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 | Severe depression | Initially, I had some weight loss (a positive!), nervousness/anxiety, and blurred vision. Now, the worst side effects for me are insomnia, hot flashes, and excessive sweating. My doctor added Remeron to help me sleep, but it really didn’t seem to do the job. We tried Trazodone instead and it worked…however, I developed 24/7 hyper-sexual arousal (yes, I know…it doesn’t sound like a problem, but believe me--without going into too much detail--it can be). I found out that it was related to the Trazodone. Now, I take Ambien and that seems to do the trick. I also had problems with daytime sleepiness and later ADD-type symptoms. We added Adderall, which caused heart palpitations. While, my internist and psychiatrist kept trying to add meds to quell the symptoms, I did my own research and discovered that the sleepiness and ADD were not just because I wasn’t getting enough sleep. I have sleep apnea, which means that I don’t get quality sleep if I don’t use my CPAP machine…and I hadn’t used it in several months. Light bulb! I now use that lovely positive airflow machine every night and have no more problems with daytime sleepiness, ADD, and palpitations! Other side effects for me are dry mouth, constipation, and vivid dreams (which are kind of cool, when you take time to decode them). If I miss one day of taking my 300mg of EffexorXR, I suffer night sweats, headaches, nightmares, and confusion. | I am very happy with EffexorXR. When I started taking antidepressants about 10 years ago, I was prescribed Norpramin, which was awful! I had horrible anxiety attacks. I took Prozac for a few years, but I found that it made me feel like a zombie…no emotions at all and an extremely low sex drive. I switched doctors and my internist prescribed Wellbutrin, which didn’t work for me…more anxiety attacks. I finally found a great psychiatrist, who prescribed Effexor and later EffexorXR. I take 300mg each morning. My depression has decreased, I’m able to function normally, and I can still feel all my emotions. Sure, I have some side effects, but those I can live with. Not being able to get out of bed, crying, feeling hopeless, etc…not so much. My psychiatrist also referred me to a fantastic psychologist. I’ve seen her for almost 3 years now and feel like I’ve made a lot of progress. | F | 41 | 3.5 years | 6/16/2004 | 5 | depression and anxiety | The first few days I was kind of spacey, shakey, and the anxiety actually increased. Had a TREMENDOUS amount of energy. Slight problem with insomnia. Severe constipation. (Cured with prune juice). Began on starter pack (37.5 mg for 7 days, then increase to 75 mg). Was worried about taking the 75 mg due to initial side effects, but turns out side effects did not increase with dosage. Side effects almost gone except for yawning, stiffness in neck (not bothersome), and change in orgasm. I can actually achieve | Effexor XR has been a miracle drug for me. I was in a deep depression, and had begun to entertain thoughts of suicide. I have sustained energy now. I can work all day, come home, and have the energy to play with my children. I felt better a week into starting this drug. I had almost stopped taking it due to the side effects after the first few days, but am really glad I didn't. I feel and act like I used to. Everyone I know has commented on the change in my attitude, performance at work, and the return of my sense of humor. I can focus mentally, stress levels have dropped, everything is better. Except sex drive. That went to hell in a handbasket. But, after I get started, it seems to come back. Overall, I would definantly recommend this drug to someone in a similar spot that I was. I have read about the horrors of withdrawl, though, and that scares me. I hope someone has figured out a tolerable way to w/d from this drug by the time I need to go off of it. | F | 32 | 30 days | 6/20/2004 | 5 | depression & anxiety | constipation | F | 40 | 120 days | 6/23/2004 | 5 | Major Depression | jaw tensing hot flashes minor calf cramping the urdge to grind teeth unable to have an orgasm | the side effects are already fading and i feel really good. better than i have in years. It was a really hard decision for me to turn to medication after years of on and off therapy but I'm really glad I did. | F | 27 | 3 weeks | 4/14/2004 | 5 | aniety attacks ,panic | no sex drive,this is how I feel now. calmer,not worried about everything,don't let things bother me like before.I used to be a worry wart,very hyper,always doing something. | one day i was driving and I thought I was having a heart attack I could not leave my house for four months ,or drive ,I drive for my job.All I did was take the pills,drink ginger ale,eat crackers.I could not even ride in a car.The most terrible time of my life.So I think these pills have helped me.But now I have to increase the amount,I'm getting the same feelings again. | F | 48 | 9 months | 4/14/2004 | 5 | Major depression | Insomnia, difficulty reaching orgasm and decreased sensation. Postural hypotension (low blood pressure when standing or sitting), headaches and irritability after missing one dose. | I started this after Serzone stopped working for me. Worked very well for anxiety, but tough to miss a dose. Eventually switched to Wellbutrin because of the sexual side effects. I've been tapering for five weeks now and it wasn't as bad as I expected, but the low blood pressure and dizziness are no fun. | F | 29 | 2 years | 4/17/2004 | 5 | ADD | No side effects. Takes the lowest dosage available. 