I’ve been on a prescribed 150mg venlafaxin dose for 6 months for anxiety (social, gad) and depression. Was working well for managing both. Depression came back (constant suicide ideation, spinning out) due to a period of higher stress, and I decided to up my dose to 225mg, as I was out of town and not able to see my doctor or therapist and didn’t know what else to do. After 4 weeks on 225mg I feel better than I did on 150mg, better at managing social situations and depressive episodes, though it may also be because the high stress period is gone. I saw my doctor finally and she said I should not go above 150mg (effect of the drug is not much higher but side effects would be much higher) and instead prescribed another medication to complement venlafaxin for depression. 

But given that I feel better on 225mg…I kind of want to stay on this dosage for longer and not add another drug. Talking more with her is probably the best move, instead of just not listening and taking 3x75mg and not 150mg + the new medication.

From what I’ve read in this subreddit many people are on 225mg or higher so I’m just a little unsure about if I should just keep going with what feels right or follow my doctors advice?