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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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
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  Depression Constipation Elimination is has improved after stopping this drug. Thank goodness. F 37 4 years
150 1X day
12/5/2018
 1  Anxiety Lack of coordination probably because my eyes never seemed to focus, like I was looking at what I wanted but I couldn't see it, Muscle aches, joint pains, tiredness, just generally feeling crappy, headaches, eye aches Posted a review on this drug back in May, 2018. Doctor changed me to 20 MG Prozac, that was worse than Effexor, so back onto 75 MG of Effexor I went, lasted about 7 weeks this time and then I had had enough. So what does he do? wean me off the stuff, no cold turkey no weaning but he prescribed me Valdoxan this time. Don't ever go cold turkey off Effexor it is absolutley horrible. I am now into week 3 of withdrawal from this drug and although at times you feel like you've reached the end it comes back time after time and smacks you in the mouth with dizziness and feelings of depair. The muscle and joint pains whilst on Effexor are nothing compared to the withdrawal pains you get in muscles and joints. Valdoxan as an alternative? don't know I stopped both of them because of how I felt and not knowing was the new interacting with the old. All antidepressants are devil's drugs, you have to come off them in the end, so you are no better off anyway. Just a waste of time and lots of hope for an end of anxiety for nothing. M 67 1.5 months
75 MG 1X day
12/5/2018
 1  panic, GAD Decided to try this since my brother takes the regular version for OCD. I took my first dose at work and it messed with my memory. A cop left a message with with me but I couldn't remember what he said when I relayed the message to my boss. Next, I felt feverish and brain zaps the entire time I was at work. When I got home, I couldn't pay attention to what anyone was saying. I had to try extra hard to remember how to make a pizza!! It nearly killed me memory. At night, when I was sitting on the couch, I felt pretty anxious and paranoid. I got even more anxious for feeling paranoid. That night around 12 am, I woke up drenched in sweat and in state of confusion and panic. I had to take .5 mg of Ativan to calm myself. Works like a charm for my brother with NO SIDE EFFECTS, but with me, I got every side effect in the book. I took a sample of this drug in high school before going to bed. All I remember is getting insomnia. This drug is not for me. F 33 1 days
37.5 1X day
9/1/2018
 3  Anxiety Increased urination, weight gain, heart arrythmias, stomach cramps, constipation. That wonderful vertigo/dizzy feel that increased as the dose went up. A brutal, brutal drug to wean off! Initial dose of 37.5mg worked fine from about day 3 but as time increased so the dosage went up, 37.5>75>112.5> 150>225 so did the side effects after 75mg was reached. A shaky feeling along with vision problems and a spacey 'in another world' feeling. The desire to do things that I regained after 6 years of being locked in a vacuum didn't diminish, the problem was not being able to clearly see what I was trying to achieve, eyesight was blurry and foggy. Anxiety was always there but Efexor did control it for the most part. As the dose increased to 150 mg then 225 mg the stomach cramps and abdomen pain increased to the point I'd had enough and doctor decided a switch of drug and class of drug was required. So I'm now on Prozac and after the obligatory time for antidepressants to work or not I'll see if this one's any better. M 66 6 months
225 MG 1X day
8/5/2018
 1  Depression/Anxiety This drug is HORRIBLE. I was on Wellbutrin & Celexa for 16 years. Tried to get off both twice (on my own) and was a mess. I don't think I tapered down slow enough or gave the emotional roller coaster enough time for my brain to heal. The last time I tried to stop the antidepressants I went to a new dr. who put me on Effexor. He was basically running a pill mill and told me I needed to be on these for life. Disgusting man. Well, now I'm on Effexor (225mg) and Wellbutrin (300mg). Within the last month I noticed I am losing hair - a lot of hair!!! I'm also experiencing anxiety, agitation, fast heartbeat, vision changes, tremors, acne, muscle jerks primarily in my legs, memory loss, and my period is out of wack - I have it every two weeks or more now. I'm 50 so I figured some of these were age related, but after researching more about Effexor I think the AD's are to blame. The hair thinning is the last straw. I'm getting off this shit and then will tackle getting off the Wellbutrin. I originally got on AD's when I was going through a very nasty divorce 18 years ago. I NEVER should have gone on them - and now I can't get off them without a ton of awful withdrawal effects. And I'm terrified that my brain is forever altered. I hear Effexor is one of the worst to come off of, although Celexa was horrendous with the brain zaps. These AD's are TOXIC. I am looking into going to a rehab center to have medical help to get off both of them. I pray to God that I can get these antidepressants out of my body and that He will heal me. F 50 1.5 years
