Effexor XR for Depression User Reviews (Page 4)

• Abi
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2019

"I’m on my fourth week of Effexor @ 75mg dose now and it just started to work for me, so far so good. I’m on 75mg ,my sex drive is back on the fourth week and have not issues ejaculating. I take zinc and vitamin d with it. Male 45 years of age"

• Peter
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2022

"Horrible drug!! Worst drug ever taken. Wanted to beat the therapist for ever given me it. Horrible drug. Wish all those on it a safe quick departure from it. Crazy it is legal to sell this. Horrible drug!"

• Jax
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 13, 2022

"I've tried several different meds for my lifelong depression. None worked. They made me sleep mostly. Efexor has been a miracle for me. 4 days after I began taking it I began to feel hopeful. After 1 week I noticed I didn't want to give up any more. I felt at peace. I'm so grateful for this medication. It's changed my life. Too bad I didn't have it 35 years ago when I was diagnosed. Thank you Efexor"

• Kls
• March 14, 2019

"Please do not take this drug. I’ve had depression and anxiety for years. I’ve gone to many doctors and therapists and nothing has worked. About a year ago I was prescribed the generic venlafaxine. I exhausted all non drug options first and finally caved in. I decided to give up this drug recently and go back to trying more natural remedies. Going off has been a nightmare and I was only on a 75mg dose. I tried to taper off like everyone says but that wasn’t working. I’m on day 6 of diarrhea and stomach pains. The first day I couldn’t move I had such a headache and my whole body hurt. No drug should do this to a person. I read reviews just like mine and thought my doctor knew best. They don’t. You know what’s best. Don’t ignore your instincts. This drug does more harm than good and should not be on the market. Shame on the FDA for allowing the continued sale of this drug."

• Bay
• May 18, 2017

"I've been taking 75mg for a little over a month, I've seen a positive difference for sure! There are so many bad reviews on the drug and it made me worry but being on it has really changed my life in ways. My depression is so much better, I don't take as many naps as I used to, my headaches are a little better, and it's even helped me with irritable bowel syndrome. It's still hard to focus sometimes, but not bad. I don't have many side effects on 75mg -- I have crazy dreams sometimes but it's not bad! And I think I might be a bit more hungry. Although, if I miss a dose by a few hours I will definitely feel it. I start to get a migraine and have to take the med right away. This really worked for me and I hope it could help someone else!"

• Sofia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2015

"I take the drug in morning when I wake up, first thing is eating, then 75mg with bottle of water, and I make sure during the day a drink plenty water because this drug affects your renal and hepatic system; every three months or according with your MD you should do routine labs. Remember, the drug won't take effect fast, is going to be two weeks to check out how you are tolerating the dose; this first two weeks you may feel somnolence, dizziness, tired, and urge to sleep. Thats normal, but you can also feel you can't control your life, not being focused, unhappy, that also can occur in the starting period as me. The maximum effect of the drug/dose will take effect in three months. Monitor your suicidal thoughts with any anti-depression med."

• Tay_m...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2016

"I've been taking Effexor for 5 months now and I can say it definitely has worked for me. It can take time to actually start working though so give it some time. The only downfall is if I forget to take it for a day, I start getting dizzy, brain zaps, and headaches. I am now waiting to refill it and haven't taken it for about a week and the symptoms are still occurring. Even with that said, I would recommend this medicine for depression/anxiety. I no longer cry all the time for no reason. Definitely has changed my life (:"

• Chances
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 21, 2019

"These pills are horrible. The lights are so much brighter now. I always feel sick to my stomach. I have no motivation to do anything. I wake up 5-6 times a night having cold sweats. I always feel exhausted. My hands and feet are constantly sweating. Do not take this drug. The withdrawals are atrocious"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 26, 2014

"People either love Effexor or hate it. I am on the side of adoration. I am 18 years old and have been taking Effexor for 4 years and the change I experienced was amazing. I have a long family history of depression and a generalized anxiety disorder, and it doesn't help when you're trying to go through puberty and are constantly being told that everybody your age is going through the same thing. The side effects are not pleasant, I used to get headaches, my blood pressure increased (but with exercise it can be managed), and get lightheaded and faint more often. Even with these, I still am happy and am grateful for Effexor."

