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 |
| 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 | 4 | Anxiety attacks | While using effexor, it helped tremendously on my anxiety. I used it for 4 years and felt that I would be able to function fine without any further treatment. With the help of my doctor I slowly winged myself off...the withdrawls are HORRIBLE! constant jolting, electric shock feeling, dizzyness, confusion, ringing in the ears, emotions run on high! I am now 3 weeks into withdrawls and it feels as if it is still day one. I have been looking for material on how long symptoms are expected to last. | If I could do it all over again, and if I would have been informed of the severity of the withdrawls, I never would have agreed to take effexor! | F | 36 | 4 years | 11/27/2004 | 4 | PMS depression | tingling, insomnia, dry mouth, all went away in 2 months | Love it. But been and off it about 6 times in the last 8 years and I think one builds up a tolerance to it b/c it doesn't work as well as the first time. | F | 30 | 8 years | 10/2/2004 | 4 | anxiety | I have not had any side effects from EFFEXOR, But the withdrawl symtoms from just 1 day are truly horrifying. | F | 29 | | 9/23/2004 | 4 | Anxiety/Panic Attacks | Insomnia, Severe loss of appetite, Drymouth, Nausea, Jaw chattering, inability to focus, worse mood swings during | It works very well once you start off on it and are persistant with use, but if you miss a dose here or there, it starts to really mess you up-the side effects seem to be 100 times worse when you start back up on it again. And the rebound effects that I experienced the 2 months I was off of it were horrible-severe anxiety, mood swings, depression...it sucked. I've been on a few other anxiety meds, and honestly this was the best, but I do not suggest putting a young teen on ANYTHING until they are at least 18-I am a lot different of a person bc of all the meds I've been taking since I was 14. Plus, you have to wonder if the reprocussions after coming off of effexor are worth taking it-you could be on it for the rest of your life just to avoid its after effects. | F | 20 | 5 years | 9/18/2004 | 4 | Recurrent depression | Wild, life-like/real dreams; definitely CANNOT skip a dose (wicked headache and dizziness). Taking at same time is important, but at a low dose (150mg for past 3 years), can manage to go about 8 hours beyond usual dosage time with little effects. The 'broken sleep' however is frustrating...and if a dose is missed, wow, the dreams and pyschedelic 'views' the mind kicks out when eyes are closed are absolutely incredible, scary, affects you the next day, etc. Who needs to go to the movies?! Perhaps this is what Hollywood could use -- keep a dream journal; you never know! All that aside, at a remission-type dose (150 mg or less), if i don't start experiencing very unusual health affects, i intend to stay on this drug for a long while. Mental illness (i.e. lack of serotonin) is just like any other defect the human body can have. So, why not? It helps me immensely, and the side affects are tolerable, as long as i don't provoke them by missing a dose. Enjoy life however you can with whatever aid you need! | F | 43 | 3 years | 10/25/2004 | 4 | depression/anxiety | 25 lb weight gain, Terrible withdrawls. At first it is wonderful. Unfortunatly I am about to start weening myself. due to the fact o that the weight gain and the inability to even control it is taking me down in to the slums again. I have tried everything to loose or maintain the wieght and the lbs just keep creeping on. I hate the way i look and if this is the source I need to take the first step and get rid of it. I have a two year old and i am almost back on to the delivery table wieght wise. | F | 23 | 1 days | 10/15/2004 | 4 | Major Depressive Disorder | Sometimes wake up feeling disoriented, but no side effects other than that (though this lack of side effects seems to be unusual compared to the other comments I've read so far) | I don't notice when I accidentally skip doses and take them late, and didn't notice any effects (good or bad) in the short run, but I suppose my mood has improved overall--it's hard to tell what exactly the Effexor does, maybe I'm immune to it, if that's even possible. | F | 21 | 7 months | 10/13/2004 | 4 | depression | Although I've always been a vivid dreamer, since taking Effexor XR the dreams have become much more vivid and very bizarre. I also experience night sweats on occasion. If I miss even one dose (300mg daily), I start to get dizzy and can't think very clearly. | While Effexor has been a great tool against dression, I'm kind of curious how long is too long to stay on this drug---particularly at the 300mg daily dosage. I've moved around quite a bit in the last several years and thus haven't had a one doctor monitoring my usage for any length of time. | F | 31 | 3 days | 10/13/2004 | 4 | Social Anxiety, Depression | Brain zaps the day after a missed dose | It's helped the depression a great deal, but the anxiety less so. I'd experienced the brain zaps a few days a month for a while, but only put them together w/ the fact that I'd forgotten to take the Effexor the day before I experienced them. 'Brain zap' is a broad term, but for me, I can feel my pulse or some other non-painful jolt in my fingertips, head, and, oddly enough, my soft palate; I feel very tired, and dizzy when I stand. Laying down mostly mutes the zaps, but the only cure is to take Effexor as soon as I can, even if it's earlier than I would take it in the day. | F | 20 | 8 months | 4/10/2008 | 4 | depression, panic disorder, anxiety | dry mouth, anorgasmic At first, strange dreams, meaning very vivid and colorful. However, now, they don't occur. Also, it used to regulate my sleep cycle to something more normal (like getting tired around 11 or 12). Also, my appetite used to be more "normal" when I started, but now is back to more random eating/snacking. | I feel ambivalent about it every so often. There are reports about how people get addicted to it and feel "brain zaps" when trying to go off. As Effexor is my third anti-depressant, it's worked the best and I'm sick of shopping around. Even with the side effects, which aren't too bad and more just annoying, I can