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[ladylollipop]

Hello, just a short question. Who is also taking venlafaxine for menopause symptoms and what are your experiences? I take it for 9 weeks ( 75mg)now  but haven't got the full effect yet. Should I take a higher dose?
Best wishes
Lady lollipop

[Lisa1966]

Hi,I take venlafaxine 225mg,but not for menopause,it's an anti depressant,although I have heard it can be used to help with hot flushes. Are you on hrt?

       Lisa xx

[ladylollipop]

Hello Lisa, thanks for your reply. No, I am not on hrt. It didn't work for me. My main symptoms are anxiety and agitation. So awful!

[Lisa1966]

Hi,which hrt did u try?I suffer with anxiety and agitation as well. I'm seeing a menopause specialist next Tuesday to sort myself out. Tell me abit more about yourself like age,where u r in ur menopause journey etc. Did u suffer with anxiety before?

       Lisa xx

[ladylollipop]

Well I' ve tried gynokadin ( sorry I don't know the English word, I live in Germany) and then I took a tablet can't remember the name. I have only got bleeding from that tablet. My problems started end of 2014 (exactly one year after my last period) so I am postmeno. I don't have hot flushes so at first the doctors treated me for burnout. To be honest I have stopped venla three times last time in November 17. I felt great and all went well till end of March. I woke up one morning and was so nervous well and then anxiety came back. Now I am a bit worried why it take so long ( or does it feel so only) to get the full effect. The lady at the pharmacy and also my GP said nothing to worry about it will work again I have to be patient. Sorry for such a long text
Lady Lollipop

[Lisa1966]

Yes you probably need to give it more time,if no improvement in a couple of weeks,go back to see your doctor

      Lisa xx

[ladylollipop]

Yes, I will give it another week or so and then talk to my GP. Sorry I haven't answer two of your questions. I am 52 and never ever have had problems with anxiety but I always was a nervous person. How long do you take venlafaxine?

[Lisa1966]

To be honest I'm not sure a long time,maybe 10 years. Maybe talk to your gp about hrt,sometimes it takes a long time to find the right one,and the right dose. It can have long term benefits.

       Lisa xx

[ladylollipop]

One of my best friend is a gynecologist and he said for some women hrt don't work and antidepressant can be a life saver in this difficult time. We don't have menopause clincs in Germany and often gynecologists don't know much about menopause. It doesn't seem so important to them. In England there seem to be more specialists (prof. Studd etc.)  and menopause seems  to be more in the media in Britain. I am often in the Uk and during my studies I have lived there ( but that's a long time ago)

[Lisa1966]

Yes that's very true,some need both.i hope you find some peace soon.keep us posted

      Lisa xx

[ladylollipop]

Thanks. Yes will stay in contact and keep you updated. When have you started menopause? Do you have anxiety and agitation since then or do you suffer from these symptoms before menopause and menopause made it worse?

[Conolly]

Hello ladylollipop,


I have been prescribed venlafaxine because I can't take HRT (blood clots) and haven't had the courage to start taking it. I have read the leaflet (big mistake) and one thing that has scared me is that you can't stop taking it without tapering. Maybe that's why it's not having the  full effect on you.


Conolly X

[Lisa1966]

I have suffered from anxiety and depression on and off for 26 years,but about 3 years ago I lost my confidence,and self esteem though I never had much of that,was having some panic attack's. Then January last year had a bit of a breakdown,due to bad medication and I think hormones,although I didn't know that at the time,but it was different than the other times,and I was off work for 8 months,too afraid to be on my own,horrific panic from when I opened my eyes,until I went to bed,I went to hell and back,and so did my family,I felt like I was dying and to be honest I wanted to

        Lisa xx

[ladylollipop]

Hello conolly, thanks for your reply. Yes , reading the leaflet was not a good idea. I was on venlafaxine 3 times last time for 18 months and I can only tell you it helped me a lot. It is really worth a try. I don't understand what you mean because tapering of venla could be the reason for not getting the full effect? Maybe you can tell me again. Thanks lady lollipop 

[ladylollipop]

Hello Lisa, so sorry to read that you have suffered a lot in the past. In 2014 I could not work for 2 months. Nobody said anything about menopause the doctors treated it as a nervous breakdown. Put me on venlafaxine and when I felt better it was ok for them that I stopped it ( after 14 weeks) . I didn't know anything about antidepressants so I thought that's ok. Oh I was so wrong and the doctors too. 14 weeks is nothing for an antidepressant. Some need 3 months to work. So to be honest I really don't trust doctors anymore only when they are friends. Hope you a feeling better soon the same I hope for me because my husband isn't amused after nearly 3 1/2 years. Lady lollipop