EFFEXOR XR Reviews (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 3.0 (2225 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare EFFEXOR XR 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 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 |
More on EFFEXOR XR: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR EFFEXOR XR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | depression | major weight gain | F | 28 | 2 years | 3/4/2007 | 1 | depression | Took one 37.5 Effexor pill. Worsened depression significantly 5 hours later. Couldn't relax. Couldn't sit down. Constantly felt like I wanted to run a marathon. Spent three weeks worth of days mostly consisting of panic attacks. Cried uncontrollably those three weeks. A month later I'm stuck having a panic attack every night--with weird irrational thoughts going through my head. Not to mention the occasional suicidal thought. | After reading accounts from other folks, this is a last resort medication. DON'T TAKE THIS STUFF IF YOU EVEN *MIGHT* BE BI POLAR! PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, READ UP ON EFFEXOR BEFORE TAKING IT! | M | 28 | 1 days | 3/2/2007 | 5 | major depression/anxiety/self harm | jaw-lock, muscle tightness, dehydration and dry mouth. After initial side effects of the 75mg dose wore off, moved to 150mg... experienced short term fx for a week each time I switched doses... long term side fx at 150 mg have been a lowered libido and some chronic muscle pain. Missing a single dose sends my brain into mini-seizures, or brain shivers, which produce migraine-like headaches... lasts until hours after I take the next dose. Have also had to supplement with Imipramine due to anxiety. (I've also noticed a weird increase in my blood sugar sensitivity, and find myself getting tired and much more irritable than usual if I skip a meal.) | It saved my life -- BUT -- if you have never taken street drugs before, I would NOT recommend this drug. It's potency and side effects can be a nasty surprise for anyone who is taking it for mild depression. THIS IS A LAST RESORT DRUG. It should not be tried before other anti-depressants have been tried. It's been working wonders for me so far, after two other kinds failed... but I was debating suicide at the time. Sexual dysfunction is always better than death, though, so it's been no contest for me. DON'T QUIT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE SIDE EFFECTS. The drug doesn't even start working for the first three weeks, so grit your teeth, put up with the nausea or premature ejaculation or whatever and let it do it's job. If the side effects are worse than the depression, you're on the wrong drug. Easy as that. And DUH- withdrawal is gonna suck. The problem is, most doctors friends & family have NO idea HOW BAD withdrwal symptoms are. Meth was no problem to quit. Effexor... well, we'll see... | F | 24 | 1.5 years | 3/1/2007 | 2 | Depression | I had a terrible allergic reaction to something in the medication. Severe gastrointestinal problems. Lost 12 lbs. in 4-5 days. Had hives and respiratory issues. | I loved how it helped me feel normal again; disappointed that I'm one of the hypersensitive people who can't take meds. without something being a problem. I felt so happy the first week. | F | 42 | 11 days | 3/1/2007 | 1 | major deppression | dizzyness, nausea, numbness in my face. | F | 46 | 6 months | 2/28/2007 | 5 | SAD/ DEPRESSION | I used to be so depressed and anxious, that I didn't want to leave the How. Now after continued therapy and Effexor I look forward to living. | F | 42 | 9 weeks | 2/27/2007 | 5 | menopause, can't take hormones | Nausea first few days. | I finally can sleep at night. No more hot flashes or night sweats. I started with 37.5 mg, and now I am on 75 mg. | F | 44 | | 2/26/2007 | 5 | Depression | Weight gain, eye discomfort, temporary tiredness, very bad hives | It really has helped me a great deal, after 2 years on 75 mg I am now getting off the meds, am prepared for a lot of discomfort! | F | 62 | 2 years | 2/26/2007 | 5 | Depression | Little bit manic at first, but I got A LOT accomplished, and now have leveled out. If I don't take it by my usual time, I get what I call my "phantom body," where I feel sort of dizzy and tingly in areas of my body I didn't know existed???--It's difficult to explain. Forgetting to take the medication is hell. Don't skip a dose. | Great stuff although I'm a little concerned about the long-term effects. It has allowed me to realize I've been depressed for 20 years and didn't know it. I don't cry about everything all the time anymore and it has almost eliminated my (huge) mood swings. I still have feelings, I get mad, sad, whatever, but my feelings no longer control my life. It has also helped me to regulate my sleep patterns. I can now go to bed by 9 or 10PM and get up at 5:30AM whereas all my life I could never go to bed before 11:30 and always hated getting up before 10 or 11AM. I'm a lot less grouchy with other people, more friendly and outgoing with folks, and procrastinate less. I'm now able to accomplish things that I normally would avoid as long as possible, sometimes forever, like sewing buttons on clothing, hanging my coats