Effexor XR for Generalized Anxiety Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Bet...
• September 18, 2016

"I was diagnosed with GAD, with symptoms including general fatigue, anxiety, panic, and insomnia. Started off at 35 mg, but now on 150 mg in the morning and 75 mg at night, which seems to be keeping me pretty stable. However, the withdrawal is horrendous. If I miss a couple of doses, I get brain zaps, I can hear my eyeballs moving in my head, very anxious and panic. It works, but this is some seriously messed up stuff... I can see I may have to be on this forever, whereas I gave up Prozac cold turkey with no problems at all."

• Anonymous
• October 20, 2012

"I have been taking Effexor XR for about 3 weeks now for depression and generalized anxiety disorder. For the first three days, I felt a little dizzy but continued with the medication, and the dizziness went away once my body got used to it. I get a dry mouth and have lost interest in sex and cannot reach orgasm. I do feel a lot more focused at work and can think more clearly. I do find if I don't take the medication right on time around 9 a.m. every morning, I get a headache and agitated, so I try to take it at the same time every day. Despite the dry mouth and loss of sex drive, I will continue with it for another month or two and see what happens when I see my doc again."

• ket...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 28, 2024

"Effexor changed my 4 years battle with anxiety. It was rough in the start. I was sick, dizzy, feeling worse... But you have to take benzos in the start so you don't have a horrible time when your body adjusts to it. Now I can finally live normal and work on everything that caused this. And for all people, trauma is. And the only thing that will set you free forever is to find someone to work with you on causes. But you have to be better to work on it."

• Kel...
• January 30, 2020

"Well, I’ve just recently started this medicine, Effexor. I used to be a heroin IV drug user for 7 years. I’ve been clean for 4 years. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety my whole life. I just finished the Hep C treatment. Now I have random rapid heart palpitations. Also, I just had a baby, a C-section, 2 blood transfusions, and gallbladder surgery, so it was probably a combination of things that messed up my natural balance. I’m terrified and excited all at once about it. I hope it works for me. Seems like it just depends on the person, really? Like any medicine, really. But I’m terrified about the withdrawals. I’ve had my fair share of horrific withdrawals. It’s one of the main reasons I quit heroin and why I won’t go back. So, it’s my first day on it, and I did what someone else suggested, and I took out all the granules (75mg caps) and only took 30 granules. So I will check back in in a week or two. Don’t get discouraged by the bad reviews. Everyone’s different. Stay positive!"

• Hot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2017

"I have not rated this yet because I have just started on Effexor XR. I am a 48-year-old widow. My husband and stepdaughter died suddenly in 2014. I went spinning out of control. I guess you can say I had a nervous breakdown. In the past 6 months, my moods have been all over the place, from crying to anger. Lashing out in anger with my boyfriend and his son. My doctor is taking me off Seroquel and Lexapro slowly and has put me on Effexor XR. I have been on it for 3 days. I am starting to feel a little change for the better. I will keep everyone up to date on how I feel. It is better than being a royal cow."

• Bio...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 16, 2018

"Prior to taking Effexor, I had daily panic attacks, suffered from agoraphobia, and would cry for hours at night without any reason (I was a mess). 35 mg Effexor put me completely back to normal-no more anxiety, but plenty of happiness and typical emotions. I would go as far as saying it cured me. However, the side effects are brutal. The first 2 months were daily dry mouth, dizziness, 'brain zaps,' and constipation so bad it put me in the hospital. If I miss a day, the dizziness hits hard until I take the next pill. Overall, I think it is still worth the trouble because I'm mentally healthier than ever before."

• Anx...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 19, 2016

"I've been taking venlafaxine 75 mg for about 9 months now. It has helped tremendously with my anxiety, unfortunately, I've gained 50 lbs on this med. I can't keep on this because of the huge weight gain, but I wish I could. I haven't had any other side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 1, 2020

"Switched from a low dose of Prozac that was causing too much fatigue. Effexor XR 75 mg gave me more energy but made me feel crazy. I quit cold turkey (not recommended!) and have been off antidepressants for one year. I struggle with anxiety still. They say you need to try different drugs to see what works for you, but I'm afraid to try another drug."

