Reviews for EFFEXOR XR23 ratings: (side effects include serotonin syndrome)Edit Filter | Clear FilterCompare EFFEXOR XR with similar:
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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 |
More on EFFEXOR XR: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR EFFEXOR XR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 4 | Major Depression | Terrible night sweats (most nights), non-existent libido, concentration difficulties, unbearable discontinuation syndrome if I miss a tablet | There's no doubt that Effexor XR saved my life, however long-term use is not the best. My moods are stable, but I'm now mildly and continuously depressed because of the two main side effects - lack of libido and bad night sweats. It's ruining my relationship, and so I'd really like to get off it but am terrified due to the side effects, and not knowing what I'll be like when I'm off it. I didn't have a choice but to resort to this drug, and I owe my life to it. It has made my life bearable, but introduced new problems which I never had before. | F | 23 | 9 years 150 mg 1X day | 7/13/2012 | 2 | depression | Hospitalized with serotonin syndrome. Suicidal. | F | 56 | 30 days 75 mg 1X day | 8/10/2011 | 4 | Major Clinical Depression | Heart palpitations where I have to take deep breaths to overcome, disembarkment syndrome, poor gait, inability to really cry and emote; I feel 'Teflon' coated when it comes to dealing with crises. I now have trouble with sequencing tasks at home and work. Five years ago I took a full regimen of Biaxin for pneumonia. I experienced paranoia, sensitivity to light, noise, and seriously - had to stop watching my soap opera and still can't bear to hear how the characters speak. For 3 months of the winter of '05 I stayed in bed until 2 p.m. After that I could socialize, shop, and talk on the phone. Otherwise I would over react to changes in air temperature and noise level. | I went through therapy which led me to a psychiatrist who prescribed the Effexor XR. I was able to do temp work after the layoff in 04 which coincided with the pneumonia in 05; a delayed reaction to the layoff was major depression. I gladly accepted a full time job with a cavalier attitude; the money is great and if they fire me so what. Now A new upsetting issue I have named "verbal" Tourettes - "F" you is 1 new favorite outburst. I only mutter it or mouth it. I'm gabby and will tell anyone anything - I don't repeat gossip or start it - it has to be about me. Telling people "off" does not scare me, I will eloquently say what I think of someone's attitude. I sound pompous and omniscient; disassociated and don't really care what others say or think about me. The only person I am 100% honest with is my only child. That is a blessing. The stalwart feeling I have is what allows me to keep my job. Not caring if I'm late will be why I might lose it. I have no de | F | 59 | 4 years | 1/11/2009 | 1 | anxiety | digestive problems, high blood pressure, loss of memory, depression, increased alcohol & cannabis use, hallucinations, increased anxiety, disconnected feeling/numbness paranoya, serotonin syndrome which lead to paranoid psychosis, and hospitalization for 7 weeks | I first went to my doctor complaining about anxiety and was given cypralex which only increased the severity of my panic attacks. I was then given effexor. My stomache then stopped working and I was then given more medication to try to ease this side effect.I then began to suffer the side effects I have previously listed. Because of this I went to an emergeny clinic to have my health reviewed and was told to stop taking the medication...at this point serotonin syndrome along with psychosis were setting in..(without my own knowledge...i was unaware how sick I was because of this medication until this current time in which I am well.) I ended up being certified and in a mental healthy facility for 7 weeks. I went through a very long time of trial and error with different medications until finally they found one which worked for me...I now must be on this medication (seroquel) for a year in order to be certain that I do not suffer a relapse. If you are taking effexor and believe it is wor | F | 18 | 2 months | 7/15/2008 | 1 | De pression | headaches, nausea, no feelings whatsoever. Worst drug EVER to come off of - took 4 weeks for the "discontinuation syndrome" to start to wear off and that was with weaning down to 37.5 first. | HORRIBLE DRUG. I don't think doctors should be allowed to prescribe this unless they