in the closet, or sorting through old bills and papers. I'm a lot more organized than before, although not perfect. | F | 39 | 4 months | 2/26/2007 | 5 | PTSD | I have been taking 150 mg for 6 weeks, I dont look forward to discontinuing it. | F | 41 | 8 weeks | 2/24/2007 | 5 | Depression | Dont listen to all the Hype, everyone reacts differently to medications. | M | 55 | 3 months | 2/24/2007 | 5 | SAD | I Love it. | F | 36 | 6 months | 2/24/2007 | 5 | Anxiety | Killed it! | M | 29 | 1 years | 2/24/2007 | 1 | depression | The usual sexual side effects: or lack of sexual effects, that is. Erectile failure but mostly erectile loss, wicked anorgasmia, dreams, sweats, etc. | I have been on the unheavenly host of antidepressants for the past 12+ years, but Effexor is ONE ILL-ADSVISED alternative to the rest. My doctor prescribed it when I continued complaining about my ongoing and heartbreaking SSRI and SNRI sexual side effects. The effexor is no better in this regard. However, as cited so often in this survey, withdrawal is the ultimate punishment: terrific body/scalp itch, brain-blowing, sickening thumps inside my head, dizziness, severe irritability, etc. My son has been on Effexor XR for years. He told me a horror story about his withdrawal rigors when he ran out of the stuff awhile ago. He was right. I should never have let the dr. talk me into the effexor. Big mistake. This is DETOX, not withdrawal. I had to take one yesterday after a few days of cold turkey or make the morning news. It's that bad. Very addictive stuff. AVOID THIS MED. | M | 60 | 28 days | 2/24/2007 | 4 | Poat Traumatic Stress Syndrome | Tiredness, nausea, insomnia, weight gain, impaired/blurry vision, frequent urination | I had no choice to take this. Nearly lost my baby after birth (and has consequent helth problems) and had a meltdown almost three months later. Started having severe anxiety attacks and depression lasting a week. Had mental health team intervention. I have never experienced ANYTHING like this in my life. Effexor was the only medication that didn't make me sick. As I am not naturally depressive started on 37.5mg for 3 weeks then 75mg for 4 months. Now going of it is PURE HELL! Emotionally feel normal but pysically I am a mess. I am currently alternating 37.5 and 75. The days I take 37.5 I am sleepy, dizzy, feel like my head is spinning, blurred vision. I can't maintain this as I have two young children. However as some comments have suggested the benefits far outweigh negative aspects, only experinced when going off the medication. Hoping things get better... | F | 31 | 6 days | 2/23/2007 | 4 | Poat Traumatic Stress Syndrome | Tiredness, nausea, insomnia, weight gain, impaired/blurry vision, frequent urination | I had no choice to take this. Nearly lost my baby after birth (and has consequent helth problems) and had a meltdown almost three months later. Started having severe anxiety attacks and depression lasting a week. Had mental health team intervention. I have never experienced ANYTHING like this in my life. Effexor was the only medication that didn't make me sick. As I am not naturally depressive started on 37.5mg for 3 weeks then 75mg for 4 months. Now going of it is PURE HELL! Emotionally feel normal but pysically I am a mess. I am currently alternating 37.5 and 75. The days I take 37.5 I am sleepy, dizzy, feel like my head is spinning, blurred vision. I can't maintain this as I have two young children. However as some comments have suggested the benefits far outweigh negative aspects, only experinced when going off the medication. Hoping things get better... | F | 31 | 6 days | 2/23/2007 | 3 | GAD Depression Panic Attacks | I am taking effexor with benzos due to a current crisis event. So far the panic is undercontrol and I feel pretty mellow today as opposed to crawling out of my skin yesterday and tearful. The depression is still there but I am afraid to continue the effexor now since reading these ratings. I will do more research though. FYI Zoloft never worked for me, and Wellbutin only slightly (may have been dose related.) | My hope is to have my depression and panic events under control and to get on LIVING with hopefully some weight loss!!! | F | 32 | 2 days | 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 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 | DEPRESSION PANIC ATTACKS | BIG TIME BRAIN ZAPS, DRY MOUTH ,WEIGHT GAIN ,SUICIDE THOUGHTS , LEG AND ARM TINGLING, HAIR LOSS, CHEST PAINS, GAS, YOU NAME IT I FELT ALMOST ALL SIDE EFFECTS. TOLD DOCTOR I WANT OFF THIS. TOLD ME I NEEDED TO STAY ON BECAUSE MY BODY MUST NEED IT TO FEEL ALL THESE SYMPTONS.WELL NO WAY THIS IS THE DRUG FROM HELL. I AM WEENING MYSELF OFF NOW AND IT IS HELL I HAD TO QUIT MY JOB AND I HOPE TO GET THIS CRAP OUT OF MY SYSTEM. BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!! HOPE I GET THROUGH IT WITHOUT COMMITTING SUICIDE. SHOULD BE OFF THE MARKET. I EVEN ASKED MY DOCTOR IF IT WAS ADDICTIVE AND HE SAID NO. WELL THATS A BIG FAT LIE!!!! AND PATIENTS SHOULD BE WARNED OF THE EFFECTS BEFORE GIVING IT TO THEM. I NEVER WOULD HAVE TAKEN THIS . IT HAS RUINED MY LIFE. | BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | F | 52 | 1 days | 2/23/2007 |