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 |
| 1 | anxiety | I have only been taking effexor xr for 2.5 weeks. The first 2 weeks were fine other than some drunk like feelings. The last few days I have felt very strange and sweating uncontrollably. Also, I am unable to sleep do to bad night sweats. My doctor told me to continue the medication, however, I don't think it is going to be and option, | M | 2 weeks | 8/16/2005 | 1 | apnea symptoms | I have taken this crap for about a few months but the side effects were hard has hell and i have discussed them with my doc! and we decided that it would better to change to something else.... But the worst thing is that you should nver get off this sh** cold turkey people should be advised to go down gradually because the side effects are living hell ! | M | 34 | 2 months | 10/9/2004 | 1 | depression | couldn't sleep - couldn't eat - panic attacks - rapid cycling - withdrawal syndrome (worse than heroin!) - worsened depression - worsened anxiety - psychotic episodes - suicidality | the withdrawals from effexor are notoriously bad. you'll know you missed a dose within about 18 hours. i'd rather kick dope again than try to come off of effexor. it's nasty nasty ugly stuff. at least there's a warning about the w/ds in the package insert now. when i was on it the whole antidepressant withdrawal syndrome was looked upon by the medical establishment as a manifestation of one's illness instead of a byproduct of the drug ('its all in your head!'). add to that a pdoc who responded to | M | 21 | 1.5 years | 10/30/2004 | 1 | hot flashes | anemia, rash, fuzzy brain, vivid dreams, fatigue | Withdrawal is terrible even if tapered off over 2 month period, and I was only taking 75 MG a day. Patients should be warned about this before taking medication. | M | 63 | 1 years | 10/31/2004 | 1 | depression | If I was even an hour or so late taking it (say from oversleeping) I would throw up for hours (I guess this is withdrawal). I gained more than 30 pounds (no change in diet or exercise). I had terrible nightmares every night. | If I had know how bad the side effects could be I never would have taken it. It was horrible and the withdrawal was even worse, throwing up for days and this weird zingy feeling. | M | 27 | 3 months | 7/27/2005 | 1 | Major Depression | Hypertension. Extreme anxiety attacks lasting for 3 full days and nights - after only 3 x 75mg tablets of effexor xr | I have been on Avanza (60mg) for about 18 months, and the doctor recently recommended adding 75mg of Efexor in the morning, and reducing the Avanza to 30mg at night. First day (Wednesday) was fine, second day (Thursday) i started getting anxiety attacks every couple of hours, leading up to around lunchtime when i found myself to be extremely agitated and in a permanent state of anxiety, the likes of which i have never experienced before - shakes, very panicky, extremely agitated and nervous, etc. Friday i was in two minds about taking the pill, but did it anyway, and the anxiety just didn't stop. I have not taken the effexor since Friday morning, it is now Monday and i am JUST starting to lose the anxiousness, not to mention the feeling of total exhaustion and loss of sleep. It was that bad that i basically have hidden all weekend, didn't answer the phone and was very apprehensive about even going downstairs to do the washing. At least i finally managed to get some sleep last night, with the help of 2 stillnox tablets. For me this drug has been shit and i will never take it again. The side effects are easily found on the net, so if you are a first timer, be wary of the side effects. | M | 43 | 3 days | 6/12/2005 | 1 | Depression/Anxiety | weight gain, feel tired all the time, ringing in the ears. | If your doctor prescribes this, ask for another med. I took Zoloft 10 years ago, which worked fine. I cannot get off this medication because the side effects are so severe. I am down to 37.5mg, but I can't stop taking it. The withdrawl symtoms do not stop after a few days, they intensify and are severe. The longest I've been able to go without any effexor is a week. The withdrawl symtoms include numbness and tingling in the face and lips and extreme dizzyness and anxiety spells. I've