enough so anyone close to me can understand .
I feel exhausted.
Any help / advice , or experiences would be greatly appreciated at this time .
Many thanks for listening.
I have been on venlafaxine for some years now approx 6 years. Recently I found the side effects were outweighing the benefits (if any) . My psychiatrist agreed hat a change might be beneficial, I have tried coming off venlafaxine before and gave up as the side effects were horrendous . This time I am down dosing from 150mg to 75mg and also taking fluoxetine 20mg every second day eventually switching to it.
I am only 4 days into this change and I feel so awful it's hard to put it into words. My thoughts are all over the place. Suicidal thoughts are regular to try and escape the feeling. Agitated with people around me , basically housebound even more than usual. Nightmares when I sleep . There doesn't seem to be any time of peace or escape. Physically ; heart thumping , sweating , tired, headaches , weak , loss of appetite.
I really don't want to give in to it and start taking the venlafaxine fully again as I think I need this change but I am really struggling to deal with these withdrawal and changing feelings . Some people say it takes months ,
Is there anyone that can make me feel positive about this ?
I have been set tasks by my psychologist every week and I can't even do them ie outdoor exposure work with these feelings as it was the psychiatrist that changed it . I am scared of not doing the nessesary psychology work and ultimately loosing that service as it was 7 months waiting time .
I can't put it into words enough so anyone close to me can understand .
I feel exhausted.
Any help / advice , or experiences would be greatly appreciated at this time .
Many thanks for listening.