Hi, my name is Wendy and I am new to the site. I have suffered with depression and anxiety for around 20 years but it has been managed very well with medication. About 10 weeks ago my gp decided that it would be a good idea to change my meds as the one I was taking was an old drug (dosulepin) and there were better things available that might help my other problems as well.

She started to withdraw me from one and then a few weeks later introduced venaflaxine XL, I am now on 187.5mg. Well since then my life has been a living nightmare, I am now afraid to go out, I can't answer the front door as I am scared of people I don't know. I am getting panic attacks on a regular basis again and the worst part is I have started scratching myself. My tummy looks terrible and my hands and arms have been scratched as well. My poor husband is wonderful and so supportive, we have just celebrated out 30th wedding anniversary and for 20 years of our married life he has had to put up with me being ill in one way or another. I know I am very lucky, as some men would have walked.

Anyway, I am being phoned on Thursday to see how I am, I haven't seen my dr so she doesn't know how bad my scratching has been, I jut get a phone call every few days. I am tempted to ask if I can go back to my old drug, well if I have the courage to ask. Do you think I have given the venaflaxine time to get into my system (10 weeks) I feel out of control, I am crying all the time, feel in a very dark place, have no energy or enthusiasm to do anything, am scratching myself out of frustration and to make the useless feeling go away. I just want it all to end and I want to be me again.

Do you think I am asking to much to go back onto Dosulepin? I just don't know what to do