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 | LACK OF MOTIVATION/DEPRESSION | NONE SO FAR! | THIS MEDICATION WORKED THE SECOND DAY FOR ME!!! I HAD NO MOTIVATION, DID NOT WANT TO LIVE....EACH DAY WAS MISERABLE. MY ATTITUDE WAS HORRIBLE. I WAS AT THE POINT I WOULD GET ON MY BED AND JUST CURL UP AND WISH IT WOULD ALL END. I HAD BEEN TAKING CYMBALTA WHICH I THINK CONTRIBUTED TO MY FEELINGS. BUT NEVERTHELESS, EFFEXOR/WELLBUTRIN COMBINATION HAS BROUGHT ME BACK TO NORMALITY, AND SO FAST TOO. BY THE SECOND DAY I WAS FEELING LIKE MY OLD SELF. I REALLY HAD A CLEAR SHARP MIND, I COULD FOCUS, AND TRULY ENJOYED DOING EVEN THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE. I FELT LIKE GOING OUT AND ABOUT, AND DID NOT FEEL LIKE HIDING FROM THE WORLD. I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC AND FEELING GOOD. I HAVE READ SO MANY BAD THINGS ABOUT EFFEXOR, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? FOR ME IT IS A GOD-SEND...I ALSO TAKE WELLBUTRIN 300MG ALONG WITH 37.5MG OF EFFEXOR EACH MORNING AND I THINK THIS COMBINATION, IS FABULOUS. AND I DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO INCREASE THE DOSAGE EITHER. WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY BUT GOOD THINGS??? I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMBINATION TO ANYONE. BUT THEN AGAIN, IT MAY NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE....AND MY SEX DRIVE, WHICH WAS DEAD FOR YEARS, HAS FINALLY EMERGED, WHAT A SURPRISE!!! HAPPY AND LOVIN' WHAT THIS MEDICATION IS DOING FOR ME.... | F | 54 | 8 days | 8/14/2005 | 5 | depression, surgical menopause | Heavy bruising and bruising too easily; extended bleed time. Unable to sleep through the night. Unable to get into a deep sleep. Bouts of repeated yawning, which left me breathless. Bouts of drowsiness, lightheadedness and being unable to focus my eyes, like I just had to go to sleep (used caffeine to fight it). Constant tinnitus, ringing in my ears, buzzing & wooshing noises, as if I could hear the blood rushing through my veins. Increase in blood pressure. Headaches. | Immediately had a problem with bruising too easily. Some of the bruises were very large and filled with blood. Over the next 8 months, 4 doctors insisted it wasn't the Effexor, but they were wrong. The insert from the pharmacy said it was a serious side effect. When I finally got them to listen to me, and after my physical and blood work all tested normal, they started switching me to Lexapro. The Effexor caused bouts of yawning and lightheadedness, which were exhausting and annoying; had to drink coffee to counteract this. Sometimes the coffee didn't work. I ended up taking an energy pill with the Effexor (Syn-er-gy from Ameriden) so that I could cope and work. During the first couple of months, the tinnitus was so loud, it made it difficult to hear the tv or radio, and made it hard to fall asleep. It gradually tapered off, but if I took the Effexor at night, the tinnitus was very loud as I tried to fall asleep. Found that if I took the Effexxor at noon, I was able to sleep b | F | 45 | 8 months | 8/27/2005 | 5 | depression, suicidal thoughts | Started on 37.5mg with immediate results, depression lifted and I didn't have anymore suicidal thoughts. After 1 wk. my dose increased to 75mg. This has been a problem for me. I have had 2 doses and I am experiencing chest pain, sweats and palpitations. I am going back to the lower dose since it was already working. | After reading everyone elses side effects and withdrawal problems, I think I will stick with the low dose. | F | 46 | 10 days | 4/7/2007 | 5 | Chronic Depression | I couldn't sleep for the first 2 weeks, but that went away. I think the worst side effect for me is the loss of libido... it is pretty much non-existent and I can forget about an orgasm! I'm hoping to find a way to counter-act this unfortunate side effect. | I tried several antidepressants before starting Effexor XR and nothing worked for me! After I had been taking Effexor XR 150/mg for about a month I started feeling so much better. It was like I was a totally new person. I am more confident, more outgoing and just generally a happier person! | F | 21 | 1 years | 4/15/2007 | 5 | Hot Flashes | Panic attacks, fuzzy head, decreased appetite. | The panic attacks have almost stopped along with the fuzzy head. Still don't have much of an appetite. But...the hot flashes have gone from about 20 or 30 a day to maybe ONE...all my menopause symptoms have just about gone away and they were severe...I have my life back:) <<<< | F | 49 | 26 months | 4/9/2007 | 5 | Nerve Pain | Anorexia. Intensified sexual experiences. Far better orgasms. Dry mouth. | I took 300mg of effexor xr for almost 3 years for unbearable nerve pain. I was told it helped to block the pain information from getting to the brain. It appeared to help. I went off of it, cold turkey, 3 months ago. I