EFFEXOR XR Reviews (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 3.0 (2225 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare EFFEXOR XR with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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More on EFFEXOR XR: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR EFFEXOR XR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | allergy and sleep agent | extreme drowsiness | i started taking this for allergies, but during the day i couldn't stay awake. when i started suffering from insomnia, i took this and have not experienced insomnia since. | M | 37 | | 1/4/2001 | 5 | Anxiety & Depression | Mild constipation, difficulty maintaining an erection and delayed orgasm. Coping with these side effects is nothing compared to coping with severe depression. | I've tried many other medications and this is the only one that has ever worked. The main issue I have is that over a period of several months, it loses its effectiveness. I often wonder whether these medications "pooping out" for about 30% of people is a clue to the underlying biological cause of depression. Ultimately, I'd like to find others that work so I can switch between them when one stops working. However, I'm yet to find another one that works. | M | 33 | 10 years 150mg 1X day | 2/14/2010 | 5 | Social Phobia | Delayed ejaculation | M | 18 | 2 months 75 1X day | 3/12/2010 | 5 | Anxiety/Panic | No side effects whatsoever | I have been on Effexor XR twice before. Both times it significantly reduced my anxiety within a week. Going off Effexor wasn't that bad as long as you go off slowly. Recently I restarted taking Effexor XR due to a return of anxiety. It is working as it always has. Prior to restarting Effexor XR I tried both Lexapro and Zoloft. Both of those medications made me sick as a dog. I am so happy that I respond so well to Effexor XR. It makes me feel normal again. | M | 47 | 4 years 37.5 mg 2X day | 6/19/2010 | 5 | Depression | For the first few months I had sexual side effects but they went away. Some weight gain | The only drug that ever helped me. Others did not work or had bad effects. The "brain jitters" everyone talks about are very true when missing a dose. They are really no biggie, to me anyway. Over all my mood is good, I am much more productive generally. I tried the new generic version and it does not work the same. BEWARE. Even though it's cheaper, the wreth brand works different and much better. I am waiting to talk to my doctor as to why but this is in the literature. There is a difference in this generic. If you are starting out I would defently suggest the name brand to see if it helps. Once stable, then test out the generic for yourself. | M | 34 | 1 years 150 MG 1X day | 7/11/2010 | 5 | Psychosis | No side effects at all. | Lifesaver drug. | M | 23 | 2 weeks 150mg 1X day | 10/24/2010 | 5 | Depression, Anxiety | At first, nausea and headaches similar to what I experienced with Zoloft and Celexa in the past. After a couple weeks, nothing. | This drug made a huge difference for me. I gradually have worked up to 225 mg (37.5 mg for 6 days, 75 mg for about a month, 150 mg for a couple weeks, and now 225 mg the last three weeks). People complain a lot about withdrawal on this med, but a lot of them don't taper like they should. A lot of family practice docs don't have enough experience with antidepressants to know exactly how quickly to taper the dose. At first this was a concern for me too, but my psychiatrist assured me that by tapering correctly, most people avoid major withdrawal symptoms. I'm a second year medical student, so I think I a reasonable amount of knowledge to know that he isn't just trying to make me feel better for the time being. Anxiety ruled my life before Effexor, and my latest episode of depression was the worst of many. I was having almost constant GI problems, which have been attributed to my mental health struggles. I came closer than ever to killing myself. THANKS TO EFFEXOR I feel like I have my life back again. | M | 24 | 3 months 225 mg 1X day | 11/3/2010 | 5 | Major Depression/Anxiety | Initially erectile dysfuncion, used Viagra, then didn't need it anymore. ED went away after a few months. Through the entire time I was on Effexor skipping a dose was a real problem-- disjointed thoughts, anger, truly strange dreams. | I switched to Effexor XR after a couple of years on Paxil. Paxil saved my life from obsessive suicidal thoughts, but after a couple of years I started abusing my son's Ritalin (he has ADHD). My doctor switched me to Effexor XR. It worked beautifully. I was on for about 5 years and felt so good I titrated off it with help from Prozac. I've been off Effexor (and all anti-depressants) for almost a year with no negative effects. I