EFFEXOR XR Reviews (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 3.0 (2225 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare EFFEXOR XR with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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More on EFFEXOR XR: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR EFFEXOR XR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | depression | 8 weeks [so far] HORRIBLE WITHDRAWL symptoms after a careful 4 week stepdown withdrawl from wellbutrin and effexor in which I ended the wellbutrin after 2 weeks and then decreased effexor to 37.5 before stopping it. My symptoms are 1. Upset stomach and diarrhea 2. Easily bruised with large 2-4 inches bull's eye bruises 3. Swelling in hands and painful joints | My psychiatrist 'never heard of a reaction this bad' | F | 53 | 1 years | 7/9/2006 | 1 | depression/anxiety | for the first few weeks it helped me feel better. then I began to have problems sleeping and started crying easily for no reason. I had a very hard time coming off the med. I was only on it for about 5 months. | I wasn't hungry, but gained a lot of weight. I know I wasn't as active on the drug as off of it. I would never consider taking an antidepressant again. It was a horrible experience. I was never warned about possible side effects of it either. | F | 47 | 5 months | 7/7/2006 | 4 | Depression, emotional emptiness | Sweating, shocks in my hands if I miss a daily dose | I have found this drug to be very helpful. I feel it has improved my relationship with life. I meet more girls, smile more and when the lows come around they are manageable. | M | 26 | 7 months | 7/5/2006 | 4 | Ansxiety/Depression | Great experience with Effexor XR 150mg for chronic anxiety and depression. Depression is completely gone. I have vivid but pleasant dreams, am a bit spacy at times but absolutely no sexual side effects unlike with Paxil and Prozac a big plus. Lost 10 lbs :) | I was on a combo of Prozac/Paxil 300mg for about 2 years. Although the drugs worked I had real bad side effects loss of libido, inability to achieve orgasm, tremors and insomnia. After an initial 30 lbs weight loss, I started gaining weightafter 18 months. I decided to stop the drugs that lasted about 10 months then I started getting terribly depressed. So here we are again back on meds. Effexor solved the depression problem almost immediately but I am still antsy. Shrink prescribed Depakote to bring the anxiety under controll but I have feaked when he mentioned the side effects. Yikes, can I keep my hair? :) | F | 3 months | 6/28/2006 | 4 | severe depression & anxiety | when taking: occasional day dreams, zombie, elevated blood pressure, slightly decreased sex drive, weak morning erections and less blood flow? when missed: vertigo, dizziness when missed: vertigo | This product has seemingly traded my depression/anxiety for a dead feeling. No initiative, things I used to like to do aren't appealing or fun anymore. (I'm really not sure if its my life or the pill doing that, since the side effects have been most apparent the last year or so.) It works, thats for sure. I've been on 150 mg for the majority of the 2 years, just upped it 50% and seeing how thats doing. I would recommend it. It helped for a while, but it isn't a miracle. | M | 18 | 2 years | 6/27/2006 | 1 | Severe Migraines | significant weight gain, chills/night sweats, high blood pressure, total loss of sex drive (actual 'disgust' at thought of sex), edema in feet + ankles, loss of drive/ambition, loss of creativity. | I was prescribed Effexor XR 150 mg 2 years ago for severe migraines. I had my first experience with 'brain zaps' when I missed a dose. Scared the cr*p out of me! It was like my brain was electrocuting itself. I am now terrified of withdrawal, but am determined to get off of it and get my health + old 'self' back! I am praying to God that I don't have permanent brain damage or impairment, and that my creativity will return when the last of it is out of my system. This drug needs to come off of the market NOW. | F | 42 | 2 years | 6/25/2006 | 5 | depression, anxiety, mild OCD | I am an on again/off again taker. I currently am back on the medication. I have really been pleased with the medicine lately. I do yawn and itch alot though. The medicine if taken at night keeps me awake and makes me a little "nervous" at times. DO NOT MIX with phentermine though. I developed an eating disorder when the two were mixed. | This drug has the least amount of side effects of any depression medication I have taken. The side effects are well tolerated. I can concentrate better and feel like my life has some meaning now. I feel like I am