Venlofaxine for Anxiety and Insomnia

Interesting and well done Twin Lolly.
Crazy Mum I sympathise , that’s where I am at the mo.

Withdrawal symptoms can be horrendous. If i missed a day it felt like my brain was hiccuping.

I was on 200mg venlafaxine for many years. I've been weaning myself off them very slowly but halted at a lower level after family deaths, then started reducing them again, very slowly. This has been since 2015. Hopefully I will come off them in April. I'm on a 1/4 of a 50 mg tablet.

You have to reduce the dosage very gradually, not just stop taking the meds. GP would advise.

Cid24 I have been taking it for the same amount of time, I don't think I could stop taking them, I've tried but the side effects were dreadful . Cold sweats, shaking ,anxiety, headaches which don't sound very serious but is absolutely dreadful to live with. So back on the pills ...

You may wish to buy 3 mg Melatonin tablets from Piping Rock 3 bottles with postage cost about £20. Its 1 a night as there are 250 tablets in each bottle.
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These tablets are bought direct from the manufacturer and do not need a prescription.

A visit or discussion with the GP sounds sensible. Also, I just wanted to say that a Kindle won't necessarily interfere with sleep. Especially they up to date ones that don't have annoying light. I use mine most nights and haven't noticed any problems with getting to sleep. I would not use a phone in bed because that does interfere with sleep.

The medication OP takes is for depression and anxiety, not for insomnia 4allweknow. In your situation I would ask my GP if they can help. Reading a Kindle, like using any screen, isn’t conducive to sleeping so I would try not using it before or in bed.

Can't help but wonder if I need some medication. Rarely in bed by 1.30 am and have to read my Kindle in the dark to help me fall asleep, usually takes 30 - 40 mins. Then I'm wide awake 2 to 3 hours later. Try reading again but usually takes to near 6 am before my Kindle drops out my hands. Then I'm awake, between 7 and 8 am. If I have something specific on I have to have an alarm just in case I sleep through. I can definitely sympathise. Given that you indicate medication isn't really helping don't think I'll raise issue with GP. Been going on for nearly 3 years.

I’ve been on it for about 25 years. No side effects unless I forget to take it! I’d like to come off it now but fear the withdrawal symptoms. So that’s the other side of the coin!

I have been on Venlafaxine for some time. I started taking it before I retired and at that time was getting insomnia which the venlafaxine improved a bit but not much. As soon as I retired the insomnia stopped .

I started venlafaxine around 6 months ago and insomnia definitely got worse initially. It improved as I got used to it. I have recently had to increase my dose and have found insomnia a problem again. Only 3 weeks into new dose so pretty sure it is just me getting used to it.

Hopefully this will prove to be the case for you 🤞🏻.

Reassuring to hear people say they have been on venlafaxine for some time, and they are happy with it.

Wishing you easier times ahead mrsmeldrew.

I have taken Venlafaxine for years. I just take one tablet in a morning now.
Just give it a bit longer to get into your system. I hope it works for you.

Also your GP is correct - 3 weeks isn't long and any meds take at least 6/8 weeks to start working

I have taken Venlofaxine for many years with no side effects. I take 150mg per day so take 1 in morning and 1 x evening.
For the past year have also taken 1 x magnesium tablet at night as read it helped with sleep and isn't counter effective to the Venlifaxine. I now sleep soundly for 8 hours every night

Thanks for your responses. There are so many articles now in the media on chronic insomnia and it affects all ages.

You have my sympathies Mrs Meldrew and I hope you find a solution.

I was put on venlofaxine years ago, first night starting it, I was in charge of care home, doing a sleep in- golly the side effects were terrible, just lay there & involuntarily yawned & clock watched all night. Also made me feel liverish, & sickly.
Switched me on to trazedone, & got the best sleep ever, plus zopiclone. Managed to wean off trazedone

Mr L was on it for a while and said it played havoc with his REM sleep. He found 5HTP helped but checked with the GP first for potential interactions with his other meds.
I hope you manage to find the medication that suits you best.

I have taken it for years. Decades. I do have interrupted sleep quite often but that’s a fairly recent thing and doesn’t stress me, at least my body is resting even if my brain isn’t. As it’s only recently started and I have been taking Venlafaxine for many years, I don’t believe it’s a side effect in my case, more a matter of needing less sleep as one gets older.

I wouldn’t mix medicines without your doctor’s advice. Ask what they suggest.