EFFEXOR Reviews (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 3.0 (925 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare EFFEXOR with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. 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 |
More on EFFEXOR: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR EFFEXOR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 2 | GAD | Insomnia, lightheaded, unable to function, every time I got up I felt like I was floating, hot flashes | This was my first time taking this type of medication. I was unable to handle the side effects. Although my doctor said they would go away in a week, I just could not function the day I was on it. I was only on the 37mg. I think doctors should really let there patients know what they are in for when prescribing this medication. The only thing my doctor told me was “I will start you on a lower dose to help lessen the side effect that you might experience such as loose bile and headaches”. She did not say anything about feeling doped up the first day. | F | 26 | 1 days | 6/28/2007 | 2 | Depression | Drowsiness, vomiting, extreme agitation, increased suicidal thoughts, unbearable night sweats (sometimes covered in vapours), nightmares, major jaw clenching, loss of sex drive. | Do not miss a dose. It's too much of a risk, almost beat my boyfriend to death; sometimes really hyper, moods are very unpredictable. | F | 24 | 2 months | 6/28/2007 | 4 | Severe Depression | Sweating | Except for the sweating it works great! Gonna stick with it. | F | 57 | 2 years | 6/20/2007 | 3 | depression/ anxiety | emotional numbness, decreased libido, nightmares, memory loss. | I would strongly suggest anyone who is considering taking Effexor to explore other options. I know that when you're severly depressed, you want to do anything at all to break the cycle. My doctor didn't warn me of the side effects involved with the drug, or the dangers of tapering off of it. I started with 150 mg, then after a year and a half, dropped to 75mg plus 150mg Wellbutrin. After another year, I decreased the doseage to 37.5mg of Effexor and kept the Wellbutrin the same. Recently, I have stopped taking Effexor entirely. I had taken Paxil in the past, so I wasn't shocked when I started experiencing the "brain shivers". However, with Paxil, I didn't experience these other withdrawal symptoms, which I've had for the last 2 weeks: unbelieveable itchyness, mood swings and upset stomach. Now that these symptoms are so severe, I want to rid myself of it entirely. How could I put this trash in my body? Meth addicts are constantly itching themselves, too. For some, | M | 32 | 3 years | 6/18/2007 | 3 | Depression | Sleepiness! In the middle of the day I get so tired that not even a Coke can give me a buzz. Also, Sexual side effects! I can't even come close to reaching an orgasm. And then there is the weight gain. I've been on it for about three months and have already gone up two sizes in jeans. | I'm trying to taper off of it within the net month or two. The weight gain and sexual side effects are too much! | F | 20 | 3 months | 6/17/2007 | 3 | postpartum depression | prolactin increase; unable to menstruate and wanting to get pregnant. | Been taking Effexor since 1996 after first child. Took through last pregnancy as doc said it was o.k. Had baby; he's fine (just so the person who said "it causes terrible birth defects" in the comment column knows) I was on 75 mg doses once a day. Since giving birth to second child have had dose increased to 150 mg/day. Now since coming off birth control I have an increased amount of Prolactin in my body which is causing me not to menstruate. Doc says Effexor causes this in about 1 in 200 maybe. Anyway, I'm going to wean off and hopefully get pregnant then if I absolutely have to...go back on it. | F | 30 | 10 years | 6/5/2007 | 2 | depression | massive weight gain two stone in four months, bad dreams, bloating, tierdness so much so that i couldnt stay alert to run my buisness after seven hours, painfull bones dry skin, loose bowel movment several times a day, and quite a lot of rage. | trying to come off them gradually now feeling like i want to get back to excersizing which i use to regurlally. | F | 45 | 7 months | 6/2/2007 | 1 | Depression | Vomiting! Fatigue, about 3pm I'd hit a wall! Just feel absolutley worn out and start yawning like crazy. Then about 7pm I'd be FULL of energy and not able to sit still. | For the first 2 weeks couldn't hold a thing down, at first I thought I had the flu that was going around the office... But then I finally noticed a pattern, for the first ohhhh 10 hours of my day I'd like clock work start belching thirty minutes after eating. This would continue until my stomach was so upset that I'd have to throw up just to feel better, which I would. So as a result, I wasn't holding anything down until about 6pm and then I'd be fine after eating. When I finally realized that this coincided with taking my mediation in the morning and it tapering off during the day... it all made sense. I stopped taking Effexor after that. As far the depression, I felt no benefit. | F | 30 | 2 weeks | 6/2/2007 | 5 | bi- polar | Nothing too bad while taking the medication for 5 years, HOWEVER, I