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  depression mild nausea when starting..withdrawl effects are horrible..dizzieness,confusion,anger,raw nerves, loud high pitched buzzing, jaw clenching,electric shocks,face pain i've been trying to withdraw for 3 months. withdrawl effects seem to get worse. F 35 6 months
2/16/2004
 3  depression dry mouth, no sex drive, jaw clenching and teeth grinding, insomnia, anxiety. With 300mg developed blisters on tongue that had to be burned off with silver nitrate. I have been on Effexor for nearly 6 years. I am happy with how it controls my depression, but unhappy with ongoing side effects. I currently take 112.5 mg per day. I have been as low as 37.5 and as high as 300 mg. I have tried getting off this med and onto several others with no success. F 33 5 years
2/14/2004
 4  major depression The major effect for concern was dry mouth that even with +++oral hygiene resulted in horrible dental problems. Interest in sex is absent and I used to be one juicy broad! Due to some new problems with severe facial pain, the neurologist suggested discontinuing Effexor (effexor not cause, but we didn't want to mix medicines)...........I now know what withdrawls are like ( fuzzy headed, colorful dreams/nightmares, shakey, etc.) but if it stops even a little of the face pain, yahoo! Been a physically and mostly mentally healthy person my whole life......in it's time, Effexor saved my life F 59 4 years
2/11/2004
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 1   teeth grinding, loss of concentration, apathy, bizarre sexual dreams and horrific nightmares, complete sexual dysfunction I was put on effexor after no success on wellbutrin for minor depression. Started out on 150mg. An apparent boost after a month that quickly went away. Was then put on 300mg. Nothing. Besides the physical side effects, the best word for the feeling was zombie. I question whether the initial positive response was more due to the apathy. Sure, most of the negative feelings were gone but I soon realized so were the positive feelings. I really didn't care about anything. Two warnings if you do try it. Don't let your prescription run out. I went without for 3 days and it was absolute hell. Makes you wonder what the exact definition of non-habit forming is. Also, be prepared for a struggle when you decide to go off the drug. I tapered down at 37.5mg every two weeks and that was two awful months. M 28 6 months
2/7/2004
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 5  depression, gad no sex drive, night sweats I have never felt better. I only wish I had taken this drug 20 years ago. I am concerned about the effects eventually wearing off. Would like to try to see how life is with no meds but everyone is scaring me to death with the withdrawal effects. I am also scared to have anxiety and insomnia again. 44 1.75 years
2/2/2004
 4  150 down to 75 down to 35 now on 25 Im having terrible side effects trying to get off this.....Gas, diarrhea, dizziness, tiredness....... I feel it did help me greatly but I was on it for a year and want to be off now......I think it made me gain weight and I didnt like how tired it made me......I want to function without medication so we will see F 35 365 days
1/31/2004
 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
 4  social phobia and depression fatigue and sleeping around 15 hours a night and still tired, Loss of sex drive and erection problems when medication doubled from 75mg to 150. eye site deteriated to the point I thought i needed glasses but once I took myself off the drug eye site returned to normal.Withdraw symptoms of drug lasted 3 weeks and included Nausea, jolts of dizziness which included when i moved my eyes from side to side or looked at close things then afar. Agressiveness and short tempered. All side affects and withdraw effects are now gone. The medication did wonders for my anxiety and depression problems which seem to not have returned once stopping the medication. So far so good. M 29 6 months
1/20/2004
 5  Panic Disorder None. It completely stopped my panic attacks and obsessive thinking - on 75mg - for two years! Thought I was cured so my Dr. F 28 2 years
1/18/2004
 5  Panic Attacks, Anxiety Teeth grinding, minor weight gain, no desire for sex, minor spasms. The drug help me out with controlling the panic attacks and anxiety and is well worth taking if you can live with the side effects. I have no desire for sex or intimacy with my husband. The dosage I am taking is 150mg. As I increased the dosage over the years, these feelings increased. With the sexual side effects I do not feel complete and will look for alternative medications. F 45 3 years
1/13/2004
 5  lupus, depression & neuropathy No side effects on 150mg used it for severalyears. But when I tried to cut back on it: unable to function, severe dizziness, confusion it was terrible. Back on it and stable again. i think the effexor has made positive effects on stablizing the neuropathy. I will continue to use it b/c the changes I went through to get off of it was not worth it. F 46 4 years
1/12/2004
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 3  depression/anxiety insomnia, dry mouth, severe migraines, jaw clenching, irritable, constipation, anxiety, moody, increased sex drive this anti depressent really is horrible. The only cool thing about this is I have a 24 hour hard on. I mean. an erection that will not go down. I play with myself constantly. The drawback is it is not as pleasurable, decreased sensitivity. M 23 2 weeks
1/10/2004
 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
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1/5/2004
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1/4/2004
 5  Depression Extream sweating, Jaw clenching,Insomnia, Teeth grinding, VERY BAD sexual dysfunction. I was taking 150 mg of Effexor XR, It worked wonderfully for the depression, but the sexual dysfunction is what made me ask to go off. I am now weaning off the effexor and going on Wellbutrin SR, If I wasn't married I would have stayed on the effexor. I was unable to have an orgasm, and had NO desire to have sex. The other side effects didn't bother me as much as this one. F 31 1 months
12/29/2003
 4  anxiety When missing a dose, I am dizzy tired and moody. I hate the feeling so I try my best to take effexor xr 150 at the same time every night. I usually can't do much the next day if i do miss. Lately, I have been having orthostatic hypotension, which I believe is a result from this med. Although there are a few side effects, this drug has made me a different person. I am much happier and can talk to people much easier. Most importantly, I can be myself, I worry less, and i no longer have anxiety attacks. F 23 3 years
12/28/2003
 2  anxiety and depression At first on lowest dose of 37.5 I noticed sweating, and chills, very weird vivid dreams. However, I also started taking an antibiotic too (Levoquin) and did not now what caused what. After a week bumbed up to 75. AThen became very agited and angry and extremely tired..yawining frequently and have been using dexedrine successfully for 2 years for ADD. and even that did effect the extreme fatique and inablity to focus, and lack of short term memory. Unable to function. Dr. took me off after 3 weeks total.. And then the nightmare really began.. more extreme sweats, chills, and extreme nausea and headache.. had to to to the ER at nigt where a shot of phenegren and something else ended the pain and nausea. I was also coming off a second drug for bronchitis,and the first antibiotic had not worked..read somewhere that effexor sometimes causes respitory problems and bronchites..interesting. I went to ER last night..they sent me home with sinusitus diagnosis..and another prescription for antibiotic biaxin and some predinzone..so tonight I am a mess again..exteme abdominal cramping and gas, as well as continued hot flashe sweats and chills.. can 't sleep ia m sure because of prednizone.. forgot to mention that i was on a week pack. with the first antibiotic Leviquin.. All the while i was discussing my meds with my pschiatrist drug manager. Also, had many of the other not so commom problems such as neck pain and muscle aches.Nigtmare while awake and asleep. Don't recommend this drug.. Postmenepausal F 55 3 months
12/8/2003
 4  anxiety mild depression nausea, loss of appetite, drowsy, slight loss of sex drive. Side effects were much less after about two weeks. very helpful in keeping moods regular and dealing with daily stress. Much less side effects concerning pms than other similar meds. I take 75mg before bed and wake feeling peaceful and in control. F 28 5 weeks
12/5/2003
 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
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