Brand Change - Side Effects?

[Paradise10]

Hi, been on Ven 150mg for quite a while and doing ok, a couple of weeks ago the pharmacy changed the brand of tablets which I had no problem with but a few days later I started getting brain zaps, then a few days after that I started getting weak arm and leg muscles and now my anxiety has come back.

Could it be from changing the brand of tablets as I haven't missed any?

Thanks :-)

[panic_down_under]

Could it be from changing the brand of tablets as I haven't missed any?


It's rare but it can happen. Can you remember who made the generic you were on and who makes the new one?

[Paradise10]

Hi Ian, I usually have Venilac, venisir or effexor brand but these are dexcel pharma.

They discovered my blood pressure was really high a few months ago so they have me on meds for them that aren't working.

My psych suggested moving ne to prozac if my anxiety flared again.

[Phill2]

I found a definite difference between Lexapro and the generic so much so that I threw the generic away and bought a new packet of the real Lexapro.

[panic_down_under]

Hi Ian, I usually have Venilac, venisir or effexor brand but these are dexcel pharma.

Dexcel Pharma is an Israeli pharmaceutical company with a good reputation so I doubt there is a problem with the med per se, but people can react differently to generics from different companies.


They discovered my blood pressure was really high a few months ago so they have me on meds for them that aren't working.

Has there been a recent change in the meds you're taking to reign in your BP? If so the new meds could be affecting how venlafaxine is metabolized.


My psych suggested moving ne to prozac if my anxiety flared again.

You're still on a low venlafaxine dose. It typically doesn't inhibit noradrenaline, aka norepinephrine, transporters at doses under 225mg, and even then it does so only weakly (although classified as a SNRI it is really only a SSRI). The recommended maximum dose is 375mg/day.

[Paradise10]

Tanks Ian, you are helpful and answer my questions as usual.

I think I am likely just having a blip, started feeling unwell last week and I know that is my trigger for anxiety. I have tried increasing the ven last year and I can't tolerate any higher than what I am on. The Phych took me to 225mg but I had to come back down again. He wrote to my doctor last year and said if I relapsed that they were to try prozac next.

I am trying to manage it myself with what I learned in CBT last year. I do have a docs appointment next Thursday so I will speak to her then if I'm still anxious.

Ava :-)

[panic_down_under]

I think I am likely just having a blip, started feeling unwell last week and I know that is my trigger for anxiety.

It may well be the reason for the heightened anxiety, Ava. The brain changes which manifest anxiety symptoms (also depression) result from a type of auto-immune response and these disorders often worsen when our immune system ramps up to fight an infection.


I have tried increasing the ven last year and I can't tolerate any higher than what I am on. The Phych took me to 225mg but I had to come back down again. He wrote to my doctor last year and said if I relapsed that they were to try prozac next.

If 150mg proves insufficient then switching to another AD is the only option. That said, sometimes people can tolerate a higher dose on the second attempt. I initially couldn't tolerate more than 75mg of my current AD, but after reducing the dose back to 75mg for a couple of months had no problem increasing it to 150mg and I've now been on 225-250mg for over 20 years.

My only concern with switching to Prozac (fluoxetine) is that you'll be going from the SSRI with the shortest half-life to the one with the longest so will have to do a longish cross-taper which requires careful handling. Make sure your GP knows how to manage this. Ime, few do.

[Paradise10]

I doubt they will have a clue, I've seen some people in a venlafaxine Facebook group mention dropping to 112mg for a week then dropping to 75mg for a week then dropping to 37.5mg and adding in 10mg prozac. Then stopping then ven after a week. Do you think that sounds too quick? Also I don't think they will increase it again because my blood pressure is 96/160 and not coming down despite being on 2 blood pressure meds.

[panic_down_under]

I doubt they will have a clue,

Sigh! :weep: Then ask your psychiatrist to provide the GP with instructions on how to manage it. Or is he just as clueless?