take it for a couple months and then successfully get off of it. Brain zaps, watermelon head feeling, nausea, vertigo, brain fog...the inability to care about absolutely anything - horrible. I switched to Wellbutrin XL and it's been the best change ever....once the Effexor withdrawal finally ended that is. Good luck to anyone trying to get off of this drug - if you're about to start it - you have to decide that you'll take it for the rest of your life - really did nothing for my mood either except for the total mind dulling - I was still depressed. Good luck to all | F | 27 | 7 months | 5/26/2008 | 4 | Clinical Depression | Initially: Euphoria, jaw clenching, irregular heart beat. Medium to long term: Restless leg syndrome, constipation, weight gain, tiredness,sweating including night sweats, loss of vocabulary, loss of concentration, disordered speech including spoonerisms and bizarre associative speech patterns, extraordinary dreams with musical accompaniment followed by highly coloured and detailed hallucinations, yawning, intermittent overwhelming tiredness, excellent multiple orgasms, increased blood pressure (from low to normal-110), nausea and stomach aches-the latter increasing in intensity and frequency, weight gain due to permanent constipation. I have recently been diagnosed with very low iron and vitamin b12 levels and wonder if the efexor inhibits the reuptake of b12 or effects the absorption of b12 and iron through its occassional disturbance of liver function. This increased the tiredness associated with the medication. Am now slowly withdrawing from Efexor through gradual reduction f | Was effective in treatment of depression over the initial period of 1 - 1.5 years,and certainly helped in managing day to day living. I sometimes forget now how deep the despair was then, but know that effexor was extremely useful. The tiredness is frustrating and prevents me from achieving some goals including return to part-time work. I think effexor has been invaluable in combination with counselling and major changes in my life, especially in breaking contact with a very disturbed person who had been extremely abusive and very detrimental to my mental health. | F | 50 | 2 years | 2/21/2008 | 1 | Moderate depression | Bruising, twitching (that became stronger), finally serotonin syndrome, aphasic seizures | I have seizure disorder and my psychiatrist should never have put me on it. He tapered me up by 37.5mg, till I was taking 300mg. after three months. Mild to moderate twitching and easy bruising, some weight gain. Then he raised the dose by a whole 150mg. Serotonin syndrome and aphasic seizures. | F | 60 | 6 months | 12/4/2007 | 3 | depression | I took 75 mg. a day right after breakfast. Taking it at night made me sleepy during the day and sleepless at night. At first, my vision was doing funny things, but that quickly passed. It worked for the depression without me losing the ability to feel my emotions, but in retrospect, it also dulled my impulses. My ambition, desire to keep a neat house, and urge to succeed were overcome by my lackadaisical attitude. I also experienced an almost total loss of sexual desire (that may be the result of menopause, too).I found myself repeatedly kicking and moving my foot and leg whenever I was sitting down—and I developed "nervous leg"syndrome when I was sleeping. | When I weaned myself off of Effexor XR, I took it slowly, even though I was only on 75 mg. each day. Even then, for the first 3 days or so, I was very weepy. I felt fleeting suicidal urges for the first week, but after that I was fine. If you're coming off it, do it as slowly as you can, allowing a week or preferably more at each lowered dose before moving on to the next. | F | 59 | 6 years | 11/7/2007 | 5 | Migraine | Restless Leg Syndrome, involuntary movements (reduced with lower dose), constipation (resolved with dietary fiber increase) | More side effects when missed dose-dizzy, etc. I understand it is very hard to quit taking this drug because of the side effects. My doc halved my dose and I'm still doing fine with the migraines (they're about 1/4th what they used to be, very manageable now) but don't have the twitchiness that I had before. I feel like I have my life back. | F | 41 | 2 years | 7/16/2007 | 4 | dysthymia to severe depression | Unable to climax, weight loss at first but then 15lb weight gain, drowsiness, IBS for the first month. If you miss a dose you start to get discontinuation syndrome. | I was on this medication for about 7 months. It worked, nothing else ever did. I'm