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  PTSD ADHD migraines depression First weight loss, which was bad becaus I was previously anorexic, then 35 lbs weight gain. I've become a whale. Also agitation/night terrors/panic attacks, inability to sleep more than 4 hours a night, nightmares, impotence + anorgasmia, suicidality - I was in a psych ward for 3 days. I know this drug works for some people, but the side effects seem to outweigh any benefits - there's a petition on the web to force Wyeth to disclose all the undisclosed side effects about this insidious drug. And yes, it DOES cause anorgasmia - not just impotence - in males. Effexor is a supposed M 42 10 months
8/20/2005
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 3  Depression/Menopause/Severe Anxiety Well, i started my first dose yesterday,(37.5 mg) and about an hour into it. . . i started feeling anxious, very nauseas, almost to the point of getting dry heaves, dizziness, nervousness, my pupils were dilated and i felt like i was speeding my ass off. These effects last all day long. Also, I have no appetite. Have to force feed myself. It was almost a horrible feeling. I also take Zanax in the evening to help me sleep, but it didn't seem to work well. I got a total of about 3-1/2 hours of sleep last night. Woke up wide away at 4:30 a.m. and i felt like a zombie. I'm on my second day, and can't wait to take my dose at 11:30. I just hope i don't feel like i did yesterday. Right now, i'm feeling really spaced out. I have slight paranoia, and have dull emotions. I am going to hang in there, give it time, and hope that these side effects go away. Stephanie Too soon to tell about this drug. F 40 2 days
8/18/2005
 4   This medicine helped me for many years at 300mg.XR. Now it's not working so my doctor is taking me off to put me on Parnate. It is like having the flu when you come off. Everything hurts, aches and pains. Tiredness and sick stomache. I think I have to sleep through the withdrawls. F 37 3 years
8/17/2005
 2  bipolar disorder None except with missed doses, then nausea vomiting and diarrhea. NO sexual side effects whatsoever. Some memory loss and word confusion. Transposing words or saying wrong words. Gait disturbance. Not sure that the memory loss is from effexor or lamictal. Do not miss does or quit without medical supervision. Must be weaned off this med. I take this 150mg daily, with lamictal 400mg daily. I still have significant depressive symptoms. I am currently seeking other drug combinations. F 41 2 years
8/17/2005
 5  Major Depressive Episodes Extreme sweating like you wouldn't believe...I am a sweaty beast now! Raised my blood pressure. Dry mouth. Trouble sleeping if taken too late in the day. I have been on many antidepressants and effexor is by far my favorite, none of the others seemed to help much, this was the first drug that I actually felt made a difference. I have still gotten depressed but effexor has definitely saved me from falling into the deep dark suicidal depressions that I used to experience. F 19 19 months
8/16/2005
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 1  anxiety I have only been taking effexor xr for 2.5 weeks. The first 2 weeks were fine other than some drunk like feelings. The last few days I have felt very strange and sweating uncontrollably. Also, I am unable to sleep do to bad night sweats. My doctor told me to continue the medication, however, I don't think it is going to be and option, M 2 weeks
8/16/2005
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 5  mood M 34
8/15/2005
 5  LACK OF MOTIVATION/DEPRESSION NONE SO FAR! THIS MEDICATION WORKED THE SECOND DAY FOR ME!!! I HAD NO MOTIVATION, DID NOT WANT TO LIVE....EACH DAY WAS MISERABLE. MY ATTITUDE WAS HORRIBLE. I WAS AT THE POINT I WOULD GET ON MY BED AND JUST CURL UP AND WISH IT WOULD ALL END. I HAD BEEN TAKING CYMBALTA WHICH I THINK CONTRIBUTED TO MY FEELINGS. BUT NEVERTHELESS, EFFEXOR/WELLBUTRIN COMBINATION HAS BROUGHT ME BACK TO NORMALITY, AND SO FAST TOO. BY THE SECOND DAY I WAS FEELING LIKE MY OLD SELF. I REALLY HAD A CLEAR SHARP MIND, I COULD FOCUS, AND TRULY ENJOYED DOING EVEN THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE. I FELT LIKE GOING OUT AND ABOUT, AND DID NOT FEEL LIKE HIDING FROM THE WORLD. I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC AND FEELING GOOD. I HAVE READ SO MANY BAD THINGS ABOUT EFFEXOR, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? FOR ME IT IS A GOD-SEND...I ALSO TAKE WELLBUTRIN 300MG ALONG WITH 37.5MG OF EFFEXOR EACH MORNING AND I THINK THIS COMBINATION, IS FABULOUS. AND I DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO INCREASE THE DOSAGE EITHER. WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY BUT GOOD THINGS??? I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMBINATION TO ANYONE. BUT THEN AGAIN, IT MAY NOT WORK FOR EVERYONE....AND MY SEX DRIVE, WHICH WAS DEAD FOR YEARS, HAS FINALLY EMERGED, WHAT A SURPRISE!!! HAPPY AND LOVIN' WHAT THIS MEDICATION IS DOING FOR ME.... F 54 8 days
8/14/2005
 5  Depression & Anxiety Decreased appetite, weight loss, sexual side effects (inability to orgasm), insomnia. I have a long history of depression and anxiety. Effexor has been very effective in calming me in situations (even insignificant ones) where I would normally F 31 9 months