waking up from my depression due to this drug. I will say coming off this drug is hard, wean yourself off gradually if you do. | M | 22 | | 6/21/2006 | 5 | depression, anxiety, mild OCD | I am an on again/off again taker. I currently am back on the medication. I have really been pleased with the medicine lately. I do yawn and itch alot though. The medicine if taken at night keeps me awake and makes me a little "nervous" at times. DO NOT MIX with phentermine though. I developed an eating disorder when the two were mixed. | This drug has the least amount of side effects of any depression medication I have taken. The side effects are well tolerated. I can concentrate better and feel like my life has some meaning now. I feel like I am waking up from my depression due to this drug. I will say coming off this drug is hard, wean yourself off gradually if you do. | F | 22 | | 6/21/2006 | 2 | situational depression | On starting I experienced about every possible negative side-effect. Nausua, dizzyness, mood swings, both extremes of sexual disfunction (depending upon the dose I was at). Though the med kept me from spiralling down in my depression, it also flattened my mood to the point of total apathy. I didn't care about anything. My job went down hill, I had an affair, I ignored my kids. Things I never did before I was on Effexor, no matter how down I got. I eventually got off of Effexor because of severe leg cramping that made it impossible for me to sleep. The tapering was hell, but I used Wellbutrin and a low dose of prozac. Have been off effexor for a month, but am still suffering from irregular bowel movements and headaches. Now I am just looking back at what a mess I made of my life while on the med. | Do not take this drug unless you are being constently monitored by family, friends, and a therapist. When some one says that you are not the same person, believe them, you probably aren't. Be careful that you don't ruin your life. | M | 44 | 18 months | 6/19/2006 | 1 | depression, anxiety | All the phyiscal permanent side effects seemed to happen right when I stopped taking it and have lasted. My hair is falling out, I have chronic dry eyes and will probably never wear contacts again | Everyone has said the side effects end when the medication does. but this just isn't true. I've been off of them for 2yrs and these problems havent gotten any better. Its also harder to be happy than it was prior to being on the meds. also, made me more obsessive. | F | 22 | 2 years | 6/18/2006 | 1 | for depression | the most horrific withdrawal symptoms while weaning from the drug | I tried stopping Effexor XR at the lowest dose of 37.5 mgs, but after five weeks of being beside myself from the horrible side effects, my doctor advised me to start taking Effexor XR again. I was so upset as I felt I had gone through hell and affected my family, all for not. I'm going to try weaning again, but thanks to all the research I've done on-line through Google, I'll attempt opening the capsule, counting the granules, reduce by increments of 10 granules per week, until I'm down to 1 granule of Effexor XR daily and then eventually drug free. I hope the experience this time around isn't as bad, but regardless, I will never put this drug in my body again. How I wish my doctor had informed me of the withdrawal syndrome before she prescribed the drug. I feel worse now than 2 years ago when I finally found the courage to seek help. That appointment is my biggest regret. And now I have the weight gain to deal with, which only adds to my depressed state. I could kick myself for not re | F | 51 | 2 years | 6/17/2006 | 1 | for depression | the most horrific withdrawal symptoms while weaning from the drug | I tried stopping Effexor XR at the lowest dose of 37.5 mgs, but after five weeks of being beside myself from the horrible side effects, my doctor advised me to start taking Effexor XR again. I was so upset as I felt I had gone through hell and affected my family, all for not. I'm going to try weaning again, but thanks to all the research I've done on-line through Google, I'll attempt opening the capsule, counting the granules, reduce by increments of 10 granules per week, until I'm down to 1 granule of Effexor XR daily and then eventually drug free. I hope the experience this time around isn't as bad, but regardless, I will never put this drug in my body again. How I wish my doctor had informed me of the withdrawal syndrome before she prescribed the drug. I feel worse now than 2 years ago when I finally found the courage to seek help. That appointment is my biggest regret. And now I have the weight gain to deal with, which only adds to my depressed state. I could