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Suggest Dosage For Venlafaxine While Suffering From Anxiety
Question: Hi,
I have been put on Venlafaxine by a Psychiatrist for Generalzised Anxiety disorder in December after my Citalopram dose stopped working after years of taking it. I was put on 75mg per day and noticed a slight improvement after 2 weeks and then was transferred back to my GP. I then increased via my GP to 150mg and after 7 weeks felt an improvement again and waited a further week to see if it got any better but nothing changed for the further week and it felt like the tablets had no more to give me and my stomach was still in knots and i still experienced very high anxiety only in certain situations, so I increased to 225mg via my GP again.
I have been on the 225mg for 11 weeks and I am still very up and down. Last Monday to Wednesday I felt a lot better and everyday I felt like I was improving and my stomach started to streghnthen intermittently but then on Thursday out of no where it heightened again and my anxiety increases spontaneously even if I'm watching TV. It can just spike. Sometimes my heart is pounding really hard and I'm anxious and then not so much. The only way to describe it is that if my brain was a battery and the anxiety was the voltage. It feels like someone turns the voltage (anxiety) up too 100% for days on end and then turns it back down again when they want. Last night I was very anxious but then it calmed down and I went from having a lot of energy over the past 2 days to having none instantly.
I had this from the other dosages but by the 7 week stage it went away, so is this the side effects from the tablets still? Is this normal and are they just trying to find a balanced level or Am I on too high of a dose or too low of a dose? Should I give it more time or see a doctor again? Some places say they tablets take 8 weeks some say it can take months to balance out.
I have been put on Venlafaxine by a Psychiatrist for Generalzised Anxiety disorder in December after my Citalopram dose stopped working after years of taking it. I was put on 75mg per day and noticed a slight improvement after 2 weeks and then was transferred back to my GP. I then increased via my GP to 150mg and after 7 weeks felt an improvement again and waited a further week to see if it got any better but nothing changed for the further week and it felt like the tablets had no more to give me and my stomach was still in knots and i still experienced very high anxiety only in certain situations, so I increased to 225mg via my GP again.
I have been on the 225mg for 11 weeks and I am still very up and down. Last Monday to Wednesday I felt a lot better and everyday I felt like I was improving and my stomach started to streghnthen intermittently but then on Thursday out of no where it heightened again and my anxiety increases spontaneously even if I'm watching TV. It can just spike. Sometimes my heart is pounding really hard and I'm anxious and then not so much. The only way to describe it is that if my brain was a battery and the anxiety was the voltage. It feels like someone turns the voltage (anxiety) up too 100% for days on end and then turns it back down again when they want. Last night I was very anxious but then it calmed down and I went from having a lot of energy over the past 2 days to having none instantly.
I had this from the other dosages but by the 7 week stage it went away, so is this the side effects from the tablets still? Is this normal and are they just trying to find a balanced level or Am I on too high of a dose or too low of a dose? Should I give it more time or see a doctor again? Some places say they tablets take 8 weeks some say it can take months to balance out.
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
I would recommend increasing the dose to 300mg daily under the supervision of your psychiatrist. This dose is sometimes more effective for the anxiety symptoms you describe. I would wait 4 weeks at 300mg daily and reassess at that time.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
I would recommend increasing the dose to 300mg daily under the supervision of your psychiatrist. This dose is sometimes more effective for the anxiety symptoms you describe. I would wait 4 weeks at 300mg daily and reassess at that time.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
I'm based in the U.K and for GAD the maximum dose for Venlafaxine is 225mg but I will see my psychiatrist again.
So are you saying that my noreadrenaline is still unbalanced. I thought at 300mg the drug will start to work on dopamine also? Will it also help my noreadrenaline? Also will the tablets balance out at my 225mg dose or is it until I find the correct dose will I expect to feel up and down consistently like I am now?
Thanks for your reply.
I'm based in the U.K and for GAD the maximum dose for Venlafaxine is 225mg but I will see my psychiatrist again.
So are you saying that my noreadrenaline is still unbalanced. I thought at 300mg the drug will start to work on dopamine also? Will it also help my noreadrenaline? Also will the tablets balance out at my 225mg dose or is it until I find the correct dose will I expect to feel up and down consistently like I am now?
Brief Answer:
Followup
Detailed Answer:
The maximum dose can be increased based on need. I have used doses as high as 375mg daily. I believe your symptoms would benefit from a higher dose -- this affects both norepinephrine and serotonin, not dopamine. Once at a higher dose, your anxiety I would expect would decrease and your mood even out.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Followup
Detailed Answer:
The maximum dose can be increased based on need. I have used doses as high as 375mg daily. I believe your symptoms would benefit from a higher dose -- this affects both norepinephrine and serotonin, not dopamine. Once at a higher dose, your anxiety I would expect would decrease and your mood even out.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private web address below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private web address: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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