had read about horrible withdrawal. NO problems at all. After about a month or so off, I began to put on weight and have trouble reaching orgasm. After 3 months off, Dr. put me back on at 75mg. It's only been about a week, but I'm happy once again! ;-) | F | 39 | 3 years | 5/8/2007 | 5 | panic disorder | yawning, drowsiness, dry mouth, bruise more easily | After a frightening experience with Lexapro, I went on XR. My panic attacks are gone and I was able to stop the daily use of Klonopin. I've also lost 10 lbs. in the 3 weeks I've been on it. I just don't feel compelled to eat, sometimes even when I'm hungry. Bruising more easily, but nothing like on Lexapro. | F | 36 | 3 weeks | 2/19/2006 | 5 | Long term depression | Very tired the first dose of 75 gm. By dose two, that was totally gone. Vivid dreams. I am now on 150mg a day. I am not sleeping well at night...but hey its only been a week of 150mg. | I love Effexor. After I started effexor I begain to read about other peoples experiences on it and going off it. Some of those posts scared me. Then after about two weeks I started to feel better, really better. By my third week I was able to say that I felt normal again. And honestly, I would much rather take this stuff for the rest of my life than to feel the way I did before effexor. Wow, this is life, again! Welcome back me! | F | 33 | 6 weeks | 4/23/2006 | 5 | anxiety/depression | vivid dreams, sleep lots | Effexor has really helped change my life. For the first time in my life, I believe that I am without the anxiety that I struggled with before. I was very skeptical going on it, but after about a month, I started to sleep better, I got my appetite back and was able to go to work and lead a normal life! | F | 23 | 1 years | 11/2/2006 | 5 | for panic attacks | alittle nausea but thats all | Effexor is the only medicine that has ever taken away my social anxiety I love it!! | F | 25 | 1 months | 12/6/2006 | 5 | panic attacks,muscle pain ,anxiety | the first month was bad, extreme nausea, loss of appitite, headaches, scary dreams, awake every 2 hours at night, suicidal thoughts till on right dose. | I stuck throught the side effects at first and now I am so grateful.I feel like a new person, no panic attacks , so social axiety, very relaxed and balanced feeling. I love how this drug makes me feel I am on 300mg. But recently with no diet change have gained 15lbs | F | 27 | 5 days | 12/24/2006 | 5 | depression / anxiety | I originally started with 75 mg and the sexual side effects hit me hard. I could not orgasm. My dr changed the prescription to 150 mg and that was even worse. I lost interest in sex. Became extremely moody. It was a nightmare. I dropped back down to 75 mg and am now taking 150 mg wellbutrin as well. This seems to have taken away all the sexual side effects. I feel normal again!!! WOW!!!!!!! If you're affected by sexual side effects talk to your dr about adding wellbutrin. It worked perfectly for me. | F | 32 | 3 months | 1/7/2007 | 5 | Aniexty | none | I have been on Celexa, Buspar, Valium all with Side Effect. Effexor keeps me calm with no effects. I have been on it for a year. | F | 35 | 1 years | 1/5/2007 | 5 | Depression, Anxiety | Other than being sleepy more than ususal, I've had no side effects. Being sleepy has been a good thing though, cause now I don't stay up as late (1-2am) before the next work day. | A lifesaver. | F | 57 | 2 months | 7/7/2007 | 5 | Anxiety | Initial side effects were relatively minor, dry mouth, vivid dreams, feeling lethargic but after a month or so it was like I had been a bird in a cage and someone let me out. I would not have been able to be as successful and confident in my career and travel the way I do had I not started taking something. I suffered for almost 20 years trying natural herbal remedies that just weren't capable of working like Effexor does. | I took 75mg Effexor XR for the first couple of years and then increased it to 150mg which I've been on for the last 4 years or so. It has been very successful for me and have no desire to stop. Unfortunately the reality is that all drugs have risks and side effects and you have to determine if the results are worth it to you. | F | 42 | 6 years | 7/4/2007 | 5 | anxiety and depression | impossible to reach orgasm during intercourse (other ways are possible), weight loss, yawning for the first three weeks then that went away, flatulence | I love this drug. It has changed my life. It is undescribable. No more depression (I was mostly just grumpy and irritable all the time), and I look at life through completely different eyes. Anxiety significantly decreased--primarily more confident at work and don't worry about all of the little things anymore. Much more able to concentrate. Rumination is mostly gone. As for weight loss, I don't think it is the drug itself, but I think the weight loss is from decreased anxiety---and