"i have been on venlafaxine for almost 10 years. after being diagnosed with severe depression when i was in my twenties, i was prescribed prozac on which i couldn&#039;t function, and then paxil which worked okay at first.  several years later after years of both manic and depressive episodes,  the worst  full-blown manic episode got me re-diagnosed as bi-polar. i was prescribed venlafaxine, a very small dose which made me violently ill for over 2 weeks, but after that, it improved and i felt better. my dosage has been upped numerous times. i am now at 225 mg and have been for a couple of years. it has been a life saver. i feel like i have a new life; one without rages, anxiety, and depression. my family is much more stable now that i am stable."