Effexor XR for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 4)

• soc...
• September 14, 2015

"After dealing with social anxiety every day, avoiding situations, and constantly being tense, I decided that medication was the choice for me. Effexor is the second drug I have tried. This medication has improved my social anxiety in a way that I never thought was possible. I enjoy talking with people and can't believe almost all of my anxiety has vanished. I have read that Effexor can be a slight stimulant, and I do notice this is a big reason I am more talkative and confident. NEGATIVES: My memory is way worse than it's ever been. I do not concentrate well when people are speaking, and retaining the information is difficult. My worries are gone, but so are my thoughts about everything. I feel foggy. No other side effects."

• JCT...
• May 7, 2016

"I was having bad anxiety for a couple of months. I was unable to sleep, and was pacing the floors a lot. I got on a low dose of Effexor (37.5mg), and my anxiety disappeared within a week. I did not have many side effects. I got a little sweaty the first week, and felt a little foggy. That went away quickly."

• Ray...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 11, 2022

"Terrible, addictive, dangerous. This drug nearly killed me. It is like using a shotgun to kill a fly. I suggest you look at all other options before using this drug. It takes between 3 and 6 months to get off it once you are hooked. And you suffer like nothing else coming off it. It is not a drug for anxiety sufferers."

• Ash...
• September 29, 2017

"I was prescribed the Effexor XR for acute depression and anxiety after a death in the family, and only took it for a month, but it made me sane and able to face every day as a teacher without crying randomly throughout the day. That was 2 years ago. I was prescribed it again for the same thing when my fiance passed away. I thought I was ready to stop taking it after 3 weeks, but I found myself fighting back tears over small incidents like breaking a pen or a student asking me a simple question about the material. I started taking it again and it's been a lifesaver for me. I can still take the time to reminisce at night and grieve, although the tears seldom come. If you aren't on it long then the withdrawal isn't bad at all. Hope this helps! :)"

• Ger...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 30, 2018

"I have been on and off this medication for years, it has been the one that has worked best for me always. I will start to feel I need more and try something else, but I always come back to Effexor XR. I take 37.5 mg. I have NEVER had a zap or cried when going off the medication or forgetting a dose, although I am on a low dose. It is what makes me feel the closest to normal of all the medications I have tried. I do have to say that Paxil was the first medication I ever tried, and it totally removed all anxiety, which was what I needed at that time, but I put on 40 lbs with it and have struggled with that weight ever since. I have come to understand that we all need a wee bit of anxiety in our lives, or else what would be the catalyst to get out of bed or work out or be a better person? But when the anxiety becomes unhealthy, some of us need the help that only a medication can give us."

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2014

"Switched to Effexor XR after having severe anxiety side effects with Prozac 20mg. With Prozac initial side effects, I didn't sleep for days, constant, ceaseless agitation and restlessness, ended up in ER for psych evaluation which has never happened to me before. Doctor switched me to Effexor XR 37.5 mg and on the second day I noticed that after taking the pill in the morning, by the afternoon I was much calmer, almost drowsy, which was an enormous relief after two weeks of severe anxiety. After two weeks on Effexor XR I'm doing much better; much less anxiety and worry. The PM drowsiness has gone too. I hope to stay on the low dose."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2017

"This medication strongly relieved my depression/anxiety. After having a horrible experience with sertraline, I was wary of trying a new drug. However, this drug has been a lifesaver and I'm so glad I continued to try medication. It made me functional and able to enjoy life again :) I did experience some side effects for the first two months, including lack of appetite, weight loss, sleep disturbances, and difficulty achieving orgasm. These effects faded though, and now the only time I experience anything negative is if I miss a dose. Do NOT try this medication if you cannot adhere to a strict regimen. The withdrawal symptoms after missing a dose are unpleasant. That said, don't be afraid of this drug! Take it as directed and it works."

• BB1...
• September 5, 2013

"I was diagnosed with Celiac's disease 3 years ago although I probably had it for about 7 years. My body didn't absorb many nutrients so I had anxiety about everything. I am on high doses of B12 and Vit. D and the doctor thought I should try Effexor. I first started on a small dose and then she tried me on 75 mg which is still a small dose. This really works for me. I'm not jittery or have negative thoughts. I've only been on this for 6 months but everything seems okay."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 22, 2015

"This medication has helped me immensely! I tried Lexapro, but had too many negative side effects. Effexor took about 6 weeks to fully work, but it really brought me out of the depths of my anxiety-fueled depression. I finally feel myself after many years of living in the fog. The side effects for the first 2 weeks for me were: insomnia, increased anxiety/depression, hot flashes, and nausea. These all disappeared after the initial 2 weeks and it's totally worth getting through that rough patch. Once Effexor started working, I thought, OMG! I'm back! My body is dependent on it, though. If I miss a dose, I get dizzy and nauseous. Just know you must wean yourself off and not go cold turkey so you don't feel sick."