I was mostly "nervous eating" the mind numbing type. I didn't realize how affected I was by these symptoms of anxiety/depression until they were gone. I just thought that was how life was. I am a different person. I will deal with withdrawal when the time comes ( I would like to get pregnant eventually)--but, I was on paxil once and found that the only withdrawal side effect was dizziness when standing rapidly. I have tried several AD's--could not tolerate the side effects (hyped up feel | F | 30 | 4 months | 7/8/2007 | 5 | Social Anxiety | Use a 24-hr pharmacy, because you DO NOT want to run out. I missed 2 doses & felt like a junkie looking for a fix in Walgreen's: my head felt like it was actually vibrating, and I had vertigo, nervousness, racing thoughts, and just a sick feeling. During the 1st several months on Effexor, I had many of the side effects on the product insert, but I stuck with it because the benefits were amazing and the side effects generally went away after I moved up to the next dosage. I now take 225mg in the am and mostly just have yawning spells and symptoms that seem to be related to my hormonal cycle: sweating, hot flashes, increased night sweats (I've always had them), blemishes, and itchy scalp with some folliculitis. | It changed my life! Before Effexor, I was overly self-conscious, scrutinized and obsessed over every negative interaction, avoided social situations and drank too much when I did go, I couldn't objectively assess situations or even think straight because of my anxiety-driven thought processes. Effexor shut off all of that background noise and I was able to think clearly and rationally. I was less reactive, less sensitive to criticism and rejection, I was able to debate an issue with someone without becoming upset and defensive or aggressive. I felt more upbeat, less timid, calmer, more outgoing, less self-conscious, I stopped taking things so personally, and drank WAY less in social situations. I remember having some initial successes and thinking, "So, this is how normal people feel." I feel like I'm more in sync with the rest of the world. I only wish I'd gone to a psychiatrist sooner. | F | 37 | 2 years | 7/15/2006 | 5 | Depression and social anxiety. | I would become very tired each time my dosage was raised, but that would usually resolve itself within a few days. I sweat much more than I used to, but it's not yet to the point where I'd stop the drug. It suppresses my appetite (which is fine by me) and I had some mild headaches at first, but they went away. | I wasted two years on Zoloft feeling just as depressed and anxious as ever, so I was skeptical about SSRIs in general. I'm so glad I gave Effexor a chance because it's been a breakthrough for me. The constant tension in my neck and shoulders has relaxed, I feel more confident and worry less about what people think of me, and I'm HAPPY. I actually think about and plan for the future now, instead of just feeling exhausted thinking about it because it meant day after day after day of feeling down. | F | 27 | 3 months | 7/14/2006 | 5 | depression | loss of libido but due to depression i didnt have much to start with, so it doesnt bother me at all. | I have been on and off efexor xr many times with great results. I just go off it when I feel better and take a dose here and there when i have a bad day. Initially I start by taking it everyday. I have had NO problems with this drug at all. I dont wean off it i just stop even though i have been advised to wean i just feel better and forget to take it. I found it to be great. i take 150mg a day when i am on it. | F | 33 | | 7/15/2006 | 5 | Depression, Panic Attacks, | The first week I had slight headaches on effexor xr (150 mg). I had originally been on Welbutrin and Zoloft for clincial depression and sucide. I was worse than ever on those two drugs. I had no energy; it was all I could do just to take a shower everyday, could not work. | Effexor XR has truly been a life saver for me! I'm now confident, do not have panic attacks, and my sex life is better than ever, which I believe is attributed to the increase level in my self-confidence. I have to travel with my job to other countries and rent cars and drive out into the middle of nowhere with little or no directions on how to get there. The panic attacks became so bad that I would have to pull off the road because I was crying and could not breathe. My attitude and moods were horrible. This is what prompted me to go back to my doctor for something after being off the Welbutrin and Zoloft for about a year. He prescribed the Effexor XR (150mg)and I truly can't express enough how much this drug has helped me. My husband says he has the "old but new me" back. Sex drive is thru the roof, I'm happy, confident, and at peace with God. Thank you God for my husband, my doctor, and Effexor XR! | F | 48 | 4 months | 1/21/2007 |