I've seen some people in a venlafaxine Facebook group mention dropping to 112mg for a week then dropping to 75mg for a week then dropping to 37.5mg and adding in 10mg prozac. Then stopping then ven after a week. Do you think that sounds too quick?

Sounds reasonable. The rule of thumb on this is to reduce (or increase) doses at intervals of not less than 5 times the half-life of the med (this is how long it takes for the med's plasma levels to stabilize after a dose change). The venlafaxine immediate-release half-life is about 5 hours for venlafaxine itself and 10 hours for its active metabolite, so call it 6-8 hours for both. So you could reduce the dose every third day, but as psychology is at least as important as chemistry and biology taking a few extra days to build confidence in the process is often a good move. That said, your GP has the ultimate say.


Also I don't think they will increase it again because my blood pressure is 96/160 and not coming down despite being on 2 blood pressure meds.

Then fluoxetine is likely to be the better med. Are you doing anything to help bring the BP down? Moderate exercise is good both for the heart and anxiety/depression.

[Paradise10]

I saw the psych last year through a health scheme so I wont be able to see him again, not sure how clued up my doc is but I will ask her on Thursday. My whole doctors has merged with a big health centre so it's not always the same person anymore.

I am trying to do more exercise re my blood pressure.

[Paradise10]

So after having a bit of a teary breakdown this morning to my boss over teams... (She is lovely) She has told me to put my out of office on and take the day to myself. Had a good cry to my husband and then my mum who moved to Spain last year. This is making it difficult as I usually spend a lot of my time there when my anxiety flares up. We have come up with a bit of a plan....

As usual my anxiety has flared up because I didn't feel well, I do feel better in myself now but as usual I have a couple of issues that keep my anxiety ramping up... I am constantly bloated and just want to burp constantly and my tummy just feels uncomfortable all the time and my chest feel tight. The doctor has given me lanzoperazole to take everyday and said it should start to help in a few days. I also have what I think is a trapped nerve in my neck or shoulder, it hurt a few weeks back but doesn't hurt anymore but the top of my left arm feels crawly and numb all the time and it's really winding me up. I am calling my healthcare today to see if I can see someone about this.

On the advise of my husband and mum I have taken a diazepam today (If you have read any of my threads you will know how against this I am and very rarely take them.) They suggested I take them over the next few days if I need to then speak to my doctor at my face to face appointment on Thursday. If my anxiety is still bad when I see the doctor and I have to change medication I already know that this will be prozac and I've read some good reviews about it. I am going to book some time off work and fly to Spain to spend some time with my parents while I do this.

So in a nutshell that's where I am.

Ava :-)

[panic_down_under]

On the advise of my husband and mum I have taken a diazepam today (If you have read any of my threads you will know how against this I am and very rarely take them.)

You do what you have to do to get through the day, Ava. Fundamentalism has no place with these disorders. The diazepam should make life more bearable until anxiety levels ease as you begin to feel better physically.


I already know that this will be prozac and I've read some good reviews about it

Unfortunately, AD reviews are meaningless as each person's response is individual to them. While there is a good chance that it will work for you there are no guarantees. :sad:

[Paradise10]

Good morning, You're right Ian and I am going to take the diazepam if needed over the next few days if needed.

I know there is no promise that Prozac will work for me as we are all different but I meant I haven't read anything really bad about it and I had read some really good reviews so I don't feel petrified if that's what they move me to.

Woke at 6.30 today as husband was getting up for work and son for golf and the anxiety was off the charts, I tried to lay in bed to go back to sleep and deep breath but that just wasn't happening. so I sat up in bed and watched a video I remembered seeing about 5 tips to waking with anxiety which said the first thing I needed to do was get up and get dressed and that I should also talk back to my anxiety... (I am going to be a weird one today, talking to myself.)

