Symptoms: Akathisia, Brain zaps, Emotional blunting, Sexual dysfunction, Cognitive impairment, Insomnia, Depersonalization/Derealization, Suicidal ideation, Severe anxiety/panic, Anhedonia, GI disturbances
I was prescribed 225 mg of venlafaxine by a resident doctor. She said there would be no side effects other than my ruminating thoughts going away. I had complete and utter trust in this doctor. I took the drug for 5 years. I didn't know what was happening to me (totally spellbound). I was always constipated, exhausted, couldn't feel a thing or think clearly. I couldn't think through any situation and didn't care what I did, like at all. During that time, I got married and had a baby (all while heavily medicated). After giving birth, I went up to 285 mg. Eventually, it dawned on me. I still felt depressed, anxious, and had ruminating thoughts. I wondered who I was without these drugs. I started to taper. Once I got down to 112 mg, it's like I woke up from a dream and landed in a nightmare. I got married to someone I was never in love with and had a child with him willingly. It is the scariest realization one could ever endure. My life is ruined. I am now going through a separation, splitting a 2-year-old 50/50, tapering and living through something I feel that I didn't even choose to begin with. You always dream of having a family and this was utterly stolen from me.