I'm struggling

Hi, I can sympathise with this.  I am now on the max dose of Venlafaxine and feel totally controlled on it.  If I do not take my meds my husband says he can tell, I am a different person.  I have now accepted that, at the minute, I need this medication and am certainly not going to push to reduce this for the foreseeable!

I was started by GP on 37.5mg which did not touch the surface of my depression.  It was only after self-harming and attending hospital and seeing psychiatrist that this was increased to 300mg (some jump!).  I felt I was controlled with this and my HRT patches but then the latter led to migraines and was stopped.  I was again 'struggling' and asked GP to increase to max dose of 375mg.  This has worked and I am doing really well at the minute.  I think you should speak to your GP and ask for your dose to be evaluated, or you may need another type of antidepressant

I feel sorry for people who decide to 'try and go it alone' without medication or counselling.

Have you had counselling because I think that the medication has to go hand in hand with counselling.

Margaret