• SNL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2019

"I am taking Effexor 37.5 mg and have been on it for 5 days now. This is for severe anxiety and major depression. I noticed a change the very first day, with the anxiety level going way down. I have had a consistent headache for the full 5 days and throat/neck pain. No appetite and just feeling overall yucky and sick. I am going to hang in there to see how it goes. My Dr. also prescribed Trazodone to take at night for insomnia, and I have been sleeping better. I take the Effexor in the morning. So for now, I will stick it out and hope the side effects will go away."

• Tru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2021

"I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and adjustment disorder, which mimic major depression. I was also diagnosed with glaucoma, which interacts with antidepressants because these medications can raise eye pressure, so my G.P. tried me on Effexor just through desperation due to my suicidal tendencies/thoughts. I didn't think it was humanly possible to feel worse than I could, but Effexor certainly did that. This is the worst of all the antidepressants, it's like hippie crack and angel dust combined. Within 3 hours, I was on the toilet, then constantly sweating, actually dripping in sweat, then the monster panic attacks and brain zaps kicked in. The first three days, I didn't eat a single thing, by day 7, I was wanting to get sectioned. I wasn't going to mess around tapering off this crazy juice, I came off it straight away on the 8th morning and was severely ill. The withdrawals are astonishing, it's not even possible to compare them with anything. I am not anti-antidepressants."

• Kam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2023

"I was taking Lexapro for PTSD for 7 years for anxiety. This medication worked so well for me until one day it didn’t. I had a big surgery in 2022, and it was a few weeks after that, the anxiety and panic returned. I was freaking out all the time, racing heart, nausea, felt like passing out constantly, foggy brain, and I couldn’t drive or be by myself (all the symptoms I got 7 years ago, which was the reason I started Lexapro). I signed up to speak with a psychiatric NP, and she told me SSRIs are known to stop working, and she recommended I switch to Zoloft, which has more room to go up on the dose since I was already maxed at 20 mg on Lexapro. I stuck with Zoloft for 2 months, and it was not a good fit at all-my body hurt, I couldn’t focus, and I was still freaking out, so after 8 weeks, she recommended a SNRI and started me on Effexor. She started me on 37.5 mg, and now I'm on 75 mg. I'm not 100% but so much better. It’s been about 5 months, and I am hoping to continue to see positive changes."

• Ali...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 3, 2021

"I have been on Effexor XR for 6 years. I started it after a severe episode of rumination and anxiety. Began to help in some ways almost immediately. Slowly, I've tapered my dose down from 150 mg to just 37.5 mg (gone up and down some in between through the years). This small amount still makes a significant difference in my anxiety and has caused a big improvement in my overall outlook on life. It is an extremely difficult drug to taper off of. As someone who works in medicine, I wish they would educate healthcare professionals about how crazy the withdrawal can be from drugs like this."

• sav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2014

"Been on Effexor 150 mg now for 4 weeks, having good and bad days. Still hoping this medicine is going to work for me and my generalized anxiety disorder. I do know it can take up to 3 months to fully work."

• Nor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2016

"I started to take this med one week ago for my GAD. I'm feeling a bit 'lighter' in the head, but I also have a bit more anxiety, and I feel dizzy. I've read that this is totally normal, and I have been a benzo addict, so I had EXTREME anxiety when I was in rehab getting off that stuff. Now my life is looking brighter, and I have a lot of faith in this med. Just went from 37 mg to 75 mg once a day. I'm looking forward to sharing my experience here in one month :)"

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2015

"I took Effexor XR 37.5 mg for 1 month against general anxiety and major depressive episode after big setbacks in business and job. The first week, I had to force myself to take it with daily telephone encouragement from the doctor (GP). Headaches, nausea, sweating, and anxiety about taking the new drug itself. After 3 weeks, I did feel a bit better but had strong headaches and felt very tired still all day. I decided to reduce and phase it out over 2 weeks by taking out the little balls from the pill. To my surprise, this was much easier to stop than Paxil, which I had discontinued for 8 months (after long-term use). Now, without Effexor since 4 weeks; no more headaches or anxiety, feel more alive and productive without these 'numbing' drugs."

• sug...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 30, 2021

"At first, I was on the fence about starting this drug after reading the reviews, but I started it anyway. Biggest mistake ever! Brain zaps, nausea, feeling of floating, tremors, shakiness, agitation, mood changes, and I feel like I’m losing my mind! I’ve been trying to get off this drug for 4 months, and I can’t because of the awful withdrawal symptoms. I remember reading that I will probably have to open the capsule and taper down on the little beads inside to wean off this awfulness. Totally not worth the trouble, and I can’t wait to feel normal again! Please take this post as a sign and don’t start this medicine!"