feel like the Paxil, the Effexor and staying busy, focused and positive "changed my mind" from tending to depression, drug/alcohol abuse and anxiety to health. | M | 48 | 5 years 225 MG 1X day | 11/22/2010 | 5 | cfs | dry mouth, night sweats, nervousness | I heard about this med after listening to a talk on CFS. I tried it and it has helped so much. I dont know where I would be without it. It clears the 'brain fog' completely, and gives me the strength to deal with everything in a positive light. I have tried to ween myself off this med (for 6 months) but I found that the benefits outweigh all else. At the end of the day---its about quality of life ! | M | 50 | 13 years 150 1X day | 1/23/2011 | 5 | serious depression + anxiety | some constipation and very brief period of occasional night terrors for about first 6 weeks, but since then, none | Initially tried Celexa, which only caused symptoms to worsen. Then tried Effexor at 150 mg/day, which helped almost immediately. Dr. later increased dose to 300 mg/day which, along with cognitive behavior therapy, helped me get back to healthy mental state within about 3 months from start of my symptoms and I have been doing well ever since. I have thought about trying dose reduction, but really don't want to risk withdrawal symptoms. Taking this drug is really no different than taking my daily cholesterol and blood pressure meds that I'll be taking for the rest of my life. Patients should realize that: 1) each person reacts differently to each anti-depressant, so unfortunately finding the right drug is a trial & error process and 2) drugs ALONE are not the answer to mental health issues - you have to be willing to work with a therapist to change your negative thoughts. | M | 62 | 10 years 300 1X day | 2/6/2011 | 5 | grief then because i liked it | low libido,dry mouth, | initially took this for grief,after stopping it i noticed my behavior was more agressive,impatient,negative attitude. told doc i wanted it again. it produces a kindler and gentler me which i prefer. however,if i miss a dose or stop, my evil twin emerges and it is not pretty. can not stop taking it now as my behavior will spiral into a very negative,uncontrolled state. i am afraid to stop taking it. i also tend to procrastinate which i never did before. it is excellent for changing self defeating behavior. | M | 51 | 6 years 300 1X day | 8/30/2011 | 5 | Anxiety / Depression | only side effects i go through is if i forget to take the daily dose . go off with the fairies - light & dizzy & cannot concentrate at all & get BAD BAD Withdrawals. | Was second in charge of big motor company for 23 years when i got anxienty / depression . eventually couldn't function etc & ended in a heap . was on & off many different types of drugs & then 2 years later ended up in mental hospital . they took me off everything & started me on EFFEXOR XR. within a month i was starting feeling a lot better & then started working a part time job about 2 years later which i still do today. If it wasn't for Efexor Xr i wouldn't be here today . i have tried many times to slowly come off it with no success. For quality of life & my family i have decided to stay on it . I was in a bad place for about 5 years all up & i never want to go back there. EFFEXOR XR is good shit as far as i am concerned | M | 45 | 5 years 300 1X day | 9/2/2011 | 5 | Depression and Anxiety | None | Its the best, works so well for me | M | 22 | 3 years 150 1X day | 10/30/2011 | 5 | Major Depression | NONE | This stuff ROCKS!Effexor XR has literally saved my life!I highly recommend it! | M | 53 | 7 years 300mg 1X day | 2/6/2012 | 5 | Depression and Anxiety | Too much Effexor and I become too talkative. Too little and I revert to a depressed mindset and get dizzy. To stop taking this drug I have to reduce the dosage gradually over a couple of weeks, otherwise I get dizzy. With effexor my concentration is about 80% of when I am not on it. No other side effects. | This drug has improved my life remarkably. It has almost eliminated my depression, and greatly reduced anxiety, permitting me to function much better. It has helped me more than therapy has. | M | 57 | 6 years 300 1X day | 12/19/2011 | 5 | OCD & Anxiety | I started taking Effexor for my intrustive thoughts (OCD) and generalized anxiety. After trying multiple medications this one seems to be the best so far!! Getting adjusted to the med wasn't easy, but my patience has paid off. It has helped significantly with my anxiety and intrusive obsessive thoughts. Obviously I still get bothered by them a couple times a day, but that's much better then every 4 or 5 mins. Unlike others I'm actually losing weight, which is great considering Celexa made me gain 20 lbs in just two months. I feel clear headed which hasnt