Drug Ratings for EFFEXORAverage Rating: 3.0 (835 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken from shortest to longest (with no time reported listed first) Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR EFFEXOR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 5 | 9 months | No side effects experienced. No withdrawral problems either. Did not go 'cold turkey' but started slowly leaving out one tablet in four for a few days then cutting out the others. | F | 40 | | 8/20/2006 | 5 | 9 months | No side effects experienced. No withdrawral problems either. Did not go 'cold turkey' but started slowly leaving out one tablet in four for a few days then cutting out the others. | F | 40 | | 8/20/2006 | 5 | Oy vey - previous post should say 75 MG !! Can you imagine 75G?? | | 4/14/2006 | 5 | | 11/14/2006 | 5 | social anxiety - depression | sweating, dry mouth, loss of appetite, weight gain, vivid dreams, gas | I've been using effexor since September 2004 and I've seen a tremendous change in my personality. I enjoy being with family and friends again. My patience with people is better and I have not had an anxiety attack since I started taking effexor. | F | 39 | | 11/25/2004 | 5 | My post should say that I have been taking it for 4 years | F | | 10/7/2006 | 5 | Anxiety, panic attacks | Well, it's hard to say right now only been on it for a couple hours. More or less want some advice about dosing. Do have nervous feeling in limbs, nausea a little spacey, clenching jaw. | I'm starting slow with 37.5mg. Wondering if anyone else takes this little. It's not the XR kind, is it better to take in the morning, afternoon, evening, night? Do the nervous limb-symptoms go away? Email me. | F | 28 | | 2/16/2007 | 5 | Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Dry Mouth in the first 3 days, occasionally have night sweats and strange dreams nothing worth worrying about. | Efexor has made me able to cope with my life in a positive way, I don't feel sad anymore, I have more energy and I can communicate face to face with anyone without feeling nervous. I have been taking Efexor 75mg for 18mths now. | F | 51 | | 11/26/2009 | 4 | depression | some shakiness when first prescribed. It lasted only a short while. | I had been on other antidepressants which did not work as well.I have taken the drug for almost 4 years. It still seems to be effective. | F | 60 | | 9/25/2008 | 4 | panic attacks | crazy nightly vivid dreams, nauseated most days, dizziness, fatigue | I will continue on this drug because I have to. I can live with most of the symptoms I described, but...the crazy daily dreams are to a point that they are nightly, and I feel I am watching movies or I am living a double life. I cannot even take a nap without having a dream! Annoying, bothersome and affects my energy levels during the day. Scary dreams at times, but not classed as nightmares | F | 49 | | 1/13/2008 | 4 | M | 52 | | 1/4/2004 | 4 | Headaches | I have used effexor + Verapamil for treatment of headaches- the combination has helped. I've been on these drugs for over a year | M | 57 | | 1/21/2005 | 4 | anxiety/depression | no problems while taking it, but after skipping even one dose its hell and gets worse as skipping continues. wild vivid dreams, hot/cold flashes, cold night sweats, mild headache, light sensitivity(i wore sunglasses inside lol what a geek), eye pain, depression. most noticably extreme anxiety, concentration difficulty, dizziness and light-headedness, confusion, irritablity, fatigue. i dont recommend driving after skipping although i do anyway... makes you a zombie | i ran out of the pills 3 days ago and couldn't figure out what was wrong (i figured it would go away) but eventually figured out what was causing it. very interesting dreams and all but i'll pass on that... the nightmarishness kinda ruin your day. it really is strange/scary to have both mental and physical problems so in tune with each other all at once.. i don't understand why the side effects are so much worse than seems to be with other meds. im only taking 75 mg. enough complaining; in any case it works great the rest of the time but im traumatized by the realization that i'm so at the mercy of this medicine | F | 18 | | 10/12/2004 | 4 | depression | I don't really recall any side effects with it,it worked really well for awhile.I took plain Effexor in the 90's,the the XR version in the mid 2000's and it was great. | I just want to toss in here,since I was never