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 |
| 3 | depression, anxiety | initial symptoms: lack of appetite, dizziness long-term symptoms: complete lack of sexual desire, reduced sexual functioning | Effexor was very effective at treating my depression and anxiety. My initial side effects subsided after a few weeks, and I felt like I had been given a new life. However, after several months, I completely lost all sexual desire. I fought a long and ultimately unsuccessful effort to maintain a romantic relationship. I couldn't blame my girlfriend for wanting to leave after months and months of a sexless relationship; I had no interest whatsoever in anything sexual. Although I was completely satisfied with Effexor's effect on my depression and anxiety, this inability to maintain a relationship was enough to make me want to switch medication. As soon as I had health insurance again (I had recently graduated college and hadn't yet found a job), I switched to Zoloft. I have some sexual side effects still, but they are less than when I was on Effexor. I'm planning on asking my doctor what she thinks about prescribing additional Wellbutrin to counter the sexual side effects. I'm also considering supplimenting with Gingko. | F | 23 | 1 years | 12/8/2004 | 3 | depression | incredible jaw clenching and soreness, and a nervous feeling, like shivers going up my spine all the time. If someone else has experienced jaw probs, please email, it's not even listed as possible side effects and is making me worried. | have only been on it 6 weeks, but seems to help with depression. | F | 23 | | 3/27/2003 | 3 | depression/ social anxiety disorder | F | 25 | 3 weeks | 7/21/2003 | 3 | Depression | Long term effects have been constipation & weight gain(30 pounds)OUCH! | If i miss more than 1 dose i experiance, headaches, nasea, tremors. My weight gain is enough to make me consider going off the pills, along with the constipation which causes stomache pain. Otherwise emotionally i feel alot better. I have heard Effexor doesn't cause weight gain but 30 pounds in 1 year tells me otherwise. | F | 27 | 1 years | 8/7/2003 | 3 | depression, social anxiety | Racing/pounding heartbeat, sweating, loss of appetite, slightly decreased sex drive, insomnia, intermittent tremors/numbness in extremities | Side effects are only slightly less bothersome 7 weeks into taking it. Concerned about heartbeat as cardiac problems and high blood pressure are prominent on both sides of my family. | F | 33 | 7 weeks | 11/25/2003 | 3 | PTSD Depression | 20# Weight gain in 4 years! Dizziness, especially with missed dose. Grinding teeth at night. Sleeping 12-16 hours if allowed. Weird recurrent and vivid nightmares. NO libido..ie marriage troubles. Feeling hot all the time and sweating at night. Flat affect, don't give a damn attitude. Dry mouth from HELL. No energy or motivation. Vision blurred. 'Woozy'feeling when turning head. Anger and rage with missed doses. Frequent urination and urgency. | Although I was put on this medication 4 years ago, I didn't associate many of my problems with the medication until of late,as side effects.Now, when I started counseling and reading more of the side effects others have, I can see that these are related.I have experienced less depression over the 4 yrs, but now my PTSD nightmares are returning along with others. I take 300mg QD, along with 150mg Wellbutrin (was supposed to help the libido...didn't..just made my mouth dryer). Now I am feeling strange..like anxiety is returning in huge spurts. I think the good effects wore off a year ago. I am looking for alternatives now that I SEE the side effects. Had to get a guard for my mouth in order to save them from grinding off, too. Quite surprised that this med boasts such improvement in depression yet causes enough side effects to put a person back in it. | F | 39 | 4 years | 12/4/2003 | 3 | depression | dizziness | F | 35 | 9 months | 11/13/2003 | 3 | Major Depression, anxiety | Unbearable constant extreme sweating and night sweats. Insomnia, no energy, irregular heartbeat, chest pains. Dry mouth, weight loss. Dizziness and nausea if I'm late with a dose. | I am on 375 mg and would like to be weaned off of this medication. I cannot handle the sweating, it is very uncomfortable. I can't do anything without sweating so bad that I have to sit with a fan on me to cool off. I wake up several times a night to change my clothes because of the sweats. This medication did help me initially but the side effects that I am experiencing are making me feel depressed as well. I am going to talk to my doctor about cutting my dosage or changing to another medication. | F | 46 | 2 years | 11/20/2003 | 3 | depression/generalized anxiety | dizzy flashes when you miss even a single dose, no sexual desire, frequent yawning | Effexor XR did help with the anxiety and depression. I've tried other anti-depressants (zoloft, serzone) and Effexor XR was the only med that didn't make me feel like an emotionless zombie. I advise anyone considering going on this drug to KNOW the withdrawl symptoms. I've heard that they're harsh and last for weeks. You can expect lots of dizziness and nausea when coming off this drug. Do your research! The withdrawl symptoms are similar to those of Paxil. | F | 23 | 2 years | 11/21/2003 | 3 | Anxiety/Depression | I'm on day one of the medication, so probabaly too soon to tell, but I felt jittery and anxious all day with slight nausea that soon left. Maybe becuase I also had coffee and sugar today? After everything I'm reading, I'm nervous about taking another pill tomorrow... I also took a xanax tonight to calm down and go to sleep, but it doesn't seem to be working. | F | 27 | 1 days | 1/28/2004 | 3 | anxiety/depression | terrible jaw clenching to the point that my jaw, neck, back get sore because I am so tense, no sex drive | I do not mind this drug, but the side effects I am having are beginning to bother me. I am sick of having a clenched