Effexor XR for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 4)

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Try...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 27, 2017

"Before anyone agrees to taking Effexor (venlafaxine), please look at the withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms and experience have been likened to heroin or opiate addiction withdrawal. Please do your research and regardless of what your doctor tells you, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES! I hope this helps someone."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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!!!"

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2021

"I was prescribed Effexor XR for anxiety. After taking 75 mg for two weeks, the nightmare begins. Insomnia, night sweats, horrific dreams and visions. I couldn't think or concentrate, I couldn't work or drive, my head was spinning, I couldn't talk properly. The headache was so bad it landed me in the hospital. I was so tired and couldn't stop yawning. I actually thought I was going insane on this drug. Loss of appetite followed by drastic weight loss, diarrhea. I persisted another week, then that's when the electric shocks started through my body. They were horrendous and left me thinking there was something wrong with me neurologically. Against the doctor's advice, I went cold turkey off of this drug. The withdrawal was horrific, but I was determined to get this stuff out of my body. Even seven months off the drug, I still get some of the shocks and feel this drug has permanently damaged me. I would do your research well before considering this drug. I'd never touch it again. Worst experience of my life."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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!!"

• Ros...
• March 1, 2018

"I have been on this drug for 2 weeks and am already in love with it. I feel like it’s balancing out something in my brain that has been broken a long time. I feel like if I’m not constantly struggling and fighting to lose weight, the pounds just pile on. When I stop exercising while sick, I gain everything back. I also have depression and anxiety. Most pills make me feel like a zombie. So since starting this drug, I have lost almost ten pounds in 2 weeks. And I haven’t even tried! I am less hungry, like if I’m not hungry, food doesn’t even look good. I was on vacation for one of the weeks I’ve been on Effexor and didn’t eat the healthiest, but did eat less. I haven’t exercised either, except for a few days here and there. I know it takes longer to see the real effects of the drug, but I’m already less anxious and the weight is just falling off. No bad side effects except a little constipation and a slight headache the first week."

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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."

• Bug...
• March 15, 2016

"I have very bad anxiety, moderate panic attacks, and horrible night terrors. I just couldn't take it anymore. This was the first medication I tried. It has helped me so much, I can't even explain it to you. Yes, I still have anxiety, but it is mild now. I almost never have nightmares anymore. As soon as I miss a dose, I get lightheaded, dizzy, and feel like crap. It has very bad withdrawals. I have almost no side effects. This medicine has been great for me. I've been on it for almost a year. I am at 150 mg."

• Pop...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 25, 2015

"Not perfect but pretty close. Switched from Paxil (no emotions) -> Wellbutrin (aka severe anorexia) -> Effexor. Basically, all medications were pretty decent at anxiety coverage. I found Paxil to be the best without thinking of anything but anxiety attacks. Wellbutrin to be the least effective. Effexor was somewhere in the middle while still letting me enjoy life with an occasional anxiety attack. Since I've been on Effexor, I've had maybe 3-4 small anxiety attacks in the span of 2-3 years."

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2009

"I am 26 years old and I have been on Effexor for anxiety. When first starting the medication, I had severe nausea for about 2 weeks, but I stuck with it. Thankfully, the nausea went away and now I feel so much better. I feel smarter, more grounded, and able to make appropriate decisions. Before going on Effexor, it was like I was always working hypervigilantly to ensure nothing bad happened. Now I am able to relax and go with the flow. The only drawback is the severe withdrawal symptoms of dizziness and 'brain jolts.' I notice these beginning even if I am just an hour late taking my pill."

• Ell...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 17, 2024

"It does work extremely well. I take it two times a day (150mg in the morning and 75mg in the afternoon). I also take it with 75mg of Buspar. This medication works so well but if you miss a dose even by 5+ hours, you get physical withdrawals. And it gets worse from there. While it works, withdrawals are horrible and quick to set in. So be very cautious. Best thing, don’t start this medicine unless it’s your last option. I’ll be on it for the rest of my life, mainly because it works but also because the withdrawals are so incredibly bad."

• all...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 11, 2016

"I tried Effexor XR after most of the SSRIs I recently tried gave me diarrhea for more than just the initial adjustment period. I tend to be more on the anxious side of life, and the SSRIs seemed to treat that better than Effexor, but I can't be in the bathroom all day. 75 mg/day works well for me currently. I was on 150 mg for a year, which worked well, but then suddenly my anxiety and obsessive thinking were coming back. The doctor upped the dose to 225, and I got way worse, so we lowered it, and boom, way better. 'Less is more' worked for me this time. Effexor XR also has fewer side effects for me regarding fatigue, hunger, weight gain, and sexual side effects. As a woman, this is a huge perk. Mental health - the struggle is real! Good luck!"