User Reviews for Venlafaxine (Effexor)

too exspensive ,once ur on it u cant get off unless u walk on the boarder line of hell pain,no sleep bugs crawl(home defence did noting had no sights of them must be chemical exsplosion think ur nuts one minute fine the othere help roller coaster ride i feel like im going nuts stress in my chest cant get blood preasure down keeps getting high. body hurtssss man im 32 feel like im on my death bed please becareful once u start u better have cash back up if u have no medical coverage or have a higer power or someone that can help u threw. sick of feeling sick me too Read More Read Less

it made me numb, it didnt stop my anger at all

This medication has changed my life. I have had a lot of deaths in my life and became overly anxious and depressed. Effexor made me able to think again. I take 75mg daily and I hope I can continue on this medication. After I started taking this, I realized how much I really needed something several years ago. I can't comment on withdrawal as I make sure I don't miss a dose.

I am a Breast Cancer surviour. Since starting this drup I have fluid problems, esoecially in the BC arm and stomach area. Anyone else having these systems?

I find myself tired allot more now than before however, I am not having suicidal thoughts any longer.

I have been taking effexor to help with menopause symptoms after getting off hormone therapy. It works fairly well; I'm still having some trouble sleeping, and the dream issue is sometimes a problem! I've gone down to one pill per day, taken in the morning, and that helps with the side effects.

I have been on this for about two years because my insurance would not pay for Lexapro which workied really well. This is the only one they would pay for. I was put on this for postpartum depression and the side effects of it are horrible. If I missed a dose I would my body would let me know and I recently ran out and have no insurance at the time and I am experiencing being sick at my stomach, racing heart, and feel like I am going to pass out. I feel like I am back where I started of not being on anything. I do not reccomend this drug at all for anyone. I know everyone is different but the side offects are not worth it to me.Read More Read Less

The withdrawal symptoms were horrible I felt like my brain was getting zapped by electricity. I was dizzy, nauseas. My friend became concerned when she saw my appearance. If you miss a dose your body will let you know!

This medicine has decreased the number of hot flashes that I have tremendously. However,I don't like the fact that if you miss taking it at the same time or a whole day you become very dizzy and off balance.

I been on Effexor for so many years now I don't think it works for me anymore. the last 7 days I haven't come out of my room and all I have been doing is crying and sleeping. I just want to die I don't want to kill myself because i'm a Catholic and all I want to do is not being around people all they do is hurt me and i'm tired of it. So its a escape for me here. I just want to disapear and not deal with hurt anymore my kids treat me like crap. I dont want any friends they just use me anyway. I'm just giving up now. I've been on every kind of antidepressant there is since I was 14 years old I'm now 58 so I just say if it hasn't worked by now it never will. Sincerely, where I will Like to just die. Read More Read Less

changed from prozac. just learnt this drug is not for someone with highblood pressure.I have cronic high blood pressure.

i like this medication does give me more vivid dreams

I have had severe anxiety for 17 years. As I got older I tried to wean myself off of my previous medicine. I went one year without medication and it was terrible : I couldn't drive or work. I decided to go back on medication and my Doctor suggested we try Effexor. For the past 5 years I have been on a low dose of 75 mg that I take once a day before bed. My life is so much better. I can do anything. I have travelled, went to University and no longer suffer. I know I will most likely have to be on medication forever because of my chemical imbalance, and this worries me for when I want to start a family (I haven't read too many positives about being on Effexor and pregnant). If i miss a dose I can tell right away as I feel dizzy and disorientated. The pros of this medication outweigh the cons for me.Read More Read Less

My doctor put me on this medicine to help ease the symptoms of perimenopause. I was using it for about three years. It actually helped get rid of really bad headaches I was getting, but I gained 30 lbs in 3 months. I could not sleep, and when I did I had the most horrible dreams and woke up most nights in a panic. During the day I went from being emotionless to a screaming lunatic. My doctor refused to help wean me off the drug so I did it on my own. It took me almost 2 months to get past the really bad withdrawal symptoms, I fell on a flight of stairs when my legs went numb. I have been off the drug for over 3 years but the side effects still hit me. It is as if my brain takes a few seconds to digest information, conversations, questions anything. I often find myself staring at the person not understanding and then I finally process the information. I have half the mental ability I had before taking this and no motivation or drive. If anyone has gone through this and found a way out, would love to hear from you.Read More Read Less

i got effexor bout 2 years ago for anxiety/depression/angry issues after trying celexa (which did nothing for me after taking it for 3 months...the doc. put me on 75mg. at first and it seemed to work for me then last april i was put on 150mg. which has been good for my symptoms BUT i have had times where i forgot to pick up my refill for a day or didnt have the money to get it for a weekend, the only way i can describe the withdrawals from this medicine is horrible!!! there was zapping in my brain, jitters non-stop, sweats, angry, sadness, and worst of all i thought i was completely CRAZY, like i needed to be in a mental institue. i was blaming myself for this horrible side effects until recently i discovered almost everyone that has taking this med. has had the same experience. so from my personal opinion, if i were u, i WOULD NOT take this medicine. you can find some alternative for it. i would not wish that experience on my worst enemy...i am going to wean myself off asap and never ever take something like this again. i hope the best for all of u who read this and hope i can keep atleast one person from making the same mistake i did. good luck, God blessRead More Read Less

Effexor has greatly diminished the amount of hotflushes I have daily due to menopause. I have been taking it regularly for two years and have not experienced any negative side effects.

I've been on quite a few SSRIs. I started this one and have had problems with it. The doctor's kept increasing the dosage and it caused more and more side effects. I stopped eating, sleeping, felt like crying all the time, etc. Was hard to get off of. Actually was hospitalized and took other meds to get off of. Not a big fan of this drug. I met people on this for 5 years and I met people that can't stand it.

I did not experience any isde effects when starting Effexor and while titrating dose up. If I skip my dose for a day I do usually get a headache and feel sluggish and run down, also my mood goes from positive to mildly depressed type symptoms.