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 | Anxiety | Sleeplessness, shakiness, INCREASED anxiety, suicidal thoughts, vaso-vagal response resulting in nausea, sweating, near black-out. | I have never had such a horrible reactrion to any drug. I took 1 75 mg dose, for anxiety. I am not a depressed person, I do not typically have suicidal thoughts. I simply took the drug for anxiety. I was so sick, even 48 hours later, that I became nauseous, began sweating profusely, and almost passed out in church on Sunday. I realize this drug may be helpful to many, but be careful, and try to begin taking it on a weekend,. If I had taken this during the week, there is no way i could have made it to work for the 48 hours following the single dose I took. | F | 31 | 1 days | 3/31/2006 | 5 | Depression | First two weeks- yawning, fatigue, after 1 year elevated blood pressure | M | 43 | 2 years | 3/25/2006 | 3 | anxiety | When I first started taking effexor 37.5...and had an odd surge of energy for the first month. It was really weird--i couldn't sleep well, but that was okay because I wasn't tired. Here are the bad long term side effects: -i became lethargic (maybe a little depressed)...missed classes, functions, etc...that i norm wouldn't have -felt a little slower mentally good: -great sleep! -made me feel less anxious (maybe because i was always in a semi-groggy state...) -no other noticable side effects for me | I liked Effexor, and only recently stoped taking it because the benefits didn't outway the side effects for me (being extremely lethargic). Another thing I wanted to note, is that I think Effexor is a better medication than Paxil cr, which i also tried. Also, don't worry to much about withdraw...it wasn't bad for me at all (prob. because of my low dosage), i had slight shocks for around a week that were hardly noticable. So don't let that side-effect worry you too much! | F | 20 | 6 months | 3/24/2006 | 5 | GAD/Anxiety | When i first started the effexor 5yrs ago, I had some dizziness, so I started taking it at night, slept better and didnt feel the dizziness anymore, had some kind of acid reflux going on but was under a lot of stress/aniexty when i started, that quickly passed. lowered sex drive when on the 75 dos. Have been on a maintenance dose for 4 years 37.5, GAD is a thing of the past, dont want to stop cause im scared it may come back. Tried going off effexor, after one day weird shocky brain/roof of mouth sensations, so I started them again. Gained 7lbs but then I dont have that crippling anxiety anymore. Sex drive is normal at the 37.5 a day dose. | Highly recommened for GAD suffers!! | F | 37 | 5 years | 3/21/2006 | 5 | GAD | Horrible hangovers, forgetful, better sexual response, weird shock sensations when I forget to take a dose, more struggle with weight | I am on 75mg for Generalized Anxiety. My crazy worry thougts are pretty much gone and I think that I am happier than I've been in awhile. The worst thing about this drug for me is that as I continue to take it, my ability to process alcohol gets much worse. I don't drink often, but when I do, I experience blackouts and serious all-day hangovers complete with vomiting etc. I definately plan to cut down on alcohol, but it is a drag. My doctor gave me Wellbutrin to take in addition to the Effexor because of an unmotivated feeling, but I haven't wanted to take it because I am worried about additional side effects - especially when I have a couple glasses of wine. | F | 35 | 6 months | 3/21/2006 | 1 | anxiety, panic attacks | Insomnia, severe sweating, aches and pains, "wired" feeling | HATED it! This was the worst med I have tried. It made me feel like I was wired all day long, and my anxiety was still there, completely. Had to go off of it, but that process was even worse... | F | 26 | 2 months | 3/21/2006 | 4 | deprression | Effexor has major side affects for me when I miss a dose, severe vomitting, migraines, severe anger almost to the point of beating the hell out of someone. I was place in the hospital for the side effects when I had missed a day . I was so sick, they had to give me a shot to stop the vomitting. | I hope to God you NEVER stop making this stuff because I am severly adddicted to it. the withdrawl symtems for me are alful and therfore I would not be able to be taken off of it, I have tried even to come off gradually and I can't handle the effects. I have been on 300 mg of effexor for 4 years now. | F | 35 | 4 days | 3/20/2006 | 5 | PTSD, anxiety, depression | At 37.5mg: Surge of energy and sense of well-being almost immediately. Low-grade headache the first couple of days. Jaw tension. Marked increase in libido. Decreased appetite. At 75mg: felt too hyper with lots of restless energy (bouncing legs up and down). Clenching my jaws a lot. Returned to 37.5 mg after 2 days at 75mg because I felt like I didn't need that much. | Began with 1 week at 37.5mg. I was instructed to increase to 75mg at week 2 but, after researching the effects of this drug, I have decided to remain at 37.5mg for as long as it is working, for fear of upping the meds unnecessarily. Even at this low dose I feel fantastic, focused and full of energy. Effexor is helping me to not focus on my anxiety and worries - I am able to let them go. At the same time, I am able to perform diligently at work and focus intently on projects. I haven't felt this good in a very, very long time. | F | 37 | 10 days | 3/16/2006 | 1 | | 3/15/2006 | 5 | anxiety | This stuff has cured my