Re: Anyone with AD experience? Venlafaxine please
Originally Posted by
BlueEeyes
Anyway I am taking 150mg of venlafaxine, this is my second time on this, first time was around 20 years ago, i was actually well on it for 10 years! Eventually came off of it the had another bout and was put on
...I am really struggling right now and GP wants me to increase to 225mg of ven, I am absolutely terrified of doing this because my anxiety and low mood is already really bad (just about functioning) I have 3 young boys and I'm a single parent. I was wondering if anyone knew of anything I could ask for that would help with the extreme anxiety whilst I am increasing the dose?
...Also possibly something that would make me gain weight as I am already very overweight and this just adds to my HA.
Firstly, while there can be a spike in anxiety when increasing the dose of any AD this is by no means certain and you'll likely not have a severe reaction. However, an anxious mind is very capable of producing our worst nightmares if given half a chance so try not to talk yourself into the nightmare.
Unfortunately, given your history your only options are likely to be either pregabalin (Lyrica), or mirtazapine.
Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant which is also prescribed for anxiety. It has a similar effect on the brain as the benzodiazepines (BZDs), but works by a different mechanism so it shouldn't impact weaning off clonazepam. It can trigger dependence too, but is much slower to do so than the BZDs so this won't be a issue for the short time you're going to be on it.
While mirtazapine is marketed as an antidepressant is is really only a antihistamine acting as a potent sedative. The main problem you're likely to have is it can trigger carbohydrate cravings and most people taking it put on weight, however, like pregabalin you should only need to be on it for a week or two so any weight gain is likely to be modest.
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The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.