• bette...
• February 1, 2014

"Effexor XR with (Abilify) for Bi-Polar, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for over 6 years. From Lamictal to Seroquel (and all meds mentioned in reviews), by far this is the best medicine I have used with minimal side effects for me. 225mg. With 20mg of Abilify, for me, a 57 year old woman, it allows a full, rich life from a suicidal, black hole. Added benefit (as a woman) is it staves off menopause effects of hot flashes, etc. Warning: heed advice from me please, and others, that state about effects of missed dosage or sudden suspension. This is dangerous; withdrawal is significant. Lastly, generic does not work the same as name brand for me. This is a very expensive medicine."

• jcobb
• August 19, 2008

"I started taking Effexor XR 3 1/2 years ago while in an eating disorder treatment center. I struggled for years with major depression and took several different anti-depressants that never helped. Even after being in a treatment center for 3 months I could barely deal with my emotional issues because I was so weighed down by the depression. They finally sent me to a new doctor who knew Effexor would be different for me. He started me off on a week of 75mg/day then the next week he upped it to 150mg and the next week he ended it at 225mg. It was like a huge dark blob was lifted off of me! I felt clear-headed, stronger and happy. I never thought I could feel that way again. I still take the 225mg dosage and have no plans of quitting."

• Peg
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 4, 2019

"I've been on effexor for about a year. Started it in Jan last year along with buspar. I am 55 and with menopause I got depression and severe anxiety. This combination of medication has really changed my life. I have a lot more get up and go. It is the combination that works for me I think."

• Babyb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2019

"Zoloft stopped working for me so I switched to Effexor XR and the results are amazing. That and gabapentin has alleviated my depression and anxiety. I feel so much better. Downside is not to miss a dose or you feel it!"

• Alex
• July 22, 2018

"I've been taking effexor for two years, without much results until recently. I admitted myself to a psychiatric unit for my depression, where they raised my dosage from 75mg to 225mg. It's been a few weeks, and I've noticed my mood has greatly improved. I have more energy and motivation, and am no longer crushed by overwhelming sadness. I wouldn't call this a miracle drug, but for me, it definitely makes life more liveable."

• Elle
• January 7, 2020

"Our son 16 yrs old was put on Effexor xr, in January 2019 for depression , after prozac wasn't working on him. The dose was slowly increased to 225mg, at the time his psychiatrist went on holiday and he developed dilated pupils, racing heart, jiggling, sweating, took him to the GP who immediately took an ECG, reduced his meds, said that he was developing seretonin syndrome. The psychiatrist did not have a replacement while away and had planned to add another antidepressant as effexor wasn't working. The reduction side effects have been horrible, made more manageable by using micronutrients but still losing a lot of school time. From August to December we have gone down from 225mg to 42, reductions have become smaller and slower as the dose reduces. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, head zaps, fatigue, insomnia are his side effects. I wish I had done more homework. Since reading more, using it on under 18 is not recommended."

• jjano
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2018

"This medication has been life changing for me. My depression has vanished and my moods have stabilised . I'm a lot more pleasant person to live with, and happy to stay on this drug for the rest of my life if need be. I do have some unpleasant side effects, but happy to put up with them if it gets rid of my suicidal thoughts."

• Suecmt
• October 1, 2014

"I have been taking the generic, Venlafaxine for about 6 years. My doctor settled on 75 mg once daily, as increasing the dosage makes my hands tremble. It is not nearly as effective as it once was. Withdrawals for this medication are hellish. I ran out of pills on a few occasions and felt like I was losing mind. I really would like to slowly taper off and eventually be free of this medicine."

