Effexor XR for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• StefiK
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2016

"So after some horrendous blows from life (car accident where my hubs was driving, me in passenger seat, mom behind me...T-Boned and she was killed instantly, I had months of physical therapy, miscarriages, Dad had a massive stroke....just bad thing upon bad thing) I realized that these outside circumstances where absolutely stealing my life away. Now, even previous to these trials and tribulations, I've always been a fairly anxious person. I learned to cope with my "issues" through prayer, yoga, books....things of that nature but this last blow of the accident sent some place else. I finally realized I needed help. I'm only on day 2. I feel better but drowsy. I'm hoping this will at least stabilize me once again. (fingers crossed)"

• Pollyp
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 25, 2016

"I've been taking venlafaxine 150mg xr for nearly 3 years along with an antipsychotic to treat bipolar 2. Having tried all kinds of anti depressants this is the one that's worked for me. The down side is the withdrawal symptoms should you miss a dose but these go away as soon as you take it again. Dizzy spells/feeling drunk is the only way I can describe them. It has a short half life of 7 hrs which indicates that they have these symptoms. I've had no side effects & would recommend venlafaxine over other antidepressants inc citelopram & mirtazipine."

• Unbro...
• January 14, 2015

"I was started at a low 75 mg. This was a very dark time emotionally for me because I felt like I was taking candy, not medicine. As we slowly increased the dose, the heaviness of depression began to lift, but I also became VERY sleepy. Other early side effects was dizziness, insomnia, minor stupor, vivid dreams, stomach cramps, and worsened anxiety. All these are gone except anxiety. We added a sleep aid and Buspar to take as needed for anxiety and insomnia. But I had to up the venlafaxine XR to my doctors max outpatient dose of 225 mg to get rid of the unmanageable depression. This dose combined with CBT (therapy) has greatly increased the quality of my life. But NEVER FORGET A PILL! Withdrawal is awful! Sobbing, "shocks", lethargy."

• NMano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2021

"...my goodness. on Effexor XR for 5/6 months, last 6 weeks tapering down. Went from 37.5mg up to 225mg, never did much for depression or anxiety though it good rid of any and all NSSI/SI. My main complaint isn't the drug itself, it's stopping it. 6 week taper, feeling fine save for some headache/nausea - until I got to 75mg. Then: always dizzy, more depressed, feeling physically paralyzed. It got worse at 37.5mg, brain zaps causing such bad vertigo that I avoided leaving my appartment. Stopping it entirely, depression was worse than it had been in months, felt too sick to eat, moving my head slightly was enough to cause a migraine. I had so little energy that I - no joke - called my pharmacy to tell them the Adderall they gave me was defective. I was cocky, because I never get any bad side effects from meds. Stopping this med is dangerous: I almost went to the ER 2x, once because I was worried I couldn't to keep myself safe, then because the brain zaps and vertigo were so bad I thought I was going to collapse. Weigh your options before STARTING, not after."

• Lacey
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 30, 2023

"I also have social anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.... I took the drug, however, for severe (bipolar, it was later found out) depression. It gave me my life back, and in a better form - seeing the world for the first time without being heavily compromised by (mostly social, at the time) anxiety. For years, I was much better. Then I was drinking heavily, and in combo with this intense drug (Effexor), I had some mania. I still was kept on it for years but with a mood stabilizer added in. Effexor still really helped me live my life. Then I built up a tolerance to it; I no longer use it. What it did also seem to do, the Effexor, is ruin my memory. I've had memory problems ever since I first started taking it, and they haven't gone away since stopping it (they seem to be permanent). So it was a very double-edged sword. In very severe cases of depression or social anxiety, I think it's a potential wonder drug, that the benefits outweigh the risks. :)"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 22, 2022

"This medication is a nightmare. I started off on 37.5mg, then up to 75mg 1x daily. I started getting HORRIFIC brain zaps, it felt like I was getting an electric shock straight to the brain every time I blinked or moved. My doctor then tried 2x a day 75mg, and same thing. By the time I was ready for my next dose, I was a mess with brain zaps. So he put me on 3 TIMES A DAY saying it was just me metabolizing them too quickly. They worked for a little, but pretty soon I went right back to experiencing severe depression and anxiety, and this drug definitely didn’t hold up for serious life changes and additional stress. My current psychiatrist is weening me off of it and says she doesn't like this drug, and has the same issue with many of her patients who came to her after starting it. The withdrawal is a NIGHTMARE. Brain zaps, flu like symptoms, tremors, and wild mood swings with hysterics. I will never recommend this drug."