225mg 1X day
4/15/2018
 4  Depression, anxiety Increased sweating This antidepressant has helped me quite a bit. It works particularly well for my anxiety which has basically disappeared. I did gain a bit of weight but it’s not crazy and also seems to have leveled by now... I’m taking Trazodone at night to help with sleeping. I haven’t experienced any withdrawal symptoms if I missed a dose or took it late. F 38 6 months
75mg
3/18/2018
 3  anxiety and hot flashes I gained 20 lbs. I craved alcohol and sweets. Worked great for anxiety. 60 1 years
37.5 1X day
3/17/2018
 1  Anxiety, Depression Did work for the anxiety and depression though I felt a but numb...missing a dose caused horrible vertigo and nausea. I developed tingling and GP recommended I come off it. Withdrawals are awful! Stopped cold turkey on doctors advise as there is no lower dose. Felt like I had the flu with no fever, sweats, shakes, pain,nausea, vertigo when i moved my head or eyes, horrible unwell feeling. 6 weeks off and over most of the symptoms but still have leg pains/cramps and sometimes they tingle and burn. Doctor said the withdrawal should only last 5 weeks so hopefully it won't be much longer. Horrible drug that should be taken off the market. Not enough research on the withdrawal effects. F 38 3 months
37.5mg 1X day
2/21/2018
 3  Generalized anxiety disorder Weight gain, lower libido, memory loss, lack of affection for wife. Could care less what people thought of me. Had a big EGO while on it, thought I knew it all. Lack of empathy. I stopped having panic attacks and panic disorder. My generalized anxiety disorder disappeared. I stopped taking it as I hated the weight gain and memory loss. My GAD came roaring back but I control it with Xanax now. I felt like I lost 10 years of closeness with my wife due to Effexor. Yes I do have much more anxiety now but I find relief hugging my wife often and my sex drive is back. My ego is now in check. My memory is back. I am much more engaged with wife being off of Effexor. M 46 11 years
75 mg
1/28/2018
 1  Depression 15+ kilos, suicide thoughs permanently, worsening depression 38
75 1X day
1/8/2018
Email
 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
Email
 1  Severe depression Effexor is one of the worst things that ever happened to me. I can't tell you how many times I almost pulled the trigger. Oh and if you leave it at home/don't take it for a day, be prepared to feel absolutely horrible. Double vision, confusion, extreme depression I could go on and on. And getting off of it? The hardest thing I've ever had to do. I still can't believe I didn't kill myself. Please don't take this drug.... F 21 14 months
30?
10/30/2017
 5  Depression and Anxiety When I first started it, I had some tiredness and decreased appetite but that went away after the first month. It has helped me greatly and still working after many years of taking it. Just trust what your body tells you when you start and become informed on all medications you are taking. You really are your only voice for your health. F 15 years
150 MGS 1X day
8/23/2017
 2  Depression Extreme Sweating, no sexual drive, excessive thirst, not wanting to be around people. Still fill depression. F 62 9 days
175 mg
6/21/2017
Email
 1  Migraines Dizziness,nauseous, rare dreams, insomnia, nightmares. F 43 30 days
75 mg
6/19/2017
 1  Mood stabilization Headaches, visual disturbances, irritability, increased intolerance to heat, night sweats, increased thirst, dry mouth, 'brain zaps' AWFUL medication that created lasting effects that have ruined my life. I experienced SERIOUS withdrawal symptoms called "brain zaps", among others, that have now permanently caused damage to my body. TAKE WITH CAUTION. F 26 2 years
1X day
6/4/2017
Email
 4  anxiety and hot flashes A little tired The first antidepressant that has helped with my chronic anxiety F 60 30 days
37.5 1X day
5/20/2017
 5  Hotflashes None, so far. Hotflashes are gone, feel great, no weight gain, makes me sleep well. F 51 6 months
37.5
5/16/2017
Email
 1  Vestibular migraine Omg awful rocking sensations, falling sensation, floating sensations, brain pressure, increased dizziness, weird sense of false motion. Run away fast! F 39 1 months
37.5
4/18/2017
Email
 3  MDD Increased hunger, weight gain So far, Effexor XR seems to be working ok. This is probably the 10th or so medicine I've tried. My libido is better on this than anything else I've been on, but my appetite has really increased, especially at night. I've already put on about 40 pounds over the years from antidepressants, I don't need to add more. I might look into an appetite depressant. F 38 4 months
150 1X day
4/16/2017
Email

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