• Steph...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2016

"I was prescribed effexor for anxiety which interfered with sleeping - worry about getting to sleep meant that I wouldn't sleep which made me feel exhausted, depressed and useless. I've also tried Zoloft and Luvox which didn't do anything. CBT and mindfulness were also pretty useless - just made me slightly more obsessive about my weird problems with getting to sleep. Effexor has been amazing. Apart from some insomnia and lightheadedness during the first week I don't have any side effects. I don't have the same obsessive and weird anxious thoughts over getting to sleep or other minor things which preoccupied me and made me feel dreadful. I sleep well and my head feels so clear."

• BarbH
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2019

"My prescription was for anxiety, pain and depression. After taking it for a year I beg to discontinue taking it. PLEASE READ OTHER REVIEWS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING WITHDRAWALS. I have spinal cord damage and have went through withdrawals from opioids. The withdrawals from this was ten times worse and took almost a year. After going to the lowest dose I was ready to start the every other day. That did not work. One day and brain zaps, dizziness, nausea and a horrible sense of unwell. I took the pill apart and reduced it by ten little grains each week. It did not matter. Each ten was a horrible withdrawal. Down to five grains and stopped. I still had brain zaps and incredibly horrid withdrawals for weeks. This drug should not be on the market."

• KingG...
• February 12, 2017

"I started off with 75mg and have stayed on it ever since because I found no reason to change it. The first day I could feel this medication working, it was a little much at first but nothing I couldn't handle. But I soon noticed that it took all my emotions away and made me dull to everything going on around me and in my life. Most don't like that but I really do, I feel as if I have no cares in the world at all. Nothing goes through my head at all, its like magic. It takes me a little bit to actually get my brain going and operating but thats fine with me. Sleep and sex drive has gone down but I still get the sleep need and if I need to preform I can. I just don't have the desire to want sex. Its changed my life in such good ways."

• Some...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

"I was prescribed this drug by a PCP. I wanted to try Effexor for depression, anxiety, and irritability. I took one dose, 75mg. I felt so bizarre. Felt like I was on drugs. I’ve actually done ecstasy before, years ago, and this is what it felt like. Jaw clenched, no appetite, tremors. I felt like I couldn’t look at my boyfriend. Like my eyes wouldn’t focus. That night, I could sleep. Dreams seemed to start before my body was asleep. It’s like you’re aware of the bizarre dreams while they’re happening. I will not be taking this drug. I’d rather be depressed."

• Bryan...
• September 28, 2017

"Wow, is all I can say. Was hospitalized for extreme depression after trying to take my own life and all I can say is that this drug change my life. It has been one year on it and I am so much happier. I have no side effects from taking this plus I have so much more energy."

• 1daya...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 27, 2014

"Been taking venlafaxine XR for 15 years and all in all found it did what it was intended for, which was to suppress my depression and assist me in coping with life. My dosage amount fluctuated through the years, from 75mg up to 225mg(I think) and I had very little trouble with it, except when I forgot to refill it. I will say that the side effects of stopping Effexor are horrific and a contributor to why I stayed on it for so long. I'm off it now and I don't know if I'll ever get back on it again because I CANNOT go through the withdrawal feeling again, at least not with my sanity intact."

• carilsa
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 18, 2019

"I was using Prozac and my Dr changed me to Effexor XR started with 75mg and up to 150mg and it been much better. I still have my moments of anxiety and sleeping but with other medication help me with both.. Without Effexor I get to emotional and super depressed."

• Brook...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 15, 2016

"I started experiencing depression and anxiety attacks at around 19 years old. At the time, I didn't quite realize what was wrong with me, I just knew something was horribly wrong. I have tried every medication known to man; celexa, Prozac, cymbalta, pristiq, viibryd, Wellbutrin... And nothing. The emptiness, emotional turmoil, and suffocation I felt was ruining my life. Then in 2011, I started Effexor. I feel alive again, and I never thought I would feel normal again. The one thing I will warn about is the dependency. If you miss one pill, you will think you are coming down with the flu. If you ever decide to stop, you will have to taper off. Adverse effects: constipation, weight loss, vivid dreams, insomnia, sexual dys."