• ladym...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 21, 2015

"I have been on Venlafaxine for 20 years started on the tablet then changed to the MR capsules. nearly gave up on them as side effects were bad but stuck with them and they were a hugh help specially the slow release capsules, now however my gp change me back to the tablets as the capsules were too expensive for the practise to prescribe. I'm now on 75mg twice a day and I'm finding that for a couple of hours after taking I'm on a high and everything is right with the world but the hours between are really bad, also if you forget to take a tablet the withdraw symtoms are horrific stomach cramps, vomiting, migraine headache, shakes to name a few. No such problem with the slow release capsules so if your Dr prescribes venlafaxine ask for the MR"

• wanna...
• September 6, 2016

"I've been taking Effexor XR 37.5 mgs for 8 days & the worse SEs are horrible fatigue & sweats. The 1st day I was light-headed but that went away. I skipped today to see if I got withdrawal symptoms & I did. Tomorrow I will go back on it. If the chronic fatigue continues I will have to figure which med to try next. For my depression to subside I would probably need a higher dosage but I don't think I could handle the SEs. I know for some people it works well at 150 mgs but I could never tolerate that dose."

• Little...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 5, 2015

"Year 1 no effect on my weight, years 2 & 3 I experienced steady weight gain (15kg / 33 pounds). Other main side effects were: somnolence, swearing, electric-shock sensations in my brain and my body, twitching. However, SSRIs had never worked well for me, and venlafaxine was a fantastic alternative. I became very complacent in general on this drug. The withdrawal symptoms I had were horrendous - it was like coming off narcotics. . Vomiting, shaking, muscle spasms, everything hurt. At one point drifting in and out of consciousness. But if I hadn't taken venlafaxine I probably wouldn't be here today. I would take it again if I had to. Dose 150mg. Female, I was 27 when I went on Effexor XR and 30 when I stopped. I turn 31 next week."

• JOdi
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2023

"I have been taken off Zoloft and put on Effexor for major depression. Oh my God, do the side effects go away? I feel so dizzy that my head spins all day, and I'm so sleepy all day. This is terrible. It's only been one week so far. Why does it have to be like this to get rid of depression? These pills make me so sedated that you would sleep your entire life away, and you feel dizzy all day. I'm not sure if I'm going to stick this out or not. It has been a terrible six days!"

• major...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2016

"I've started taking Effexor XR recently at the lowest dose 37.5mg and the first day you get very nauseous even if you do eat beforehand, I felt so foggy. After a few days the side effects subsided so I upped my dosage to 75mg and the same thing happened. So I'd recommend when starting this medication you also have an anti nausea medication with it otherwise you'll have a few crappy days. This medication has benefited me the most out of all the others I tried because it brought back my focus."

• Snaps
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 19, 2019

"After trying at least 7 different antidepressants without good results I just decided to stay on the Effexor XR, lol, I know the discontinuation symptoms would probably kill me trying to wean off of it at this point. I have been taking Efferor XR 300mg since 12/2014, it keeps me functioning for the most part although I still have lows associated with MDD. Taking this high of dose for so long of course I have some side effects such as teeth grinding, abnormal lip and mouth movements and frequently hand tremors. It does affect libido but not as bad as some like Celexa where you have to have 500lbs of pressure applied just to try and catch a feel. I know to never miss a dose of medication because you will start having ill effects because it has such a short half life. Oh and it has increased my B/P continually runs 140/90 although the Dr.'s don't think the medicine caused it."

• BPGirl
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2017

"After an escalating two year psychotic depression I finally sought help- I was suicidal and believed I was beyond help. Olanzapine eased the psychosis but the deep dark depression I was in was relentless. It took a year of finding the right fit, prozac and citalopram didn't help me at all. Finally I was put on Effexor at 225mg and have been on it for 3 months. It has made a massive difference in a short amount of time. Don't take as long as I did to find the right combo, I assumed these drugs were more or less the same so thought they just couldn't help me. Effexor saved the day, and with olanzapine, my life!"

• soulp...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 8, 2019

"This medication has saved my life. I’ve been on it for a few years and I think maybe it might have a slight effect on my immediate short-term memory, but that also just might be me normally lol. I could not function without Effexor medication, not only has it saved my life, it has given me a life. I am 26 and in the past few years I’ve become more social, and tolerable to be around. I am so thankful I stuck with it. If I miss a dose , I get a WICKED headache and the depression and panic ensue so intensely but I rarely miss a dose. If you cut yourself off of it, you WILL withdrawal, and it is painful. Only downfalls. I am so happy to feel normal!"

• Venic...
• January 13, 2017

"This med was given to me to replace lexapro and klonipin I took the med as directed and had the worst week of my life. The vivid dreams caused me to believe my sister and friends we're sneaking around trying to take my house or shooting me and burning it down it was so real to me. The tremors were uncontrollable I didn't know what day it was, I was living a nightmare. I'm 55 with two adult children I couldn't drive walk work it made me a zombie. I wouldn't give this med to my worst enemy. Every side effect I had"

• Diane
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 26, 2021

"I was on Effexor XR for 3 years and have done wonderful on it. I plateaued out so I sent off of it with no issues. Tried many other meds over the next year and half but nothing worked. Just recently went back on Effexor XR and doing well with it. Not had any issues as far as side effects."

