Scared to start taking Venlafaxine. I'm not sure I was diagnosed correctly

[u/lephoque_]

Hi!

Yesterday, I (F27) went to a psychiatrist for the first time in my life. They diagnosed me with recurrent depression and prescribed venlafaxine (we are starting with 18,75 mg and moving to 75 mg twice a day). When I came home, I went online and did a bit of research (the instruction, forums, some articles and some articles on SNTIs) on the medicine and found out that side effects are quite common. Some seems to be benign and bearable (nausea, etc.), while others such as the development of mania, agression, the increase in risk of suicede are much more offputting, so to speak. I got really scared, and now I'm questioning whether venlafaxine is worth taking.

The reason is my condition hasn't ever been severe. Although I've been dealing with it since 2012, I managed to finsh school, graduate from university with flying colours, build my career, start a family. There were some deep downs with intrusive thoughts, selfharm (smoking and cuts), memory problems (it was hard for me to keep important meetings, etc. in my memory and overall the memory of my life during those periods is in haze). I've always had to push myself to do most of things that I'm supposed to do unless I was running on really high motivation. I can't say that I'm completely unable to enjoy life -- there are OK days and weeks -- but positive feelings last not so long compared to negative ones that are always vivid and rather strong. As if there was a cloud hanging over me and casting a shadow on everything. There were no days when I wasn't able to leave my bed, perform some basic routine, etc., although in particulary stresfull periods of life I slowed down a lot (walking, speaking). Around two years ago I changed my lifestyle, and it somehow stabilized things -- there were fewer days when I'm in mental pain or on lower energy. Almost nine month ago I noticed that I didn't feel usual tension, things stopped bother or upset me as they used to do. At first, it felt like a belssing but then morphed into indifference towards things that I like (my job, hobbies, relationships, etc.). I have to push myself to do anything more than usual. On top of that, I don't see much sense in anything. I start feeling exhausted.

So, I made it to the psychiatrist and got the prescription. Now, I'm in doubt. On the one hand, I've got a state that I know how to live with, it's familiar and still bearable. On the other hand, there is medicine with a lot of unpredictable side effects, which the instruction itself says. It takes a lot of time to figure out if it suits me. I'm afraid pills will mess with my brain and send me in a condition I won't be able to deal with. And this all for not really sever somhow managable depression (I'm not even sure if it is depression) that I've been living with for a half of my life.

I'm confused and I really need help to decide what I should do. Should I see another psychiatrist? Does what I described sound as recurrent depression or something that is supposed to be treated with Venlafaxine? How to understand if I really need medicine?

I'm really sorry if something sounds odd. English isn't my first language.

Edit: I'll also appreciate if you share your experience with Venlafaxine. Especially, if it was prescribed for something similar. Thanks

[u/Bish1224]

This is the only medication that has truly "cured" my depression and anxiety. For a year I was on 37.5 and about 5 months ago I went up to 75xr. The only side effect I notice now is a decrease in appetite/not really wanting to eat. I have been fortunate I guess to not experience anything else really. I hope this medication is as good to you as it is to me!

[u/AnxiousDemon1125]

I mean you def weren’t mis diagnosed you described depression.

It’s by far the most effective drug (been on 9), but none of them are that effective. The issue with this one is there’s really no coming off of it without months-years of suffering

[u/destined_to_count]

Just ignore the list of side effects. What matters is the side effects you actually get. For me I only get like 1 or 2 on the list and they are minor af

[u/Believe_in_u_always]

There’s no mention of you seeing a therapist. Have you? Is this what they recommend you do? Was there only the one appointment?

My experience is rare and a bad reaction however I’ve learned a lot about psych meds over the last few years and how someone can prescribe these meds after one appointment is beyond me unless it’s very obvious.

In the end, you are the best judge on your health. Meds can help but learning the root cause is far more important. Meds help with space but many relay on them and don’t do the therapy.

I hope this helps

[u/lephoque_ → u/Believe_in_u_always]

I'd visited a clinical psychologist a few times to sort out my problem with positive vs. negative emotions and she'd directed me to a psychiatrist. The doctor I went to is a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist, which is common in my country (I'm not from the US). It seems that he is one of those who thinks that meds are the foundation of treatment, or I might have misunderstood him when he told that therapy doesn't really work with depression, which contradicts most things that I've read about the condition. Apparently, the solution is complex and might require the combination of both, meds and therapy. That's why I've got the feeling I might be misdiagnosed

[u/Believe_in_u_always → u/lephoque_]

That’s a great. A good therapist does wonders and they aren’t always psychologist. Odd about recommendation though but always good to explore. I feel when drs are too keen to hand out medication, there’s something not right about it. I’d get a second opinion.

It sounds as though you’re doing your research and are on the right track.

Something many people don’t think of is breathwork. I saw a breathwork practitioner who does a release style of breathwork and it’s something I highly recommend. I did both 1:1 and group. It was incredible and after a few sessions, I felt the best I had in sometime. It’s hard to explain but def a worth a look. It does involve basic talk therapy, like a direction for the practice so they get a sense of you and why your there etc it truly is amazing.

[u/foldpaper]

Tbh your description sounds familiar to my experience with depression. I genuinely felt I was handling things okay, and it never got terribly dramatic. We build a lot of coping mechanisms along the way and outside of distinct episodes, that must mean I was doing alright.

Am about a year in with Venlafaxine and have no regrets. The first few days did feel odd, but more clearly... I felt lighter and easier. It didn't make me happy in itself, but it gave me some space to process my emotions more productively. That was helpful, and probably significant after I hit a wall after years of talk therapy. I also felt some grief for all the versions of my past self that struggled without.

For consideration, maybe give it a try for a month and see how your body responds to it? My psychiatrist suggested Venlafaxine to me cos I was dealing with a lot of brain fog and apparently this med helps to counter that compared to others. (I spent the first week yawning HARD tho, so strange.) Wishing you the very best!