"i have been taking this for 2 years now and it has been the best thing to happen to me. it was only when i had had bad suicidal thoughts that my doctor finally realized i had bipolar. they just kept saying i was depressed but to be fair i never told them how bad it was until i had a complete breakdown. after being admitted to the hospital i had to speak to a councillor and was a few seconds away from being sectioned under the mental health act that they realized i was worse than what i was originally saying. venlafaxine has made my life and my kids life better. i am on 225mg per day 75mg night and 150mg mornings."