8/8/2005
 5  panic attacks start up (on 37 mg) was tough, had panic attacks every day. after i went up to 75mg for a few days, panic ceased. now up to 150mg. loss of sexual drive, a little trouble staying asleep. overall, i feel this is the first med to really help me and to cause me to feel like me, and 'normal'. i have not had any weight gain thus far (been on it for about 3 months). i'm not crazy about the lack of sex drive, but i'll take that any day over panic attacks, which this med knocks out pretty well for me. it has also decreased my menopausal hot flashes, thank god. F 49 3 months
8/4/2005
 1  depression If I was even an hour or so late taking it (say from oversleeping) I would throw up for hours (I guess this is withdrawal). I gained more than 30 pounds (no change in diet or exercise). I had terrible nightmares every night. If I had know how bad the side effects could be I never would have taken it. It was horrible and the withdrawal was even worse, throwing up for days and this weird zingy feeling. M 27 3 months
7/27/2005
 1  Depression Decrease sex drive, dizziness, and flattening of emotions When I tried to stop taking Effexor, the real problems started. My symptoms included: sweating, confusion, paranoia, electric shock-like sensations, nausea, exhaustion, fever, nightmares, and more. It took me over 8 months to get off this medicine and it was hell. Please, please, please take time to consider getting on Effexor or any other SSRI. F 27 7 years
7/27/2005
 1  Medication Resistant Depression Started out on 35, then 75. When the doctor moved me up to 150mg.....OMG! First, everything taste like metal. Couldn't find a glass of water anywhere. Then food started tasting funny. Headaches, leg cramps at night, being restless couldn't sleep. Stomach pain and the worest was wanting to rip my skin off. It felt like something crawling on my bones. I had trouble putting together a single thought. I'll never take this crap again! F 46 14 days
7/24/2005
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 5  panic disorder none F 31 1 years
7/20/2005
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 5  OCD and BDD Experienced some sleeplessness, loss of appetite/weightloss, some dry mouth. This drug (taken at 275 mg for me) has been amazing. My severe OCD symptoms started to vanish almost immediately (which is rare from what I understand)...The weightloss I experienced was an amazing side effect (also keeping in mind that I have a body image disorder where I am occupied with my weight). It really helped to ease depression and debilitating OCD symptoms which were interfering with happiness, social functioning, work and school performance. I take it in combo with Xanax XR/ Generic Xanax. I started out taking 35 mg for a week then up to 75 mg for two weeks then 150 mg. Now I am taking 275 mg with 75 mg pills in the morning and one at around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. M 21 2 days
7/19/2005
 4  anxiety tiredness, ejaculatory disfunction M 2 weeks
7/19/2005
 3  depression I ran out of effexor and was unable to get more for 4 days. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE!!!! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER AGAIN! At the risk of revealing too much about my misspent youth...the only comparison I can make is tripping...long and hard! F 53
7/19/2005
 4  Anxiety Very vivid dreams, loss of appetite (had gained about 20 pounds on paxil, so the weight loss wasn't a bad thing in my mind). Loss of sexual interest---although I was able to achieve orgasm which was not possible on other types of drugs. Like most drugs of this type, you should not abrubtly stop taking it. Within one day of a missed dosage, the famous brain zappings, flu like symptoms, and disoriented feelings start. M 41 3 years
7/18/2005
 3  major depressive disorder, anxiety dry mouth, reduced tolerance to hot temps (not a good thing if you live in a hot climate), slight tremor. If I miss a dose, I get dizzy and have nightmares. No sexual side effects. I'm not sure the other side effects are worth it. It took care of the major depression in that I can function, but I'm still anxious and weepy, and I'm not going to increase the dose. It's back to the doc now to see what else can be done. F 35 7 months
7/18/2005
 3  depression anxiety trouble sleeping, inability to achieve orgasm, severe interaction with alcohol I've only been taking this for 13 days, sleep trouble and lack of orgasm started immediately. I'm hoping these side effects go away in time. I've sworn off alcohol as I experienced severe hostility while drinking on this stuff. I'm only taking 37.5 mg to start, my doctor said he'd up the dosage to 75mg after 2 weeks. I actually feel worse now than before I started taking it, but i feel I can chalk that up to not sleeping for the last 2 weeks. I hope to notice a beneficial difference with the dosage increase. I'd love to converse with someone near my age (36) (female) who's going thru the same crap. Moral support etc. F 36 13 days
7/12/2005

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