• Laz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2019

"This medication Effexor was a lifesaver for me. I took Prozac 20 mg. It worked for a week or two, and then I had to raise the dosage until I got to 60 mg. My depression was treated, but my anxiety was not. I kept having anxiety attacks every now and then. It depends on what form of anxiety you have. Prozac helped with not panicking in stressful situations but did not help with my fear thoughts. With norepinephrine, things drastically changed. Though, when I raised from 37.5 to 75 mg, my anxiety went way up. If you want to start at 75 mg, make sure you take half and the other half at least after four hours until you build up tolerance. Hope it helps you too!!!"

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

"DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG I have had very bad anxiety for about 2 years now and I have been given venlafaxine one time to see if it helps. It was the worse experience ever I took 1 capsule and experienced problems for 2 maybe more weeks. I had the worst anxiety ever the scariest dreams and my vision on life was completely different I felt sick for about 3 days my vision was blurred and I barely remember anything. It's been about 9 months since then and I still think about the horrific time I had"

• Mon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 5, 2013

"My doctor prescribed this for my anxiety due to perimenopause, 37 mg. I was always tired on it so he increased it to 75mg XR. I'm not as tired as I used to be and I no longer wake with anxiety and can sleep through the night. My energy level is not as high as it used to be before Effexor. My appetite has also increased. I've heard this can be due to a combination of the Effexor and menopause. If I skip a dose, I get headaches."

• Mun...
• June 4, 2015

"Downside of this med is the first few days, it's tough getting in a regular sleeping sync, it can cause nausea without food or with too much water at one time, and you can't go off abruptly or start taking large doses right away because it can have side effects. However, this medication leaves an unbelievable amount of satisfaction feeling after it takes effect. It took effect on me instantly, but that's my body. I take it midday or late morning after a good meal so it doesn't interrupt my sleep as much. If you don't have slow release, splitting it up might be a good idea, with at least a few hours in between. It prevents me from overeating, but it also prevents me from starving myself because if I don't eat enough I'll feel nauseated."

• Jel...
• November 30, 2017

"I feel it's important to share because, as a mom, I was online in the middle of the night searching for answers for my daughter. She is 13 and has anxiety. At 4, she had night terrors and then would pass out with any pain. She started to be difficult to take to school in 4th grade due to the fear of throwing up. She was put on Lexapro after my great hesitation as she was so young. It helped a little. When 7th grade hit, her body was 2 seconds from fight or flight. Frequent panic attacks were long and exhausting. Long story short, she had genetic testing done, and Effexor was on her list of meds that should work. She is like night and day after around four weeks. It's about finding the right med for you. Genetic testing is a start."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2018

"I've been on this medicine for two days due to perimenopause, which is causing me to have blackout panic attacks. The doctor started me on 75 mg once a day. The second (no joke) I took this medication, I was having a panic attack. It had almost an instant effect. The first day I was a bit dizzy and had diarrhea. I woke up in the middle of the night having hot flashes. But no anxiety whatsoever. On the second day, I took it at the exact same time. Not one single side effect. This drug is a lifesaver and changer. I also have ADHD and have been on Adderall XR 15 mg for 18 years. I was worried about how these two pills would work together. All I can say is WOW!! Effexor XR and Adderall XR together couldn't be a better combo. I'm a completely new person. I wake up and take my Adderall, and then about dinnertime I take Effexor. I am now calm, have no more agitation and anxiety due to the Effexor, plus I can stay focused and alert all day due to my Adderall. I couldn't feel better. These two medications work hand in hand."

• Sof...
• July 1, 2017

"I was on Effexor 37.5 mg for 2 years. It worked wonders! I slowly weaned myself off it 6 months ago with minimal side effects. My anxiety has crept up on me again, so I have decided to go back on it. I'm on a low dose, but it works for me."

• Rho...
• October 16, 2019

"This stuff is bad. On Effexor I could not think, could not eat, could not sleep, over stimulated and felt like I was having a 24 hour panic attack, and its highly addictive! More big pharmaceutical pushing highly addictive garbage."

