Effexor-venlafaxine- really works?

[Torombolo]

Hello there i am a male 44 years old i have social anxiety since i was a kid i mean since i was very young!! and this illness has been a nightmare in my
i almost lose my family because of i have lost many jobs because of it and many many good Opportunities in my life, i recently start taking effexor xr 150 mlg a day (venlafaxine) i have been on it for 4 weeks already for anxiety and depression and my mood still very low i fell like my anxiety is much better but my mood and motivation is very low i just want to stay all day in bed and do nothing!! i am afraid that the med is not going to work? is naybody taking this med for depression and anxiety and maybe can tell me how long it takes to start to work for motivation?? and how much are you taking and for how long?? please can you tell me ??? thank you

also i notice some changes in libido and ejaculation.

thank you.

[Penrith]

I was prescriped Venlafaxine for about 4 months in a bid to get my social phobia under control, All it did for me was make me sweat profusely and consequently increased the phobic feelings, so I stopped. Other people have had different experiences, positive ones. These drugs do different things to different people, so I would see your GP and explain your situation.
I still have social phobia, have lost my good job because of it and am angry that the gp will not provide a regiular supply of Lorazepam- the only drug that works for me.

[Tims]

Venlafaxine is pretty good for social anxiety, is approved for it. Finding the right dose is the key.

[Torombolo]

Hi penrith thank you for your aswer ,yes i know lorazepam works goo for anxiety i was on xanax(alprazolam)for 14 years i was addicted to it,and i end up in a anxiety clinic and i told them that i want to get off of xanax addiction because that addiction becomes like a jail to me and my family every time i run out of the drug it was a tragedy so i decided to go to a specialist and they prescrived me venlafaxine xr and seroquel for anxiety my anxiety is very bad,,,so it took me like 10 or 15 days on bed getting chills and all kind of symtoms for stoping the xanax so fast my dr stopped giving me more prescriptions so i had to stopped taking it in just 10 days after 14 years of addiction it was hard but i did it!
then i was on the seroquel and venlafaxine for 6 years and i could go back to work and have my life back! after 6 years i decided to stop taking both medications in special seroquel because this medication is extremely strong! an it turn me in a zombi i was having 800 mlgs wich is a very high dose and 300 mlgs venlafaxine i stopped both in only 3 months, it was hard but i did it too! then after a family problem i did start having depression and my anxiety never left me alone so i had to come back to venlafaxine xr
for dep and anxiety i have been on it 5 weeks at 150 mlg daily and now i star to feel better more confident and social i know that i have to wait a bit more for total recuperation but i will be fine,,,,,, the reason because i put this post was because at that time i need a people like you taking to me in that way i would not feel alone!!!
i am telling you this just because if you are now struggling with benzodiasepinas addiction i would sugest to you to give a shot for a antidepressive like venlafaxine i know that the feeling is not the same as lorazepan it wont give you the relax feeling in 20 minutes but it will give it to you in 2 months and if you take the xr wich is the long release form it would help you a lot and on top of that it will get rid off your anxiety and give a boost because is and antidepressive,,,my be when you took it you had very low dose and idi not worked but anyway i am just telling you my experience with benzos and it was not good at all,,,,i hope this words help you
cheers torombolo

---------- Post added at 20:07 ---------- Previous post was at 20:05 ----------

thank you tim for your words

---------- Post added at 20:08 ---------- Previous post was at 20:07 ----------

Thank you tims for your words

[Penrith]

I don't think I'll try Venlafaxine again after my previous experience but don't let me put you off. As I said previously it seems to work for other individuals.

I would suggest asking your GP about Pregabalin. It has been found to diminish generalized anxiety feelings even though it was not initially intended for that use. Apparently it has no adverse reactions with other drugs.I take 300mg twice daily and it has certainly taken away what I call low-level anxiety. I still resort to Lorazepam for social situations ( rare occasions thankfully) and use them only for these, so I'm hoping to avoid addiction.

Your symptoms and problems almost mirror my own, loss of job, near loss of family, but we're still here and trying which is the main thing.

I wish you all the best in your treatment.

Cheers

I wish you good luck and success with the treatment.

[Munki]

I have been on Venlafaxine for 11 years and it saved me when I started taking it. I've only ever been on 75mg but it definitely made a difference to my life. It takes time with medication so give it some time. I truly help you have the same success as I did.

[Torombolo]

Hello munki ,thank you for your answer! I want to ask you a question about effexor if you dont mind?
have you been on effexor for 11 years Continuously?

through the 11 years that you have been on effexor ,have you always been 0n 75 mlgs with no need of raising the dose?
is it good for anxiety and dep?

i have been on it for 6 weeks at 150mlg and i still feel the motivation very low ,how long usually takes to work?

Do you have had any side effects so far?

Thank you