venlafaxine and pregabalin combination

[john61]

Hello.wondering if anyone out there has any experiences with pregabalin and venlafaxine combinations.started on the venlafaxine 8 days ago after switching from mirtazapine,staight swap to the venlafaxine

[aprilmoon]

Hi john
I'm on a mirt and ven combo,but was interested why you came off the mirt :)

[john61]

Hi there,I came off the mirt coz it was giving me restless leg syndrome n stopping me from sleeping and wasn't helping me with my depression,tried every ssri,last hope with the ven

[aprilmoon]

I've always found ven to be really effective with depression, and I've had different doses of it over the years.
I've had the leg 'jumps' with the mirt,so try and get off to sleep before it happens!
I've had success with this combo,but needed an add on of Olanzapine at night with the mirt,to get on top of the anxiety I was having.
I've heard some really good reports of pregabalin,so wish you good luck with it all.
Its hard to get it all worked out right isn't it?

[john61]

Thanks and yes it is hard,but time n patience.been on the pregabalin for nearly 2 years n it has worked n still works for my anxiety ,my gp wants me off it coz its expensive tho.just need to get my depression lifted so I can start my life again,release the pause button and press play

[aprilmoon]

That's a really good way of describing how it makes you feel!
Hope the pause buttons released very soon for you. :)
What amount of ven are you on?

[john61]

37.5 twice a day at the moment just to see how i respond,back at the docs nxt week for a review.I have pre high blood pressure so I think my doc is been cautious with it but I hope to have the dose increased,no major side effects apart from sleep problems and yawning a lot plus upper back ache and stiff neck.hard to tell what's withdrawal from the mirt and what's a SE from the ven,early days tho(day 8 of ven)

[aprilmoon]

Are you on the xl tabs?
I take 185ml of a morning of the xl.

[john61]

No,I'm on the bog standard ones,how long have you been on the ven if u don't mind me asking? And did you experience any initial side effects.my upper back feels like I've had a bolt inserted in to it and been turned a few times.btw how are you today?

[aprilmoon]

I've been on ven for years,but a low dose,similar to yours.
After some traumatic events last year,they were upped,and the mirt added.
I've been on this dose for a couple of months now,and its helped a lot.
Its so long,I can't remember what the start ups were like sorry!
I'm doing OK today thanks for asking :)

[john61]

Oh well no worries.I've been lucky in the past regarding meds and side effects except the time the doc withdrew chlorpromazine abruptly and gave me zopiclone,nearly put me in a coma.the side effects of the ven are manageable tho.thinking about it tho the discomfort started after I came back from a dental appointment last week so maybe I've pulled some muscle whilst the dentist was rumaging round in my mouth.like most people I get anxious when I go to the gob doc.at least I'm contributing to keeping the company that makes deep heat in buisnes

[aprilmoon]

The biggest side effect I've had with ven, is dizziness on standing,but the doses were much higher than yours,so it may not be the case with you.