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
 
 2  Fix sexual side effects of Zoloft Leg tremors in the night, does not help with the anxiety at all, totally fixed the lack of orgasm that the Zoloft caused. Awesome orgasms that last forever! Nausea when not taken on time. General hyperness, could not sleep for the life of me! I'm not so sure I like this drug. It fixed the lack of orgasm from the Zoloft, however, did nothing for my anxiety. I eat chocolate like crazy, which chocolate usually is not what I want to eat ever. Never hungry, but I eat constantly. Generally hyper. Unable to sleep. Very vivid dreams beyond my usual dream vividness. F 27 2 weeks
4/1/2008
 1  depression "brain snaps" HORRIBLE withdrawal the worse drug ever! F 49 5 months
3/31/2008
 2  temperment Sleeping 12-15 hours per night--no energy or drive, however tenperment was fine-almost unable to carry on a conversation M 67 90 days
3/28/2008
 1  depression loss of coordination, slowed speech,dizziness; do not take this drug except as a last resort! I was mistakenly diagnosed with Parkinsons disease due to the side effects of this drug. I did not realize that they were from the drug due to my depression at the time. it did help the depression but I still cannot speak at a normal rate. Has anyone else had this type of experience? I have also taken other antidepressants but currently am taking ONLY over-the-counter SAM-e, Omega 3 fish oil, and Relacore and feel better with fewer side effects than with any pharmacueticals. F 58 6 months
3/28/2008
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 5  Depression In the first few days, I actually felt hope and maybe a bit of euphoria which was great. Then I went through a whole range of a bit nauseaus, a bit diarrhea then constipation and such. After treating each thing in the first few months it leveled off and it is fantastic! I do consider this a lifetime drug though. I have cut down a couple of times very very gradually but the horrible depression came back with a vengeance so I'm a lifer and loving it. I do take a bit of Valium to help me sleep if needed and found I could cut my caffeine content down also or I get too hyped up. Basic bottom line is that it works. I got discouraged when I read people's side affects but finally hooked up with a nice girl who loved it and she helped me through the beginning. I'm so grateful and hope I can help people also. Work up to the dose very slowly and if you ever want to stop, do it so slowly that you almost don't know it. It can take over a year to cut down without side affects but it wasn't worth it for me after all. It's a keeper. F 55 6 years
3/26/2008
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 5  depression year old widow living alone. No side affects at all. Thank you---- Sprry--I got the to comment boxes mixed up F 75 5 months
3/24/2008
 3  anxiety and depression fuzzy brain, no sex drive, slight tremor in hands and jaw, huge dilated pupils I've only been on them for a week and a half so they haven't really kicked in- but I am experiencing the side effects. My life sucks right now... still anxious, still depressed plus I have all these side effects. I just wish it would kick in already. F 19 12 days
3/20/2008
 4  situational depression,work related broken sleep (taking hypnotic at bedtime to correct); minor hand tremors and dry mouth first few months; occasional arm and leg tics prior to sleep or when sitting relaxed (almost gone after 1 year); increased sweating, especially in summer; possibly a little emotionally "flat". Also difficulty reaching orgasm, although this has improved. Felt better i.e. not blackly suicidal after several days on Effexor. That made me feel able to start making some other helpful changes: complete physical which led to iron supplements and thyroid meds; time off work; cognitive behavioural therapy. Have been on 150 mgs daily for 14 months and plan to start slowly tapering off this coming long weekend. My doc has suggested dropping to 112.5 for 3 weeks, then to 75 for 3 weeks, and so on.....but I think I'll start by breaking up the 150 mg capsules and removing a couple of grains per day. I did forget my morning capsule once several months ago - for 1 day I felt fine, so I deliberately didn't take it the second morning. I was snappish and irritable all day and a bit weepy. On the whole the Effexor had the desired effect of kick-starting my recovery. My opinion may of course change depending on how the withdrawal goes. After that I can hopefully start weaning myself off the sleeping pills. F 47 15 months
3/17/2008
 3  Depression/Ansiety Attacks 40 extra pounds; no libido, some arrithmia. I was confined to my bedroom because I was terrified and scare of everything the whole day, one day I had my first anxiety crisis and from them on I developed some fobias. I have being on Effexor for three years, always on 75mg but I take it with Alprazolam/Xanac, together, it gets me drozzi but if not it will give me tremors or a feeling I can't describe but don't like. Since I've being with some arrithmia (associated with the Effexor) my primary doctor prescribed Cymbalta but I only took it for two days, I was feeling "weird" so at the second day she put me back to Effexor 75. I have never being allergic but from a couple of monts ago I have developed a mild sinus so I'm now on Clarinex. I also feel sometimes back and neck pains. I can't have a complete normal life yet but it is starting to look like the one I had before. From not going anywhere I started to get out for an hour, driving again, now I can go to a mall and spend hours, is a huge improvement. I will like F 39 3 years
3/17/2008