have been debilitatingly sick for the past 5 months after I tapered off my Effexor over a 9 month period. It was a wonderful anti-depressant, but I never dreamed a medication that helped so much would make me so miserable and literally ruin my life for such an extended period of time. I am miserable!! My withdrawl symtoms have included every GI (stomach) problem imaginable. I was never warned about this, and if I was, I'm not sure if I'd have done anything differently, but after experiencing these everyday symtoms for months, I wish I'd have never taken it | Seriously consider other medications before you go on Effexor, particularly if you want to have kids, because Effexor causes horrible birth defects when taken by a pregnant woman. | F | 24 | 5 years | 5/30/2007 | 1 | dysthymia/depression | "brain zaps," "disorganized" thoughts, severe interference with menstrual cycle (no period-minor spotting while on the drug, 10 week period at discontinuation), stomach pain, severe nausea, vomiting, weight gain, insomnia (inability to stay asleep, sleep through the night), "dull" emotions, lack of concern about responsibilites, social withdrawel, lost all interest in hobbies, relationships, withdrawel upon cessation of medication | DO NOT take Effexor unless you are absolutely certain that your doctor will follow up on the prescription until at least a month or two after you have stopped taking it. The side effects are very severe, and the process of getting off the medication is painful and emotionally disturbing. This is supposed to be a last resort drug, but it was prescribed to me and to most patients with whom I have spoken without trying other drugs/therapy/lifestyle changes, and without full disclosure and explaination of the severity of the side effects. Doctors are also often reluctant to help a patient get off the medication, which makes the process even more difficult. | F | 23 | 4 years | 5/29/2007 | 5 | 3 years | Very few | People. There are millions of people on Effexor and other psychiatric medications. Why are there only a few hundred posts here. Think about it. I have been on these meds for years and my life is fine. I have had OCD and depression since birth. My life was miserable. The meds saved my life. I am fifty two, been on only two meds for 17 years now and my life is normal. That is all I ever wanted. They have never lost their potency. I do not identify with what I read here. Unfortunately, many of you need these drugs and are coming to this site and reading the nonsense of many people who do not know what it is like to be sick. Also beware of the Scientologists trolling these sites. Work with your doctors and other professionsals and stay away from these sites until you feel good and are ready to take the next steps. I hope to save one life with this post. Many people die every day that do not have to. The Scientologists and other fundamentalists are feeding their anxiety | M | 52 | 3 years | 5/26/2007 | 1 | Despression, anxiety disorder | SEVERE sexual side effects, weight gain, emotional numbness, no libido, horrible withdrawl symptoms | I started taking this nine months ago ALONG WITH wellbutrin SR, and at first it was great, but now, nine months later, I'm desperately trying to get off of it. I unfortunately lost my medical insurance so I was FORCED to quit the medication cold turkey, and after reading everyone elses comments, I'm both relieved and horrified. Relieved because other people are having problems with it, and horrified that my doctor would prescribe it for me. I only have mild depression and anxiety, and some studies suggest that this drug isn't meant for people with mild symptoms. I get sick all the time, am constantly tired, and feel numb to the world around me. Not only that, but the withdrawl symptoms have ganged up with the side effects and won't go away. My boyfriend admits that I don't cry as much on the medication, but the symptoms I have now are worse than before I started the medication! Don't take this stuff. I'm 21 years old, and I have virtually NO sex life, and practically no SOCIAL life ei | F | 21 | 9 months | 5/24/2007 | 5 | Depression/Anxiety | Sleepiness & slight headache for the first two days. | I was very afraid to take this medicine because of the comments about the various side effects... But I think this is the best anti-depressant I’ve taken to date. I’ve been back & forth on Prozac and Zoloft for years. Their effectiveness was wearing off so we tried a couple of others: Cymbalta, Wellibutrin and Lexapro. Their side effects (for me) were too bad to be worth any benefit they could hope to offer. But Effexor has been FABULOUS. I no longer eat for comfort. If I’m full – I stop eating. I don’t feel “overwhelmed” and I feel “at peace” which is a new and strange feeling – but wonderful J. The withdrawal warnings worry me a bit…but if this medicine keeps working like it is – I won’t have to worry about that for a long while. | F | 36 | 2 weeks | 5/18/2007 | 1 | PMDD, Depression | From withdrawal: nausea, anxiety , just felt twitchy all the time, bouts of crying, dizziness/vertigo, headache, eye problems (light sensitive, slow focusing). | Initially I had commented below that I was quitting Effexor. Now that I am finally through withdrawal