Feeling Really Weird -could be Venlafaxine or even BPD related?
So I have Borderline Personality Disorder, and some other conditions, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised at my mental health any more... I mean I was diagnosed 2 and half years ago... I should be used to it by now.
Anyway, I went through a really REALLY irritable phase when starting new meds (Venlafaxine) for depression last week. I know that anger is a part of the BPD cycle, which is often followed by guilt, the guilt was indeed my next phase.
Now I just feel - well for a start the Venlafaxine has given me a couple of migraines and really bad nausea. But I suddenly feel really unsafe again and like everything is going to go horribly wrong in the world. Just a sense of foreboding, impending doom, that sort of thing.
I just, do not feel well. I can't really describe what I want to, but I feel weird and it's frightening me. I don't feel myself - I feel like I'm drifting.
I have an appt on 29th, should I stop taking the Venlafaxine, or hang on until the drs? Is it likely to be the new meds just settling down, or that my body doesn't agree with them, or nothing to do with the meds and just the BPD?
I missed one dose on Monday night by the way - could it be that?
Hi there, thanks for writing. I am on effexor xr and the side effects can be quite intrusive. I tell you very clearly DO NOT stop taking the medication with doctor consent even though you have been taking it for a little while it can have some withdrawal effects that may be disabling. I wondering if you would consider either ringing your doctors and speaking with him or nurse OR ringing a pharmacy and asking for the pharmacists thoughts about your current experiences.
I doubt missing one dose could be reason, just get into the routine of taking it daily around the same time of day.
is there anything else going on in your life that could be creating some of these anxieties that you are talking about?
life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself.
I have to agree dont stop taking them without speaking to your doctor, the side effects of just stopping/coming off can be awful so its need to be done properly with the doctor.
You need to remember it takes 4-6 weeks for it to start working, if its only been a week then you cant really expect to see much improvment. But if you feel its making you worse go see your doctor now.
"Its not how long a star shines, what is remembered is the brightness of the light"
I'm wondering if the sense of dread is a follow on stage from the anger then guilt. Like, deep down you fear your anger has destroyed things/people/situations.
I have Borderline states, and Venlafaxine didn't work for me either. But whatever's happening you need to speak to someone in your team about this. I'm of the school of thought of there's always an emotional component going on that an issue with meds flags up or intensifies. It's not necessary to medicate away the feelings, but instead to understand them and see where things go from there.
Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to hang on with them and see if it wears off in a little while; and I will definitely mention this to my GP. If I get any worse than I am now, I will see if I can get an earlier appt or phone a chemist for their advice.
when i started my venlafaxine it made me manic and impulsive.. if its making you have migranes i'd stop... i will also tell you it is possibly one of the worst meds to be on when you want to come off it... i am struggling to come off it... i've only been on it since feb.... and i started getting late side effects of bruising and stuff... if i don't take one dose i get a bad headache that turns into a migrane...i'd stop taking it if i were you...save yourself from the awful drug...wish i did
i agree with the others about speaking to your doctor before coming off it.
i trialed venlafaxine xl about 3-4 weeks ago,but had to stop it nearly two weeks in because it made me really ill,one of the things was the foreboding thing,BUT as the others say it might not be related to the ven....i had a rare reaction apparently.
Venaflaxine was a total bloody disaster with me. I was more implusive, agitated, irritable, destructive....you name it, I had it. That being said I know a lot of people who claim it has literally, saved their life. You really need to talk to your drs and psych. Coming off it suddenly could easily make you feel even worse mentally and also physically ill.
Hi there,I also have been recently prescribed venlafaxine and have been on it for a week now and I have been experiencing symptoms of forboding,agitation and anxiety,But I had been on resperidone and citalopram of which I had to stop immediately, I thought these symptoms were from withdrawal,and I was wondering if you had recently stopped taking something else and whether that might be a factor for your symptoms? Although I know how crappy you are feeling, I have been told that stopping might do more harm than good,and within a few weeks the side effects should start to disappear,I was told that when you feel agitated etc,try to do some brisk walking to try work out the energy or if the anxiety is a little overwhelming at the moment,I pace around my house or try doing little projects that keep you occupied,I hope you have a number for a good support person or a plan so that others can see when you need a little extra help so you don't let it take over. My thoughts are with you and you're not alone,don't give up,i promise you,that this will pass. Good luck
I found venlafaxine made me more 'buzzy' and I had insomnia, which I guess is a mild form of agitation. My Dr also prescribed some diazepam for the first few weeks but I didn't need it, as the 'buzziness' and energy were quite nice after being so low for ages! It wore off though after a few weeks and now has settled and made a huge difference to me after trying lots of other meds. So talk with your Dr about whether these are initial side effects that might go away after a few weeks.
Is your appt today? How are you feeling now, your OP was a couple of weeks ago?
Yes, my appointment was today. She thought the withdrawal from the highest dose of Fluoxetine was causing the side effects; as I went down two doses (gradually, and exactly as she said), before starting the Venlafaxine. However, my pharmacist thinks it was starting the Venlafaxine. So I'm confused...
But my doctor wants me to stick with the Venlafaxine until I've gone all the way up the doses. So I have another four weeks of it now, but on double what I was before. Starting the higher dose on Tuesday.
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