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 Gender with females listed first (reviews with no gender reported listed before females). 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 |
| 5 | depression | weight gain, severe withdrawal symptoms upon missing a dose, no sex drive, | Prozac, Celexa, Wellbutrin, & Lexapro did not work for me. Even though the side effects aren't great, this drug has saved my life! I would suggest only using Effexor as a last resort due to the withdrawal issues. | F | 30 | 5 years | 9/1/2009 | 5 | Sad, depressed, cry, out of sorts. | I do not believe I have any side effects. I still do occasionally cry but I am much better. This drug makes me a better me. I should have been taking meds when I was younger too but back then we did not know all that we know today. I had taken Zoloft before and tried to switch from it to Wellbrutin XL with no luck. Zoloft side effects for me were tiredness, less energy and low sex drive. I had to slowly get off Zoloft by doing without it every other day and then completely got off, then started taking Wellbrutin. It was awful. I cried alot, was panicking and was miserable. I had to start my Zoloft again. My husband saw me crying while sitting at my makeup mirror one Sunday morning and said "Get back on your Zoloft, doing without the few side effects are not worth it!" The doctor said it was because they are different types of drugs. So...I stayed on Zoloft for a few more years but was always tired. Finally my new doctor told me I could switch to Effexor XR without these | The only thing I hate is when you miss your dose. I buzz/zap after one missed dose like right now. I forgot I was almost out and then ran out and now I am buzzing. I have called it in and will pick it up on my lunch hour. I guess I will be taking this drug forever because I do not see ever getting off of it. The withdrawal is too hard. | F | 2 years | 10/5/2009 | 5 | Post Surgical Menopause Hot Flashes | Major constipation, somewhat loss of libido, loss of appetite, yanwning. | Have never been on any type of meds before surgery, other than occasional advil and antibiotics. I was very uncomfortable first few days, but have adjusted. Was not in menopause before surgery so have had rough time with hot flashes/night sweats, can't take hormones, doc recommended Effexor XR 75 mg. and for the most part, it has been great. Have adjusted time taken from morning to night and now midday to avoid drowsiness and/or insomnia. I just moved my dosage up an hour a day. Have probably lost 8 lbs. being on this, which is always nice, although I am not overweight. | F | 52 | 9 weeks | 11/16/2009 | 5 | Depression with anxiety | I experienced weight gain. Also, when I skip a dose, I feel jittery and anxious. | I love this medication! When I was younger, I was very anxious, shy, and very suicidal. I would hide myself away in my room as a teen and self-mutilate. I spend many years crying. After I was placed on Effexor, I began to feel almost "normal". I can think. It's difficult to cry. The anxiety is GONE. I can function! I've been on other drugs and none of them affected me. Effexor, quite possibly, saved my life! | F | 29 | 5 years | 11/19/2009 | 5 | depression and anxiety | General: weight loss (30 lbs in 1 year), acne, insomnia and strange dreams during initial dosing, seem to be very susceptible to dehydration/headache secondary to dehydration (for example hangover-like symptoms from just one beer), decreased libido. Missed dose: night sweats, disturbing dreams, insomnia. | Tried prozac and paxil. This drug is far more effective for me. Side effects have been very minimal - finally lost the weight I gained with paxil. | F | 42 | 1 years | 12/16/2009 | 5 | Depression, anxiety, insomnia. | Increased anxiety and difficulty sleeping on higher doses | Effexor XR has been a great drug for me; and I have tried almost all of them. It gives me energy during the day with very minimal side effects. Great ability to concentrate. There absolutely is NOT a side effect of weight gain. I have been on this in the past for many years. I was taken off Depakote and put back on Effexor 6 months ago. What a great decision! I have more energy, don't feel sluggish, and my weight was great until I was put on Seroquel to help with sleeping. Seroquel will make you gain weight! Just went off that. I did have to decrease my Effexor from 150mg/day to 75 mg/day because it did seem to increase my anxiety and really affect my ability to fall asleep. I like the lower dose much better. I also take Clonopin 1.5 mg/day, and Ambien 12.5 mg to sleep. | F | 43 | 6 months | 1/15/2010 | 5 | Depression | Stomach upset and headache in the beginning, now no noticable side effects. | I have tried many different anti-depressants and I have found Effexor to be the most effective of all that I have taken. I take 150mg and I feel balanced and happy as long as I don't miss a