anxiety and acts just like viagra for me. It's incredible. | 2 years | 3/14/2006 | 5 | Depression/mood swings | I am tired all day long/low energy. Start yawning early in the day and keep going until I go to bed. Have experienced weight gain. Exercising and dieting don't seem to get the weight off. A missed dosage causes symptons like the flu which will last for a couple of days. | No longer have crying jags. Able to deal with anxiety better. Able to handle stress better and to look at the bigger picture before I would just jump off the deep end. | F | 35 | 1 days | 3/12/2006 | 4 | PTSD | Ive been on for about 2 months. When I first went on it, the headaches were horrible, but passed after about a week. Was VERY tired, now that I take it at night its good. Defintely helping the depression. HORRIBLE NIGHT SWEATS and Night mares though, but its worth it to be normal. Itchy scalp and a little bit of teeth grinding and memory loss | F | 27 | 2 months | 3/6/2006 | 3 | BECAUSE OF DEPRESSION | F | 22 | 9 days | 3/3/2006 | 4 | ptsd/major depression/severe anxiety | loss of appetite | lower doses helped me more than higher doses | F | 29 | 1 years | 3/2/2006 | 2 | Depression | SSRI-style sexual issues, tremor. Anhedonia (means not happy, though not depressed either) The big deal was the withdrawl side effects when I went off this. | I suppose this worked for me. I did eventually get off it. But getting off is hard. You have to taper it very slowly. Here's how slowly: once you are down to one capsule a day, then you start opening up the capsules and counting out 3/4 of the tiny little pills in there. then a week later go down to 1/2 the little pills, etc. At one point I was taking just one of those tiny little things INSIDE the capsule every day for a couple weeks before cutting it out entirely. If I missed a day it was awful. I felt like I had the flu. | M | 42 | 3 years | 3/2/2006 | 1 | Depression, GAD, Social Phobia | Apathy, memory loss, blurred vision, insomnia, nightmares, sexul dysfunction, shivers and shakes and the list goes on. | Chronic Discontinuation Syndrome. I was told to taper from 75mg to 37mg for 1 week and then 37mg to 0 for the next week. I had prior knowledge to know that this was way to fast so I took 6 weeks to taper and still suffered terribly, it was worse than my original condition and symptoms, be very careful stopping this drug too quickly or it can be PURE HELL!!!!!!! The worst AD withdrawals I have ever experienced and I've tried heaps. In my opinion just don't go there, it's not worth it. | M | 35 | 5 months | 3/2/2006 | 1 | Depression, GAD, Social Phobia | Apathy, memory loss, blurred vision, insomnia, nightmares, sexul dysfunction, shivers and shakes and the list goes on. | Chronic Discontinuation Syndrome. I was told to taper from 75mg to 37mg for 1 week and then 37mg to 0 for the next week. I had prior knowledge to know that this was way to fast so I took 6 weeks to taper and still suffered terribly, it was worse than my original condition and symptoms, be very careful stopping this drug too quickly or it can be PURE HELL!!!!!!! The worst AD withdrawals I have ever experienced and I've tried heaps. In my opinion just don't go there, it's not worth it. IT SHOULD BE TOTALLY ILLEGAL, It is CRAP and for those of you who are on it I wish you all the best coming off it, be prepared to take at least 2 weeks off work if not longer because you will be lucky if you can get out of bed or off the bloody couch. Put your seat belts on because it a really bumpy ride. The brain shocks, vertigo and ataxia(losing your balance and falling over) are by far the worst and don't forget the crying and chronic anxiety that comes back 10 fold | M | 35 | 5 months | 3/2/2006 | 4 | Depression | Reduced libido, some difficulty with ejaculation. Some anxiety and "brain shocks" for the first day or two. | My depression mostly manifested in an inability to start new projects, rather than any feelings of sadness. Right after I started Effexor XR, I noticed a big improvement in this for a couple of weeks; since then, there's some improvement, but it's not as pronounced. I may switch to another medication (or raise my dose) if the effect continues to decline. I'm taking 75mg/day. | M | 41 | 2 months | 3/1/2006 | 3 | depression; suicidal thoughts | Cravings, mania, sex drive THROUGH the roof | I was trying to lose weight before. But effexor made me crave sweets like never before. Thus I got fat. 10 lbs or so in a month. Not worth it. But it did save my life. I couldn't think suicidal thoughts because I was overtaken by sexual fantasies -every-minute-of-every-day- Anyway...i choose physical health over emotional health. Don't go with effexor if you're not willing to gain weight for euphoria. Withdrawal was hell: brain-zaps, vertigo, nausea and inability to read without vomitting. | F | 20 | 30 days | 2/28/2006 | 1 | Irritable bowel / anxiety | Found that I didn't care about much of anything. I started drinking very heavily and gained around 40 pounds. When I decided to get off of it the experience was very painfull. I had to decrease very slowly over an extended period of time. Then I had withdrawal symptoms for a long time after. I am now taking Buspar and while I had some problems initially, it seems to work well. I have lost 15 lbs and don't drink abusively. | Wouldn't recommend this drug to anyone. Very scary. I would classify this as having done a lot of damage to my life. Stay away from this drug. | M | 46 | 3 years | 2/26/2006 |