QuietGuy's Venlafaxine XR History

QuietGuy: Sex: M; Data Quality: 1 star; Dysthymia; Depression: 0; Mania: 0; Emotional: 0; Anxiety: 1; Compulsion: 1; External Stress: Severe; Rx Therapy; 63 M; Function: High; Distress: Low

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QuietGuy's Venlafaxine XR is for:

QuietGuy's Venlafaxine XR History (Stopped)
Venlafaxine XR (venlafaxine)
37.5 mg Daily Oct 04 - 06, 2009
75 mg Daily Oct 06 - 14, 2009
37.5 mg Daily Oct 14 - Dec 01, 2009
37.5 mg Daily Dec 01, 2009 - Mar 01, 2012
24.75 mg Daily Mar 01, 2012 - Feb 07, 2013
Stopped Side effects too severe Feb 07, 2013

Evaluations
Date	Dosage	Dysthymia Perceived effectiveness	Anxious mood Perceived effectiveness
Feb 07, 2013	24.75 mg Daily	?
Mar 01, 2010	37.5 mg Daily
Nov 13, 2009	37.5 mg Daily		?
Oct 28, 2009	37.5 mg Daily

Date: Feb 07, 2013
Advice & Tips: Effects both positive and adverse, both expected and unexpected, are pretty noticeable. Venlafaxine effects appear and fade much more rapidly than with SSRIs, and may change over time. By the time I stopped, I had been down to the lowest available dose of 25mg daily, which still seemed necessary for mood control, for a long time. It's been mostly helpful, and rarely burdensome except for the way it multiplies the effects of alcohol. Best unexpected benefit: mood control (less panicky/angry responses to cognitive dissonance). Intolerable imputed effect: Vividly unpleasant dreams, waking hyperventilating.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Mar 01, 2010
Advice & Tips: Adverse effects now virtually disappear for me at 25 mg daily. This could change: some effects like the pounding in the ears at night or postural hypotension had previously disappeared at 37.5 mg; alarmingly rapid heart rate appeared over time at the same dosage (possibly associated with the transient hypotension). I'm still getting the good effects for the neuropathy, and the drug seems to act synergetically with cannabis in this area. The hypotension effect is probably aggravated by alcohol.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Nov 13, 2009
Advice & Tips: Venlaxafine seemed effective (within limits) for peripheral neuropathy and positive for relief of depression. Physical adverse effects at this dosage seemed minimal if any. Unresolved: Did this drug bliss me out too much, keeping me passive and lazy? And did it make me more suddenly irritable? I quit because of a pharmacy restriction (ironically based on the fact that I was taking "too little" of the drug), and will resume the trial once I talk to my primary provider in about 10 days.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Date: Oct 28, 2009
Advice & Tips: Venlafaxine by itself seems both to increase my alertness and to bliss me out a little too much; I get lethargic at 75 mg daily. Even at 37.5 mg, I've added (after a bit of research) my previous low dose of bupropion (25 mg) back into the mix as a counterbalancing "upper". Although intermittent, I'm seeing some direct effects on the depression: e.g., posture as well as mood.
Cost: < $25 monthly