EFFEXOR XR Reviews (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE)

Average Rating: 3.0 (2225 Ratings)

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 ANTIDEPRESSANTS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

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)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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More on EFFEXOR XR: Reviews Summary  |  Drug Safety Information

RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR EFFEXOR XRCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  anxiety, depression blurred vision, had to get my contacts changed four times. Constipation, very, very tired, but still cannot sleep at night. I have been weaning off this medication for months now, and cannot go even 1 day without taking a pill or I experience excessive sweating, nausea, nervousness, blurred vision, crying jags, extreme moodiness, extreme depression. I wish I had never been given this stuff, I was much better off without it. F 50 8 months
6/21/2004
 5  depression and anxiety The first few days I was kind of spacey, shakey, and the anxiety actually increased. Had a TREMENDOUS amount of energy. Slight problem with insomnia. Severe constipation. (Cured with prune juice). Began on starter pack (37.5 mg for 7 days, then increase to 75 mg). Was worried about taking the 75 mg due to initial side effects, but turns out side effects did not increase with dosage. Side effects almost gone except for yawning, stiffness in neck (not bothersome), and change in orgasm. I can actually achieve Effexor XR has been a miracle drug for me. I was in a deep depression, and had begun to entertain thoughts of suicide. I have sustained energy now. I can work all day, come home, and have the energy to play with my children. I felt better a week into starting this drug. I had almost stopped taking it due to the side effects after the first few days, but am really glad I didn't. I feel and act like I used to. Everyone I know has commented on the change in my attitude, performance at work, and the return of my sense of humor. I can focus mentally, stress levels have dropped, everything is better. Except sex drive. That went to hell in a handbasket. But, after I get started, it seems to come back. Overall, I would definantly recommend this drug to someone in a similar spot that I was. I have read about the horrors of withdrawl, though, and that scares me. I hope someone has figured out a tolerable way to w/d from this drug by the time I need to go off of it. F 32 30 days
6/20/2004
 3  depression After being on it 6 mos or so, i've gained 20 pounds (i'm VERY active, and no change in diet), have bloating and gas, thought my eyes were going bad until I read this site, lack of emotion, loss of sexual drive, very difficult to reach orgasm, and, most disturbing, cognition and memory problems. Please, someone email me if you've had the thinking and memory problems. It workd for my depression, but I think I'm going to taper off because of the side effects. F 44 6 months
6/18/2004
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 2  For depression? Wrong!!!!!! I have taken effexor Xr 450mgs for over 7 years.I am currently going thru severe withdraw symptoms which I was never ever informed about. I would really caution anyone who wants to begin any drug for depression without first finding out all the facts of this medicine. F 44 7 years
6/17/2004
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 1  GAD My side effects while taking the drug AND I would not wish this med on my worst enemy...Wyeth Lied about the side effects and withdrawals..The FDA has warned them and made them correct some things in their packaging insert...I can't talk good, think..my mind just goes F 44 3 months
6/17/2004
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 1  GAD My side effects while taking the drug AND I would not wish this med on my worst enemy...Wyeth Lied about the side effects and withdrawals..The FDA has warned them and made them correct some things in their packaging insert...I can't talk good, think..my mind just goes F 44 3 months
6/17/2004
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 5  Severe depression Initially, I had some weight loss (a positive!), nervousness/anxiety, and blurred vision. Now, the worst side effects for me are insomnia, hot flashes, and excessive sweating. My doctor added Remeron to help me sleep, but it really didn’t seem to do the job. We tried Trazodone instead and it worked…however, I developed 24/7 hyper-sexual arousal (yes, I know…it doesn’t sound like a problem, but believe me--without going into too much detail--it can be). I found out that it was related to the Trazodone. Now, I take Ambien and that seems to do the trick. I also had problems with daytime sleepiness and later ADD-type symptoms. We added Adderall, which caused heart palpitations. While, my internist and psychiatrist kept trying to add meds to quell the symptoms, I did my own research and discovered that the sleepiness and ADD were not just because I wasn’t getting enough sleep. I have sleep apnea, which means that I don’t get quality sleep if I don’t use my CPAP machine…and I hadn’t used it in several months. Light bulb! I now use that lovely positive airflow machine every night and have no more problems with daytime sleepiness, ADD, and palpitations! Other side effects for me are dry mouth, constipation, and vivid dreams (which are kind of cool, when you take time to decode them). If I miss one day of taking my 300mg of EffexorXR, I suffer night sweats, headaches, nightmares, and confusion. I am very happy with EffexorXR. When I started taking antidepressants about 10 years ago, I was prescribed Norpramin, which was awful! I had horrible anxiety attacks. I took Prozac for a few years, but I found that it made me feel like a zombie…no emotions at all and an extremely low sex drive. I switched doctors and my internist prescribed Wellbutrin, which didn’t work for me…more anxiety attacks. I finally found a great psychiatrist, who prescribed Effexor and later EffexorXR. I take 300mg each morning. My depression has decreased, I’m able to function normally, and I can still feel all my emotions. Sure, I have some side effects, but those I can live with. Not being able to get out of bed, crying, feeling hopeless, etc…not so much. My psychiatrist also referred me to a fantastic psychologist. I’ve seen her for almost 3 years now and feel like I’ve made a lot of progress. F 41 3.5 years
6/16/2004
