EFFEXOR XR Reviews (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE)

Average Rating: 3.0 (2225 Ratings)

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 ANTIDEPRESSANTS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

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)

  

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5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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More on EFFEXOR XR: Reviews Summary  |  Drug Safety Information

RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR EFFEXOR XRCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 3   lactation/sleepy. after taken effxor 150 mg for one year prolactin level is up. M 37 13 months
11/10/2004
 1  depression (situational? hormonal?) For the first couple of days lots of difficult side effects, but those eased. On my maintenance dose of 75 mg: weight gain (15 lbs in 2 months), difficulty achieving orgasm (never a problem before), unusually deep and long sleep, weakened vision. None of these seemed overly significant. Withdrawal effects began within 4 hours of skipping a dose. Eight hours after missing a dose, the effects were violent: drenching sweat, blinding headache, motor-visual impairment, and, worst, violent spasmodic vomiting--violent enough to make me bellow and pee my pants with each spasm, ending with dry heaves, staggering. Withdrawal symptoms subsided within an hour of taking dose. Three separate times I went through this scenario; first two times I thought it was food poisoning. Third time it was unmistakably the missed dose (I was fasting). Since that last time, in September, I've been weaning myself successfully on my own schedule: I open the XR capsule and take out 5 (initially) or 10 (when I felt ready) more granules each day, stepping it down day by day. There are approximately 200 granules in a 75 mg capsule. Tomorrow should be my last day: yay! I've had virtually no withdrawal symptoms doing it this way. I'm also supporting withdrawal by taking good vitamins, extra B vites, extra C, l-glutamine, milk thistle, sometimes Emergen-C, and an herbal compound I've used before when physically stressed (Wellness Formula by Source Naturals). Also doing yoga. It seems to be working for me. No withdrawal symptoms whatsoever so far. F 50 7 months
11/11/2004
 5  Depression Hot flashes I'm trying to come off the drug and I slowly lowered my doses, but the side effects suck. I've had the runs, dizzy, sweating, cold, skin crawling... just to name a few. Its been about a week with no medication and the effects are all still there. God.. I hope I never have to take this again. I'd rather take illegal drugs than have to deal with slowly coming off effexor. F 35 2 years
11/12/2004
 3  i was in deep depression When i started taking the drug, i was tired,very groggy, bumping into walls, dry in the mouth.That lasted about a week. Effexor did help, i was so depressed for months, then 2 weeks into taking the drug, i started to function again.I believe if i had of gone to counselling during the first few months on this drug, i then could of weaned off six months later.I was on this drug for three years as i couldnt stand the side effects when trying to come off.Also just having a few wines at a dinner or an odd occasional drink,would send me off the planet.I have now been off this drug for four months and i feel better then i have ever felt, as i think going from 75 mg to 150mg i still had moments of depression, and i wanted to cope with that, as that is a normal thing to feel at times.Saying that i was on the drug for a marriage breakdown, so i would advise other people to get doctors advice first before coming off.Over the 3 years i was taking effexor i gained 20 kilos, i went fom 60kilos to 81kilos, the first 10mths, is when i noticed the weight piling on, and i didnt eat anymore then usual, i ate healthy foods, my colesteral went from 4 to 6, so this was also a major decision for coming off the drug.The side effects were horrific, the first day of missing a tablet, i was dizzy nauseous,had a weird pulse through my body, as if your heartbeat would miss a beat, then go thump.Had terrifying nightmares,night sweats, and brain saps where it sounded like a loud swish go through your head, this was constant for about 7 to 10 days.The first 4 days being the worst, and having to take time off work as there was no way i could of coped with these feelings, but laying down and trying to get through the best way.I did go cold turkey as i had tryed the weaning before hand, for a fortnight and feelings were just as bad, so im glad i went cold turkey and just got the drug out of my system.If i knew now what that drug was about, i wouldnt of gone on it, as i have since heard other drugs arn't as severe. F 38 3 years
11/13/2004
 4  severe depression (1) 75 mg pill gave me relief from depression for years. I felt the med wasn't working anymore & my Dr added 50 mg Wellbutrin. This made a huge difference! The biggest problem is sexual interest & difficulty reaching orgasm. Weight gain. Don't quit cold turkey! I suffered from what I called a sloshy feeling in my brain (aka brain shivers), nausea, light sensitivity, I thought I was going crazy! I finally found info on the web, went back on the meds & felt better the next day. F 37 4 years
11/14/2004
 3   F 21 5 days
11/15/2004
 4  depression--situational/biochemical Night sweats, interrupted sleep most nights, seriously dry mouth when I wake up. These I can tolerate. But the wooziness! It's somewhere between dizzy and light headed. It's not particularly painful, but it is frequent and uncomfortable. On the other hand, I am functioning again. 8 years on SSRIs. Was taking Lexapro which was much like taking nothing. Could barely function and was in danger of losing my job. Switched to EffexorXR for the addition of norepinephrine. Definitely have more energy, but still not enough. May increase dosage again, but I'm concerned about the wooziness. F 44 3 months
11/17/2004
 1  ADHD HELL ON EARTH. Suicidal ideation, extreme hostility, tremors, sleep disorders, panic attacks, complete lack of focus. AVOID AT ALL COSTS! Just a shakedown by shrinks. The standard line when things got worse was F 40 4 years
11/17/2004
 5  chronic depression difficult in reaching orgasm Neither Paxil nor Wellbutrin had any significant effect on my depression. Effexor XR works very well to date at 225mg/day but I an concerned that over the long term the drug may not continue to be effective. I have started CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to supplement the medication. (The Feeling Good Handbook by David D. Burns, M.D.) M 57 2 years
