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  anxiety, depression I mainly wanted to add a comment here for those who fear getting off of Effexor, it may not be a bad as you think, everyone is going to have different reactions. I was on 75 mg. for about 3 years. Helped quite a bit, but after having so much trouble not sleeping, I decided to quit. I decided to take it slow and decrease over time. I would quit, then have flu-like symptoms, then, instead of getting all bent out of shape, I would just start on it again, at 37.5 or 75mg per day. Did this about four times over an 8 month period and the last time was a piece of cake. Do seem to have some tingling in arm/legs occasionally yet after 4 months, but it's bearable and occasional, but I also take Xanax and it could be from that. It could be the same for you. Don't get discouraged, just start back on at as low a dosage as you need to still feel half decent. Good luck Some people need this or another drug for life and that's ok. Don't be hard on yourself if the benefits outweigh the side effects. Wish none of us had to take anything ever, but that's life sometimes. leave the NOSPAM out of my email address, if you need to write. M 54 3 years
2/13/2006
 5  depression, anxiety stomach ache, light headed, some moments of feeling "high" (dizzy and dazed) It's been one month and so far I love this drug. I've been a little nauseous but it's nothing I can't deal with. Much better than my previous crying fits of depression. So far I am very pleased with the effect and feel as if I am getting better every day. F 27 1 months
2/14/2006
 5  suicidal depression For the first few weeks my hearing was extremely sensitive to high pitches and i could feel a pulse within them.I continue to have night sweats but increases when I consume alcohol .I always have dry mouth. I will experience heart palpations when I need to take my dose again.Increased sex drive.Orgasims take a little longer to achieve but are much more intense than before. Simple I feel normal again and look forward to everyday now. I have no need to try anything else this is working for me. F 33 10 days
2/14/2006
 5  Fibromyalgia Slight vertigo the first week of taking 37.5mg then went up to 75mg and everything was fine, felt a little more tired, no withdrawl side effects Effexor took away almost all my fibro pain, it was great!! I went off of it to try something that might give me more energy and help me lose weight, but the pain has come back so I will most likely be back on Effexor in the next day or so. F 31 6 weeks
2/15/2006
 5  panic disorder yawning, drowsiness, dry mouth, bruise more easily After a frightening experience with Lexapro, I went on XR. My panic attacks are gone and I was able to stop the daily use of Klonopin. I've also lost 10 lbs. in the 3 weeks I've been on it. I just don't feel compelled to eat, sometimes even when I'm hungry. Bruising more easily, but nothing like on Lexapro. F 36 3 weeks
2/19/2006
 1  Irritable bowel / anxiety Found that I didn't care about much of anything. I started drinking very heavily and gained around 40 pounds. When I decided to get off of it the experience was very painfull. I had to decrease very slowly over an extended period of time. Then I had withdrawal symptoms for a long time after. I am now taking Buspar and while I had some problems initially, it seems to work well. I have lost 15 lbs and don't drink abusively. Wouldn't recommend this drug to anyone. Very scary. I would classify this as having done a lot of damage to my life. Stay away from this drug. M 46 3 years
2/26/2006
 3  depression; suicidal thoughts Cravings, mania, sex drive THROUGH the roof I was trying to lose weight before. But effexor made me crave sweets like never before. Thus I got fat. 10 lbs or so in a month. Not worth it. But it did save my life. I couldn't think suicidal thoughts because I was overtaken by sexual fantasies -every-minute-of-every-day- Anyway...i choose physical health over emotional health. Don't go with effexor if you're not willing to gain weight for euphoria. Withdrawal was hell: brain-zaps, vertigo, nausea and inability to read without vomitting. F 20 30 days
2/28/2006
 4  Depression Reduced libido, some difficulty with ejaculation. Some anxiety and "brain shocks" for the first day or two. My depression mostly manifested in an inability to start new projects, rather than any feelings of sadness. Right after I started Effexor XR, I noticed a big improvement in this for a couple of weeks; since then, there's some improvement, but it's not as pronounced. I may switch to another medication (or raise my dose) if the effect continues to decline. I'm taking 75mg/day. M 41 2 months
3/1/2006
 4  ptsd/major depression/severe anxiety loss of appetite lower doses helped me more than higher doses F 29 1 years
3/2/2006
 2  Depression SSRI-style sexual issues, tremor. Anhedonia (means not happy, though not depressed either) The big deal was the withdrawl side effects when I went off this. I suppose this worked for me. I did eventually get off it. But getting off is hard. You have to taper it very slowly. Here's how slowly: once you are down to one capsule a day, then you start opening up the capsules and counting out 3/4 of the tiny little pills in there. then a week later go down to 1/2 the little pills, etc. At one point I was taking just one of those tiny little things INSIDE the capsule every day for a couple weeks before cutting it out entirely. If I missed a day it was awful. I felt like I had the flu. M 42 3 years
