When is the best time to take venlafaxine ER?

Hello Wildcat,
Thank you so much for your quick response. I did take the pill last night as well as a Xanax and I slept through the night. I will continue to take it a couple hours before bedtime. The side effects list is confusing because it says it gives you insomnia and then it says it will make you sleepy. I have a hard time falling asleep so that is why I asked.

I am so glad to hear that my increased anxiety and depression right now is normal. I was really worried that it was all coming back full force again. The nausea is still with me but I will be patient and hopefully it will go away very soon. I actually got my appetite back a bit today so that is good. I am extremely thirsty though.
Thank you so much for your comforting words. They really put my mind at ease.
Take care,
Juliette

It IS confusing because every person responds differently to these medications. As you probably saw insomnia was reported by about 24% of patients and somnolence (sleepiness) by 26%. This applies to some of the other potential side effects as well... go figure!
As for your nausea, if you can, try eating small amounts of bland foods like yogurt, soda crackers, milk, etc. What I found very helpful was ginger ale and ginger tea. If it persists much longer you could ask your doctor or pharmacist about some OTC remedies such as Emetrol, meclizine, or Dramamine-N which are safe to take with venlafaxine.
I really hope you can get through this initial period and that the venlafaxine will work as well for you as it did for me.

Hi Wildcat. I’m sorry to bother you again but I’m really not doing well. I took the venlafaxine ER on Friday night and when I woke up yesterday I was in a really bad way. Terribly depressed. Felt like a zombie,like a heavy blanket was on my head. My heart was beating fast and still super nauseous. What is strange is that every evening around 8 or 9 I feel like my old self. I don’t want to go to sleep because I finally feel good. I woke up today and I’m still nauseous and weak. I was wondering if I should take my old anti depressant today because the venlafaxine er has been out of my system for 24 hours. The only reason the medicine was changed was because it was a new psychiatrist. I even told him that I thought the medicine was working or I wasn’t depressed anymore but he still decided to give me a new on because he wasn’t happy with the old one which was Mirtazapine 30mg. I have been on it for 3 years and feel as though I should take it now. What do you think? I’m just scared.

I forgot to mention that I didn’t take the medicine last night because I really feel as though it’s making me worse. I don’t want to take it anymore. It will be 2 weeks on Tuesday that I started it and I am just getting worse. I guess it takes a little while to get out of my system. So please let me know your thoughts on going back on Mirtazamine 30mg starting today. Thank you.

You're NO bother... and I'm so sorry I wasn't online yesterday... my power was out all day and into this early morning.
I'm not really sure what I would have said anyway. By now you would have decided which medication to take so let us know how your night went. There are pro's and con's either way so I want you to call your doctor's office ASAP and tell him what's going on. Let him know that you're having these side effects and that you just can't handle it.
Maybe he wasn't happy with Remeron but did he say why? And the bigger question would be were YOU happy with it? If it was working for you and you felt good while you were taking it I don't see the reason for stopping it. Ultimately, it's your well-being at stake and you have the final say in your treatment plan.
So call TODAY and then please give us an update.

Hello Wildcat,
After much debate yesterday I decided to go back to Remeron and I have felt much better yesterday evening and today. I’m sure yesterday was more psychological with my feeling comfortable with the old one in my system and knowing that the old one is pretty much out of my system according to your calculations I our earlier conversation. The nausea has stopped, I have my appetite back and I just feel like ME again. It feels really good. I am going to call my doctor tomorrow and tell him my decision. I just followed along with what he decided but you made a great point about my doing what is right for me. That is very true. Thank you!
I really appreciate all of your help these past few days!! You truly got me through this super tough time and I will be forever grateful!
Take care,
Juliette

Hope you keep feeling good. Take care of yourself. :)

Thank you so much! I truly appreciate your help with all of this. You definitely got me through this “mess”. Take care, Juliette