Feb 7, 2013
(Started Oct 04, 2009)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for generalized anxiety disorder)
-
Effectiveness
Can't tell
(for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia))
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy)
-
Side effects
Moderate
(for Overall)
(vivid nightmares, sleepiness, somnolence, apathy, orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction, tachycardia (fast heart rate))
-
-
Burden
Not at all hard to take
Dosage:
24.75 mg
Daily
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
Side effects:
excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), sleepiness, somnolence, orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction, apathy, tachycardia (fast heart rate)
Mar 1, 2010
(Started Oct 04, 2009)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for depressed mood)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for anxious mood)
-
Side effects
Mild
(for Overall)
(sleepiness, somnolence, apathy, orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction, tachycardia (fast heart rate))
-
-
Burden
Somewhat hard to take
Dosage:
37.5 mg
Daily
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
Side effects:
excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), sleepiness, somnolence, orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction, apathy, tachycardia (fast heart rate)
Nov 13, 2009
(Started Oct 04, 2009)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for depressed mood)
-
Effectiveness
Can't tell
(for anxious mood)
-
Side effects
Mild
(for Overall)
(sleepiness, somnolence, apathy, orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction)
-
-
Burden
Not at all hard to take
Dosage:
37.5 mg
Daily
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
Side effects:
excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), sleepiness, somnolence, orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction, apathy, tachycardia (fast heart rate)
Oct 28, 2009
(Started Oct 04, 2009)
-
Effectiveness
Major
(for anxious mood)
-
Effectiveness
Moderate
(for depressed mood)
-
Side effects
Moderate
(for Overall)
(sleepiness, somnolence, apathy, orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction)
-
-
Burden
A little hard to take
Dosage:
37.5 mg
Daily
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
Side effects:
excessive daytime sleepiness (somnolence), sleepiness, somnolence, orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction, apathy, tachycardia (fast heart rate)