dose. If I miss a dose the depression comes right back with a vengence. The only side effect I notice while taking the medicine as directed is insomnia. This is a side effect for me when I am taking any medication that contains a SSRI. | F | 41 | 2 years | 3/5/2009 | 5 | depression/anxiety attacks | I got hives and fever blisters instead of anxiety attacks. Then hives at same time every day for no reason. I really like this drug but am trying to decide if I can put up with the itching. | F | 40 | 2 years | 2/22/2009 | 5 | depression anxiety | loss of appetite for the first few months. | Tried many ssri's over the years with limited success. now on effexor and lamictal and I have my life back for the first time since i was ten. Don't let people scare you especially those that have been on anything for less the 6 months. | F | 55 | 2 years | 2/27/2009 | 5 | Depression/GAD/panic disorder | Nothing unbearable until I forget a dose, or are even an hour late taking it. | Of all the antidepressants I've been prescribed, this one works best, hands down. I am in control of my emotions, and I think I see things the way they actually are, rather than skewed by depression and anxiety. However, I've experienced several instances when I forgot to take my EffexorXR when I went to bed (which is when I take it with vitamins)--and by the time I woke up in the morning, I was already well into withdrawals. The longer I'm asleep, the wilder the dreams--like one continuous dream that gets more detailed and upsetting. Wake up feeling like I've sustained a beating and feel like a bad case of the flu is coming on. And, those "zaps"....electric shocks that make me feel like my brain quivers in the forward position for a few seconds longer than my skull does when I turn my head. This can all be reversed in about three hours by taking an EffexorXR (150). But, I can feel horribly sick, even just a couple hours late. I understand the XR part of this medicine (exten | F | 53 | 5 years | 1/17/2009 | 5 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder | During the first few months, the most noticeable side effects were having vivid or intense dreams, all night long. This wasn't such a bad thing, the dreams were usually enjoyable (i.e. not nightmares), but are now also accompanied by night sweats. This probably happens a couple times a week now. | I currently take 75 mg per day right before bedtime - so I wonder if that has anything to do with the dreams. But, it has dramatically changed my mood for the better, and I rarely feel anxious. It is so great to feel 'normal' and enjoy life again! | F | 27 | 4 months | 2/2/2009 | 5 | Major Depression and OCD/OCPD | I have been on Effexor XR for 11 months. I am currently taking 300mg. Every time the does increased, for 1-4 days I had the shakes, trembeling, sudden crying, facial ticks, extreme edginess, anger, weird concentration, heart/chest pains. Then they would go and I'd feel good. I am wondering if the current dose is a little high for me because I find I have become really nonchalant and carefree socially - unlike I've ever been. My movement is a little "stupid" at times, much more expressive, a little overly-relaxed, and I say what is on my mind more often without thinking (unlike before). At times, its like feeling drunk, without being drunk, and people don't get my sudden "out-there", openness. | I've lost my obessiveness. I suddenly allow people in my house and can relax (never did this before). I suddenly started having sex (after being celebate for 16 yrs) (TRUE! - DEPRESSING, I KNOW!), and suddenly don't get nervous around other people (like men, work collegues, etc). I hate and resent taking a drug to feel happy, I worry about long term side effects, but it made me able to deal with other (difficult) people in this world better without taking it out on myself. My depression is almost gone. My life has improved. Effexor has been good to me. In saying that, I also actively changed things in my life (changed jobs) and didn't just rely on the drug to get rid of the depression. The drug has helped though. | F | 34 | 11 months | 2/15/2009 | 5 | Anxiety -- Social, GAD, Panic | some night sweats, a few hives, tired the first few weeks. Thats it! An increase in sex drive, although harder to peak | I have had much success with effexor. Don't let some of these negative comments scare you. I have missed my pill a couple of times and have had NO side effects. One time I missed it for 48 hours and I only felt I slight head ache which could have been unrelated. It has changed my life. I'm motivated again! I have had very severe anxiety since I was 18 years old. I finally started dealing with the traumatic experience of witnessing my dad being killed in a car accident. for the past 7 years I have had horrible thoughts and visions of people I love dying in car accidents. I also have been very frightened of death in general, but not