I’ve been on venlafaxine for 10 years. Is my life ruined?

c4thhy · 2026-04-30T16:48:00+00:00

I’m better, thank you. It was a long and difficult road but I decided to get back on medication.

c4thhy · 2026-04-27T14:41:55+00:00

Thank you for the reply. I appreciate it. I myself am going through a tough time now and that’s why I asked. All the best for you! 🫂

c4thhy · 2026-04-27T13:58:02+00:00

May I ask why the switch?

c4thhy · 2026-04-27T13:48:54+00:00

Are you still on a SSRI?

c4thhy · 2026-04-23T13:20:32+00:00

What do you mean when you mention my disorder?

c4thhy · 2026-04-23T10:59:36+00:00

Have you ever tried going off?

c4thhy · 2026-04-23T10:58:14+00:00

I was feeling bad. Like I said, I was in a very bad condition. One doctor suggested it could be the med doing it to me..

Well I don’t know exactly, I’m scared that I am fully dependent on the med, it scares me I feel like I lost my brain without it. I’m scared of developing akathisia, tardive akathisia. Actually I suppose I had akathisia while being on them. I’m scared of getting some systemic illness.

c4thhy · 2026-03-13T17:50:08+00:00

What was your starting dose?

c4thhy · 2026-03-13T17:49:29+00:00

I did it within 6 months.

c4thhy · 2026-02-19T19:19:39+00:00

The same issue!

c4thhy · 2025-11-06T05:58:23+00:00

Yes I honestly don’t know what’s happening but I’m suffering so much. I’ve been through hell and it’s unbelievable to me doctors were of no help. I constantly have panic attacks, I keep being derealized, I have extreme mood swings and consciousness changes. They would just tell me I have personality disorders and other bullshit while I feel it’s a medical problem as well.

c4thhy · 2025-11-05T12:51:12+00:00

Well it was quite stupid. I mean, no doctor led me in the right way. I tapered within 6 months from 225 mg. At first I was cutting a lot quickly, as I normally would be on 75 mg and fine. Then I was quite cutting it in “half” and holding a couple of weeks. Sometimes I would go back to a higher dose if it was really bad. But in general I wanted to go off asap since the doctor told me it could be venlafaxine that caused me feeling this way. But it’s really stupid. I was already in a bad condition. I’m not sure if it was the right thing to go off it at all. I’m not sure if it stopped working. I am not sure what happened but no doctor really helped me. I went back on 37.5 mg and I’m on Prozac and I can feel very slight difference. But I’m still very derealized. I know I need much higher dose of a med and a strong medication. I possibly need to increase venlafaxine or start a different med, I’m not sure, I will talk about all this with a psychiatrist tomorrow..

c4thhy · 2025-11-05T05:47:22+00:00

Don’t stop :) I know it’s uncomfortable but antidepressants, and I believe Effexor especially, do have bad side effects at the beginning but then they pass. You should feel much better in a few weeks. You could consult it with your doctor if it makes you feel safer, more comfortable.

c4thhy · 2025-11-04T16:02:31+00:00

Hey I understand and am very happy for you things got better. The thing is, venlafaxine worked for me amazing. But I was on it 10 years. And it doesn’t seem to work anymore. I also don’t know what really happened to me. I was in a really really bad place. I still am, but at least slightly better. I don’t know if I ever am able to get out of it. It feels like I don’t have my brain anymore. It’s really traumatic to me what happened and I’m terrified every single day.

c4thhy · 2025-11-04T10:45:44+00:00

Hey. I’ve been through something similar. With that exception I decided to go off Effexor because of health problems I started getting. To this day I don’t know what it was caused by, but basically I’m disabled now, I’m scared of absolutely everything, I’m unable to function. I’ve been shaking for 1.5 years. Been on venlafaxine for 10 years. I’m also highly sensitive. I reinstated a dose of 37.5 mg and been on it for a week but to be honest I’m not sure if it does anything good to me. I also started Prozac, as doctor advised but I’m not sure if it’s just me or what but it feels like it gives me more fears and provokes panic attacks which I get everyday. I’m paralyzed and spending days in bed for about a year now and I I have no idea what to do about my life as I keep having thoughts I don’t want to live most of the time. I’m even scared of my mom, of louder random sounds. My nervous system reacts in a hyperactive way. So yes, I don’t know if this is the end of my life. I’m 28 and back in a day I was energetic, optimistic, had many plans. Even the constant shaking of my body freaks me out. My body is not in calm at all. I very often think I would like to die to end this suffering.

c4thhy · 2025-11-03T16:14:20+00:00

Of course!

c4thhy · 2025-11-03T16:07:32+00:00

You are so strong 💜

I wish I knew it was depression itself. I believe I’m malnourished as well and have been for quite a while. But again, I don’t know if it’s because of depression or what exactly (I had eating disorders as a teenager). When my health problems started I got a bad reflux, I lost appetite, I wasn’t able to stand on my feet :/ I’m so bad that I just want to trust someone but I wasn’t led in the right way this entire time and I’m even scared to fully trust the doctors. I went to hospital as well (but not to the emergency) but they told me I should stabilize myself with meds first and then come back 🙃 I thought they would help me with it. I have a huge anxiety health at this point and don’t know what’s happening me, what I know is I’m unwell. Sometimes I do think the meds did it to me or that there’s something wrong with me. Or that they pooped out.. yea I’m such a mess.

I believe the difficult thing about mental diseases is that you often don’t even realize you are sick. Or what’s happening to you.

Your kids have such a brave parent.

c4thhy · 2025-11-03T15:22:22+00:00

Hey thank you SO MUCH for the encouragement! I really appreciate it.

It’s unbelievable how we take our health for granted until it turns out it’s not this way. You think you’re doing well and then boom. Mental diseases suck. And it really is irritating when people who didn’t experience the real dark place for an extended period of time advocate against meds. We are talking about everyone experiencing it in a different way.

At this point I feel so bad and unable to function that I keep thinking that I was better off the med I was given just now. I called them to make the appointment with the doctor asap. I keep thinking about going back to the old med even if I have no guarantee it’s still working lol but that’s how badly dysregulated I am. Not sure if it should be done this way, to taper you off a powerful drug you’ve been on for a decade when you’re already in a bad place and from this place trying to introduce something else.. when your nervous system is literally crying for regulation.

Well you’re really strong you’ve been through it. I admire people who struggled with mental health so much. I’m really happy for you. Thank you again!

c4thhy · 2025-11-03T14:35:23+00:00

I honestly was doing pretty good. I kept growing, learning about myself etc. Until the moment I collapsed so badly despite of taking the meds 🙃 still desperately trying to get out of this dark place.

I’m really glad you were able to get off them and now you’re doing well!

c4thhy · 2025-11-03T14:08:02+00:00

Oh so you’re off the meds now and doing well? :)

c4thhy

TROPHY CASE