tried cutting down gradually, but the longest I can go is two days without the dizzyness starting. I've tried describing the side effects to my doctor. I may as well be hooked on heroin. | M | 38 | 3 years | 3/21/2007 | 1 | generalized anxiety disorder | dry mouth, weight gain,mood swings,contipation,nervousness,hot-cold spells,and many more | It did not help my anxiety and gave me other syptoms that are much worse.Getting off the drug is complete hell.This is not a drug that will let you go easily.The symtoms of withdrawal are incredibly awful. I would not reccomend this drug to anyone | M | 1 times | 12/28/2004 | 1 | General Anxiety | CONSISTENTLY: loss of appetite, apathy, difficulty climaxing, FOLLOWING LATE OR MISSED DOSE: Dizziness, Brain ZAPS, irritability LAST 3 MONTHS ON 37.5 mg: Bouts of anxiety/anger 30 minutes after taking, mild-depression, increased anxiety, | Recieved script for Effexor XR 75mg, per request to my GP, 2 yrs ago. At the time, I had a anxiety/anger in response to a cholic baby, a new wife, & job uncertainty. About 6 months ago I tried to wean off. I followed a schedule from an RN that suggested skip days of 37.5mg over 2-3months. At 4 skip days (2nd month) I decided to stop all together. At day nine I was near suicidal, crying for no reason, confused, anxious. I had to go back on. I've tried to stay at 37.5 mg since but have been experiencing a depression, and bouts of anxiety. I hope to be able to ween off with non-time released. TELL ME HOW YOU STOPPED!!!! | M | 34 | 2.5 years | 3/8/2008 | 1 | Anxiety | Sense of unreality, migraine, jaw clenching | What a horrible drug! My doctor tried to switch me from 5mg of Lexapro to Effexor as he said he had better results with the treatment of anxiety with the latter. However, I've taken it two days and the second day experienced that side effect that we all dread from anti-depressants. A feeling of being detached from reality, really spacey, migraine headaches (haven't had for a while) and jaw clenching/teeth griding. I'm tossing the rest of my 2 sample packs out right now. I'm pretty determined to take a non-pharmacologic approach to my anxiety. I have found acupuncture has worked wonders, as had talking to a therapist. | M | 27 | 2 days | 3/9/2008 | 1 | Bipolar Depression Anxiety Insomnia | under statement of the year SEXUAL PROBLEMS!!!!! | Had a massive marriage breakdown 3 years ago and my illness was untreated until. I put a car in to a tree and the 2nd one in a telegraph pole. 2 months ago, started on EFFEXOR XR 75mg depression kept getting worse moved up to 150mg, more stable, don’t cry any more. If you are a male and don’t care about SEX anymore, ever!, then use Effexor XR ,but for me, my libido has always been excellent, even when been depressed. Until I used this male killing drug, just so you know, because no one really described it. Bipolar depression anxiety 95% erection and 95% orgasm Heavy drinking night, 75% having an erection and 75% orgasm. Illegal drugs, Speed 85% erection and 10% orgasm Bipolar depression anxiety 95% erection and 95% orgasm Effexor XR 65% erection 2% orgasm even when trying for 4 hours plus! Sorry i can't even guess the female libido hit's your taking because your mind and bodies, are way more sensitive | M | 38 | 2 months | 6/18/2008 | 1 | Mild Depression | Grind teeth at night, strange dreams, tired, can not miss a single dose or I feel awful, withdrawn, moody, and have begun to see them in my stool. | Side effects are way to extreme. E-mail me if you have experianced the same things. | M | 35 | 10 months | 3/5/2009 | 1 | Panic Disorder | Electrical "arc" between temples - head buzzing, constant erection but inability to orgasm, nausea (fixed with Zantac), constipation, anxiety, confusion | On it for four days, fell apart, discontinued under medical supervision, no withdrawal symptoms, head buzzing stopped after 40 hours without dosing. | M | 36 | 4 days | 7/14/2008 | 1 | GAD, anxiety | worked for a couple months then increased anxiety, shakiness, depression, withdrawal, loss of motivation, insomnia, | I would recommend trying other drugs first. Very horrible withdrawal effects. Caused very difficult 5 months in my life because of withdrawal and side effects. Dr keep augmenting