I can't believe they give anyone this drug. I am glad it helped some but not me; I want to thank everyone who commented as it was a big part of my decision to get off this stuff. | F | 42 | 5 months | 5/16/2007 | 1 | depression | In five years I have gained 70 lbs and had zero sex drive. Due to circumstances, I‘m going "Cold Turkey" (where did THAT term come from) and the effects of withdrawal REALLY are uncomfortable: highly increased aversion to noise; nervous system jolted by pulses of electrical charges; lack of sleep. Coming off this drug is NOT easy for me; there are times I go out to the garage (so my wife and kids won't know) and break down and cry for about five minutes. Then I suck it up and get back to work fixing the house. At night, If I do get some sleep, the dreams leave me feeling overwhelmed with anxiety which I attempt to hide so my kids don’t feel their dad is doing a “Captain Queeg.” I don’t feel that the benefit of Effexor, is worth the downside. I give it a 1 because, I can’t dance to it. | M | 60 | 5 years | 5/16/2007 | 1 | depression | Withdrawal syndrome (dizzyness, hot and cold flashes, rapid cycling mood swings) | Here are some of the official adverse reactions reported for Effexor: photosensitivity reaction, suicide attempt, withdrawal syndrome, appendicitis, carcinoma, anaphylaxis, aortic aneurysm, cerebral ischemia, heart arrest, heart failure, myocardial infarct, rectal hemorrhage, weight gain, diabetes mellitus, akathisia, convulsion, CNS stimulation, seizure, dystonia, Gullain-Barre Syndrome, PSYCHOTIC DEPRESSION, asthma, acne, amnesia, confusion, depersonalization, vertigo, incoordination, manic reaction, pneumonia, deafness, glaucoma, anorgasmia, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, extrapyramidal symptoms (including tardive dyskinesia)... | M | 45 | 5 days | 5/15/2007 | 1 | anxiety | nausea,fatigue,confusion,heart palpitation,sleepiness,depersonalization,increased anxiety,sweating | You are not yourself.You are the shaking rabbit which doesn't know what's going on with him.Your heart wants to jump out from your chest. Anxiety is increased. I don't recommend this medicament for beginners, maybe for desperados, which unsuccessfully tried other ways to come out from the anxiety horror. | F | 30 | 3 weeks | 5/14/2007 | 5 | Major Depression | The only side effects I ever experienced as a result of taking effexor occured when I forget to take a dose. The nausea and headache was totaly debilitating, but worse still was the intense onset of anxiety. | Overall the benefis of taking effexor far outwayed the negetive side effect experienced when forgetting to take a dose. | F | 22 | 12 months | 5/8/2007 | 1 | Chronic Back Pain | I have been taking Effexor XR 150 mg. for 2 yrs, it did help with back pain. It made me say yes to anything....there was not one thing I could not conquer for my friends and family. Although, my sex drive went down, at first my weight went down and then 15 pounds up. Then the drug conquered me, it controled me, if I missed one dose I could not function. My head hurt, body ached and I felt like I was 95 years old. The drug controled me. I was addicted, it was the worse thing that I have ever encountered in my life. I once had to go one weekend without any and I thought I was going to lose my mind, I suffered the worse withdrawls and never knew that was what I was going through. I am finally drug free....3 weeks and stilling feeling some effects. I have overcome the worse part brain zaps, body aches, lifeless, nausea, mean oh so mean. I am taking control of me again. There is a medicine for depression and chronic pain, THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER SO IF YOU JUST STARTED THEM GET wea | JUST SAY NO TO YOUR DR. about EFFEXOR no matter what he/she says | F | 45 | 2 years | 5/3/2007 | 1 | Dr. recommended for HBP | I had severe chronic coughing allday and night to the point I wound up with a prolapsed bladder(dropped)My sex drive went out the window. I think my husband I did it 12 times last year. He's hanging in there though.Horrible nightmares, my children being in positions where I could not save them. My Dr. had recommended this drug because they said my HBP was anxiety induced. I had profuse night sweats(had to change my night clothes twice a night to be able to sleep.My Dr. seemed to disregard my symptoms as related to the Effexor. | I should have read up on the withdrawal effects before quitting cold turkey.They say this is not a addiction drug. Well I have never taken drugs before but am smart enough to know that the severe shakes, sweats,vertigo, nausea, numbness on my lips and tinitis (ringing in the ears)diarreah, lack of appetite. I am on day four of quitting this drug and I feel like I could just die, I am not depressed or anything like that nor do I have suicidal tendencies. I am just sick and tired of being sick. Has anyone seen just how many items come up for Effexor withdrawal symptoms? The injury lawyers are out there, petitions.It amazes me that there are people giving this drug a 5 when it is ruining people's lives. There may come a time when you have to discontinue this drug. I pray no one has to go through these horrible withdrawal symptoms | F | 40 | 2 years | 5/2/2007 |