EFFEXOR XR Reviews (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 3.0 (2225 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare EFFEXOR XR with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date from oldest to newest. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 |
More on EFFEXOR XR: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR EFFEXOR XR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | Anxiety, Depression | When Starting medication: Acne,dizziness, nausea, feeling 'out of it'. After taking medication for a while: No noticeable side effects. Felt Great!!!!!! After being on medication for over 3 years: ACNE,Extreme fatigue, lack of motivation, nausea, dizziness, forgetfullness, trouble speaking, agitated/fidgety, irritability, increased appetite | I think effexor may be very effective for SHORT TERM USE. It was indeed effective for me when I began taking it. After being on it for a few years and discovering the withdrawal symptoms if I missed a dose I figured I would be on this medication for life. But recently (now that I have been feeling 'normal' about life for years thanks to effexor) I am noticing side effects. At first I thought all these side effects were seperate issues. It never occured to me they could be from my precious effexor. I looked up Acne and Effexor on Google and it led me to this page and others. After reading other people's experiences I realize that my time with Effexor should be up (well it probably should have stopped 2 years ago). The side effects have outweighed the benefits and it's time for a change (hopefully no medication but we'll see how that goes!) I sure am glad I got one Effexor when I did! But I think it should only be used for approximately 2.5 years. | F | 26 | 6 years | 9/8/2007 | 1 | Depression, anxiety | Didn't really help depression, just dampened feelings. Didn't care about anything or anyone | Withdrawal symptoms are horrific. Nausea,confusion,disoriented,unable to function. Wean off slowly or take forever... | M | 39 | 2 days | 9/8/2007 | 4 | panic attacks | weight gain, severe side effects if only one pill is missed | I initially decided to start taking a mild antidepressant b/c of going thru rough peiod. I started with Celexa, the very first pill I took caused SEVERE panic attacks. I actually went to the emergency room. From that day on I had severe panic attacks all day for no reason. I was prescribed Effexor for that. At first it gave me racing heartbeat, and vivid dreams. I was only prescribed 37.5mg. It actually took a long time to get rid of the panic attacks. I had them all the time for about 6 months, then slowly they stopped. This medicine actually inhibits the panic attacks from becoming severe. I would still get panicky, but definitely wasn't as bad without the medicine. Sometimes situations will arise where I'm anxious, but definitely no anxiety for no reason. It is something you have to stick with, its not a quick fix. It does take time for it to work. The really bad thing about this pill is the side effects if I miss just one pill. I get very swimmy headed. Someone described it perfect | F | 21 | 2 years | 9/9/2007 | 4 | Depression/Anxiety | Headaches at first, delayed ejaculation (a very good thing in my case!), vivid dreams, slight brain zaps if I miss even one dose. | Switched to effexor after I hit a brick wall with Paxil after only one year. Slowly tapered off Paxil while ramping up to Effexor 150 mg. No problems during the transition, except for a bit of agitation. (Took Klonopin during that time). So far, so good, but who knows? My depression is gone, I feel normal, but everyone is different. Hopefully this will work for a long time, and I don't experience some of the horror stories other people here have described. At any rate, almost anything is better than being in the depths of despair I sink to without medication. | M | 51 | 2 months | 9/10/2007 | 1 | Depression | Pooped out very soon, still felt depressed but had added symptoms of anxiety, muscle pain, weakness, joint pain, fatigue , vertigo, to mention a few. | While withdrawing very slowly (over 4 months now), I've had the worst every symptoms. Brainzaps, vertigo, flu like symptoms, excessive sweating, nightmares, itchiness throughout body, biting of tongue at night, body aches, headaches, nausea, vomiting, weepiness, depression, suicidal thoughts, nightsweats, chills, high blood pressure and now under active thyroid. I would warn anybody to be VERY wary of this drug. In my opinion its changed my life for the worse. My memory is so bad, Im unable to hold a decent conversation at times, and forget things from moment to moment. I absolutely hate this drug. Its now nearly 5 months of weaning and have finally got my doctor helping me with additional meds to eliviate the withdrawals. I've failed twice and this is the last time, I refuse to take another antidepressant. I hope the above helps somewhat. I was on 150mg effexor xl (slow release) for 3 years. I've been off it for 8 days. Really sick at times and hear voices. Frightening, but Im determi | F | 39 | 3 years | 9/10/2007 | 5 | Depression and Anxiety | No side effects -- other than brainzaps if I miss a day. | I was on Paxil and Serzone, neither of which was really effective for me. I've been on Effexor-XR for almost 10 years and it's great. Depression and anxiety is well