with other drugs to mask side effects. Feel better with drug out of my system. Currently taking lexapro, which has been most helpful. | M | 30 | 1 years | 7/10/2008 | 1 | Depression/anxiety | I took Effexor in 2004 for Gad/depression, after taking it for a few weeks I was often manic and had some suicidal ideations(usually while driving). The feeling of disconnection from reality was quite intense at times. I believe these drugs are still experimental and should not be widely prescribed yet. The sale of these drugs are an attempt to "cash in" on as wide a variety of mental problems as possible. | Withdrawal from Effexor was one of the strangest experiences I have ever had. It was like there was a electroshock generator installed in my brain which would give me a jolt every 30 seconds or so. Also, random electric flutter throughout my whole body was quite uncomfortable. These were the main symptoms which lasted aprox. 3 weeks after stopping Effexor. I believe taking this medication resulted in long term damage to my nervous system which I still deal with today. I would recommend against taking SSRI drugs unless your symptoms are unable to be controlled by any other means. I think many people who end up taking these drugs would be helped more by a caring counselor/therapist, it's too bad insurance would rather pay for this poison rather than take the time to help people through tough times and feelings in a more humane way. | M | 35 | 5 weeks | 12/27/2008 | 1 | anxiety | I want to kill myself! I wasn't depressed before | M | 24 | 12 months | 12/21/2008 | 1 | depression | Side effects I felt on the drug were basically a feeling like I could NEVER get enough air in my bloodstream. You know the feeling like you have to yawn, well, I was doing that all day long but it never felt like i satisfied the urge. I was on it for about a year. I'm now off it - only for about 10 days now. Feelings: SAD, EMPTY, seriosly-now SUICIDAL (i never really felt like I could do it, but coming off this drug is giving me an aloof feeling where I could just drive off a bridge and wouldn't second-guess it PHYSICAL: Nausia, dizzy, famous brain shivers (i guess the term is needed to describe something we can't), cold feet, hands, body, crying, very very exhausted till afternoon time where I finally feel awake and start feeling like crying, | You hear people saying good things about this drug and bad (i'd say mostly bad). If you reading this because you just aren't sure if you should take it, just DON'T do it. This is EFFEXOR...FOR Life ! just like the VOLVO commercial ads. Once you are on it, the ADDICTIVE properties (yes, addictive) will demand that you find some inner strength (that of a buddhist) to fight for your mind to come off it. It makes your body sick coming "on" it and it makes you sick coming "off" it. And the in between, well, you're still sick. Just stay away from it. | M | 37 | 12 months | 8/16/2008 | 1 | depression | DO!! NOT!!! miss a dose it will drive you crazy my head feels like im hooked up to a battery and every time i turn my head i get jump started. | I have been on effexor for 2 years and loved it at first but know ive been on the same dosage for 5-6 months i am having symptoms like i missed a day and i know i took it every day it gets worse some one help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | M | 30 | 2 years | 4/7/2009 | 1 | GAD | none that I can remember | withdrawal has been hell. Took 225mg at one time and could not handle tremors and shakiness. Currenly weaning off and on half of 37.5. I am taking it very slow. Very bad drug and would not recommend. Tryed a variety of SSRi's and had very bad side effects. I think complicated by EffexorXR. Currently taking Elavil 50mg and Seroquel 100mg for a great combination. | M | 30 | 2 years | 9/26/2008 | 1 | Depression & anxiety | Erectile dysfunction, disturbed sleep, less muscle tone, blood pressure problems, trouble concentrating and with fine motor movement, anger, violence, bad dreams, | Took this after switching from lexapro because it caused ED. Doctor prescribed this, made it worse, much worse. Permanent ED. No morning erections. Feel very bad about life now and very alone. | M | 27 | 2 years 75mg 1X day | 5/12/2013 |