Hi from Spain

[MagicWriter2019]

Hi, I recently moved to Spain in the hope of improving my physical and mental health. I am a 64year old woman who has suffered with depression on and off for years. Or maybe I always had it, it just was a bit up and down and I occasionally didn’t notice it so much. Anyway, I have recently been taken off venlafaxine after being on as much as 300mg, about a year ago. But, boy, am I suffering. My Spanish gp has been horrified that I was on so much different medications without any specialist input, such as a psychiatrist for my mental health problems. They have put me on Vortioxetina instead, starting on 5mg and working up to 15mg over three weeks. If anyone has any experience of either coming off Venlafaxine or being on Vortioxetina I would love to hear your experiences, good as well as bad please.

 

[user9898]

Welcome @MagicWriter2019 ! I have been off venlafaxine since 3 months now and it's a completely different life and personality. I no longer suffer emotional blunting but I get a bit more depressed. The anxiety is about the same. No increased appetite anymore. The increased emotions were a bit too much to handle in the beginning though but it has stabilized. Did you suffer any side effects from it?
I hope you enjoy Spain!

 

[Passionflower]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I am afraid I haven't even heard of Vortioxetina so can't help you there.

 

[Jules5]

Hi welcome to the forum. I take 225 mgs of venlafaxine. I have been on it for 10 years and they say it is a hard withdraw when you stop taking it.

I am so sorry you were prescribed meds without a psychiatrist. Glad you are getting good care now from your gp. Hope you love Spain and have great Holidays. Hugs Jules

 

[yellows]

I am on the same dose of vanlafaxine 225mg some days cant remember if I took it or not but by the afternoon I no I ain't cos I start shaking and feeling different.

 

[Fairy Lucretia]

welcome to the forum x love from fairy Lu xxxx

 

[midnightphoenix]

Hi Magicwriter and welcome to the forum, we're happy to have you here

 

[MagicWriter2019]

Welcome @MagicWriter2019 ! I have been off venlafaxine since 3 months now and it's a completely different life and personality. I no longer suffer emotional blunting but I get a bit more depressed. The anxiety is about the same. No increased appetite anymore. The increased emotions were a bit too much to handle in the beginning though but it has stabilized. Did you suffer any side effects from it?
I hope you enjoy Spain!

Hi, I probably was suffering side effects from it, but think I felt so drugged up from taking it and other quite strong drugs for physical health problems I wouldn’t like to say for sure.

Glad you have managed to come out the other side without too much long term problems.

I am loving Spain and hope to get off most of my meds for good eventually. I feel as though the doctors here have more time to listen to you and want to help you. I know the doctors back home are in a position where they can’t do much more than dole out more and more drugs to folk. Sadly, the NHS is going down the pan mega quick due to lack of long term funding.

 

[MagicWriter2019]

Hi welcome to the forum. I take 225 mgs of venlafaxine. I have been on it for 10 years and they say it is a hard withdraw when you stop taking it.

I am so sorry you were prescribed meds without a psychiatrist. Glad you are getting good care now from your gp. Hope you love Spain and have great Holidays. Hugs Jules

Hi Jules
Am loving Spain, it’s weather and it’s people . Having a doctor who has the time to listen to you makes such a difference, but withdrawal is not for the faint hearted, it’s been rough!

 

[Mintymint]

Hi and welcome to the forum. It's a bit stormy in Spain or likely to be. Do take care and enjoy being with us.

 

[MagicWriter2019]

I am on the same dose of vanlafaxine 225mg some days cant remember if I took it or not but by the afternoon I no I ain't cos I start shaking and feeling different.

Hi, have found to my dismay, it’s not a great drug to be prescribed. When you think how bad just missing one dose can be, says it all really

 

[MagicWriter2019]

Hi and welcome to the forum. It's a bit stormy in Spain or likely to be. Do take care and enjoy being with us.

Hi, not so bad over on the Costa del Sol side. We seem to miss the worst of the Gota Fria when they come, but it does get cold. Well, we think it’s cold lol!

 

[Mintymint]

Hi, not so bad over on the Costa del Sol side. We seem to miss the worst of the Gota Fria when they come, but it does get cold. Well, we think it’s cold lol!

Well, all good, then! I haven't been to Spain in ages, but I do love your Rioja. Spain is a lot warmer than the UK though. Here we have a nasty easterly wind.

 

[TulipIceCream]

Hi Jules
Am loving Spain, it’s weather and it’s people . Having a doctor who has the time to listen to you makes such a difference, but withdrawal is not for the faint hearted, it’s been rough!

That's wonderful! I hope it goes well for you there

 

[user9898]

Hi, I probably was suffering side effects from it, but think I felt so drugged up from taking it and other quite strong drugs for physical health problems I wouldn’t like to say for sure.

Glad you have managed to come out the other side without too much long term problems.

I am loving Spain and hope to get off most of my meds for good eventually. I feel as though the doctors here have more time to listen to you and want to help you. I know the doctors back home are in a position where they can’t do much more than dole out more and more drugs to folk. Sadly, the NHS is going down the pan mega quick due to lack of long term funding.

Good to hear you like your new country, it can be stressful moving. I also moved a few years ago and it can be hard. I think it's a good ambition to stop the meds in the future when things stabilize.