kick myself for not re | F | 51 | 2 years | 6/17/2006 | 5 | depression ADD | none, except when I couldn't afford my script I experienced withdrawal symptoms--obsessive thoughts, quick to cry, and more impulsive | F | 34 | 1 years | 6/16/2006 | 4 | anxiety | tinnitus(ear ringing)I freaked out the first night, but doesnt bother me anymore. Constipation!!! I get bruises easily. I used to sleep only a few hours a night. I did move a lot in my sleep, but now take my medication in the morning. mild headaches. crazy nightmares... especially if i lower the dose. I feel so much better, have so much more energy. I think its worth the side effects. I take 75 mg a day. | F | 27 | 1 years | 6/15/2006 | 5 | General Depression and Anxiety | Sleepiness yet couldn't sleep, yawning, jaw clenching, extremely vivid dreams, shocking sensations on my legs, delayed ejaculation (not that it's a bad thing). If I accidently skip a dose I "tweek". It feels like a brain shiver, not pleasant. | All in all, it's good stuff. I didnt like it the first few days, but after MOST of the side effects wear off it gets better. If you shift times when you take it you may get a weird dreams if you take it at night like I do. Just DON'T forget to take it. Skipping a dose could result in one of the worst days in your life. | M | 21 | 3 months | 6/13/2006 | 5 | depression/anxiety | dry mouth, inability to orgasm w/ partner, teeth grinding | F | 32 | 2 months | 6/13/2006 | 2 | anxiety | dialated pupils, high blood pressure, teribble nightmares etc.. | I started taking this with lamictal to help with axiety but could not continue after three days due to the horrible side effects. After extensive research, I found a naural pill called moderex gaba. This is not the same as gabba calm that you find at health stores, much more potent. I reccomend trying it fore anyone trying to get off effexor. There are no side effects. I feel more relaxed and can get a peaceful sleep. | M | 31 | 5 days | 6/12/2006 | 4 | For severe depression and anxiety | In the beginning I suffered a bit of fatique, generally tiredness. Took care of the depression on a dose of 150mg a day. Missed doses = severe side effects (see comments) for me. Currently struggling while still on dosage with rage/anger issues. Throughout have suffered extreme hot flashes. | Severe side affects I mentioned include: feeling a sort of vertigo issue just by moving my eyes around. nausea and faintness. electrical shock sort of feelings from behind my eyes and through my head. disoriented and so forth. Hot flashes has been a major issue throughout, starting with about 3 mos after beginning treatment. Significant weight gain, increased appetite and difficulty controlling urge to binge. Currently suffering bouts of "rage" or irrational anger. The slightest thing sets me off, might be time to switch meds, this has NEVER been an issue before. Has worked well for me over a year, a little afraid of the withdrawal when it's time to quit. Anyways. Good luck. | F | 30 | 1 years | 6/10/2006 | 1 | Major Depression & Anxiety | Excessive sweating, dizziness, constant heartburn, worsened insomnia & nightmares, complete inability to orgasm, suicidal ideation, loss of interest in everything, agitated my agoraphobia & paranoia, massive weight gain, thyroid dysfunction, hypomania, mixed episodes. Crippling depression. While getting off of it: Two Suicide Attempts, hallucinations, severe mania, rapid cycling, confusion, tachycardia, tunnel vision, & a pyschotic episode. | This was the single WORST medication I've ever taken & put me off meds completely for 3 years & I unfortunately HAVE to be on meds to function. It took 9 months to get off of it, I continued to experience after effects long after I stopped taking it completely. I wouldn't recommend this to Anyone, EVER! Especially if there is a chance that you like me, might have Bipolar depression, instead of Unipolar. Took 2 years for my thyroid to be ok again & even then weight loss was only achieved by the development of anorexia nervosa. It caused one of the blackest pits of depression I've ever been in & my life has been pretty f*cked up so that's saying something. I HATE Effexor! | F | 25 | 1.5 years | 6/7/2006 | 1 | depression/anxiety | After one dose of 50 mg I fel into a state of sheer panic and terror. Tremors, sweating, hallucinations, feeing like someone was trying to kill me. | I threw the bottle away the next day when I was able to leave my bedroom without feeling terrified of my husband. The effects of that one pil lasted for two days. It may work for some, but it wrecked me...try taking it when you have a few days off work, just in case!!! | F | 25 | 1 days | 6/7/2006 |