anymore! I feel like me again. I feel like w/out effexor my mind wears my body out. Please take this medicine if you are physically worn out from your anxiety. It is a god send to me! | F | 25 | 3 months | 3/13/2008 | 5 | depressed,anxiety, | nausea,dizziness, for 48 hrs, would recommend if someone starts taking it , make sure you are not working for 3 days, if drug is increased even small amounts again take the day off and you will be fine the following day | helped with menopause, I am on 150mg and 37.5 mg, I would recommend this medication 100 %, I do not plan on going off this medication, it helps to keep me calm and more relaxed, sex drive is very low, but has always been, | F | 51 | 6 years | 3/11/2008 | 5 | depression | year old widow living alone. No side affects at all. Thank you---- | Sprry--I got the to comment boxes mixed up | F | 75 | 5 months | 3/24/2008 | 5 | Depression | In the first few days, I actually felt hope and maybe a bit of euphoria which was great. Then I went through a whole range of a bit nauseaus, a bit diarrhea then constipation and such. After treating each thing in the first few months it leveled off and it is fantastic! I do consider this a lifetime drug though. I have cut down a couple of times very very gradually but the horrible depression came back with a vengeance so I'm a lifer and loving it. I do take a bit of Valium to help me sleep if needed and found I could cut my caffeine content down also or I get too hyped up. Basic bottom line is that it works. I got discouraged when I read people's side affects but finally hooked up with a nice girl who loved it and she helped me through the beginning. I'm so grateful and hope I can help people also. | Work up to the dose very slowly and if you ever want to stop, do it so slowly that you almost don't know it. It can take over a year to cut down without side affects but it wasn't worth it for me after all. It's a keeper. | F | 55 | 6 years | 3/26/2008 | 5 | panic/anxiety attacks & depression | like I drank one too many cups of coffee | After being prescribed effexor XR I read the comments on this site and was terrified to try it. My pharmacist convinced me that it was safe for me to use along with my topamax, and encouraged me to try it. I'm really glad I did. I feel SO much better. I can face the world again. | F | 51 | 30 days | 4/6/2008 | 5 | depression and anxiety | loss of sex drive, LOTS of energy, yawning ALOT, really wierd! but nothing else.. | effexor xr changed my life, for a year and a half i've felt depressed and had horrible anxiety and the feeling of always being overwelmed.. since starting this drug i have felt so good, happy and free! i dont feel held down by my thoughts and fears anymore!! I DO NOT recomend stopping this drug with out talking to your doctor, i missed two days and i have never had a worse day in my life, crying, crying, crying, angry and hateful for no reason.. I started on 375 for one week and now i'm on 750. this drug has changed my life, and thankfuly my fiance understands my loss of sex drive, but i hope with time that will not be the case.. talk to your doctor, this drug worked for me!!! =) | F | 20 | 4 weeks | 3/2/2008 | 5 | anxiety/panic | I had very few side effects going on the drug. Head felt a little weird the first couple days and experienced a little nausa. | Currently I am on Effexor XR 75mg. I went off because of the price and switched to plain Effexor, 2-37.5 a day. I experienced a significant amount (20 lbs) of weight gain. I faithfully work out and don't eat a lot. I have since gone back on the Effexor XR 75 mg hoping that it will go generic soon in the US. I've been on it just two weeks, and have already lost 5 pounds. The first time I was on it, I wasn't hungry and lost weight too. Effexor XR has been a god send for me, I was withdrawing from family and friends due to a medical scare and I had to do something. I know all these comments from others might scare you, but for some of us... it works with little to no side effects. Take this from someone that fought with her doctor to not take meds. Good luck to all of you. We'll be just fine!!! | F | 39 | 9 months | 4/9/2008 | 5 | Depression, Fibromyalgia/CFS | Overall severe appetite reduction and significant weight loss (30 pounds in just over one month), flat affect, no sex drive, disrupted sleep patterns, fatigue. For first week: jaw clenching, tremors, akathisia, mild manic state, racing thoughts and speech. | I've been on and off Effexor XR 3 times in the past 3 years. Each time I take 75mg for about 2 months, then stop. I do not taper off, and only experienced mild to moderate withdrawals. Most notable were a euphoric/slightly manic state on day 1, with vertigo and electric sensations on my skin (not brain zaps) for the next few days. It felt like I was slightly intoxicated. Also some headache and nausea, but nothing too severe. | F | 22 | 2 months | 4/18/2008 |