 3  anxiety and depression at first my depression lifted, but i found my speech and concerntration werent as usual,im also feeling unusually hyper and feel nauseas im hoping these side effects will subside in time. F 27 5 days
3/16/2008
 2  depression Out of it, slept for a day, hand shakes, dry mouth, dumb! only took Effexor for 3 days, wasnt sure if it was coinsidence that i was getting sick or a side effect. Did not take any today and still feel like I have the flu, soooo tired.do your research first. F 31 3 days
3/15/2008
 2  Anxiety,stress After four wks. of 37.5, was raised to 75 and all hell broke loose. Had a really bad reaction - anxiety attacks, terrible insomnia, etc. Went off "cold turkey" After being off Effexor seven weeks, experiencing severe joint/muscle pain, weeping, anxiety, depression F 77 7 days
3/15/2008
 4  depression decreased appetite; vivid dreams; increased sex drive; tuxtured, but not itchy rach on face; ringing/clogged ears; lethargy i feel more like myself than i had but still a little 'weepy'; i think much clearer now and feel more motivated to do stuff F 38 3 months
3/14/2008
 5  Anxiety -- Social, GAD, Panic some night sweats, a few hives, tired the first few weeks. Thats it! An increase in sex drive, although harder to peak I have had much success with effexor. Don't let some of these negative comments scare you. I have missed my pill a couple of times and have had NO side effects. One time I missed it for 48 hours and I only felt I slight head ache which could have been unrelated. It has changed my life. I'm motivated again! I have had very severe anxiety since I was 18 years old. I finally started dealing with the traumatic experience of witnessing my dad being killed in a car accident. for the past 7 years I have had horrible thoughts and visions of people I love dying in car accidents. I also have been very frightened of death in general, but not anymore! I feel like me again. I feel like w/out effexor my mind wears my body out. Please take this medicine if you are physically worn out from your anxiety. It is a god send to me! F 25 3 months
3/13/2008
 2  
3/12/2008
 5  depressed,anxiety, nausea,dizziness, for 48 hrs, would recommend if someone starts taking it , make sure you are not working for 3 days, if drug is increased even small amounts again take the day off and you will be fine the following day helped with menopause, I am on 150mg and 37.5 mg, I would recommend this medication 100 %, I do not plan on going off this medication, it helps to keep me calm and more relaxed, sex drive is very low, but has always been, F 51 6 years
3/11/2008
 1  Anxiety Sense of unreality, migraine, jaw clenching What a horrible drug! My doctor tried to switch me from 5mg of Lexapro to Effexor as he said he had better results with the treatment of anxiety with the latter. However, I've taken it two days and the second day experienced that side effect that we all dread from anti-depressants. A feeling of being detached from reality, really spacey, migraine headaches (haven't had for a while) and jaw clenching/teeth griding. I'm tossing the rest of my 2 sample packs out right now. I'm pretty determined to take a non-pharmacologic approach to my anxiety. I have found acupuncture has worked wonders, as had talking to a therapist. M 27 2 days
3/9/2008
 3  depression extreme weight loss,(from 131 to 118 in 2wks) loss of appietite, dry mouth, vivid dreams (they are cool though), blurred vision, extreme extreme leg tremors at night (they keep me up), loss of concentration, continual fatigue, headaches, constapation My doctors prescribed me this medication for my depression and anxiety. The thing is, this is the first time I've ever taken any kind of anti-depressant, and this was the first thing she recommended. And after reading everyones comments, I almost wish I knew better. But it has helped some what. It has given me the strength to leave me abusive boyfriend (stay with him for almost 2yrs) and thats probably the only benefit so far. When something upsets me, it like upsets me to the 3rd degree. Ive been on it for about 3weeks and I know that it can take up to 2months for the full effect so Im going to wait to out. Because my depression had me on the brink of suicdie F 19 3 weeks
3/8/2008
 1  General Anxiety CONSISTENTLY: loss of appetite, apathy, difficulty climaxing, FOLLOWING LATE OR MISSED DOSE: Dizziness, Brain ZAPS, irritability LAST 3 MONTHS ON 37.5 mg: Bouts of anxiety/anger 30 minutes after taking, mild-depression, increased anxiety, Recieved script for Effexor XR 75mg, per request to my GP, 2 yrs ago. At the time, I had a anxiety/anger in response to a cholic baby, a new wife, & job uncertainty. About 6 months ago I tried to wean off. I followed a schedule from an RN that suggested skip days of 37.5mg over 2-3months. At 4 skip days (2nd month) I decided to stop all together. At day nine I was near suicidal, crying for no reason, confused, anxious. I had to go back on. I've tried to stay at 37.5 mg since but have been experiencing a depression, and bouts of anxiety. I hope to be able to ween off with non-time released. TELL ME HOW YOU STOPPED!!!! M 34 2.5 years
3/8/2008
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 3  anxiety jittery, world swirling around me, eyes can't focus, increased feelings of nervousness, insomnia, out of it, heart palps, diarhea, stomach pains Only been on if for two days but have tried other meds and never felt side effects like this. Doesn't seem like its worth it reading all of this. I guess if your problems are severe and it works for you than good but for mild problems of anxiety i wouldn't recommend it F 26 2 days
3/6/2008
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