User Reviews for Venlafaxine (Effexor)

I had been taking Effexor XR for about 10 years and then slipped into anxiety and depression. After changing to Effexor (not XR) for two months I was worse. I was weaned off Effexor under a doctor's care and feel so much better. I have come to realize that it works in the short term (with counseling) but for me should not be taken long term.

Effexor has worked for me every time. Recently I had another episode of depression after a stressful work situation and not pursuing my own goals and hobbies. As it always happens I had forgotten how horrible depression is and I also had some doubts: would Effexor work again? I was very worried for the first two weeks. I read some negative reviews and thought maybe this time the medication would not work. It's part of the disease: we worry too much and expect the worst to happen. Well, I worried in vain: after 4 weeks Effexor kicked in again and I started to feel better, able to work, play, and enjoy life. It's been just over 8 weeks and I feel even better than before I started. About those who complain: there may be some genuine cases when this medication does not work, but in most cases I notice a unfair whining about side effects. I can't understand how can some sweating, nausea or temporary loss of libido compare to the horrible abyss of depression? Well they don't in my case. I have experienced some increased sweating, a bit of nausea for about 2-3 days, and a loss of libido for about 2-3 weeks. But after a matter of weeks the body adjusts and everything is normal. Depression makes us all worry and think negative scenarios. No need to add to that and deter somebody from using a medication that just may work for them. There is hope - whether from this medication or some other treatment. Get well soon everyone and take some action. It's too much I know, but taking the first steps is all that is required. Read More Read Less

After I take this medicine, I usually get a migraine type headache and very nauseaus. I end up throwing up this plus all my other medications, therefore getting no benefit from the Effexor or my other needed Meds

I was prescribed Effexor XR after using Celexa for about 2 months (started great, but then could fall asleep at the drop of a hat). My doc tried me on Zoloft, which made keep forgetting things. Taking Effexor has made me feel like my old self. I'm not as anxious, I don't cry about nothing, and I'm interested in things again. I started taking it because of the stress of nursing school and issues with my spouse, everything just piled on. I jokingly call it my "I don't give a crap" med. I'm able to turn things off and not get so wrapped up in little irritating things. The bad part is trying to wean, I only take 37.5 mg daily, it's pretty low. Do it slowly because there are dizzy spells, nausea and "brain zaps", I'm sure it's the serotonin levels dropping. I know many people don't care for it, but it's really changed my life, back to somewhat normal. Read More Read Less

I took Zolft for 12 years and Paxil for 8 years. Paxil recently started to be less effective for my anxiety and depression, so I was given Effexor as I titrated off of the Paxil. Eventually the Effexor XR was raised to 225 mg per day. At first I thought the effexor would work for me, as my "old self" seemed to return. But then I started getting angry and felt intense rage! My personality was changing a LOT and I had suicidal thoughts all the time! I would cry over any little thing and/or get terribly mad! I felt like I was on the verge of a breakdown! I went to my healthcare provider and she has now had me start titrating off of the effexor and has added Prozac. I really do not understand why she ever tried me on effexor in the first place! Today has been my third day without any effexor. I actually made myself skip a week of the titration! Next week was supposed to be the "stop it completely" week. I have been sick in bed all day. Diarrhea, some nausea (vomited once), and earlier today I had extreme thirst! Anyway, so far I have not had any brain zaps. But I would suggest to anyone considering this drug to weigh all your options. I would never say to someone to never use it though. It has helped some people immensely. As for me, NO!Read More Read Less

It is difficult to review this medication, because technically it has worked wonders for me, yet miss a dose, and it is absolutely debilitating. I suffered from panic attacks for years and tried a variety of anti-depressants to treat them. Most worked marginally well, and usually came with some unwanted side effects, particularly weight gain. On Effexor, though, I feel like I've had my life returned to me, and there are practically zero side effects, provided you take it every day. I am able to function so much better on a daily basis, and have been living a fuller life since starting this medication. Now for the downside. I once missed a single dose because my pharmacy ran out, and within 6 hours of my normal dose time, I started feeling the effects. Within 12 hours, I was sweating, nauseated, jittery, confused, etc. I could barely sleep that night, and when I did, I had horrible nightmares. The next day, I awoke feeling nothing like myself. Literally, I felt like a different person was in my body. I was incredibly irritable and had the worst vertigo I've ever experienced. It was all I could do to get to the pharmacy once they had more, and within a couple hours of taking my dose, I was nearly back to normal. After that incident, I did a great deal of research on this drug, and found that my experience was not uncommon at all, yet neither doctors, nor the warnings on the medication, nor the advice on site like this list any of these problems as a possibility. I think a lot more people would be very hesitant to start this medication knowing how crippling it would be to try and get off it. As some other reviewers have said, if there is any other option available to you, even if it doesn't work perfectly, I would strongly advise using that instead of starting an Effexor regiment. God willing, I will never miss a dose again, and God help me if I ever need to stop. :(Read More Read Less