3.7?? | This medication keeps my daughter calm in the evenings. She has ADD and takes med's in the morning but they wear off by the evening and if she has to do anything, she is miserable. This works great for her. | F | 11 | 1 years | 5/29/2002 | 5 | depression | I have been taking Effexor XR 150 mg. for 5 months and at times feel kind of drowsy. | It has changed my life. I am so pleased my doctor recommended this drug. Everything in my life is better now. I feel I must have unknowingly beeen depressed for years. | F | 48 | 5 months | 10/24/2001 | 5 | recurrent major depressive disorder | nothing but good things--more energy, less crying, can sleep a normal 8 hour night and feel rested (I used to sleep 15 hours or more if I could.) | I have been depressed since I was a child, and have been able to cope with it unless I experience stress or changes in my life--at those times despair and anxiety would take over my life. I have tried 5 or 6 different antidepressants with no success. After I had a baby this spring, I experienced a horrible episode of Postpartum Depression. After trying Zoloft and Welllbutrin (on doctor's orders--I had no faith in these drugs anymore, but was told that I would be hospitalized if I did not accept treatment.), I was finally put on Effexor a month ago, and started feeling better within days. I really feel like this drug is a miracle. I had resigned myself to a life of hidden tears and forced smiles, but thanks to this drug, I can look at my husband and child again and think, | F | 22 | 1 months | 8/12/2004 | 5 | Depression | I had none until I increased my dose past 75mg, then I was too tired and sleepy. At 75mg I have | F | 32 | 2 weeks | 9/23/2004 | 5 | depression | I was very tired and sick for the first two weeks. I had to take it at night so I could function at work during the day. After the two weeks, I felt fine and started taking it in the morning as prescribed. I experienced a great deal of weight gain. | Other than the weight gain I experienced, I felt great - better than I have in years. | F | 40 | 6 months | 1/1/2003 | 5 | Panic Disorder | None. | It completely stopped my panic attacks and obsessive thinking - on 75mg - for two years! Thought I was cured so my Dr. | F | 28 | 2 years | 1/18/2004 | 5 | anxiety/panic attacks | some weight gain and high blood pressure. Do not mix with caffiene or high sugar products-heart racing occurs | This medication has allowed me to resume my life. I wasn't going out with friends or any other social events afraid that an anxiety attack would occur. I don't even feel like I'm on medication,unlike my previous experience with Paxil and Prozac. I feel free again, I'm my old self. It's so nice to enjoy the things that people my age group do. I lost out on about 3yrs before I found this drug. No more making excuses to everyone about why I can't make it out. I'm still on Effexor xr 225 a day for the last 8 months and a Xanex here and there if I'm flying or something. I've had a very positive experience. | F | 30 | 8 months | 9/9/2003 | 5 | clinical depression | slight anxiety increase, night sweats | F | 26 | 7 months | 9/10/2003 | 5 | social anxiety disorder, depression | slight weight loss, minor dizziness at times (that goes away) | After taking effexor for about 3 weeks, I noticed that I enjoyed being around people more. I started conversations more, gave an inservice at work, things I never used to do. I have also been feeling very happy, never depressed. I have been on effexor for almost 2 months and have not had one depressed moment (probably because I feel better). | F | 24 | 2 months | 8/26/2003 | 5 | bi polar disorder | None | F | 39 | 3 months | 2/11/2003 | 5 | Depression | Extream sweating, Jaw clenching,Insomnia, Teeth grinding, VERY BAD sexual dysfunction. | I was taking 150 mg of Effexor XR, It worked wonderfully for the depression, but the sexual dysfunction is what made me ask to go off. I am now weaning off the effexor and going on Wellbutrin SR, If I wasn't married I would have stayed on the effexor. I was unable to have an orgasm, and had NO desire to have sex. The other side effects didn't bother me as much as this one. | F | 31 | 1 months | 12/29/2003 | 5 | lupus, depression & neuropathy | No side effects on 150mg used it for severalyears. But when I tried to cut back on it: unable to function, severe dizziness, confusion it was terrible. Back on it and stable again. | i think the effexor has made positive effects on stablizing the neuropathy. I will continue to use it b/c the changes I went through to get off of it was not worth it. | F | 46 | 4 years | 1/12/2004 | 5 | Panic Attacks, Anxiety | Teeth grinding, minor weight gain, no desire for sex, minor spasms. | The drug help me out with controlling the panic attacks and anxiety and is well worth taking if you can live with the side effects. I have no desire for sex or intimacy with my husband. The dosage I am taking is 150mg. As I increased the dosage over the years, these feelings increased. With the sexual side effects I do not feel complete and will look for alternative medications. | F | 45 | 3 years | 1/13/2004 | 5 | Extreme drepression and anxiety | This med is great (I take 300mg a day), although I hallucinate, have mucsle spasms at night and my tremors are uncontrolable. But I would rather have those symptoms then to have my drepression and anxiety attacks back. | Extreme depression came on after an unexpected pregnancy. I also take wellbutrin sr (400mg) | F | 24 | 1 years | 6/23/2003 |