Nathanael: Med (venlafaxine) undigested?

[Nathanael]

(Hey, this is my first post)

I've been holding my reinstatement dose of 37,5 mg Venlafaxine for the last 8 months after a pretty bad withdrawal end of last year (after tapering too quickly to 0mg (didn't know about safe tapering back then)).

 

Ive had a setback the last weeks that was probably stress induced. 

 

The real problem i have is that due to the stress/terror feelings that im experiencing again my digestion isn't working, i have diarrhea and today i noticed in the toilet an undigested white Venlafaxine tablet. (The 37,5 mg capsule has 3 12,5 mg tablets in it)

 

This freaked me out because if im not digesting the medication or only some day when my stress is lower so i dont have diarrhea, my Venlafaxine blood levels will be unstable and thats a big problem! Has anyone an idea or knowledge about how to have the medication digested the same way every day?

My only idea for a solution is not being in stress after taking med (doing slow belly breathing helps me relax, I can hear my digestion then), maybe eating sooner to taking med so my stomach acid production gets going.

 

Btw i always eat breakfast exactly 3,5 hours after taking the meds. This schedule has somehow developed and i thought less variation in that regard means more stability, so i sticked to it.

 

Would be very helpful to get some ideas/tips.

 

 

 

Edited September 12 by Emonda
Name to title

[LotusRising]

Hi @Nathanael

 

Welcome to SA,

 

On 9/12/2024 at 9:42 AM, Nathanael said:

i have diarrhea and today i noticed in the toilet an undigested white Venlafaxine tablet. (The 37,5 mg capsule has 3 12,5 mg tablets in it)

Do you experience diarrhea every day? What is your diet like?

 

On 9/12/2024 at 9:42 AM, Nathanael said:

This freaked me out because if im not digesting the medication or only some day when my stress is lower so i dont have diarrhea, my Venlafaxine blood levels will be unstable and thats a big problem!

Have you noticed an increase in any symptoms?

 

A glass of lemon water can initiate stomach acid production, but if it were me, I would take my medication with food if this continues to happen.

 

[Nathanael]

@LotusRising

I did some more research online and it seems to be normal that the extended release "spheroids" come out undigested. 🥲 Other people on the effexor reddit page have written similar stuff. (Im less concerned about it now, since I know it can be normal)

Those undigested pill parts are called "ghost pills".

 

This is an interesting paper on "ghost pills": https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4110830/

 

"Efexor XL uses a diffusion mechanism. The active drug is on film-coated spheroids, which are packed into capsules. On ingestion, the outer cover of the capsule completely dissolves in the gastric fluids releasing the spheroids. The spheroids are made of inert insoluble ball-like figures on which the active drug is applied. The spheroids are additionally covered with a porous insoluble polymer (ethylcellulose) that acts as a semipermeable membrane through which the drug diffuses once in contact with GI fluids. Spheroids may be visible in the stool after the medication has been used."

 

 

 

[LotusRising]

@Nathanael

 

Interesting! Good to know!