• Wor...
• September 25, 2019

"I was prescribed Effexor 37.5 mg ER by my doctor to help with menopause symptoms (mood swings, hot flashes, etc.), and I have mild generalized anxiety disorder. She said it would help also. I took one pill at 10 PM. By 11 PM, I had the worst anxiety I've ever experienced: shaking, hot/cold flashes, nausea, diarrhea, muscle rigidity, and complete loss of appetite. I tried to ride it out. By day 4, I still had the symptoms and ended up inpatient psychiatric. It's been 9 days now since I took just the one pill, and I'm still dealing with these side effects. My anxiety is higher than I've ever felt it. I feel like I'm in a constant fight or flight state. I'm having multiple panic attacks a day. I still can't eat or drink much. I've lost 12 lbs in a week. The psychiatrist at the hospital said this drug at this dose can induce an 'anxiety episode' in some people. How long this episode is going to last, no idea, but I hope it goes away soon."

• Kri...
• March 5, 2018

"I developed severe IBS-D and OCD anxiety symptoms building into agoraphobia, which became progressively worse, to include suicidal thoughts and led to a legitimate nervous breakdown. My doctor prescribed Effexor, supplemented for a short time with Clonazepam to get through this period, and I was able to within a few weeks. An overlooked effect of this drug is that my stomach issues improved considerably (75mg), while Zoloft had made it worse. I highly recommend this for anyone with IBS-D or OCD-type anxiety symptoms. It is very difficult to wean off of, but I am now pregnant and have come down to 37.5mg by going down 12mg every 2 weeks with minimal side effects. A perinatal specialist recommended I not completely go off, just wean down. Though the baby has not been born yet, I had a comprehensive ultrasound done to check for birth defects, and everything looks very healthy. Good luck, and I hope this helps!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 8, 2013

"This medication has worked well for me in terms of controlling my anxiety and fear of having a panic attack. However, the side effects I have had to endure are not so pleasant. I'm always tired and can sleep all day long. Also, I have gained weight on this medication, and trying to lose it is very hard. It's like my metabolism has stopped working. I've been on this medicine for about 3 years now and considering weaning off to try something else."

• Nom...
• November 13, 2015

"To Socanxiety. I have been on Effexor XR for over 10 years. (I also have short-term memory loss, so my doctor put me on Concerta, 36 mg, which is the lowest dose, and it is helping!) I am 59 years old and am happy and less anxious with taking Effexor 225 mg a day. I take a 75 mg pill before bed and am less anxious when I get up. Then I take the 150 mg capsule in the morning. I still have times that I have anticipatory anxiety and use 10 mg of Valium, which helps. I am hoping when we retire and move south that I can lower the Effexor. Great medication, and I have tried many over the last 20 years!!"

• Dis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 28, 2012

"I have been on this medication for over 15 years. I can tell you that this is the absolute best medication for panic attacks. The problem is that I never had any panic attacks until I quit taking the pill after a year of use. I was prescribed this when I was 18 after being hospitalized as a result of several traumatic events. I started on 32 mg and eventually was bumped up to 150 mg and then 225 mg. I weaned off and survived the withdrawals and felt amazing. Seriously, it felt like the best moment of my life, but about a year after I stopped taking it, the depression came back twice as bad."

• fir...
• February 8, 2017

"I've been on Effexor for 2 weeks now. I feel a lot less anxious and generally happier. I've noticed some side effects, which I was expecting. So I thought I'd share my experience: sweaty hands, blurred vision, nightmares, stomach ache/headache, loss of appetite, weight loss, trouble sleeping, major increase of the effects of alcohol. Those are just some of them."

• Cmv...
• July 19, 2016

"I started taking venlafaxine (Effexor) about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I started on half of a 75 mg pill and now have moved up to a full pill. At first, you experience some side effects like loss of appetite, fast heartbeat, hot flashes, and a little numbness down below. But everyone is different, and everyone reacts differently. After almost three weeks of taking it, I already feel relief. My anxiety is getting better and better, and I sleep so much better at night because I can actually relax for once! I'm looking forward to seeing how much better I feel after two months of taking it. If you are willing to push through the rough side effects, then the benefits are so worth it!"

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2019

"Took this before bed and woke up at 3:30 AM, nauseous, bad diarrhea, sweating, and shaking. Had no appetite all day and was dehydrated. Tried napping, and my heart was pounding just laying there. The next day, I had a migraine up until day three and felt awful. Will not take again. Should be called Sideffexor."