I'm on 37.5mg 2x per day for hot flashes only. If i am an hour late, major hot flash. After a month and half, something clicked in my brain. I didn't think I was depressed, but it made me happy. Positive. Chatty. It also made my shoulders, neck and jaw very tensed up. Since I am bedridden w back pain, this is not good. As far as helping w hot flashes, it cut them in half. I'm taking it w herbal supliment and still hot! But I do like how it makes my mind feel. I've been on several anti d's before and didn't get this result. It lowered my appetite severely and I lost weight. As far as withdrawl, what people r reporting is kinda normal for these meds. Take ur time stopping. Do not stop cold turkey, it's very dangerous. Overall, if ur looking for meds for very mild hot flashes, it will will work. I thought mine were mild, but have realised they r stronger than this med will help w. If ur depressed or have social anxiety i recommend it. Good luck :)Read More Read Less

I have been on 150mgs for 7 years. Recently I forgot to take my dose with me on a two night trip away. I was shocked by the fizziness in my head that occurred. I have since gone on half dose and am doing fine. I dont want to surf over life and want to cope myself-with my own skills- hence the half dose- but i dont envisage cutting it out completely.

I have been recently on Effexor XR but needed to increase dosage so now I am taking Effexor. It has been helpful need to know if the medication eats at the lining of your stomach if you take it with out food.

This drug sucks or at least the generic version venlafaxine. It causes weight gain and helps minimally with social anxiety even at 150 milligrams. If you heavily exercise I wouldn't take in excess of 75 milligrams because it sky rockets your heart rate. This drug also is incredibly hard to come off of and has the worst withdrawal symptoms of any of the sssri's or snri's. There's no way venlafaxine should still be on the market. It makes you feel shitty, unhappy, tired, and antisocial.

It annoys me how many people come on here and bag Effexor. You have obviously turned down this path as there was no other option. I know i did, if there was another path i would have chosen it but to get me through depression Effexor has helped me more than any other anti depressant, natural medicine, yoga, exercise or any other crap that has been suggested. Everyone is different and unfortunately people reading this site may be put off by negative views of Effexor. How many people also tried crack and had negative experiences! end of the day Effexor is a drug and if it helps keep me sane and alive then i'll take it. its not forever. Ive weened off before and its not hard if you do it CORRECT! any drug has side effects including cold and flu tabs etc etc Comparing this drug to Zoloft and Lexapro i have noticed best results. And NO weight gain unlike all the others. But hey my body is different to any one elses out there so all you can do is trial and error. thats life! I first experienced anti d's when i was 16 and watched my mum stuggle through cancer...she passed away 4 years later. Losing a loved one was the hardest thing i ever could face in life and found my only saviour was anti depressants. They werent forever, i weened off them 9 years later and remained off them for 2 years. I recently re-commenced the tablets as emotions stirred up with a few other life issues so for now im back on them. Its helping me for now and im happy so thats all that matters. Very few side effects for me so im a happy camper! I would otherwise cry every day and at the drop of the hat. when i commenced the drug i did have increased thoughts of suicide but that has faded. I can still orgasm lol but never as good drive as previous. I'd rather happiness everyday than a few seconds of pleasure. Overall dont knock it until you try it. I could bag Zoloft for making me violently ill but i know others that took it and are happy. Two sides to a story people!Read More Read Less

After 150 mgs as Pristique, my Rx was upped to 225 mgs as Effexor every morning. No question it has removed 99% of my generalized anxiety. Enormous difference in mood; am far more relaxed, self confident, able to cope. I over-dream, though, so I take something at night which helps about an 8 on a scale of 1 to ten. Have put on belly and face fat (about 20 lbs after 2+ years) and libido & potency have unfortunately also been adversely effected, although not obliterated completely.