• Jo ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 10, 2023

"When I started taking Effexor XR, I was in a terribly dark place mentally, barely functioning, not sleeping, etc. I was a mess. When I got diagnosed with anxiety and depression, I was very against medication, but along with talk therapy, I started 37.5 mg of Effexor XR. It honestly gave me my life back during a time when I felt lost. I stayed on the lowest dose of this medication for two years before weaning off of them. I guess my only advice with this medication is to just keep remembering to take it, and when it's time to stop, wean slowly."

• CjG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2018

"I was on generic for Pristiq 50 mg for post-menopause hot flashes, anxiety, and depression. Lost my insurance, so changed to Effexor XR 75. No side effects and actually works better than Pristiq. I'm glad because it's a lot cheaper."

• Anonymous
• May 7, 2011

"I've battled with anxiety for 10 plus years, was on medication 6 years ago for it, then stopped. I was having intense TMJ because I was constantly clenching my jaw as a coping mechanism for my anxiety. I finally decided to go on medication. My doctor first put me on Celexa. I felt actually MORE anxious, though it helped with my negative thoughts. I switched to Effexor. I started at 37.5 mg. I definitely feel a positive difference, and my jaw clenching has completely stopped. Now I am up to 75 mg. I just feel very blah, kind of numb, kind of 'dissociative,' like I'm not present in my own body. I feel better, but I want to FEEL. I am not sure if I should up my dosage and then I'll feel 'normal' or wean myself off."

• Meg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2017

"I started taking Effexor about 3 days ago. So far, it's been pretty crazy. I'm sweaty all the time, nauseous yet starving, and cannot stay asleep for the life of me. However, it is really helping with my anxiety. I suffer from dermatillomania, which causes me to pick my skin. I have noticed that I've been picking a lot less in just 3 days! My scabs are clearing up, and I'm not 'catching' myself picking nearly as often. I also feel calm and relaxed. The side effects seriously suck though. As I type this, my phone is about to slip out of my hands from sweat. I'm a 95 lb, 21-year-old, and I don't think I've ever sweated so much in my life. It's also been making me dizzy. It's worth it to me though. If it will help me stop picking, I'll do anything."

• Jaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2021

"Being anxious is not being depressed. I was on Lexapro for anxiety after a traumatic event. I have suffered from migraines for years. The doc switched me to Effexor ER 75 mg a few days ago. I am already noticing a difference in my mood and haven't had a headache (a miracle for me). Still have a long break-in period ahead, but I am hopeful. Will keep you posted."

• Amb...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 8, 2021

"I've had anxiety since I was 12 and have tried half a dozen different medications, all with a degree of success, but I always built up a tolerance to them, and they would stop working. Effexor was the only medication that continued to work at 225 mg for 16 years until I decided I'd had enough of taking pills and got off them in a week with hardly any side effects at all. I did notice when trying to find the right dosage for me at 150 mg, I felt my mind become numb. I had no empathy, emotions, and felt like a zombie, but increasing the dose took me out of the fog, and I could function like a normal human being. I still have anxiety today and don't go out as much as I used to, but I'm happy with that."

• dee...
• April 25, 2010

"I have been on it for about four years, during which my dosage has increased substantially. I can't help but think that tolerance forms with it, that the longer I'm on it, the less effective it's become."

• Meg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 27, 2017

"I've been on Effexor for quite a few years now, taking 112.5 mg. I didn't have any problems with this med, but have been wanting to simplify my regime. So, 112.5 to 75 mg saw no real withdrawal or return of depression or anxiety. But, 75 mg to 37.5 mg, I cannot bear. I feel awful, irritable, nasty, and even aggressive at times. Imagine waking up every morning for 2 weeks being 50 shades of pissed! My personality changed, it feels like. Wondering if anyone has experienced this. It would appear that Effexor is effective for my anxiety."

• tay...
• May 4, 2009

"Was in college when I treated. At high doses (approximately 225 mg), I was lethargic, cloudy-headed, and angry. The drug caused SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction. It aggravated stress levels. But for my mom, this medication has given her life back to her, 'curing' depression, lowering anxiety, and inspiring creativity."