normally a dysthymic person, but I went through some pretty rought times and ended up in a severe depression. This medication pulled me out of that, it was slightly effective against dysthymia but not a cure for it. The "discontinuation syndrome" aka WITHDRAWL, lasts for about 3 weeks, and during the first week you are extremely sick. Weigh the pros and cons against your own situation, but if you are desperate - like I was - anything is better than being severely depressed. Also, don't plan on taking this medication for life as people seem to build a tolerance to it. For the long term - try alternative forms of medicine and make sure your doctor tests you for EVERYTHING that could be causing your depression - it is not normal to feel depressed all the time - no one will take the bull by the horns except yourself. Unfortunately you have to fight for the help that you need in our current | F | 27 | 7 months | 7/14/2007 | 2 | major depressive disorder | Couldn't sleep because of leg zingers like restless leg syndrome,Did nothing for relief of depressive symptoms for me. | Withdrawl was the worst I ever experienced,I tappered off of it slowly,But it took about six weeks for the withdrawl to end,But thank God it did end!So if it is hard for you to come off of this drug,your not nuts. | F | 50 | 1 months | 4/16/2007 | 5 | IBS | I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. My GI Doctor put me on 75mg once a day to help increase my pain threshold. After about 4 years, he increased it to 75mg twice a day. Now it not only helps me deal with my IBS pain, but it provides me with a sense of clalm. It really makes life and all the curve balls it can throw at you, a little bit easier to deal with. | I don't like to be without it. When I miss a dose, I feel like things are overwhelming. Once, the doctor mistakenly gave me regular Effexor (not XR) and its calming effects did not last as long. I could tell the difference. I lost my temper. I felt shakey. Then I figured out, it was the medication. I would urge everyone to check their prescriptions to make sure they are correct before taking them. | F | 35 | 5 years | 3/30/2007 | 1 | PTSD, Major Depression, Panic Attac | Weight gain, horrific oedema in my legs, tremors -almost impossible to use my cell phone, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic insomnia - sleeping 2-3 hours in 36 hours, fatigue that generates almost comatose sleep for up to 20 hours about every three weeks, loss of concentration, confusion, fear of leaving the house, intense anger and hopelessness | I'm stuck in the middle of litigation for worker's compensation case involving bullying/sexual harassment which caused my PTSD etc. If I'm not compliant with medications and treatment it will go against my case. Where I live the W/C legislation with regard to psych injuries is so tough that if you're not on medication you baically don't have a case. It sucks! I DETEST EFFEXOR | F | 44 | 2.5 years | 2/23/2007 | 1 | PTSD, Major Depression, Panic Attac | Weight gain, horrific oedema in my legs, tremors -almost impossible to use my cell phone, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic insomnia - sleeping 2-3 hours in 36 hours, fatigue that generates almost comatose sleep for up to 20 hours about every three weeks, loss of concentration, confusion, fear of leaving the house, intense anger and hopelessness | I'm taking 225 mg daily plus sleepers which just don't work, meds for IBS caused by Effexor, meds for oedema and painkillers for headaches.I'm stuck in the middle of litigation for worker's compensation case involving bullying/sexual harassment which caused my PTSD etc. If I'm not compliant with medications and treatment it will go against my case. In our jurisdiction the W/C legislation with regard to psych injuries is so tough that if you're not on medication you basically don't have a case. It sucks! I DETEST EFFEXOR | F | 44 | 2.5 years | 2/23/2007 | 1 | mild depression | Took 37.5mg once daily for 2 months. Pains all over body, Heat travelling down both arms n legs, then legs started thrashing bed. Both arms n legs went into spasm, cramping up. hospital by ambulance, diagnosed with Restless leg syndrome and aggravated by EFFEXOR XR. 1 week later, 1 tablet every 2nd day. 2hrs sleep per night, legs extremely agitated, problems walking, weekness n pains all over body. Throat dry n hoarse. Unclear brain. Constipation then haemmorrhoids. Weight Gain. 2nd trip to casualty n now on rivotril for muscle spasms. | Would not recommend to any living species. | F | 47 | 