controlled and no longer a problem and I have a life! I ocassionally get stressed from work -- but then who doesn't. I understand that it can be difficult to get off. The only side effect I notice are the brainzaps when I skip a day. Everyone responds differently, but my life would not be the same without Effexor. | M | 61 | 10 years | 9/11/2007 | 1 | Depression | You name it! Going on the medication brought out intense anxiety (I had never really experienced anxiety before). Felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin; very agitated. When I tried to go off of the medication or if I skipped a dose accidentally, I had brain zaps, diarrhea, nausea, heart palpitations, sweating, blurred vision, and agitation. | I would NEVER recommend this drug to anyone!! I want off of this medication very badly, but am unable to deal w/ the w/drawals. I can get down from 150mgs to 37.5, but after that the agitation is just too much. It is so extreme that I get suicidal. However, on the med, I am fine. I am interested in talking to anyone who has been pregnant on this drug. I would like to start a family but am too afraid of what the drug will do to a baby. PLEASE let me know if you have been pregnant on this drug, the outcome, the dosage you were on, and the length of time on the drug. THANK YOU! | F | 29 | 10 years | 9/11/2007 | 2 | Mild depression, irritability | Lethargy, low libido, dont want to do anything. | I am very healthy and physically fit. Just started--only 2 37.5 mg. doses into it. Im going back to the Welbutrin which worked perfectly at 75mg a day, really gave me a lift and very little reduction in libido at that dose, which every doctor told me was ineffective. Rediculous--75mg (I break a 100 mg into 4 pieces) a day got me out of the house and energy, confidence. My doctor kept pushing me to try Effexor, but after reading all the terrible stories here Im quitting now. The positive reports here sound like they were written by drug reps. Im going back to Welbutrin, but dont let Dr.s tell you you have to take 300mg a day--that's crazy! | M | 49 | 1 days | 9/13/2007 | 3 | hot flashes/night sweats | Tenitis, headaches, and wierd visual stuff when I turn my head like the world has to catch up to it or something if I miss a dose. Also I guess you would call it anxiety. | I have taken this for several years for menopausal symptoms, even bragging to others at how effective it has been. In the past few months it seemed to have not worked as well. My gyno. increased my dosage from 75mg to 150 last month. I have been taking 112.50 mg this week and had planned on increasing next week to the 150 mg but I have been having migraines and tenitis constantly this week. I had not had many migraines on this drug (prior to Effexor would have one or two a month). I was told not to take any migraine medication (Maxalt) with Effexor and over the counter drugs do not work. After reading all of these reports, I will call my family dr. Monday and start the withdrawl process as this is too scary!! I know from missing a few doses that this will be hell!!! Also, I recently became sexually active (after 10 years) and noticed my libido, arousal, and such were very low, chalking it up to age, but now......another reason!!! Thank you everyone!! | F | 58 | 8 years | 9/14/2007 | 1 | depression | Horrible headaches, brain "swishes" or "zapping" when I was even a few hours late for a dose, constipation, horrible crying spells when going through withdrawal. Wanted to kill myself several times while on this drug, when I hadn't been suicidal before. This drug should really be banned by the FDA. | HOW TO QUIT THIS DRUG: Buy an over-the-counter sinus headache medicine for the zaps, and take very high doses of Omega-3s. Also, attempt to take a low dose of a drug such as Zoloft if you are able. Going off the drug sucks, but these things made it a lot better. | F | 24 | 4 years | 9/14/2007 | 4 | GAD, depression | Weight gain, loss of libido, some fuzzy thinking and lethargy. | Initially on 37.5mg and now taking 225mg. I don't like the weight gain and loss of libido but I must admit this drug worked wonders for me. To be fair about the weigh gain I have to admit I have always enjoyed good food and drink. So I am back on Weight Watchers and heading back to health club. I sleep better and don't constantly worry about every little thing. Overall I feel much better on this drug than I did before. No plans to get off it yet. Perhaps if I can't control the weight gain I might. Another thing, this drug does not mix well with booze, especially hard stuff. I am okay with a few beers or some wine but if I drink to too much I can't remember what I did or said! Whole chunks of time are erased from my memory! | M | 57 | 18 months | 9/17/2007 | 1 | MILD depression | wight gain, water retention, vivd dreams/ nightmares, crying, shaking, brain tremors or shocks, ( iseriously do not know how to adequtly describe it but it is debilitating), leg twitching, arm twitching, blurred vision, eye strain, think things hapened that really din not!!!!, believe dreams to be true the next day, crying, memory loss, confusion, my husband has no compassion to my withdrawal symptoms. | DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG EVER EVER EVER EVER. | F | 32 | 2 years | 9/18/2007 | 4 | 1-Depression;2-Post Chemo Fatigue | After 1 yr of