User Reviews for Venlafaxine (Effexor)

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I take 75 mg of the extended release per day. Have had instances where it seemed this was not enough (depression continued), but increasing the dosage by 50% was not effective at all, even detrimental (depression worsened). Am now back to the 75 per day, but still battle with depression. Am hesitant to add any more meds to my life. Started this drug in the wake of breast cancer (chemo, radiation and after-effects) 3 years ago, in conjunction with Ativan (for anxiety) and Neurontin (for extreme neuropathy). Have completely eliminated Ativan and Neurontin, but feel like something is missing... Following up with doctors on correct dosage is very difficult (depressing!). Read More Read Less

I was perscribed effoxor 7 yrs ago before the suicide warnings, and attempted suicide. I was then hospitalized for 2wks in psyc unit. after trying five other med combos I was put back on effexor 300mg I also take a mood stabilizer.I no longer see a therapist(stopped 3yrs ago). I am now down to 75mg. I also take a mood stabilizer(I have bipolar).I take my meds at bedtime. This helps with the tiredness. Its very important to take at the same time everyday. I have very few side affects as long as I take it regularly. I do have dry mouth, but gum helps with this. and I have to be careful not to get overheated in the summer.I am not concerned with withdrawal symptoms because I will be on medication for the rest of my life. Thats fine with me. I have a full time job and am raising my daughter in my own. I am a very functional person now.Read More Read Less

This medication works well; however I had experienced several side effects that made me uncomfortable (nausea, dry mouth, stomach pain and constipation)after three days of taking the medication. The pain usually started during the digestion of the medication.The anxiety had subsided and I feel okay after the stomach pain went away. I might give this med a few weeks to see if I can manage the pain. And, I have not noticed any change in my appetite. I exercise on a regular basis and actually have noticed that I dropped a couple of pounds. Although I do not think that the medication had anything to do with that. So, I guess I will have to check back in and let you know how it goes. Read More Read Less

never out of depression

Two words: EXCESSIVE SWEATING. The med actually worked fairly well but the sweating was intolerable.

My family doctor started me on a dose of 300mgs daily. I experienced constant shaking of my hands, cold clammy sweats whenever I would exert myself, profound lethargy, confusion, worsening of depression. I felt like I was going mad. I was so nauseous during the day that I could only eat late at night and gained about 20 pounds. After three months of "sticking with it" I called my doctor about the side effects. She told me to quit cold turkey. After three days of feeling like I was about to have a seizure I sought a second opinion and was put back on the drug with a plan to get off of it completely. I am now down to 37.5 mgs and am feeling much better but am looking forward to being off completely. I would recommend seeing a psychiatrist to be prescribed this drug. Family doctors, in my experience, do not know enough about this drug to prescribe it to anyone.Read More Read Less

Effexor has really helped ease anxiety and some fears plus offered more sleep although nightmares did accompany sleep. I feel it is time to reduce the drug and to begin slowly going off it due to severe headaches since beginning the med.

I wish I never took Effexor. I was in better shape before I ever started. BE AWARE that it may take up to 12 months for withdrawals to go away, which for me and many others include: insomnia, uncontrollable shaking, vomiting, loss of appetite, panic attacks, paranoia, muscle pain/spasm, headache, dizziness,electric shock sensation in brain, confusion, sweating, chills, fever, and WORST of all suicidal thoughts and attempts. This stuff should be illegal. I even got a psychiatrist to admit that it has the worst side effects of any antidepressant. THIS DRUG IS BAD STUFF!Read More Read Less

Made me very dizzy that I had to go to the ER. Coming off this medication was very hard. As long as it's taken everyday you might be OK, but as soon as you start to come off it taking it every other day the side effects of withdrawl start. I am starting Lamital now.

I do not feel thatthis drug has helped me at all and unfortunately, my doctor does not seem to believe what I tell him. So I guess I will go thru the rest of my life wondering what "almost normal" feels like.

I was only recently prescribed this drug for my mild anxiety that has been escalated due to a birth-control implant. I did not feel I needed something so potent, so i took half of the 75mg I was prescribed. Within 45 minutes I was so sick and confused I could hardly communicate. I was immediatelty sick, and was throwing up the rest of the day, not to mention in a state of delerium. I have taken medications like Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and Xanax, but NEVER have I reacted so badly to a medication. I am under the influence that I may have had an allergic reaction to this, that or it was just too potent for me and my needs. I suggest assesing your need for a medication, and how intense you think your anxiety/depression is. I feel this drug provides more seratonin/dopamine than I may have needed for my mild-moderate anxiety.Read More Read Less

About January, 2003, I started taking an anti-depressant. I tried several: Zoloft, Lexapro, and I can't remember the others. A friend recommended I try Effexor XR (75 mg.), so I did. At one point (a couple of yrs. ago), I felt better & weaned myself off of the 75 mg. by taking it every other day for a week or 2. I had no problems with stopping Effexor. However, something else happened (I can't remember exactly what),& I felt I needed to start back on Effexor again. I'm tired all the time, and I DO have some weird dreams & flashbacks to dreams when I am awake during the day. I usually drink red wine every evening, so that may also have an adverse effect! However, overall, I am very satisfied with Effexor. Read More Read Less

Sodium level keeps dropping to a dangerous low number.

This has been a miracle drug for me. Yes, I am afraid of ever coming off it, but maybe I won't have to. Some side effects, losing weight in the beginning (yahoo!), dry mouth and sweating. All stopped soon enough. Everyone is different for sure, but this literally saved my life.

Took Effexor five years ago for approx. 1 1/2 years. Was taking for Fibromyalgia and it was like a "magic bullet" for my symptoms. However, after about 1 1/2 years the effexor lost its effectiveness. I would like to try it again, as nothing else Ihave taken has been as effective overall for my FM symptoms.

I have been taking this medication now for about 12 years and have found it to have allowed me to cope with extremely difficult life experiences with out going back into hospital. I feel happy and incontrol for the first time in many years. I have tried to come off the medication over a slow and log period of dropping the doseage but still get very off balance and feeling very nauseated. I would like to come off them but unable to get past the withdrawl symptoms.

when i used this drug i had good results as far as stabilizing my mood etc..

My Doctor started me on 75mg about 3 & a half weeks ago for depression & anxiety. I have been showing some improvement in my mood. Early side effects have diminished an my doc has upped the dose to 150mg. Now I'm experiencing some more anxiety as a result and am hoping they diminish with more time. Side effects for me include: sweating & some fatigue.