2 months | 10/25/2006 | 1 | paxil had pooped out | Effexor XR is a very ADDICTIVE DRUG that the psychiatrist would not admit is MORE ADDICTIVE AND MORE DANGEROUS THAN Benzodiazepines. It has no worth whatsover for depression, anxiety (made it worse), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, dysthymia, panic or anything else it is being promoted for. IT IS A WORTHLESS DRUG BEING PROMOTED BY THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY TO STUPID PSYCHIATRISTS WHO HAVE NO CRITICAL THINKING. | Never start it. It is impossible to stop. My idiot female psychiatrist (how did she make it through Medical School and Internship and Residency????? Money? Her father a doctor)would not believe how addictive it was. She only believes what the drug reps tell her. She had no critical thinking and did not pay attention to what patients say (a person may be "crazy" but not stupid. I have my Ph.D. in Biochemistry and she did not believe me..... Also retired University Professor.... | F | 58 | 5 years | 8/19/2006 | 3 | low depression | Serotonin Syndrome | I was doing fine on 150 mil. and then due to an upcoming move suggested to my doctor we raise it a bit. He doubled it and now I find out he had me 75 mil. over the recommended dosage. I started losing days from Vertigo, spasms, headaches, confusion, etc. This did not happen overnight and it was more gradual - which is why I never suspected Effexor. Another doctor and two neurologists later I finally know that I ended up with Serotonin Syndrome and suspect I could be dead by now had I not put two and two together. The neurologists never even questioned this area. It is important that anybody taking these types of drugs know that this possibility does exist and to watch the dosage. It is said to be rare, but I suspect as more and more try these drugs we will hear more about this. My symptoms were not necessairly listed as side effects and that is what threw me. I was on no other drug and it had to be the high dosage. I read this site and realised it could be this and cut the do | F | 47 | 5 years | 5/12/2006 | 4 | Depression | Well, I have been on it for 3 months and I am very happy. I have no mood swings, I am able to laugh, cry, be sad, etd. at the proper times. I heve experinced some side effects. the speed feeling for a few weeks, bad orgasms ok now, sleepy, it is going away, missed a dose and had that weird head syndrome. I was a heavy beer drinker and now cant stand the taste of alcohol of any kind! I liked drinkng and the Effexor took that away.Saves me $$$. Kinda took to coffee real heavy though it has been tapering off. I may have weight gain as I quit the beer thing of at least 6 pK A and I have lost no weight. But I am happy. Oh yea, I am kinda having a hard time thinking of certain words at times. | I have no advice. If it works, it works. The unfortunate thing about all drugs is that they are not natural. I fully expect to be on this till it stops workjing and ALL A.D.'s will stop working as soon as your brain can adjust to the chemicals.....As for withdrawls, heck, I cant stop COFFEE without a headache and feeling sleepy for 2 weeks. | M | 37 | 90 days | 1/10/2005 | 1 | depression | couldn't sleep - couldn't eat - panic attacks - rapid cycling - withdrawal syndrome (worse than heroin!) - worsened depression - worsened anxiety - psychotic episodes - suicidality | the withdrawals from effexor are notoriously bad. you'll know you missed a dose within about 18 hours. i'd rather kick dope again than try to come off of effexor. it's nasty nasty ugly stuff. at least there's a warning about the w/ds in the package insert now. when i was on it the whole antidepressant withdrawal syndrome was looked upon by the medical establishment as a manifestation of one's illness instead of a byproduct of the drug ('its all in your head!'). add to that a pdoc who responded to | M | 21 | 1.5 years | 10/30/2004 | 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 |
EFFEXOR XR (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE): Venlafaxine is used to treat depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and social anxiety disorder (social phobia). It may improve your mood and energy level and may help restore your interest in daily living. It may also decrease fear, anxiety, unwanted thoughts, and the number of panic attacks. Venlafaxine is known as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances (serotonin and norepinephrine) in the brain. FDA Approval Date: 1997-10-20 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)