deal. However, I worry about the day when I decide to go off of them and determine if my depression is more chronic or clinical. I've gone a few days before without taking it and felt dizzy, tired, nauseous, and spacey. I'm afraid that the mild addiction will be enough to keep me on them forever, even if I show signs of recovery. Also, if I'm on them forever, that could be bad news if I decide to have kids (in the way future). good news: there's a generic coming out, meaning it doesn't cost $10 a pill (before insurance) sometime soon | F | 20 | 4 years | 4/8/2008 | 4 | Bipolar disorder | profuse sweating, night sweats, nightmares, tics | When I was initially put on Effexor at the age of 14, I became manic, which I have since learned is a common reaction to antidepressants for bipolars. Unfortunately, my adoselcent psychiatrist didn't follow up with anything but Lithium at the time, which only made me ill, and, consequently, he misdiagnosed as clinically depressed. Since then I have tried dozens of psych meds and had many diagnoses. Effexor, with the addition of the correct mood stabilizer, has given me the most productive 18 months of my life. I'm able to miss a day or two with no ill effects, but any more than that and I get headaches, nausea, and my arthritis pain intensifies greatly. There is not one single drug that works for everyone, and this medication may not be the ideal; however, despite some really irritating and consistent side effects and the potentially difficult time I may experience coming off of Effexor, I would NEVER trade emerging from an almost lifelong depression, partly thanks to this drug. | F | 25 | 18 months | 5/21/2008 | 4 | Depression/Anxiety | ZONKED OUT for the first 2 weeks while getting used to my 75mg dose. I've always had a very high sex drive but now climax is next to impossible (and COMPLETELY impossible once I was upped to 150mg). While on 75mg, I could miss a doce and be ok, but after 2 days (or just 1 day while on 150mg), severe dizziness/vertigo, fatigue and inability to focus. Weight gain of about 30 lbs., constant cravings and unable to control my cravings. | It really was a saving grace. I can funtion like a normal person, and am back to being ME (albeit a slightly larger me). Problems are still there but do not overwhelm me like they used to, and am able to control racing thoughts. As long as I don't miss a dose, I'm good! | F | 27 | 1 years | 5/22/2008 | 4 | depression and anxiety | crazy dreams!!! very sleepy and tired sometimes, loss of appetite, increased sex drive comes and goes, neck pain, random headaches, constupated, thirsty, other then that much happier, funnier and caring! | havent cried in a year, no deep emotions...but the worrying and stress is completely gone! 150 mg a day, dont eat as much lost a bit of weight. get really horny at times! amazing dreams but really messed up! trouble waking up in the morning, lots of naps. pretty happy with it lets see how it goes! overall back to my happy self... | F | 25 | 1 years | 11/8/2008 | 4 | F | | 11/17/2008 | 4 | Depression | No real side effects besides a little more lethargy/sleepiness than usual. I only experience a little nausea/dizziness if I miss a dose. | Has worked relatively well and is the only anti-depressant I've been on. I take it at night and any time I miss a dose, I tend to have very vivid dreams and night sweats. Sometimes the sweating gets so excessive that I need to shower in the middle of the night. But again, I only experience this when I forget to take the effexor. | F | 20 | 2 years | 12/1/2008 | 4 | Depressive schizoaffective disorder | Night sweats that soak the pillow and sheets, noticeable loss of sex drive, mild fatigue, very very mild tremors in hands that are rarely noticeable. BUT, if I miss a dose all hell breaks loose. | After trying zoloft and lexapro with little or no relief, I tried Effexor. I didn't really feel that much better until I got up to 225mg. I've been on 300mg for about a year and a half and I'm pretty satisfied. I suffered with severe depression for most of my life and was only diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder 2 years ago. I can honestly say that I haven't felt this good in over 20 years. BUT, since I had gone untreated for so many years, I do not actually know how an average adult is supposed to feel. I guess I'm still mildly depressed but it's a lot better than constant mood swings, rage, paranoia/anxiety, panic attacks with vomiting, crying/screaming until I hyperventilate, constant thoughts of suicide and utter hopelessness and dispair. Only real problem is that I'm completely dependant on this drug and the withdrawal is unbearable. Missing a dose causes constant 'brain zaps' that I can HEAR and feel, dizziness, loss of balance, crazy vivid dreams that I confuse with reality | F | 30 | 2 years | 12/3/2008 | 4 | depression/anxiety | loss of appetite and jittery at first - still cannot take it too late in the day or I will not sleep that night. the craziest most vivid dreams. Dry mouth!! slight constipation. I do have high blood pressure, but I can't say if it is caused by the effexor or if it its just genetic | I am very happy with my results from taking this. I have been on 150mg for about 5 years. It has kept me quite stable. In the past year I have been having more mood swings, and bouts of severe depression. I was prescribed 75mg more, I couldn't really tell the difference. Now that winter is again in full swing, I will be taking the extra 75 again. I did try to stop taking it 2 years ago. I was weaned off of it and still experienced the severe withdrawls. Now I know what drug addicts go thru. I would have givin anything for a "fix" of Effexor. I switched to Wellbutrin for about 2 months and never felt right. I had to go back on the effexor. I AM worried I'm an effexor "lifer" at least it works for me and the side-effects are tollerable. | F | 33 | 5 years | 12/12/2008 | 4 | depression | decreased appetite; vivid dreams; increased sex drive; tuxtured, but not itchy rach on face; ringing/clogged ears; lethargy | i feel more like myself than i had but still a little 'weepy'; i think much clearer now and feel more motivated to do stuff | F | 38 | 3 months | 3/14/2008 | 4 | depression | F | 21 | 3 months | 2/27/2008 |