jaw. | F | 21 | 5 months | 1/8/2004 | 3 | Depression, Anxiety | Constapation, vivid dreams | It has helped my depression, but I hate the weight gain, and I have a constant feeling/need to eat. The withdrawl symptoms are horrible if you miss a dose. Vertigo, nausea, muscle aches, flu-like symptoms, diarreha. I won't off this medicine due to the horrible side effects, withdrawl symptoms and weight gain. But it is miserable. Its great for depression and anxiety, but I would not recommed it due to the horrible side effects and withdrawl symptoms. | F | 31 | 10 months | 6/9/2003 | 3 | stress, troubles in my life | low sex drive, tired. | None | F | 40 | 5 weeks | 11/3/2003 | 3 | Previous Anti D was being withdrawn | At best, motivated/creative but impulsive/and sweaty, generally upbeat. At worst, frightened by occasional horrible thoughts and feeling vulnerable and fearful. | Started on 75mg but felt wasn't strong enough upped to 150mg which for now seems manageable. Not sure if still strong enough or medication not suiting me.......Would like to ease off eventually but always seem to have an event to get thru.... | F | 42 | 3 months | 10/25/2003 | 3 | depression | lethargic, unusual dreams, yawning, difficulty reaching orgasm | I was diagnosed with "double depression"....Started on 37.5 mg for about 2 weeks, no change, only very sleepy, missed worked, switched to taking at night, uppped to 75mg for a week or two, helped a little bit, I was at an extremely depressed point in my life before I started and it got me back to my "regular" state of derpression. I am now on 150mg, with hope that is will just get better....my ONLY side effects have been listed, but mainly unusual vivid dreams. My cocern is that I read more negative reviews of effexor than positive and it is really scary - ANYONE HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE ON THIS???? | F | 27 | 3 days | 12/11/2006 | 3 | Psychotic depression/ Skitzophrenia | Unsure. Short periods, nausea? | It has helped along with music I think to improve mood. Not sure. Used in combination with seroquel, has helped, still get lows sometimes. Ups and downs. | F | 24 | 3 years | 10/2/2006 | 3 | anxiety mood swings | none really so far, i had some lightheadedness the first night i took it, but nothing more since, improved mood already and seem to be calmer and its only been 5 days | i had read all the negative comments on this page abou this drug and thought surely my doctor would nto put me ont his knowing it can do this much damage......so i started taking it and its been 5 days.... the first day i took it in the evning and got a little light headed but it went away fast.... i already feel somewhat better... i am in a better mood and when something has happened in the negataive i havent freaked out with panic like i would have before...i know it hasnt been that long so we'll see but also i was an hour late taking the med last night and i had no side effects at all.... no night mares no sickness nothing, so we'll see... the only thing i am worried about is i am a gastric bypass patient 4 years out and i am concerned about weight gain.... so far i haven't experienced a difference in my appetite so thats a good thing.........good luck to everyone on this ans hopefully someone else will have the same luck i have. | F | 35 | 5 days | 3/28/2007 | 3 | depression/anxiety | Weight gain (20 lbs. in 6 mos), nightmares, eye twitching, headaches, complete loss of sex drive, delayed orgasm, sleepiness (take it at bedtime, it knocks me out), has made PMS alot worse, dizziness. | This is only the second pill I've tried. The side effects are unbearable. I'd rather be depressed than fat and single ( because boyfriends need sex). The eye twitching is annoying. If I wrote my nightmares down, I could write more gruesome novels than Stephen King. I've gained weight, despite the fact that I've completely changed my eating habits and follow a strict exercise regime. The people at the gym are baffled by me. I'm the only one getting fatter. And no it's not muscle. My mood is great though. I'm a social butterfly. But I'm down on myself all the time, too, because of my weight gain. I wouldn't recommend any antidepressants. Exercise, eat healthy, and volunteer or join groups or play a sport. I'm am going to try to ween myself off of this stuff. It's just not healthy. | F | 25 | 7 months | 11/4/2003 | 3 | anxiety | When I first started taking effexor 37.5...and had an odd surge of energy for the first month. It was really weird--i couldn't sleep well, but that was okay because I wasn't tired. Here are the bad long term side effects: -i became lethargic (maybe a little depressed)...missed classes, functions, etc...that i norm wouldn't have -felt a little slower mentally good: -great sleep! -made me feel less anxious (maybe because i was always in a semi-groggy state...) -no other noticable side effects for me | I liked Effexor, and only recently stoped taking it because the benefits didn't outway the side effects for me (being extremely lethargic). Another thing I wanted to note, is that I think Effexor is a better medication than Paxil cr, which i also tried. Also, don't worry to much about withdraw...it wasn't bad for me at all (prob. because of my low dosage), i had slight shocks for around a week that were hardly noticable. So don't let that side-effect worry you too much! | F | 20 | 6 months | 3/24/2006 | 3 | Anxiety and Depression | Constant low grade horniness, non-specific increase in sexual appetite; decrease in anxiety ( that is a good thing); prolonged time to orgasm; weight gain. If I miss a dose I getextremely bad headache. Some minor loss of memory for details in everyday stuff. I am prone to daydreaming on this drug....but I am happier and less edgy overall. Everything has a cost. | It works well for me in regard to anxiety and depression; sleep is better now, but I dont dream very much at all that I can remember. | F | 49 | 3 years | 11/19/2006 |