 3  depression increased appetite and weight gain, no sex drive, mental dullness, lethargy, apathy When I took the first dose, I felt better within 24 hours. I started with 75mg for 2 weeks and then went to 150 mg after that. I felt better than I had before I went the on drug but I couldn't feel anything else. I didn't really care about anything-I was living but not alive. I also gained weight and slept all the time so I didn't try to the lose the weight. I switched to Effexor from Lexapro which also made me very lethargic and that's why I switched. I finally couldn't take the side effects anymore so I quit the Effexor cold turkey. NEVER DO THIS! For 8 days I was dizzy to the point I didn't want to drive. I was also severely nauseous all those days. I was able to see my doctor and now I am on my second day of Prozac. The Prozac has at least helped with the dizziness and nausea. I'm hoping this will work since this is the fourth medication I'm trying. Before the Lexapro, I tried Welbutrin, which had no effect and I hated it. F 33 8 months
6/16/2004
 5  clinical depression Weight gain...@ 30 lbs. If I forget to take my pills (I take 600 mg/day), the withdrawal symtoms begin that same night with horrible, vivid nightmares...and an extremely wierd expanding-contracting feeling accompanied by psychadelic, kalidescope-like images-quite colorful and interesting if you can view it for it what it is...without being totally freaked by it...which I was the first few times it happened... This drug has helped so much--for a long time (two-three years), I tried several different drugs...the depression was bad...I had always been very UP...very outgoing...very HAPPY...an unexpected hysterectomy (e.g., no more hormones) sent me spiraling into depression...I felt this constant greyness...encompassed by a life-sucking cloud that left me anti-social, so depressed that I wouldn't get out of bed...called in sick for days...couldn't talk to people I didn't know, and had a very difficult time talking to people I DID know. I developed a kind of stutter when I found myself forced to deal with people. My husband stuck it out with me...and my doctor kept working with me and we tried everything...the effexor xr has helped and over the last three years, the dosage has increased to 600 mg...a very large dose, but I can function and I can concentrate...and I am living life again...I am trying to deal with the weight gain now that I am a functioning human being again... F 48 3 years
6/13/2004
 5  anxiety.depression Unable to achieve orgasm. Low sensation during sex.Weight loss. Effexor has taken care of both my anxiety and depression. I have tried nearly evey drug for this and finally found one after 20 years. It allows me to be able to think clearly and calmly.I however can not achieve an orgasm any longer. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Can not take viagara or any of those due to being on a nitrate. M 46 5 months
6/13/2004
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 4   None Worked within 5 days of taking with no initial side effects. After two years stoped working and nausea started. 28 2 years
6/5/2004
 3  depression sleep sweats, drowsy at times, slowed memory at times.Thought processes just a step slower at times. Seem to be losing effectiveness over past year at times. Slower thought processes, short term memory not tip top at times. M 66 4 years
6/5/2004
 3  Depression Sleep Sweats. Diminished sex drive and ability to have a sustainable erection. Had to take Viagra. Even then, difficult ejaculation at times. Sensitivity in Penis diminished. Had Sleep sweats. Yawning a lot. Slowed down thought processes..at times short term memory disfunction. Although at 225 mg daily...still had bouts of depression for 2-3 days, then it would clear up. Most of the time it has worked well for the depression, but with the above sides. I feel that it has not been as effective in the past year. Emotions at times seem to be slowed down or not as well defined in intensity. M 66 4 years
6/5/2004
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 3  Depression Sleep Sweats. Diminished sex drive and ability to have a sustainable erection. Had to take Viagra. Even then, difficult ejaculation at times. Sensitivity in Penis diminished. Had Sleep sweats. Yawning a lot. Slowed down thought processes..at times short term memory disfunction. I Would like to taper off and try it without EXR. I started it after bypass surgery, when depression is often a given. I also had some Colitis, which added to the depression, also. Doing OK on these counts now, but have continued EXR. Would like to be off to be mentally sharper, resume my normally vigorous libido and to feel some of my emotions in a little more edge. Although at 225 mg daily...still had bouts of depression for 2-3 days, then it would clear up. Most of the time it has worked well for the depression, but with the above sides. I feel that it has not been as effective in the past year. Emotions at times seem to be slowed down or not as well defined in intensity. M 66 4 years
6/5/2004
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 4  depression/anxiety Night sweats with 150mg, slight weight loss It has greatly decreased my mood swings and my anxiety, I have had a lowered libido with all antidepressents so far. But I guess the good outweighs the bad so far. F 28 4 months
6/2/2004
 3  anxiety + Depression I experienced nasuea for the first two weeks of taking the pill. Also I have experienced sexual side effects. I have a difficult time mataining an erection and my ejaculation is very delayed if it happens at all. I have been on effexor for 16 months and it helped with some of my anxiety and depression but it never gave me this great happy feeling. The depression was still there but I did not want to increase my dosage. My life has turned around and I am lowering my dosage now and in a month I will be off of Effexor. I hope it goes well. Can't hurt for trying. Good luck to everyone and I hope this was of help. M 27 16 months
6/2/2004
 4  Bipolar Depression Lack of sex drive, 25 pound weight gain, in the beginning blurred vision, F 27 6 years
5/31/2004
 4  Depression, Anxiety stomach ache, low libido, numbness to sadness AND happiness, weight gain I want to come off it but I feel mentally addicted to it as well. I just got a boyfriend and noticed the sexual side effects...is this normal? Ive been on it a long time but only recently started gaining weight. Is that normal? Anyone who's experienced these things feel free to email me and we can chat. F 19 3 years
5/25/2004
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 1  Depression Felt like on an LSD badtrip, but way worse. Made me even more suicidal. Its can be a very dangerous drug for those who have an intolerance to it. M 25 30 days
5/25/2004
 4  depression weight gain. dr sd it would not cause me to gain weight and i would have no sexual side effects. she was very very wrong. F 42 365 days
5/21/2004

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