warned, informed, or even believed by my own doctor (the on call doctor that answered the emergency page was who told me) do NOT stop this drug cold turkey. Taper off. The withdrawal,at least for me, both times, was horrible. I heard things, saw things, was a nervous paranoid wreck,thought I was losing my mind. I quit Xanax cold turkey twice and it was a cakewalk compared to this stuff. I think experiences like mine are why doctors started tapering people off even anti depressants, that is dealable. Cold turkey is brutal. It didn't stop me from taking the drug a second time, which says it worked great, but just be aware of what COULD happen. | F | 37 | 1X D | 2/27/2010 | 3 | depression | Possibly metallic taste in mouth, balance problems, altered consciousness, slurred speech | The side effects listed were experienced while on Effexor and as far as I can see, are not common. I am trying to find any medical reference to these side effects in relation to this drug. Were these side effects a result of the drug? Did you experience these side effects? Have you seen them referenced in any medical works or journals? Thanks for your help. | F | 32 | 1X D | 8/27/2010 | 3 | | 1/21/2005 | 3 | depression and lack of motivation | none at all | In my case it has only helped somewhat, so far. | F | 44 | | 8/15/2002 | 3 | M | | 5/17/2003 | 3 | depression | anxiety attacks | F | 27 | | 6/25/2004 | 2 | | 11/13/2004 | 2 | Anxiety | Loss of sleep for months, high anxiety. Not myself at all | F | 49 | | 1/10/2009 | 1 | depression and anxiety | One hour after my first dose of 100mg,my very first day. I experienced SEVERE nausea, sweating, fainting feeling and vomiting. Never taking it again!!!! | F | 42 | | 1/15/2008 | 1 | | 7/26/2002 | 1 | major depression | sleepy, nauseous, dizzy, weak, fatigue quickly, feel disoriented, seeing lights when my eyes are closed, brain zaps (loud noises inside the head) | discontinuing treatment under doctor care was a complete horror show. I almost lost it completely. | M | 56 | ? 1X D | 7/28/2012 | 4 | depression | none really | only medication that has helped me with depression | F | 28 | 1 times | 3/20/2004 | 5 | Dysthymia | Headaches, Light-headedness, Dizziness | M | 45 | 2 times | 7/9/2008 | 5 | Anxiety | The usual in the beginning (anxious, fatigue, "buzzy", naseous). | This is the third time in three years I've been on Effexor. The initial side effects are brutal, but after 5 to 7 days, they subside and I get my life back. I notice an improvement almost right away. After a month or so, I can honestly say that I have no side effects other than vivid dreams. The drug definetely improves my anxiety and helps me get a complete night of sleep. This time around, I don't plan on going off, but just to maintain a daily dose of 37.5 - 75mg for "maintenace". Probably my biggest complaint is trying to understand why I require a pill to manange my life.... | M | 35 | 3 times | 6/15/2008 | 3 | depression and anxiety | foggy thinking; sleepy; nausea; severe clenching of jaw while sleeping to the point I now have TMJ disorder | I really like the way Effexor made me feel. I was only taking a low dose (18 mg. 1/2 of a 37.5 mg. tablet). They don't make Effexor tablets anymore. The TMJ disorder is so bad that I quit taking Effexor. | F | 57 | 3 times | 9/17/2007 | 1 | anxiety disorder | Addiction | F | 39 | 4 times | 10/26/2006 | 5 | anxiety | tiredness in the morning | F | 40 | 1 days 150mg 1X D | 1/11/2011 | 4 | panic disorder w/ agoraphobia, OCD, | I had really bad headaches for the first 2 weeks. I was depressed so my doctor up'd my meds. I am currently taking 225 mg per day. I have not had any panic attacks since I have been on it. | Weight gain. I feel fuzzy brained, dizzy, and have headaches when I miss a few doses. Loss of appetite, not very energetic. | F | 40 | 1 days | 11/26/2006 | 4 | panic disorder w/ agoraphobia, OCD, | I had really bad headaches for the first 2 weeks. I was depressed so my doctor up'd my meds. I am currently taking 225 mg per day. I have not had any panic attacks since I have been on it. | Weight gain. My doctor told me that Weight gain is not a side effect of Effexor!! I feel fuzzy brained, dizzy, nausea, and have headaches when I miss a few doses. Loss of appetite, not very energetic. I also have difficulty concentrating, and can be irritable. | F | 40 | 1 days | 11/26/2006 | 4 | Eating disorder | Constitpation, night sweats, dizziness etc etc | F | 28 | 1 days | 7/4/2002 | 4 | anxiety | Initially I had nervous feelings, uncontrollable yawning, lack of sex drive, teeth grinding, and a 30 pound weight gain over one year. I was taking 150 mg. | This cured my anxiety and 'torture by replay' that kept me up most nights, but I am now trying to ween myself off. I felt like I wasn't myself and becoming depressed about the weight. I'm down to 37mg. The dizzy brainy zaps are miserable. I'm afraid to drive my children during this time, but I'm determined to get off. The weight gain has contributed to seriously high blood pressure and random black outs. I need something for anxiety, but this might not be the best option for me. | F | 39 | 1 days | 2/26/2008 | 3 | Depresion | one of the first things that i noticed about taking effoxor was that I was so much LESS irratable! i was immeditialy satisfied by that. While i have been taking it, now for a month, I have some side effects that make me think I need to try something else. I cannot sleep! I have major heat flashes. I have a VERY hard time having an orgasm, and a lot of times cannot!! Very frusrating, but I am new to anti-deppressants, so i don't know what to expect! | F | 26 | 1 days | 10/13/2006 | 3 | depression | Dry Mouth, nasty taste on my tongue, other than that...nothing yet. | 35 | 1 days 37.5 1X D | 1/26/2012 | 2 | anxiety panic | Feeling of being brugged, taken with food, but was vommiting, increased agistation | F | 34 | 1 days | 8/19/2004 | 2 | GAD | Insomnia, lightheaded, unable to function, every time I got up I felt like I was floating, hot flashes | This was my first time taking this type of medication. I was unable to handle the side effects. Although my doctor said they would go away in a week, I just could not function the day I was on it. I was only on the 37mg. I think doctors should really let there patients know what they are in for when prescribing this medication. The only thing my doctor told me was “I will start you on a lower dose to help lessen the side effect that you might experience such as loose bile and headaches”. She did not say anything about feeling doped up the first day. | F | 26 | 1 days | 6/28/2007 | 1 | depression | I had a trial pack and took the smallest 15 mg pill... one pill and a severe reaction! I had (what felt like) the flu less than 2 hours later! It lasted for 4 days! I was vomiting over the smell of anything, as well as from eating anything. I had a headache, fever, hot sweat(s), severe nausea, etc. | For being the "#2 recommended drug" as stated by my doctor, there will not be another time that I ever use this. However, it did work at the time for my sister. Different ones for different people, I guess. | F | 21 | 1 days | 8/19/2008 | 1 | depression/anxiety | I felt like I was on LSD and speed. Very, very uncomfortable. I took 1 starter dose the night before, at bed time. I woke through the night every hour. In the morning I dreaded taking the kids to school and going to work. I was so tripped out driving. I gagged all day, had diarrhea, couldn't eat. If I continued feeling that way I would have killed my self. I just kept thinking I felt odd as a cod, odd as a cod, odd as a cod...bloody not good. | I tried zoloft 2 years ago and had a similar problem. When I told my doc about that, that ssri's make me feel bad, he said this RX was different and I should be ok. Bull. Plus, I have read a whole lot about the addictive properties of this drug. I will stick to my ativan. That too can be addicting, but at least it really helps and doesn't make me want to die. | F | 33 | 1 days | 11/8/2008 | 1 | anxiety/depression | HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE MED FOR ME! Sweating, shaking, extreme nausea so bad I had to leave work and stayed home the next day! Felt like a zombie and nervous at the same time. Eyes dialated the whole time. Had hullucinations when sleeping at night.It was a very scary feeling. | Everyone is different- what works for some doesn't work for others and vice versa. I just know it didn't work for me. | F | 22 | 1 days | 5/31/2002 | 1 | GAD | trouble swallowing and breathing, trembling fingers, bad nausea, dizzyness when moving, floating on a cload, no erections and numb glans, very thursty, headaches | I felt like I got poisoned. | M | 48 | 1 days | 8/29/2004 | 1 | Depression | This drug caused Cervical Dystonia (a neurological condition of the neck) as well as drowsiness, so I stopped taking it. | Due to the aforementioned side effects, I stopped taking