I did get up and get dressed and came down and made a brew, walking around I feel bloated, bloated and more bloated and just need to burp. Took some gaviscon and going to take my lanzoperazole soon. Water infection must still be there despite the antibiotics as I constantly think I need a wee but I can't go when I get there and it just feels tingly (TMI I know.)

It's just so hard when you feel pants to do the things you need to do for the anxiety.

I am going to finish writing this though and take the dog round the block and also make sure I have some breakfast.

I did notice something last night though, just as I started getting the brain zaps a couple of weeks ago they had just put me on the pill and I noticed that it said you shouldnt take it with blood pressure medication which I am also on. I wonder if all these pills just aren't helping. At the minute I am on....

Velafaxine for anxiety.
Lanzoperazole for Indigestion.
Rampiril for high blood pressure.
Felodipine for high blood pressure.
Cerazette for contraception since my coil was removed.

I don't like it, that's a lot of pills.

Anyway till tomorrow. Ava x

[panic_down_under]

I did notice something last night though, just as I started getting the brain zaps a couple of weeks ago they had just put me on the pill and I noticed that it said you shouldnt take it with blood pressure medication which I am also on. I wonder if all these pills just aren't helping. At the minute I am on....

Velafaxine for anxiety.
Lanzoperazole for Indigestion.
Rampiril for high blood pressure.
Felodipine for high blood pressure.
Cerazette for contraception since my coil was removed.

I don't like it, that's a lot of pills.

There doesn't appear to be any significant drug interaction between them, but I guess it is possible that some combination may have triggered the brain zaps, though venlafaxine is the prime suspect, imho.

I don't like taking pills either, but as you get older the list of meds taken seem to grow exponentially with each passing birthday. Here in OZ meds are free for concession card holders once we've spent $263 on them in the calendar year. Last year I'd exceeded that in early September. :ohmy: I'd only hit the safety net limit once before and that was the week before Christmas. :sad:

If two blood pressure meds aren't lowering your BP to any significant degree I suggest you ask to be referred to a specialist asap. This is a condition that needs to be addressed quickly.

[Paradise10]

I have an appointment on Thurs with my doc re my blood pressure for a review so will get referred I think as it hasn't come down. Do you know if you can take rennie deflatine with diazepam? I can't find anything online but I'm sure I've seen somewhere not to take together. I throw all the leaflets away so I don't read side effects.

Most likely then ven causing the brain zaps although weird as I didn't miss any.

[panic_down_under]

The active ingredients of Rennie deflatine are calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and a small amount of an anti foaming agent simeticone, aka simethicone.

There doesn't appear to be any interactions between diazepam and the active ingredients, but venlafaxine may slow excretion of magnesium which could raise its blood plasma levels, but this is unlikely to be a concern unless you have other risk factors such impaired kidney function, or are also taking large doses of magnesium supplements. If in doubt seek the advice of your chemist/pharmacist or GP, Ava.

[Paradise10]

Checked at the chemist when I got some and it's fine so thank you.

Ava x

[Paradise10]

Afternoon all, wow the stuff I put myself through is just daft sometimes.

So I have been freaking out about my vision for the last week or so as on a night, it just doesn't feel right. Very hard to explain. It only occured to me today that I got a new prescription a few weeks ago for my reading and computer use, which I do a lot off. They upped my prescription. I googled today 'Is my prescription too strong' I figured that was safe and wouldn't tell me anything scary.... It told me what I had been feeling right down to the itchy eyes.
I'm not saying it is this but I have got my old glasses out and I am going to wear these for a while and see how i go.

Anxiety is still here, still getting the really bad pains in my breastbone and back and still feel sicky but no looking up online, I have an appointment on Thursday so will tell the doctor then. I also have my physio appointment tonight for my arm so fingers crossed that helps.

