EFFEXOR XR Reviews (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 3.0 (2225 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare EFFEXOR XR with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
|
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 |
| 4 | depression--situational/biochemical | Night sweats, interrupted sleep most nights, seriously dry mouth when I wake up. These I can tolerate. But the wooziness! It's somewhere between dizzy and light headed. It's not particularly painful, but it is frequent and uncomfortable. On the other hand, I am functioning again. | 8 years on SSRIs. Was taking Lexapro which was much like taking nothing. Could barely function and was in danger of losing my job. Switched to EffexorXR for the addition of norepinephrine. Definitely have more energy, but still not enough. May increase dosage again, but I'm concerned about the wooziness. | F | 44 | 3 months | 11/17/2004 | 4 | major depression anxiety and ocd | none | As soon as I went up to 75mg I noticed a difference immediatly, I felt better and had more energy but it takes a few hours to really kick in so I take it early in the morning.Some days it doesnt work quite as well as other days and some days it doesnt work at all but some days I feel really good and thats a big difference for me.Im not sure if its helping with the anxiety or the ocd but Im happy just to be able to feel better. | F | 34 | 5 weeks | 11/21/2004 | 4 | depresseion | Sudden & extreme facial flushing particularly nose area. This seemed to occur about 8 hrs (+ or -) after daily dose (mornings). Also decreased ability to cope with hot weather or hot environments, and night-sweats especially just prior to waking for the day. Also high blood pressure (sometimes (180/110) which is why I am starting a different anti-depressant (because all the anti-hypertensives have had other side-effects!... and so it goes on!!) | Hsving awful side-effects during abrupt withdrawal to change to different anti-depressant. Head feels horrible/whooshing noises in ears/ a little unsteady onj my feet if I move suddenly/ very short concentration span. 2 yrs ago I ceased Efexor very slowly (over 2 mths) because of the high BP. I felt so well that I persuaded my GP to let be un-medicated for the time being.6 months later (after some major life stresses) I had another breakdown and after trying another anti-dep which didn't work I we decided high BP with Efexor was better than being suicidal! This is why I have had a quick withdrawal over 5days so I have already begun the new med but have to get up to the recommended dose over a few weeks. This is probably why I feel like my head had been run over by a bus at present! | F | 43 | 6 years | 12/14/2004 | 4 | GAD | Zero - Dry mouth in the beginning. | A lot of people on anti-depressants worry about weight gain. I truly believe the weight gain is a result of general overall well being and feeling better. When on anti-anxiety the anxiety in your body decreases, and perhaps the metabolism slows down. You feel better so you want to eat!!! I have zero side effects from this med, but I also have a high tolerance to side effects. Also, if you read all the threads and side effects, and have an axiety or obsessive personality, of course you're going to think you're going to have all these side effects and, in turn, your body will respond by, indeed, producing the side effects you read about. I have been on Effexor for 5 years. I believe it has done all it can do for me and I need to dive into my true self and also help myself. There is no 'happy pill'....these anti-anxiety meds simply take the edge off....YOU have to do some congnitive work as well. Yoga and meditation have worked wonders for me as well. | F | 34 | 5 years | 12/20/2006 | 4 | depression | major headaches when I miss a dose | F | 44 | 5 years | 10/12/2008 | 4 | Anxiety | During the the first 2 weeks of taking drug, I had vertigo so bad I had to leave work a few times. Also felt as if I was "drunk" and/or on speed, had trouble staying alert to drive my car. After two weeks though, I felt very calm and clear-headed. | I took 75 mg for three years. I only had bad side effects during the first two weeks. After that, my anxiety attacks completely dissapeared, and I felt very calm and thus, happier. It took away my paranoia and that wound-up feeling. I also suffer from IBS-D, and it completely obliterated that problem! So it may constipate you. I