the drug. I heard that it is hard to come off of as well. | M | 49 | 1 days 25 MG 1X D | 10/25/2011 | 1 | anxiety | 30 minutes after taking I felt like I was going to throw up,15 minutes later I did.After that it was all down hill.Very dizzy and felt like I couldnt walk,RLS,jaw clenching,my eyes feel like they are open very wide,increased anxiety,numb sensation in toes,I cant think straight,when I try to say something my words get jumbled up,and emoitionless | This is only the first day I have only taken 1 pill and I took it at 7 am and its 4pm and I still feel weird.I hate this feeling and I want oit to go away NOW!I really hope I feel better soon!Ive taken all kinds of different antidepressants and I have never felt this before. I am not going to continue this horrible drug. | F | 28 | 1 days 37.5 1X D | 3/10/2011 | 1 | depression, GAD, panic attacks | This crap made me feel like I was on speed! eyes felt popped open, irritability, shakiness, extreme heartburn, felt like My chest & neck were wrapped in an ace bandage, brain zaps, shortness of breath, & so many more side effects. | I took only 2 doses of this at its lowest dose & I ended up in the damn ER! I felt like I had been poisoned. I don't recommend this drug to anyone unless you have a death wish! | F | 23 | 1 days 1X D | 5/17/2011 | 1 | anxiety | I feel nausea, head is pounding, spacey, couldn't go to work, felt like I need to vomit, coughing, panic, feel eyes are wide open starring, couldn't fall asleep when I finally did I woke up feeling more nausea and spacey ringing in the ears. When I tried to fall asleep it was sort of like anesthesia but never falling asleep | Called the pharmacy and he confirmed side effect, called doctor and she said I was having a panic attack which is why the meds were prescribed. This was worse than the original incident of distorted vision which lasted less than 5 minutes. I was to start on a low dose and then in a week double the dose, There was no calming effect from this drug. I cannot take it any more. | F | 57 | 1 days 37.5 mg 1X D | 5/19/2011 | 1 | Depression and anxiety | Coldness, insomnia, hallucinations, dizziness, nausea, non-stop yawning, diarrhea | One dose was enough. I have never felt so awful in my life. I have had a thyroid problem since early this year and my doctor prescribed me Effexor yesterday to deal with the related depression. I took it around noon and had an upset stomach all day and chills, but it wasn't until bed when the worst symptoms started. Every time I would close my eyes, I would start seeing patterns like I was looking into a kaleidoscope, and upon opening them, would see the room swirling in front of me. It was like an awful acid trip. I managed to fall asleep, but then woke up in the middle of the night wanting to end my life! Seriously.. be careful before you take this. I don't think I need this drug on any level, I think doctors have prescribed it too readily in the past. Please be careful. | F | 25 | 1 days 37.5mg 1X D | 12/2/2010 | 1 | menopause/hot flashes | Nausea, vomiting (projectile - a first for me), tremors, heart/pulse racing, extreme body heat followed by chills, sweating, dizziness/feelings of vertigo, lethargy, feeling as though my insides were quivering/trembling, foggy-headedness | This drug was prescribed to me for hot flashes associated wtih menopause. The dose was very small but the reaction I had was anything but small. Because of the severity of reaction, I discontinued use after only one dose, but two days later I still feel very bad and the dizziness is worse than ever. I wish I had read up on this drug instead of relying solely on my doctor's advice. | F | 44 | 1 days 37mg 1X D | 4/27/2010 | 1 | Sadness/Depression | Extreme insomnia and agitation. Feeling like I can't lie still in bed. | Who knows why I took this medicine? TERRIBLE. I had heard that the side effects were awful and said so to my doctor but he pushed it on me. For one week, I debated taking the first 37.5 mg capsule and finally did last night at 8:00 p.m. It's now 5:15 a.m. and I've gotten not one wink of sleep. Forget it. Instead, I will go to counseling to talk about all the loss and tragedy in my life rather than endure this hell. I have one question. Why is this drug still on the market? Thank you everyone for your posts. | F | 59 | 1 days | 11/18/2005 | 5 | Depression | Major Insomnia... sleep 2-3 hours at a time. Wild, vivid, dreams. | The insomnia has been bearable, and worth taking the