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 |
| 4 | depression/chemical inbalance | dont remember the initial ones but now it's lack of sex drive, sweats, weight gain terrible headaches when i forget a dose | it's only recently that i have put it together that the weight gain i've experienced could be from this medication and also the total lack of sex drive could be as well! i'm on a mission to switch from this med. I have been on for a few years and been up to 225mg. it has helped me with my mood and keeping me on an even level but if i would forget that dosage by the end of the day i was worthless and in bed to sleep off the major headache and dizziness that was happening. i have had my dosage reduced to 150 and so far so good but i'm trying to be more aware of my body and how i react to things now. i want to change to wellbutrin to try and get some sex drive back before my husband leaves me | F | 32 | 5 years | 1/4/2008 | 4 | anxiety | serious digestive problems at first but they disappeared within 5 days | I know stopping it will be difficult but I'll take the necessary time whether it's 3, 6 or 12 months. The drug is the only thing that allowed me to function for the past few years. | F | 41 | 1000 days | 1/5/2008 | 5 | Anxiety and Depression | When I was on 300mg/day I had night sweats and if I was late on a dose I would feel the "brain shivers". I am now at 37.5 mg/day and I don't feel any side effects and it helps my anxiety and depression and irritability a lot. | F | 33 | 10 years | 1/6/2008 | 1 | Anxiety | Bruising = Unexplained Bruises came up all over my body. | When I was taken off this medication, I was warned that I may feel lightheaded and a little bit dizzy. I constantly felt weak, tired and lightheaded. I also experienced alot of nausea. It was/is very frustrating as I havent been able to do anything, no work absolutely nothing. | F | 20 | 2 months | 1/6/2008 | 1 | severe post natal depression | Initially insomnia, needing sleeping meds, initial weight loss, 10lb, constant headache,feelings of desperation wanting to be violent towards others,sweating excessively,heat intolerence dampening of emotions- not happy or sad, just don't care- sexual side effects: inability to orgasm wears off eventually but stuck with low libido. Later side effects: memory problems, weight gain of 40lb+, want to sleep all day. | Started effexor as alternative to old trycyclic meds.First 2 years were a nightmare, couldn't tolerate 225mg so self reduced to 150mg and felt much better (didn't experience any of reported withdrawl side effects)I couldn't work during this time. Doctor just wanted to increase meds - no way! Need Zxprexa and imovane to help me stay on effexor and reduce side effects. Weight gain is a nighmare also has lead to high blood pressure, high cholestrol, diabetes and gastric problems. I was definately better of on my old meds but I am scared to get off this drug after reading about withdrawl problems. Has helped with anxiety but no effect on depression. | F | 40 | 3 years | 1/7/2008 | 5 | depression, anxiety, social anxiety | dry mouth, sexual side effects, increased anxiety for 1st few months, sweating, | I am increasing from 75mg to 150mg. slowly, ( 2 -75mg spaced out)because I am very sensitive to drugs and have learned this the hard way. I think you must have additional help while taking this or any other drug for these problems. Learning to cope with our individual situations and taking the drug goes hand in hand for a successful outcome. But I suggest you tell no one that you are seeing a phycologist or phychiatrist until you are well on your way to peace and maybe not even then. This drug tends to make you say the first thing that you think and that may not go well for some family members. | F | 50 | 3 months | 1/10/2008 | 4 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic | Somewhat decreased sex drive. Felt very "high" in the beginning, and after increasing dosage. No other side effects until I stopped taking it. | I took this drug for 8 years, in varying doses from 37.5mg to 150 mg. It worked great until about 6 months ago, when it simply stopped working. My doctor said that this occassionally happens, as your brain chemistry can change for a number of reasons. So with his help, we began weaning me off the Effexor. I dropped from 150 mg to 75 mg without substantial side effects. When I dropped from 75mg to 37.5, all hell broke loose. I experienced this weird brain zap, where it felt like an electrical current was bouncing around in my head. I had severe panic attacks; way worse than when I was initially diagnosed. I suffered from heart palpitations and horrendous headaches. My doctor prescribed Lexapro while I attempted to drop from 37.5 to zero. I was evil to everyone near me in the morning, and cried for no reason every night. He put me back on 37.5, removed the Lexapro, and added Prozac. Then I went to Effexor XR on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only, with Prozac daily. Then I went to Effexo | F | 29 | 8 years | 1/10/2008 | 5 | DEPRESSION/WARTIME REMENISION DREAM | TIGHT JAW @ 150 MG AND INABILITY TO FINISH OR CLIMAX DURING INTERCOURSE LOWERING DOSAGE TO 112.5 TO HELP WITH JAW TIGHTENING AND TAKING 10 MG OF VARDENAFIL FOR SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS WORKS GREAT | RELAXES ME, ABLE TO THINK STRAIGHT AND I DONT SNAP AT THE FAMILY AND NO MORE DREAMS ALSO I AM TAKING AMBIEN TO HELP WITH A GREAT 8 HOUR NITES SLEEP BY TAKING THE VARDENAFIL WHEN NEEDED BEFORE SEX I AM ABLE TO CLIMAX AND ENJOY THE OTHER EFFECTS OF THESE PILLS. | M | 35 | 2 months | 1/11/2008 | 5 | irritability | loss of sex drive, inability to