It was prescribed by my oncologist after breast cancer and my neurologist for neuropathy pain. It does not really eliminat eitiher, but has made e gain weight!!

I have been taking Efexor for bulimia. It helps me to not have the thoughts and needs to binge and purge. It is very effective for me but the side effects are a problem. I yawn so much that I can barely drive because of my eyes watering over from yawning. I also sweat uncontrollably and cannot have an orgasm. But I have not binged and purged once since taking the medication.

I took Effexor for 1-2 years for migraine prevention. It does NOT work for migraine prevention. I kept taking it, though, because I was much less irritable and had lots of energy (both were a really nice change of pace for me, I'm cranky and tired usually). Had to stop taking Effexor because: 1) sweated VERY heavily with exertion or stress and it stunk; 2) could not sleep at night; 3) I was having more migraines, not fewer. It did bring up my blood pressure, but I have low blood pressure, so that wasn't a problem for me. It took over 5 years for my sweating to become less excessive and stinky. I lost 10 lbs, another nice side effect. As soon as I stopped taking the Effexor, the weight came back. I was happier on the Effexor, but no sleep = more migraines, and that just isn't something I can live with. As a side note, I can't take most meds due to side effects.Read More Read Less

I am reading all these withdrawel symptoms and wonder how many of the people really have these and how many is in the mind. I have been on and off for a few years and have never had a problem if I missed a dose or stopped taking. All of us react different, just remember your mind is your most powerful tool. I was taking for hot flashes and it worked great.

After 16 years of anti-depressant use, and 5 years of Effexor, I weaned off it to see what life was like without anti-depressants. Withdrawal effects are horrendous, fever, dizziness, brain zaps, mood swings, rage, crying spells. Nevertheless, Effexor did work for me. It alleviated depression and anxiety quite well. I'm glad I took it. The worst side effect for me was the withdrawal effects that would occur if I didn't take it. Since weaning from Effexor I have been trying a variety of things to balance my moods including fish oil, vitamins D & B complex, theanine, 5 htp, & melatonin. I am planning to try additional amino acids. See Henry Emmons, The Chemistry of Joy and The Chemistry of Calm, for some ideas. It has been seven weeks since I discontinued Effexor, and I believe I may be okay without anti-depressants! Take it if you need it, and if you decide to go off it, do not take the process lightly. You will need a long weaning period. Take fish oil, and B-Complex for sure. Good luck.Read More Read Less

The drug has worked for me but I now have elevated live levels. I take 225 mg a day for the past year. Could this be causing the elevation.

I've been on and off meds for depression since puberty, and I'm now in my 50's. The worst times were in my teens and again in my 40's til now. I also have ADHD which I'm treated for. I tried the SSRI's and they were horrible for me! Then I was tried on Strattera and it was just as bad. My doctor then switched me to Cymbalta, and it worked well for me until United Health Care and Medco Started using Express Scripts and would no longer cover ANY portion of my Cymbalta Rx and because there's no generic, and won't be for another 6 years - since the manufacturer is now calling it a "pain" medication. My doctor was VERY reluctant to switch me to Effexor because I'm extrememly sensitive to meds, but after being off Cymbalta for a month I needed to be on something, and asked him to try me on Effexor and he agreed. We started on the XR, but by the evening it wore off and I felt SUPER irritable, so at my next appt, I asked him to switch me to 3x regular release/dat since I couldn't go to 2 XR's/day yet. At my next appt I'll ask him to move me up to 2 XR's per day because I felt more even and more evenly energized throughout the day. On the regular release I feel a definite crash around 5:30 PM every day, and I had to play around with whether to take 2 in the AM or to in the afternoon to have more energy early or in the afternoon - it seems better to take two earlier, and one in the afternoon. I realize the withdrawl, if I have to get to that will be awful, but apparently if you take a very small dose of different kinds of meds - from benedryl to 5-HTP to Xanax (w/the help of your doctor) it helps with the last part of the withdrawl - when you're ready to taper all the way off. That's what my doc said anyway - so hopefully I'll be able to cross that bridge when I come to it!Read More Read Less