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 |
| 3 | Anxiety, Depression | Very bad nightmares, manic behavior, hyperactivity, 20 lb. weight gain, acne, panic attacks, worse depression. | I have been taking Effexor for 1 1/2 years now. At first, it really worked well. But I noticed that ever couple of months the dosage had to be increased. I am presently on 150 mg. a day and I feel like my depression/anxiety is always right below the surface. I don't think it's working that well anymore. My doctor says I shouldn't raise my medication, that I just need to work on my problems. 50% of my problems are new, due to Effexor. | F | 35 | 1.5 years | 4/4/2006 | 4 | Recurrent depression | difficulty with erections and ejaculating; "driven" hypomanic feeling. | Effexor was a godsend for the 8 weeks it worked, because I had about given up. I came on to it like a ton of bricks, which was fun but eventually trying to my friends who thought they were dealing with the second coming of Jonathan Winters. Driven and hypomanic, but very happy guy for 8 weeks. That's why a give it a 4 despite the short duration. | M | 2 months | 3/24/2006 | 5 | Depression | Twitchiness, dizzy/lightheaded if I don't take meds on time | this is an antidepressant that actually WORKED for me after multiple trials of other medications. 75 mg did the trick. However I must mention that the effects of getting off the medication are TERRIBLE (flu symptoms, nausea, aching, "electric shock" feeling). If you are trying to get off, try tapering with an additional med with a long half-life like prozac added on. | F | 30 | 4 years | 3/22/2006 | 2 | Depression | Bad nightmares, clammy palms, heart racing, nerves on the tops of my arms, tons of sweating, dry mouth. felt like I was on cocaine. | F | 51 | 4 days | 3/20/2006 | 2 | depresson | wanted to also add; severe constipation, constant yawning, had to force myself to eat, in order to take the drug. would not recommend this to anyone that is drug sensitive. | F | 51 | 4 days | 3/20/2006 | 4 | Depression | I've gained ten pounds that I simply can't lose, and I have zero sex drive. These are not negligible side-effects, but when seriously depressed I was perpetually exhausted and essentially nonfunctional. That was worse. | I took Zoloft and Lexapro each for a year, but the benefits of both eventually wore off. Tried Wellbutrin, but it made me very, very sick. Effexor has worked for me during these past two years. I have lots of energy and people seem to think I'm quite "up" most of the time. I've never missed a dose for more than twelve hours, and in that case a dizzy headache reminded me. Yes, what I've read has made me pretty terrified of running out of pills or trying to get off Effexor--but where would I be without it? | M | 55 | 2 years | 3/6/2006 | 5 | chronic moderate to severe depressi | significant supression of libido HOWEVER I am also simultaneously in a long term relationship which usually deadens my naughty libido | the best yet in over 25 years at combatting depression with limited side effects other than mentioned above | M | 59 | 5 years | 3/3/2006 | 5 | ADD/social anxiety/major depression | At first just hot flashes and sweatingbut the overall effect worked great , but now that I am feeling better I want to quit taking the medicine.The withdrawl syptoms are difficult but I don't want to contiue with the medicine. | F | 30 | 2 days | 3/3/2006 | 1 | Depression and anxiety | Memory loss, dry mouth | I see lots of "5" ratings for this drug from people who claim that Effexor has changed their life for the better. That may be true, but before you go on this ADDICTIVE drug, please do the following : Type "Effexor withdrawal" into Google, and follow some of the links. I believe you will find that the benefits of Effexor do not outweigh the risks, by far. Unless you plan to stay on this drug FOR LIFE, you will experience horrific side effects when coming off - NO MATTER IF YOU TAPER OR NOT. The people who claim the side effects last only a few days have never gone off the drug for more than a few days. | M | 41 | 2 years | 2/28/2006 | 5 | Severe Depression | TOTAL LOSS of sex drive, weight gain & weight is very hard to lose. | Effexor (150mg dose) has helped me tremendously however, I find after 1 1/2 - 2 years the effects start to lessen and the dose needs to be raised. Horrible side effects when I miss a dose.dizziness, foggy headed, no concentration, really feel completely out of it however the positive effects far outweight any negative effects. | F | 26 | 4 years | 2/27/2006 | 4 | depression | Loss of some sexual desire, within the first couple of months. Was a geat help in relieving the symptons of depression, saved my life and got me over the hump. I quit taking the drug because my interest in sex just became less and less over time. Also gained 20 lbs even while being very physically active. The only bad withdrawl symptom was extream bouts of short intense periods of anger and agression. This disapated over a four week period. | Would be a great drug if it did not severly dampen the sex drive, and lead to