Effexor. I am much more able to function normally. I've just started being treated for insomnia with the drug Trazodone. I am going to be on antidepressants all my life, and I have been through many treatments, and so far, this is the best... keep up the good work, all you scientists out there. | F | 35 | 2 days | 9/20/2004 | 5 | ADD/social anxiety/major depression | At first just hot flashes and sweatingbut the overall effect worked great , but now that I am feeling better I want to quit taking the medicine.The withdrawl syptoms are difficult but I don't want to contiue with the medicine. | F | 30 | 2 days | 3/3/2006 | 4 | depression | sexual, delayed ejaculation | it manages my depression well | M | 53 | 2 days | 9/24/2007 | 4 | Anxiety | When I miss a dose, I feel like I am going crazy. I get very dizzy and get horrible headaches. I recognize that I forgot my dose immediatly. It is worrisome because I am afraid to come off and what are the side effects for taking it long term. | I was prescribed this med in April of 2005 right after the death of a childhood friend and my divorce. I started having anxiety attacks (which I'd never had before). It was horrible. Since the meds, I never have attacks anymore, I no longer worry myself sick about things that I have no control over. It is strange because it is as if I no longer care. I care about the things that are important like my family and friends but I don't stress about things anymore. | F | 36 | 2 days | 2/17/2007 | 4 | major depression/anxiety disorder | initally, the side effects were very strong as my body was getting used to it. (dizziness, out of body feelings, detached) ongoing side effects: severe sweating at night, dry mouth, sexual effects...didn't decrease sex drive but takes twice as long or more to climax. | A life saver for me after having tried paxil, zoloft, trazodone, etc...this was the ONLY thing that leveled me out; however over these 2 years I've had to increase from 75mgs to 300mgs in order to keep stable. Just today was put on Zyprexa in addition to effexor b/c I'm at a plateau w/ effexor and having really bad episodes of depression again... | F | 30 | 2 days | 9/17/2007 | 4 | Depression, anxiety | Blurred vision, cold hands, heart palpitations, diziness, nausea, lethargy, loss of appetite, teeth grinding | I originally took Effexor for two years, and weaned myself off on my doctor's instructions over a year and a half ago. It was a great drug to be on, and I felt stable and myself while I was taking it. Weaning off was fine, as I followed my doctor's instruction, and it took approx. 2 months if I remember correctly, and involved taking Prozac also. It's really important to wean yourself off very slowly, and with the assistance of Prozac. Similarly, if I didn't take my pill at the same time everyday, I would also get shocks. I've just started back on Effexor for hopefully a short period, but unlike previously, I'm feeling all the side effects I listed. Hopefully this will calm down soon enough. | F | 26 | 2 days | 10/27/2007 | 3 | anxiety | nausea | F | 22 | 2 days | 12/12/2008 | 3 | Mild depression/anxiety | nausea, feeling | I really think that it will help me but after I've read all these horrible comments about the withdrawals, I'm not so sure I should continue to take it. It's kind of scary, but before this medicine, I was constantly pissed off and angry, and stressed about every little thing. I want to be like I used to and I want to be a wonderful mommy. Any suggestions on if I should continue taking this?? | F | 23 | 2 days | 9/23/2004 | 3 | Anxiety | No sex drive, hard to sleep, lack of concentration, dizziness, excessive sweating, frequent headaches, painful constipation and 25-30 lbs. of weight gain | Effexor made a big difference in my anxiety but it's not worth all the side effects. I am on day one of a slow exit and it's awful. It was super hard for me to get on Effexor too. Good luck to all of you. | F | 38 | 2 days 150 mg 1X D | 7/15/2010 | 2 | Depression | Very extreme lethergy and tiredness. Yawning. nasuea, upset stomach, dizziness, increased appetite. | I hope the lethargy goes away, I thought I was tired and worn out before I started taking this stuff. This is why I've always tried to stay away from from drugs, sometimes the cure is worse than the original problem. I'm ready to stop taking it now. | F | 54 | 2 days | 2/4/2005 | 2 | mild depression | diarrhea,yawning,fogginess headache | F | 45 | 2 days | 7/27/2004 |