happened with any of the SSRIs I've tried. Although when I first started this drug I often felt high or out of it. I was worried about sexual side effects, but it hasn't been that bad. I'm just not as horny as I was before, which isn't a bad thing. Don't let bad reviews keep you from trying SSRIs or SNRIs each person reacts differently and it usually takes a couple med changes to find the right one for you. It's truly saved my life, and made it comparable to life prior to my OCD onset. | M | 24 | 3 months 75 | 6/14/2012 | 5 | Depression | Constipation, fatigue. | I was previously on Serzone for several years which worked great for me but was considered risky due to concerns about liver damage. Doc put me on 75mg of Effexor XR. Took that for 9 years and then I started having insomnia which was has been the major side effect of the depression that I experienced. Bumped my dosage up to 150mg and I started sleeping better but I got major constipation, more fatigue and just not functioning very well. Its been very difficult to stay focused at work and I'm constantly falling asleep. May be time to try a different drug. I look forward to retiring in a few years and stopping my meds and working through the issues without having to keep down a stressful job at the same time. | M | 54 | 10 years 150mg 1X day | 2/23/2012 | 5 | OCD, Anxiety Depression | Definitely hurts sex drive, first few days makes my concentration weird and fuzzy almost, can cause some nausea and tends to make me extremely tired/sleepy... | I can say with 100% certainty that Effexor XR has saved my life more than once. I have terrible OCD/Anxiety with some bad depression and Effexor handles both nicely. Anyone who tells you Effexor is not addicting though is lying...I can say Effexor is an addicting drug more so than even benzos, and that is a bold statement. It's more psychologically addicting. I've done both over the years and while I could get away from benzos, the psychological/physical need for Effexor hangs around, I'm certain my brain requires Effexor to function properly now....So be warned that Effexor is a drug you might become addicted to, I know I am. | M | 35 | 8 years 150-300mg 1X day | 12/2/2017 | 5 | Panic Disorder with agoraphobia | At first nausea, but that subsided. Also, a small increase in anxiety when starting the med. | The only antidepressant that has helped me. I take it with Valium and propranolol, and got my life back! Best of all, I experienced no sexual side effects from this drug, as opposed to the others I've tried. | M | 26 | 7 years 150 mg 1X day | 1/25/2013 | 5 | Depression, GAD, social anxiety | Increased sweating | I am a psychiatry resident, and I just want to say that all ratings from people who have taken any SSRI (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, Luvox) or SNRI (Effexor, Cymbalta, Pristiq) for less than one month should be completely disregarded. In fact, this site should probably remove them. These meds take at least 3-4 weeks to work like they are supposed to. And yes, people get GI side effects and headaches (since serotonin is mostly in the nervous and GI systems), but these are typically worst on days 3-7 from starting or with a dosage increase, and they do get better. Increased sweating has been my biggest problem with Effexor XR. I have tried switching to Prozac twice (currently I'm on 40 mg of Prozac). The sweating is better for the most part, but I think Effexor was really helping to control my irritable bowel symptoms because it's kind of out of control at the moment (it makes sense due to Effexor's norepinephrine reuptake inhibition, which is the mechanism of the older tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline that is often used for IBS and other chronic pain syndromes). I've been on varying dosages of Effexor (150, 225, 300 mg). I was doing really well on 150 mg for the past year but again I wanted to sweat less. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go back on Effexor despite the sweating. There are really no magic pills; generally patients need to weigh the benefits and the side effects (which generally improve or disappear). | M | 27 | 2.5 years 150 mg 1X day | 4/25/2013 |
EFFEXOR XR (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE): Venlafaxine is used to treat depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and social anxiety disorder (social phobia). It may improve your mood and energy level and may help restore your interest in daily living. It may also decrease fear, anxiety, unwanted thoughts, and the number of panic attacks. Venlafaxine is known as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances (serotonin and norepinephrine) in the brain. FDA Approval Date: 1997-10-20 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)