surgery, chemo, radiation side effects, anything that Effexor might throw at me is NOTHING by comparison. Its benefits far outweigh anything I've exp. as SideFx & exceeds efficacy of previous Lexapro or zoloft regimens. Once, had a zap. A few times, difficulty going to sleep. Miss a dose, some slight anxiety - but again, nothing like the daily diet of SideFX from chemo, etc. Counteract anything with exercise, yoga, long walk/talk with husband & the Westie. | Far more efficacious than Lexapro &/or Zoloft re: Menopause-enhanced depression & other symptoms. Actually went thru clinical drug trial to determine Zoloft as better alternative to Lexapro. Effexor wasn't offered. Wish it had been. 75 mg day/taken at night. Experienced IMMEDIATE relief with change of med. Like my old, happy energetic self. Where has she been all this time? | M | 53 | 2 months | 9/19/2007 | 2 | Depression | None. | Did absolutely nothing, but not one antideppresant has worked on me. | M | 27 | 60 days | 9/20/2007 | 2 | M | | 9/20/2007 | 1 | generalized anxiety/mild depression | dizziness, feeling like i took too much nyquil or something, flu-like slight soreness in the body, cloudy thoughts, dry mouth, achy stomach, loss of appetite, couldnt really sleep, and increased anxiety as a result of it all. | i have been recovering from meth and some other drugs for a little over 3 years now (i drink though) and thought i might benefit from this as i have been experiencing anxiety, and depression as a result of the anxiety, since. took my first pill at 5pm yesterday and then started experiencing the side-effects listed. this is not a good feeling. i feel uncomfortably high. i thought i would be sober and eventually feel an enhancement in my mood. within 3 hours of taking it, i was not sober. (plus i only got about 3 hours of half sleep last night) | M | 25 | 1 days | 9/20/2007 | 5 | Depression | Only if I missed a dosage, head zaps, vertigo and sensitivity to sunlight. | It's a blessing. Much better than Remeron or Paxil. I'm involved with life again and willing to take it for the rest of my life. After my 2nd year I went from 300mg to 150mg. The drug isn't the only thing I do to control my depression: proper diet, exercise and meditation are tightly woven into my daily activities. | 39 | 4 years | 9/21/2007 | 4 | depression | dialated pupils, loss of appetite, memory loss, I ring my hands a lot, sweat more,lack of emotion, I get irritable at night, sores in my mouth, dry mouth, clench my teeth, sore neck/shoulders.... | I used methamphetamines for 2 years. I have been clean for 2 years. I now have all the same side effects of meth. It really kinda of scares me. I have only been taking effexor for about 3 weeks now. I'll finish this bottle and see if things change. | F | 25 | 3 weeks | 9/22/2007 | 5 | anxiety depression | loss of libido and possible weight gain....or is it just that I have gotten older while taking Effexor for 12 years and my metabolism has slowed, and I am not as diligent as I was about my food intake. Maybe age is also a factor in my decreased libido. I'm pretty sure that Effexor is responsible in large part to the lack of interest in sex. | Yes, I have no sex drive and that is disturbing to say the least, but the fact that I can function without ruminating about my problems all of the time or bursting into tears at the drop of a hat, makes taking Effexor worth while. As far as discontinuing Effexor, I have done this several times in order to try other agents or to test my libido ( as a matter of fact, my libido soared when I DC'ed Effexor, but I was a nervous, miserable wreck, so I went back to it.) the key is to wean yourself off slowly. Open up the capsuls and take half of one if you are taking 75mg or if you are taking 150 mg cut down to 1 capsule or 1 and 1/2. It's really easy and doable and you won't suffer any horrible side effects, which happens if you quit cold turkey. I have weaned off during periods of a few weeks, several times, successfully. | F | 52 | 12 years | 9/23/2007 | 5 | depression/anxiety | When first beginning medication I experieced tiredness and a "personality-less" persona. This quickly faded as my body became used to the medication. My side effects then included Increased amount of headaches, jaw tension, slight decrease in appetite, and an odd euphoric feeling when yawning. | My parents noticed an extreme change in my behavior as I progressed in college. I was tested for depression and prescribed effexor xr. I had extreme hesitation in taking any drug especailly one that would effect my personality. After reading many sites like this one explaining some pretty horrifying patient reviews I practically scared myself to death and actually made myself sick with the after taking the first dose. With some encouragement I kept up the medication and am actually very happy that I have. If you're like me and trying to research the drug before you take it I hope you understand most viewpoints recorderd are the ones of people who have negative feelings towards this drug. It even took me 4 months to write about my positive experience. I have felt a huge and most importantly positive change in my life and besides a few headaches the side-effects are few. There have even been times I have missed a pill and have not had any problems. Honestly, before you judge from other p | F | 21 | 5 months | 9/25/2007 |