feel like my memory has gotten really bad since taking Effexor. Also, I would see spots out of the corner of my eyes all the time. When I missed one dose, I had severe nausea, sweats, shaking, and headache. This happened twice. I was so ill that I could not work. You cannot stop cold turkey. When I decided to stop taking it, I opened up a week's worth of pills and removed 10 granules from each pill, then put them back together. Then I would remove 20 granules, then 30, and so on. Each week I would take a tiny bit less, until there were no pills left. I did this over the course of a few months. I had absolutely no side effects, and no withdrawals! I would recom | F | 33 | 3 years | 10/20/2008 | 4 | Depression and Anxiety | I started on 37.5mg about 3 years ago, I am now on 225mg, whenever dose is increased I begin to have severe tiredness, sleeping for 12-16 a night! I also gain weight whenever the dose is incerased, and I have TONS of food cravings. | I honestly can't tell a difference when I am on or off of Effexor XR, except for the terible migranes that I experience when missing a dose. | F | 16 | 3 years | 10/21/2008 | 4 | depression | constipation, dulled emotions, loss of libido | I had thought effexor had fewer sexual side effects than the SSRIs, but I have not found that to be the case. I added Wellbutrin, which helped to increase my libido for about 2-3 weeks... then, nothing. | F | 42 | 2 days | 6/23/2005 | 4 | depression/anxiety | intense dreams, reduced libido. While starting I was slightly dizzy for a couple of weeks and I had hand tremors. I misunderstood my doctor's instructions when I changed to Wellubutrin...I just quit and started the new med without tapering the Effexor. I was very shakey and weepy....wanted to cry about everything. | It was very effective between starting and stopping. I quit because of the sexual side effects. I did delay getting off Effexor because I knew it would be unpleasant...I had a taste of it when I forgot to take it once in a while. Effexor was very helpful in curbing my depression and anxiety..and my temper. | F | 47 | 6 years | 7/31/2006 | 4 | Depression | Horrible withdrawl effect when I miss only one dose! | My depression is gone and I feel much better and stable. The only problem is I have to be very careful not to forget my dose or I'll go through hell. I wish I had known before about the withdrawl effects. I don't think I would have taken Effexor if I had known. | F | 29 | 1 years | 9/17/2006 | 4 | deppression/anxiety | tired, no sex drive. | Effexor helped with my depression after loosing my beloved dog of 15 years. Just wanted something to get me over the hump & it did work within days. I only took it for 8 weeks and going off it was a nightmare. My doctor said going off would be fine, I reduced my dosage from 75mg to 37.5 for a few weeks but it was still hell. I had flu like symptoms & insomnia for a week. I would never take it again. I would recommend getting off any perscription anti-depressant(unless your bi-polar)and taking St. Johns wort or SAM-e which are natural products with little side effects. The doctors shy away from these products because they don't make any $$$$$ from them and it's all about money, sad but true. also taking Ginko Biloba helped me with the dizziness when I went off it along with Ginger tablets for stomach upset. Golden Seal will flush the drug out of your system quicker too. good luck, there is a light at the end of the tunnel but wean off slowly and don't trust everything your d | F | 48 | 2 months | 3/21/2007 | 4 | general depression & S.A.D. | constipation, dry mouth, dry skin (especially dry scalp), itching, vivid/emotionally intense dreams, slight weight gain, decreased sexual drive, difficulty acheiving orgasm/delayed orgasm (Most of these didn't start until after being on the drug 6-8 months) | I'm taking Effexor for the second time, after quitting to try Lexapro and Wellbutrin. I quit the first time because my dreams were too intense. I'm back on and feeling better. I have Seasonal Affective Disorder and haven't noticed it this winter as much. Also if I take it at the scheduled time, the dreams aren't as emotionally intense. | F | 25 | 1 years | 1/31/2007 | 4 | Major Depression, PTSD and Anxiety | Frankly, I have been on Effexor XR so long that it is hard to tell what side effects I do have. I guess I can say that there are times my blood pressure increases. Other than that, I can't think