Modified release tablets have left me in a bit of a mess

[davej]

Hi all, this is my first post here, and thought I'd share my current experience and woes to see if it helps.

I've taken Venlafaxine for years, with positive results for my anxiety. However, I had a big low period in december and upped my dosage and moved to modified release tablets to stop the big high a lows from taking a higher dosage at once.

That helped me and I slowly felt better, enough to reduce my dosage again last month. I went back to my previous lower dosage but was given modified release tablets instead of my normal regular venlafaxine.

Over about 2 weeks, I noticed I was feeling very flat and not 100% there a lot. A few days ago this came to a head as my brain was fighting with this feeling, and I again slipped into a bad period of anxiety which I'm slowly starting to get out of (hopefully). My thoughts were questioning absolutely everything to the point when I would have a split second flash of imagining that I wasn't really here, or not in this reality at least. Sounds a bit crazy, but its the only way I can explain it. That led to a panic feeling and then these thoughts cycled in and out of my mind. This meant even a TV documentary about space left me scared about my place in the universe etc etc. I am slowly calming as the days go by, but still have panicky thoughts which I'm putting down to the modified release tablets.

I think the general feeling of not being 100% there and feeling really flat has opened the door for my brain to start trying to figure out why this was happening, coming up with more and more outrageous and scary solutions that I normally would dismiss.

I've moved back to my old tablets now, which is hopefully helping get me straight

My wife is having a baby in 8 weeks and I worry that I'll be feeling like this when it arrives.

[needtogetwell]

Hi all, this is my first post here, and thought I'd share my current experience and woes to see if it helps. I've taken Venlafaxine for years, with positive results for my anxiety. However, I had a big low period in december and upped my dosage and moved to modified release tablets to stop the big high a lows from taking a higher dosage at once. That helped me and I slowly felt better, enough to reduce my dosage again last month. I went back to my previous lower dosage but was given modified release tablets instead of my normal regular venlafaxine. Over about 2 weeks, I noticed I was feeling very flat and not 100% there a lot. A few days ago this came to a head as my brain was fighting with this feeling, and I again slipped into a bad period of anxiety which I'm slowly starting to get out of (hopefully). My thoughts were questioning absolutely everything to the point when I would have a split second flash of imagining that I wasn't really here, or not in this reality at least. Sounds a bit crazy, but its the only way I can explain it. That led to a panic feeling and then these thoughts cycled in and out of my mind. This meant even a TV documentary about space left me scared about my place in the universe etc etc. I am slowly calming as the days go by, but still have panicky thoughts which I'm putting down to the modified release tablets. I think the general feeling of not being 100% there and feeling really flat has opened the door for my brain to start trying to figure out why this was happening, coming up with more and more outrageous and scary solutions that I normally would dismiss. I've moved back to my old tablets now, which is hopefully helping get me straight My wife is having a baby in 8 weeks and I worry that I'll be feeling like this when it arrives.

Hi Dave!

1. Welcome!!!!!
2. Congratulations on the upcoming new addition to your family!!! Is it your first ?

I was a long time user of that med and have many stories good and a few not so good!

What you are describing is not uncommon with this medication. Changes, especially reductions in dosages will throw you off big time! Hang with it, it does get better!

Reason it does this....incredibly short half life of the drug.

In the mean time , maybe some benzodiazepines to take the edge off. Ativan, Xanax, Valium. Etc...

Hang in there! Don't worry about the baby coming, you're going to be a great Dad, no matter what!

Hope this helps.
Pam

[davej]

Hi

thanks so much. I've never really had any bad experiences before with my tablets so it's been pretty horrible and has felt like it's come from out of nowhere with a new load of anxiety worries for me to handle. I'm still flicking in and out of it throughout the day, but I guess at least it's not constant and those breaks give me hope. It's the same as it always is, but when I'm in here it feels like you're never going to get out, which I think is the scariest thing, not matter what the worry is. It's almost like you've discovered some horrendous truth that will always be with you, and that no-one else realises, yet I know from experience that this feeling does pass even if it takes a while.

[davej]

Thankfully after a hard day yesterday, I'm feeling more positive today. I think my new tablets are levelling me out a bit and I'm feeling less anxious, though the thoughts are still slightly there in the background. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction, taking it day by day is the only way to go.

[bisogun35]

wish you success