I have cut out all the pills apart from my ven in the morning and my blood pressure meds at night.
Stopped the pill last week, I had only been on it a few weeks and i have an appointment to get my coil refitted in 2 weeks so i'll manage. Also got rid of the lanzoperazole as they wasn't helping. Not into loads of pills at all. I don't know if they were all affecting my ven and after the strange brain zaps then what seem like start up side effects like jaw clenching and crazy anxiety it was just scary. I also have a sample in with the doctor for a UTI so all bases covered.

In between thinking about all that 24/7 I am still working, from home but still doing it and trying to manage as best I can. I took the dog out today and I've hoovered and done 2 loads of washing.

That's it for today.

Ava x

[panic_down_under]

Has there been a reoccurrence of the brain zaps, Ava

[Paradise10]

No more brain zaps apart from the first few days that this all started.

Woke up this morning and it's like I just can't come round, head feels so heavy in the middle like I just want to close my eyes. I feel like I am really having to heave myself around, as arms and legs feel heavy. Also feel so bloated and sicky. Anxiety then kicks in big time because of the way I feel.

Struggling so much and its only 8.30am.

[Paradise10]

Morning all, it helps me to write it out and keep a record so that's what I am doing...

Saw the doctor yesterday afternoon and my husband came with me, I explained about the brain zaps and then the anxiety flare up and I also told her about the indigestion pains and the aches in my boob. She sat and really listened to everything, she was lovely.

She said the anxiety could be from the hormone drop with having my coil removed, a bit of menopause, and the pills that were given to me. She said the ache in my breast was also menopause related, and my indigestion could the be the ven getting back in my system.

The plan is to see my in 4 weeks when I get back from holiday as by then I will have had my new coil put in. If my anxiety is no better by then she said we can add something in to help.

Things I am experiencing at the moment are...

Anxiety... The last few days has been under the surface anxiety and it's not gone into a full panic, don't seem to have the fear flashes as I call them either. Although my anxiety did ramp up a bit last night and I went to bed early as my whole body just ached everywhere and I felt done in.

Upset Stomach... Feel bloated and tummy feels upset I also feel sicky but I haven't been sick and I know I wont be.

Body Aches... These are from tension I think.

So there it is in a nutshell.

I am working from home at the moment, I do 3 days a week anyway but my boss said I can all week which is good. Also going to Spain in less than 2 weeks to visit my mum. I am going to get some ginger today and I remember that can be good for settling your tummy. Feeling rubbish makes coping with the anxiety even harder.

Also going to fill my planner for the week and NOT google anything.

Till later. Ava x

[Paradise10]

Morning all, so yesterday wasn't a great one, the bloated stomach and sicky feeling was off the charts. I've had to go back on the lanzoperazole this morning.

Woke this morning and my stomach was huge, bloated and I couldn't stand anything touching it, I felt terrible. Took the lanzop and waited an hour then ate a banana and took my ven. It has settled a bit. I've lost well over a stone up to now with this.

Today I feel tired, a bit headachy and my body feels weak. Not getting too much anxiety this morning, more like a frustrated wound up, annoyed feeling.
I know the blood pressure meds I'm on can cause the tummy troubles so I will keep on with the lanzop and see if it helps.

Husband is at golf at the moment with the boys and we are going to visit some friends this afternoon so I'm pottering around trying to keep busy but it's hard when you feel pants and I keep getting wound up.

Ava x

[Paradise10]

Morning all...

Still chugging along, so where am I at now...

Anxiety is reduced, bit under the surface, no mad panic, peaks here and there due to my thoughts.
Things are a big effort.
Stomach Issues, feel bloated, bit sicky, gone off milk taste in my mouth, stomach feels upset and uncomfy.
Uncomfortable feeling in my left rib under my boob, going to the underside of my boob - This is causing a lot of HA at the moment.
Still thinking about it all 24/7.

I am keeping busy and functioning, no diazepam for over a week and no crying spells. Working from isn't the easiest as I don't have a lot of meetings today, I am in Manchester tomorrow for a meeting so that might be better then I am off to Spain next week to visit my parent for 10 days.

That's it for today, Ava :-)