orgasm | Effexor has worked very well for me and aside from the sexual side affects I can't say anything bad about it. I used to just get so irritable over the most insignifcant things, now I feel happy almost all of the time and a whole lot more relaxed. I started with 75mg but felt no change until I went to 150mg; the difference was night and day. Effexor has alievated so much stress from my life that I only wish I started years ago. | M | 32 | 10 weeks | 1/11/2008 | 5 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Not really any side effects at all. One Note though, I am constantly tired but I think that is my lifestyle rather than the drug. | It's great cause I feel like myself without all the nervous anxiety. I still feel like a normal person though. Before taking the drug I was afraid it would change me in negative ways (like make me not care about things that I should). However, that is not the case. I still get stressed, but I in a way that a person without a generalized anxiety disorder would. It's a more healthy version of stress. | F | 22 | 1.5 days | 1/12/2008 | 1 | no | reading this scares me | I havent picked up my prescription yet, but after reading all these posts, I may not. Its sounds like a nightmare drug. Wouldnt xanax or valuim be much safer for axiety???? Why do doctors want us to feel worse??? | M | 45 | 0 days | 1/12/2008 | 1 | Mild Depression after loss of Mothe | Headaches, nausea, sweats, chills, stomach pains, tired, bad dreams, feel terrible all the time | F | 44 | 7 months | 1/12/2008 | 3 | depression and ocd | dizziness. spaced out. | M | 5 days | 1/13/2008 | 5 | Chronic depression | sweating, urge to drink alcohol. Tried to quit and get on to Wellbutrin, but headaches and dizziness forced me back. Loved the effect it had on depression but afraid of becoming an alcoholic. | F | 2 years | 1/14/2008 | 5 | Depression | Only problem is forgetting to take it. If I forget 2 days in a row I feel miserable dizzy and then I have the vivid dreams. | Just feeling better. It just takes away the phyiscal aspects of depression, unreasonable fear. I realize that I basically have a physical addiction to it and I'll be on it forever. I'll take that tradeoff to not have to experience life without it. | M | 43 | 5.5 years | 1/14/2008 | 4 | GAD | dizziness on the first week, slight headache and nervousness | it works | M | 7 days | 1/14/2008 | 2 | Anxiety, Insomnia | Major sexual dysfunction within two days. After two weeks, felt like a zombie and wasn't getting good sleep. Took Clonazepam at the same time. | For the first five days it helped me relax, got great sleep, had less headaches, less anxiety. As it went on, insomnia problems and woke up with blocked up nose. Major problem was immediate sexual dysfuction completely. | M | 35 | 16 days | 1/15/2008 | 5 | Depression | At first, lots; after a few weeks, only reduced sex drive | I think alot of doctors fail to prepare patients for the initial side effects. I'd read up on the mechanisms a bit, so I wasn't surprised that it was a bit like a mild acid trip from my youth. I was also, initially, very sleepy. Since the doctor said I shouldn't expect a difference for 2+ weeks, I was a little surprised that there were initial, noticeable effects in 30 minutes. But these were mostly the side effects, and real improvement in my depression didn't appear for the suggested two weeks. I've been on it for several months now, my life is greatly improved, I handle work stress much better, I handle my kids much better, and for maybe the first time in decades, I understand what real happiness is. My only complaint is that so much of my life was so subtly but truly less fulfilling than it could have been. I've reevaluated everything based on this experience. The initial side effects are pretty big, but don't avoid this drug on that basis. I'm still me - a much happier me. I'm als | M | 34 | 4 months | 1/16/2008 | 5 | Panic attacks and depression | dry mouth, insomnia if taken late in the day. However, I can't say these side effects outweigh the benefits. | I'm on 225mg a day and this drug is the only one that has ever worked for me. I've tried so many. However, I'm ADDICTED I feel. I've tried to wean myself a few times and it's terrible. The nightmares and the sickness that goes with it are terrible besides the symptoms you had to begin with. It's just not worth it to me. I always tell my doctor, please don't start anyone, because once they get started, they'll never be able to stop. It's like a narcotic. The nightmares are the worst for me. | F | 44 | 5 years | 1/17/2008 | 4 | Anxiety, depression | Mildly bored and apathetic. | Don't let some reports of horrible withdrawal symptoms prevent you from trying a very safe medication that is extremely useful for many people. I felt the withdrawal symptoms if I missed a dose big-time - but big deal. And trust me, I felt them - the electric shock sensations - but they're nothing to be afraid of and I have severe panic disorder! You'd think a person with panic attacks would fear these sensations immensely, but if I can deal with them, anyone can. And when you do withdraw completely, it has to be done very slowly, like I did, and I barely felt any of those sensations because it was done properly. When I took it, I felt like a really calm, functioning human being - maybe two panic attacks in two and a half years of taking it. Now, since I quit taking it almost six months ago, my panic attacks are back - daily panic attacks. Effexor worked really well for me and I am going to go back on it because I know it helps with my panic and anxiety symptoms. It is definitely worth | F | 29 | 2 years | 1/17/2008 |