User Reviews for Venlafaxine (Effexor)

I was put on 150mgs right out of the gate. It took 2-3weeks to see the results. My depression has been lifted. I am fearful of weight gain and withdraw symtoms. My rx medications are close to 1800.00 per month.If not working, go to the county for help. The have behavioral health workers to help you through a very dark time. This has been the absolute worst depression I have ever experienced. Death spiral. Had to choose between sitting at home suicidal and alone or be hospitalized. Been there, never want to go back. They treat you like a kindergartener. No respect for the disease we carry with us constantly. I wish everyone the best on their own journey, it can be really awful,a death spiral.Read More Read Less

Because of certain life events and repeated episodes or anxiety attacks, I got on effexor(75). My husband and I wanted to try for another baby so I told my doc I wanted off..he cut me down to half which wasn't too bad, but he said stay on it for 2 weeks at half then just stop..BAD ADVICE! DO NOT ever just stop it!! The dizzy spells, the feel of everything in slow motion (don't know how I avoided 3 major car crashes in one morning with my toddler in the car)the emotional crash..it was horrible. I've been off of it for about a week now and the physical side effects have somewhat got better but the emotional..not so muchRead More Read Less

I was given Effexor during chemo for stage 3 breast cancer. It was supposed to lessen the side effects from menopause - sweats, anxiety & insomnia. Instead, I became must WORSE & eventually attempted suicide when weaning off the medication. I don't think the drs monitor you closely enough while on this medication.

Stoping Hot flashes and night sweats

I have been on the medicine for 8months now. I have gained about 30 pounds since being on it. Im slowly getting off the medicine but the withdraws are the worst thing I ever delt with. I felt like I was going to die. My whole body would shake. I felt so sick to my stomach. My anxiety jumped through the roof. It was horrible. I could not even function. Im down to the 37.5mg and scared to even cut myself down from that. I dont want to go through the withdraw again.

I have found that Effexor has helped me in my depression and has taken the edge off. In having periodically blood work done it appears that medication is working without any side effects.

I really liked this drug in the beginning. It gave me my sex drive back (unlike any other). However, if I would miss even ONE day of this pill the side effects are SEVERE! I am not trying to get off of this pill and the side effects are INSANE! ie: Depression came back, Severe Dizziness, Sleepy-Tired ALL the time, Emotionally unstable,etc. Don't ever start this pill if you do not intend to continue taking it forever. You will never be able to get off of it without INTENSE, SEVERE side effects!!!Read More Read Less

I have been on this medication for many years at 75 mg. It keeps me balanced and not feeling so fragile. The anxiety is sometimes there but is not so overpowering. Some side effects like wieght gain and ejeculation problems sometimes. If you miss several doses it can get cotton head and anxious. If I ever go off I will have to ween off slowly.

Depression relief absolutely. Experiencing some annoying side effects. Hot flashes, allergy symptoms, more forgetful than usual, waking up earlier and can't go back to sleep. Maybe I could take a lower dose. Will see doctor soon.

This medication helps tremendously with my depression and helps me get a good night's rest if taken at night. I have however gained 20 pounds. I went off this for a bit with other heavy medications and didn't have a problem. If you feel like the withdrawls are severe you should be weening yourself off slowly. If you do that it shouldn't be horrible. This is the case with most psychotropic meds.

Started with 75 mg. My therapist said I needed to raise it to 150 mg. Had the mood swings, depression with other peri menopausal symptoms. This med definitely raises your body temperature. But it definitely calmed my moods down. Almost too much . I don't have the feelings of panic or urgency on certain situations which I did before. My emotions are also more flat. Also helps with Obbsesive thoughts. Going thru tough times in marriage too. Think it has helped me overall. Also feel dizzy when missing a dose. Read More Read Less

About 45 min. to 1 hour after I took the first pill my husband called 911. I had severe vomiting and could not breath. I was in the hospital 6-7 hours, before I was released.

started at 75mg a day and after 5 months and not much change in my anxiety I have been slowly moved up to 300mg a day, 150 in the morning and 150 at night. I have noticed minor changes in my mood, I sleep much more, no weight gain. Excessive yawning does happen and night sweats as well. I am giving this medication a few more months to give me its full effect!

I have only been on Effexor for 2 months after taking numerous other meds for years. I have been having a lot of headaches and chest pains and also increased anxiety attacks since beginning this medicine. Does anyone else have these problems?

I've been through a lot of anti-depressants over the past 15 years for depression and panic disorder. I've been on 75 mg twice a day for about 6 months and I am very happy with the results. I have not gained any weight at all. In fact, I've lost a few pounds. There are some side effects, but they beat the heck out of constant panic attacks which cause vomiting in my case. Don't forget a dose, or nasty withdrawls will happen fairly quickly. Overall, I'm very happy.

I am only 16 and have had a rough battle with depression since I was 12. I didn't get help until I was 14, big mistake. I took Prozac 40mg first but the doctor found it was ineffective although I am telling her it is working fine. She changes me o 75mg of Effexor. I took it for a month and had severe nausea. When I switched doctors I later found out the doctor that prescribed Effexor didn't prescribe it correctly. The immediate release tablets are meant to be taken 3 times a day and I was taking it once a day basically making the pill useless. I am back on the Prozac now and the side effects are much more tolerable. I just wonder how this drug would have effected me if I took the extended release version. But all in all, I just couldn't handle the severe nausea every time I took it.Read More Read Less

I have been taking 37.5 2x a day now for about 2 weeks. I dont really have any emotions anymore. My pupils are the size of saucers and I feel like I can't sit still. Everything is kinda hazy and I become dizzy a lot! Can't really say that I have eatten anything due to the fact that I have NO appatite. I do believe that its working... down fall is that I always feel like im "on-something"!

I am taking Effexor for Fibromyalgia symptoms. One good side effect is that I feel much better emotionally. My fibro symptoms are all but gone, also. However, some other side effects are not so pleasant. My husband says I "shake" all night long. Tremors. Even after a year on this med. Also, alcohol and Effexor DO NOT mix! Miserable headaches the morning after.

This drug worked wonders when I first started using it. I tried 3 other drugs before this one and it's the best. Unfortunately, all of them have sexual side-effects. Then, you start needing more and more, and it's hard to get off of. Very weird withdrawal. Diziness, head flashes, waekness, crabiness. But once you take it again, you never realized how much it helped. It makes you feel good, and even keeps me from going to sleep. SO--there are a couple of ups and downs to keep in mind. -T., Madison, WIRead More Read Less