• Jenjen
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 10, 2020

"I took effexor for a year. Got up to 325 mg dose. My depression and anxiety got worse. Three suicide attempts in a year. Constant suicidal thoughts. Wasn't til I accidentally ran out of the effexor that I felt some relief from depression and realized this med was making me worse! Needless to say I fired my doc and am currently trying nortriptyline."

• After...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 22, 2017

"I've been on 75mg of venlafaxine for 6 or 7 years. It is good for me. Before Effexor, my emotions felt like being hit by a truck. After Effexor, it gives me a moment to THINK about things, rather than just disintegrating into a puddle on the floor. I still have feelings, but they're not as overwhelming and I don't feel like I HAVE to react to them. Side effects: sweating and tiredness. I take a lot of naps! Missing a dose: About an hour or two after my time to take my pill, if I forget to, I'd get tingly and dizzy. Withdrawal: I recently tried to stop taking Effexor cold turkey. I lasted 6 days. Intense anger, bursting into tears, a static feeling in my head, like a TV set on no channel, and a tingly feeling in my lips."

• sadrin
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2016

"Never knew how powerful this drug is until I tried to replace it with Cymbalta. Within 2 days of switching, my anxiety was sky high and my depression was so severe that I literally was suicidal. Went back on it and these symptoms subsided quickly. By no means this is the perfect drug but it seems to be a bit better than others. I wish it would control anxiety better. I have to take lorazepam to control anxiety fully."

• Really...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2016

"I was prescribed Effexor after a really bad anxiety attack about 3 years ago. At first, it was really great. Less suicidal thoughts, my anxiety wasn't as bad, but I wasn't eating. I had absolutely no appetite whatsoever, I starved myself until I lost 20 lbs and they increased my dosage from 37.5 to 150 mg. It's years later and I now suffer from an eating disorder that I didn't before. The side effects; dizziness, bad coordination, insomnia, headaches, lightheadedness, and especially the fatigue, all impacted my life to the point where I dropped out of high school. The withdrawals, which occur after 24 hours of not taking the pill, make you feel inhuman. I was better before."

• Eyeball
• August 17, 2018

"STAY AWAY! RUN! For the years I was on this I was told by this new psychiatrist that I had schizophrenia, when my other psychiatrist had diagnosed me with major depression which is what I have. I was just going through a lot but effexor made me hear voices, and gave me the worst side effects. I couldn't even walk and I was so scared it was the most traumatic experience in my life. I am still trying to get back to normal I feel very disconnected."

• mikey
• September 3, 2021

"I was truly in a deep dark hole when My doctor put me on this. At first I filled the prescription but refused to take it due to all the negative side effects of getting off the drug. However, I was feeling so bad I didn’t care and decided to take it anyway. Almost immediately… Well, at least that day, I started to feel relief. Effexor actually works. My depression improved significantly and I was able to get on with life. I stayed on it for a full year. There were side effects however they were minimal. I did notice I tensed up a lot and clench my teeth. Yes, getting off of this stuff sucks to get off of. This is temporary! I would recommend taking a week off of work. Discontinuing this drug is not the end of the world. It is indeed uncomfortable. Hopefully I never go down that dark road again with depression. I would not hesitate to use this drug again if I needed it. It was a lifesaver."

• Small...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2024

"I had tried the regular Effexor and was terribly nauseated, so bad I couldn't get out of bed. I then was switched to the sustained release, but along with severe nausea, I felt as if I had the worst bladder infection of my life so I stopped. Because I took this for just over a month, I have no idea how it works for depression. It certainly didn't help me."

• Some...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2018

"This has worked really well for me. I'd recommend it but I think with any of these type of drugs, everybody is different. There's some trial and error involved. Took about 2 years and a trip to a psyche ward before I found the right medication. I take this, busiprone, and remeron and it works for me. My only advice is if you take effexor, don't ever run out of it. I went 5 days without it and it's a pretty freaky withdrawal."

• Otsut...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 9, 2019

"I have major depressive disorder, panic disorder, and ASD. It didn’t do anything for my anxiety, it did minimal for my depression, but it did drastically decrease my irritably which is good. The reason I can only give Effexor XR a 1 though is because of the HORRIBLE withdrawal symptoms I had coming off of it. And no, I was not abusing it, I was taking it as prescribed. I have been on other drugs such as Adderall and Xanax, which are known to cause bad withdrawal symptoms, but neither of those drugs caused a withdrawal anywhere near as severe as Effexor XR did to me."