11/21/2004
 4  major depression anxiety and ocd none As soon as I went up to 75mg I noticed a difference immediatly, I felt better and had more energy but it takes a few hours to really kick in so I take it early in the morning.Some days it doesnt work quite as well as other days and some days it doesnt work at all but some days I feel really good and thats a big difference for me.Im not sure if its helping with the anxiety or the ocd but Im happy just to be able to feel better. F 34 5 weeks
11/21/2004
 4  depression M 23 16 weeks
11/21/2004
 3  bulimia, social anxiety, depression when i missed a dose: severe nausea, headaches, bizzare vivid violent bloody nightmares where i'd wake up drenched in sweat, excessive easy sweating for even the mildest excercise, increased hunger and i gained 15 pds in 8 months. prozac and paxil didn't help. so my doc put me on effexor. i was on 150mg for 3 months for my bulimia/depression/anxiety. It didn't help and my doctor increased my dosage to 225. i've been on it for 8 months now. it's helped with the urge to binge purge and my anxiety/depression but i've gained 15 lbs!!i hate it! i'm terrifed of weight gain and though effexor has curbed my urges it's made me fat!!i can't take it anymore. i don't care that my doc says it can't be effexor cause in studies it's shown to actually have anorexic effects!i wish! F 25 8 months
11/22/2004
 1  Depression Complete inability to orgasm. Feeling of AFTER going off Effexor--slowly, as recommended by my doctor--I had brain zaps and I was unable to function for two days. I would sit and stare at one spot in space and realize, an hour later, that I had been sitting and staring. I would resolve to do something, and the same thing would occur. As that got lesser, I was unable to concentrate. I had just graduated with a BS in Physics and I was unable to do the simplest addition, and therefore, unable to do my job. This lasted for three weeks. It was slowly better, but my concentration didn't get better until three weeks after that when I realized, F 23 6 months
11/23/2004
 5  Panic attacks, general anxiety Besides a couple of days in the begining where my sleep was disturbed, and sometimes at work I could not write down what I was thinking, nothing else. This medication has helped me a great deal, I am now more confident in myself, I started to go back to the gym, I can drive my car where I want without fear of loosing it... and even if I do think about it for a minute I can bring my self to a normal level of stress. I am patient with my kids, I have more energy, I started cooking in the last month like I use to like it a long time a go. I hope to be able to decrease the medication sometime next year. F 33 10 months
11/24/2004
 5  using for bipolar disorder using in conjunction with rivitrol, mild side effects, but have noticed some lactation! and hot flushes feel great, do not think would have survived without it, had tried numerous other antidepressants, none as successful F 41 2 years
11/24/2004
 4  Anxiety - not sleeping For the first 2 weeks I had dry mouth and that was explained before I started taking the drug. Have been off the drug for 2 weeks. I slowly tapered as directed. Now off I do have a slight feeling of imbalance in my head, but no body side effects. The imbalance is less and less pronounced as each day goes by. My new physician said I probably should have only taken the drug up to one year. My old physician thought if it was helping me sleep at night and keeping me calm (and being I had no major side effects) I might want to stay on it for as long as I wanted or forever. I knew at 1-1/2 years I needed to stop. The slight imbalance I feel now is annoying at times, but my pharmacist said it will go away in time. He said anywhere from a few weeks to maybe 6 months. I'm hoping for a few weeks. F 50 2 years
11/26/2004
 4  depression Not much that I know of. Maybe slightly less sexual desire but don't know if that is hormonal. Has worked the longest of anyone I have taken. I feel a little depressed lately but not sure if I want to change the dose. F 45 3 years
11/27/2004
 4  depression Not much that I know of. Maybe slightly less sexual desire but don't know if that is hormonal. Has worked the longest of anyone I have taken. I feel a little depressed lately but not sure if I want to change the dose. F 45 3 years
11/27/2004
 4  Anxiety attacks While using effexor, it helped tremendously on my anxiety. I used it for 4 years and felt that I would be able to function fine without any further treatment. With the help of my doctor I slowly winged myself off...the withdrawls are HORRIBLE! constant jolting, electric shock feeling, dizzyness, confusion, ringing in the ears, emotions run on high! I am now 3 weeks into withdrawls and it feels as if it is still day one. I have been looking for material on how long symptoms are expected to last. If I could do it all over again, and if I would have been informed of the severity of the withdrawls, I never would have agreed to take effexor! F 36 4 years
11/27/2004
 1  Depression / Anxiety / Chronic Pain Weight gain, insomnia. While weaning off: insomnia, violent mood swings, body shocks, tremmors, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, felt like a junkie, headaches, auditory and visual problems, depression, crying spells, just felt physically DO NOT START TAKING THIS MEDICATION UNLESS YOU PLAN ON STAYING ON IT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. I have no doubt that this medication is helpful for some people... I think the vast majority however should stay off this drug. Please do research on it before you start taking it. If you've started and want to get off of it, wean off very very slowly. Join chat groups etc online for support, because you'll need it. If your Dr tries to make you go off this cold turkey, and doesn't understand your needs, find another Dr. Some people have no problems, but most do. I started taking Effexor in March of 2004-October 2004 for depression caused by chronic pain from a car accident. I've had no prior problems with depression, and currently am taking no other medication after what I'm STILL going through with Effexor. I started out at 37.5mg, and moved up to 150mg per day. I attempted to wean myself off in June, and after a couple of days without Effexor, I began having a very strange feeling in my head, and couldn't move my eyes to the left or the right without feeling that blood was rushing past my ears in a sort of F 34 8 months
11/27/2004

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