4 years on, tapered in 3 months, 3 years later still cant’ function
I started venlafaxine in 2019. I started develope worrisome side effects on the venlafaxine very early on such as tremors, restlessness, need of body flexing and clenching and many more. Instead being told to stop it, I was told to dose it up. I was told that there are no medications without side effects, so we need to accept them. Later I developed elevated blood pressure, light sensitivity, heat intolerance, balance problems with vertigo. I continued the medication for around 4 years until one day I checked my blood pressure and it was at at 180/100. That really scared me, so I told the doctor that I want to get off of it. He gave me 3 months taper schedule. During the taper the whole hell broke loose for me. It was so bad that I couldn’t believe it could be from the withdrawals. I started to look for help. I went to many different doctors. I was tested for multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases, autoimmune diseases, any many others. None of these tests showed anything. And when I mentioned to doctors that it might be due to venlafaxine, they looked at me as if I told them I was abducted by aliens. I have had received zero help or understanding from medical professionals, especially from psychiatrists. It has been 3 years now since that taper. I’m still not able to function and participate in normal life. I was fully functional person before starting venlafaxine. I was prescribed it for life problems that can’t be solved by pharmacology.