3/2/2006
 1  Depression, GAD, Social Phobia Apathy, memory loss, blurred vision, insomnia, nightmares, sexul dysfunction, shivers and shakes and the list goes on. Chronic Discontinuation Syndrome. I was told to taper from 75mg to 37mg for 1 week and then 37mg to 0 for the next week. I had prior knowledge to know that this was way to fast so I took 6 weeks to taper and still suffered terribly, it was worse than my original condition and symptoms, be very careful stopping this drug too quickly or it can be PURE HELL!!!!!!! The worst AD withdrawals I have ever experienced and I've tried heaps. In my opinion just don't go there, it's not worth it. M 35 5 months
3/2/2006
 1  Depression, GAD, Social Phobia Apathy, memory loss, blurred vision, insomnia, nightmares, sexul dysfunction, shivers and shakes and the list goes on. Chronic Discontinuation Syndrome. I was told to taper from 75mg to 37mg for 1 week and then 37mg to 0 for the next week. I had prior knowledge to know that this was way to fast so I took 6 weeks to taper and still suffered terribly, it was worse than my original condition and symptoms, be very careful stopping this drug too quickly or it can be PURE HELL!!!!!!! The worst AD withdrawals I have ever experienced and I've tried heaps. In my opinion just don't go there, it's not worth it. IT SHOULD BE TOTALLY ILLEGAL, It is CRAP and for those of you who are on it I wish you all the best coming off it, be prepared to take at least 2 weeks off work if not longer because you will be lucky if you can get out of bed or off the bloody couch. Put your seat belts on because it a really bumpy ride. The brain shocks, vertigo and ataxia(losing your balance and falling over) are by far the worst and don't forget the crying and chronic anxiety that comes back 10 fold M 35 5 months
3/2/2006
 3  BECAUSE OF DEPRESSION F 22 9 days
3/3/2006
 4  PTSD Ive been on for about 2 months. When I first went on it, the headaches were horrible, but passed after about a week. Was VERY tired, now that I take it at night its good. Defintely helping the depression. HORRIBLE NIGHT SWEATS and Night mares though, but its worth it to be normal. Itchy scalp and a little bit of teeth grinding and memory loss F 27 2 months
3/6/2006
 5  Depression/mood swings I am tired all day long/low energy. Start yawning early in the day and keep going until I go to bed. Have experienced weight gain. Exercising and dieting don't seem to get the weight off. A missed dosage causes symptons like the flu which will last for a couple of days. No longer have crying jags. Able to deal with anxiety better. Able to handle stress better and to look at the bigger picture before I would just jump off the deep end. F 35 1 days
3/12/2006
 5  anxiety This stuff has cured my anxiety and acts just like viagra for me. It's incredible. 2 years
3/14/2006
 1  
3/15/2006
 5  PTSD, anxiety, depression At 37.5mg: Surge of energy and sense of well-being almost immediately. Low-grade headache the first couple of days. Jaw tension. Marked increase in libido. Decreased appetite. At 75mg: felt too hyper with lots of restless energy (bouncing legs up and down). Clenching my jaws a lot. Returned to 37.5 mg after 2 days at 75mg because I felt like I didn't need that much. Began with 1 week at 37.5mg. I was instructed to increase to 75mg at week 2 but, after researching the effects of this drug, I have decided to remain at 37.5mg for as long as it is working, for fear of upping the meds unnecessarily. Even at this low dose I feel fantastic, focused and full of energy. Effexor is helping me to not focus on my anxiety and worries - I am able to let them go. At the same time, I am able to perform diligently at work and focus intently on projects. I haven't felt this good in a very, very long time. F 37 10 days
3/16/2006
 4  deprression Effexor has major side affects for me when I miss a dose, severe vomitting, migraines, severe anger almost to the point of beating the hell out of someone. I was place in the hospital for the side effects when I had missed a day . I was so sick, they had to give me a shot to stop the vomitting. I hope to God you NEVER stop making this stuff because I am severly adddicted to it. the withdrawl symtems for me are alful and therfore I would not be able to be taken off of it, I have tried even to come off gradually and I can't handle the effects. I have been on 300 mg of effexor for 4 years now. F 35 4 days
3/20/2006
 5  GAD/Anxiety When i first started the effexor 5yrs ago, I had some dizziness, so I started taking it at night, slept better and didnt feel the dizziness anymore, had some kind of acid reflux going on but was under a lot of stress/aniexty when i started, that quickly passed. lowered sex drive when on the 75 dos. Have been on a maintenance dose for 4 years 37.5, GAD is a thing of the past, dont want to stop cause im scared it may come back. Tried going off effexor, after one day weird shocky brain/roof of mouth sensations, so I started them again. Gained 7lbs but then I dont have that crippling anxiety anymore. Sex drive is normal at the 37.5 a day dose. Highly recommened for GAD suffers!! F 37 5 years
3/21/2006

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