weight gain. The drug got me over the hump and with counseling I am doing well. | M | 45 | 10 months | 2/27/2006 | 2 | panic disorder | Memory loss, recall difficulty, difficulty concentrating, excessive sweating, dry mouth or mouth watering, decreased sex drive, severe depression and suicidal thoughts (anxiety, not depression was my issue prior), severe weight gain – 30 lbs (and bulimia for the first time), neurologic anomalies [jaw tightening, visual and auditory hallucinations/trailers – my vision had to catch up with my eye movements for example, and worst of all inability (for a few seconds at a time) to move my arms], sleepiness and insomnia, insatiable desire for alcohol [I drank too often and too much]. | I have no tremors (terrible on Zoloft and Welbutrin) and not one hint of anxiety (0 of 10). In the end, I decided to take doses that increase gradually then decrease gradually (constantly changing between 25-150 mg – I cut the pills in thirds) , and take two “vacations a year’. | F | 37 | 2 years | 2/26/2006 | 4 | Bipolar Depression | Complete LOSS of Sex Drive; Constipation; Night Sweats | 300mg/day. Considering quitting because of complete loss of libido. Concerned about discontinuation difficulties. | M | 56 | 2 years | 2/24/2006 | 2 | depression | the main thing i want to say is that effexor made me drink huge quantities of alcohol without hangovers. and effexor did not help at all with my depression. also, for me it had withdrawl side effects of a general feeling of illness and vomiting. while taking effexor i would wake up in the morning and all i could think about was drinking. i drank about a twelve pack per day for a week or more. when i stopped taking effexor, i no longer have any inclination to drink! this message board was very important in figuring out it was the effexor which was doing it as i found three people on here that had the same experience. | M | 23 | 3 weeks | 2/24/2006 | 2 | Severe Depression/OCD | loss of short term memory, i would space out and forget what i was going or what i was talking about. I "lost" my keys all the time, and they would be right in front of me. Night sweats, vivid dreams, NO SEX DRIVE. | I've been prescribed 600mg!!! I havent met or read about anyone on such a high dose! if i miss a dose, i get sick immediately and i get super angry. i dont know what to do. i think i want out! | F | 19 | 1 years | 2/23/2006 | 4 | Depression | I have had vivid dreams, bordering on nightmares. I have also gained weight. Missing a dose brings on severe headaches and depression. | I have been on several other medications, and Effexor is the best at controlling my depression. | F | 47 | 8 months | 2/22/2006 | 2 | depression, anxiety | If i am even an hour late taking my daily dose the side effects are awfull. Headache, nausia, feelings of electric pulses running through my head. very vivid dreams and night sweats. | It scares me to be adicted to this drug. If for any reason i'm unable to take effexor dayly or if I miss a dose I'm cripled with pain! | F | 41 | 5 years | 2/18/2006 | 4 | Depression/Anxiety/Weepiness | Extreme gassiness. Constipation. Mild dry mouth. Constant tummy ache. Fatigue, apathy. | I have rapid mood swings and feel down much of the time. In the short time I have taken this drug, I have noticed that I am no longer weeping all the time. I used to get very sad and was experiencing overly negative thoughts. Now, even negative thougts or news don't really bother me at all. I don't feel depressed or anxious! I don't feel happy either but I guess that may take a while to show up. I have tried many different drugs including zoloft, celexa, prozac, wellbutrin, lithium, lamictal and have been misdiagnosed several times. The problem with me, is that the drugs work well for the first week or so then all of the old symptoms come back. So, I'm not sure this is the drug for me but it's my last try before being put on A-typical anti-psychotics to try to control mood swings. Doc tries to play down the original use of the drugs saying they've found they are effective for depression and axiety. | F | 42 | 9 days | 2/17/2006 | 4 | Depression | Have had episodes that include a terrible headache, followed by a hot flash, and then nausea, with or without vomiting. I associate these with being constipated, but in an odd way. I have bowel movements that are small--like small stones, so my constipation is not complete. However, I don't usually feel better after these episodes unless I vomit or have a really large bowel movement. I've also gained a lot of weight. | Am thinking about going back to Prozac. | F | 52 | 2 years | 2/17/2006 | 1 | Depression | decreased sex drive. withdrawl side effects - electric 'jolt' sensation in head, dizziness, vivid nightmares | I was prescribed Effexor during a situational depression - that I now realize was a mistake on my doctor's part. 3 years later I'm still taking this drug because of the horrible withdrawl symptoms. I'm finally tapering off with 37.5ml every other day. So far, so good. I want to be off this medication for good. | 24 | 3 years | 2/15/2006 |