of a side effect. | I have been on so many of the SSRI's i.e. Celexa, Prozac, Serzone, Lexapro, Wellbutrin XR, Remeron. None work like the SNRI, Effexor XR with me. I've been as high as 300 mg and as low as I am now at 112.5 mg. I've been on Effexor XR for over 9 years. My doc will add a mood stabilizer when I need one. Other than that, I'm staying with Effexor XR. | F | 53 | 9 years | 4/17/2007 | 4 | severe depression | (1) 75 mg pill gave me relief from depression for years. I felt the med wasn't working anymore & my Dr added 50 mg Wellbutrin. This made a huge difference! The biggest problem is sexual interest & difficulty reaching orgasm. Weight gain. | Don't quit cold turkey! I suffered from what I called a sloshy feeling in my brain (aka brain shivers), nausea, light sensitivity, I thought I was going crazy! I finally found info on the web, went back on the meds & felt better the next day. | F | 37 | 4 years | 11/14/2004 | 4 | depression | I had dry mouth and minor nausea and lightheadedness for a few hours after taking the pill each morning. These were not troublesome (beats feeling depressed), and did go away after a few weeks. | I have been on it for 1 1/2 years with no problems. I advise anyone taking an antidepressant not to stop taking their medication abruptly, and to do it with their doctor's advice, to avoid side effects from discontinuating the medication. | F | 46 | 1.5 years | 11/2/2004 | 4 | anxiety and depression | loss of appetite | I started at 37.5mg the first week then went up to 75mg and immediatly started to feel better. I feel better but I still havnt noticed any change in my energy or anxiety but the doctor said it could take a few weeks before I would get the full effects but Im really happy with the results so far. Ive taken several anti depressants and this is the only one that has done anything for me, I just hope it doesnt wear off. | F | 34 | 3 weeks | 11/4/2004 | 4 | Severe depression, mild anxiety | Insomnia, jitters, decreased appetite (including 15 lb weight loss) and mild muscle spasms at outset. Long term effects include increased sex drive, increased sweating, occasional dry mouth, mild constipation and flatulence (farts are funny, I don't mind this particular side effect :) | Effexor XR has been the best antidepressant I have ever been on. I have tried Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, Epival and St. John's wort with only limited success. Effexor has given me back my ability to function normally, has increased my energy level and has boosted my libido. This drug is well worth the side effects, which have been quite mild in my case. I am currently taking 450 mg/day. I would recommend that this drug be taken in the morning rather than the evening as it can cause insomnia. | F | 24 | 9 months | 11/29/2004 | 4 | depression, Anxiety | night sweats, vivid dreams, reduction of libido - overall symptoms were less severe than Paxil | I started on Paxil, which left me with a variety of unpleasant side effects. I switched to Effexor XR, which was better. Getting on it was fine. I am in the process of weaning off of it, and I do notice some mild withdrawal symptoms, including grumpiness and mild anxiety with each step down that passes after a few days. I also notice that I am very tired. | F | 23 | 7 months | 10/28/2004 | 4 | Anxiety - not sleeping | For the first 2 weeks I had dry mouth and that was explained before I started taking the drug. | Have been off the drug for 2 weeks. I slowly tapered as directed. Now off I do have a slight feeling of imbalance in my head, but no body side effects. The imbalance is less and less pronounced as each day goes by. My new physician said I probably should have only taken the drug up to one year. My old physician thought if it was helping me sleep at night and keeping me calm (and being I had no major side effects) I might want to stay on it for as long as I wanted or forever. I knew at 1-1/2 years I needed to stop. The slight imbalance I feel now is annoying at times, but my pharmacist said it will go away in time. He said anywhere from a few weeks to maybe 6 months. I'm hoping for a few weeks. | F | 50 | 2 years | 11/26/2004 | 4 | depression | Not much that I know of. Maybe slightly less sexual desire but don't know if that is hormonal. | Has worked the longest of anyone I have taken. I feel a little depressed lately but not sure if I want to change the dose. | F | 45 | 3 years | 11/27/2004 |