Venlafaxine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews

• spa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 5, 2013

Venlafaxine "If I was not on Effexor (in combination with Lithium & Seroquel), truthfully, I would not be here to write this. With investigation by my psychiatrist into my medical records, we identified I have been bipolar for 40 years. Many of them I was not treated, even though I spent three different times in a 'mental' facility. The only identification for me was that I was a difficult and troubled person. When I finally met the psychiatrist I have today, with his help and his innate understanding of what bipolar is, it only took 3 or 4 different prescriptions to finally arrive at Effexor giving me the best overall help. As I mentioned earlier, this prescription has truly been a lifesaver. No bothersome side effects."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2011

Venlafaxine "Effexor has saved my life. I had depression and anxiety so bad, I couldn't function and was suicidal. Couldn't leave my house, I wouldn't leave my bedroom or eat for days at a time. Since taking Effexor, I can't believe how much better I feel. I feel 100%, doing the things that I should be doing, just like everyone else."

• Mum...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 22, 2016

"I have been on venlafaxine for almost 10 years. After being diagnosed with severe depression when I was in my twenties, I was prescribed Prozac, on which I couldn't function, and then Paxil, which worked okay at first. Several years later, after years of both manic and depressive episodes, the worst full-blown manic episode got me re-diagnosed as bipolar. I was prescribed venlafaxine, a very small dose, which made me violently ill for over 2 weeks, but after that, it improved, and I felt better. My dosage has been upped numerous times. I am now at 225 mg and have been for a couple of years. It has been a lifesaver. I feel like I have a new life: one without rages, anxiety, and depression. My family is much more stable now that I am stable."

• Anonymous
• September 7, 2009

Venlafaxine "I think Effexor has been very beneficial for me - I've taken it for about six years. A word of warning: do NOT let your prescription run out or take yourself off Effexor abruptly! I experienced this by accident while waiting for a mail-order prescription to arrive (my doctor was just moving into a new office and didn't have samples available). Within 2 days, I was a wreck emotionally (depressive, sobbing for no reason), cognitively (all over the place, no concentration), and physically (impaired motor coordination among other things). The 'brain shivers,' a feeling like an electrical current running from the brain down the spine and back again, are very disconcerting! I got samples from my doctor's former office and was noticeably better within hours of 1 dose."

• 66y...
• December 28, 2020

"12 years ago, I started on Effexor, having been assessed by a well-practiced psychologist recommended by my wonderful GP. The correct medication prescribed; dosage went from daily 175 mg to 150 mg to 75 mg, enabling me to function under difficult life challenges and moving from Australia to the UK. When fast release was unavailable in 2017, I switched to slow release, which worked well for me. I reduced my dose to 5 tablets a week with my UK GP’s support. During 2020, I have been reducing to 3 per week, then 2, and now 1, with the intention of ceasing medication from the start of 2021. The only noticeable side effect since reducing down to one a week is muscle and joint ache. I am in good physical shape and walk daily, averaging 25,000 steps. Non-smoker and non-drinker. Close friends will monitor me. Fast forward to today, exactly 12 years on from that life-saving appointment. I took my last tablet; I am now living a personal dream life."

• Sez...
• April 12, 2016

"Brilliant medication. I know venlafaxine is contraindicated in people who experience mania, and I have had some issues with that, but overall, with other medications that stabilize my mood, I have found venlafaxine to be a lifesaver. I am 23, been hospitalized before for a long time, and it was the first med I agreed to go back on after a period of desperation following a year of refusal to take meds due to extreme anti-psychiatry views. Now my anxiety is massively decreased, I feel much more on a level, less irritable, and far less lethargic. This medication has done so much for me. No side effects apart from the initial week or two of starting it. I got some insomnia, and occasionally I get a very dry mouth. Sometimes a bad tremor."

• Car...
• July 23, 2015

"I was misdiagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, and it turned out that I had Bipolar 2 Disorder. I take Effexor 150 mg for my depression and Abilify 10 mg for my mood swings and anxiety. It works pretty well, but I do have restlessness and random hyperness at times, especially around my period. I'd recommend it."

• Ved...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 30, 2013

Venlafaxine "After 4 years of trying all the other antidepressants, I was put on Effexor. From the first day, it was like the lights were turned on. If I go 2 days without, I can't stop crying and it's difficult to function. I don't have insurance and a low income, so it's really tough at times. I feel like I need to increase the dose, but 225 mg is the max."

• sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 20, 2020

"I'm a 21-year-old female, and I've been suffering from an undiagnosed bipolar spectrum disorder for several years. I finally got diagnosed about 6 months ago, and I started 200 mg Lamictal, which changed my life almost instantly. However, my depressive episodes were still fairly debilitating, although less intense than before. I started 150 mg Venlafaxine in addition to the Lamictal, and it took about 7 weeks to fully kick in, and so began the happiest time of my life. These drugs saved my life, and the Venlafaxine, especially, made me happy again. The only side effects I had were decreased appetite and lowered sex drive. I didn't mind the decreased appetite, but the low sex drive sucked. I recently doubled my dose to 300 mg because some life stuff happened that was bringing out my depression. It's been 1 week, and it’s made my sex drive fly through the roof. I really hope this isn't a temporary side effect because it feels amazing after years of not having a sex drive from the depressive episodes."

• car...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 10, 2019

"I've been on venlafaxine 300 mg a day. I take this alongside quetiapine 100 mg a day. I've been on these two drugs for a few years now after being sectioned twice. Without it, I would not function. I was on several drugs before venlafaxine, e.g., trazodone, etc., but they didn't work, hence being sectioned. Since being on this drug for a few years now, I am stable and have not had a hospital admission for my mental health, which is a relief to my family. They are no longer out looking for me on bridges or train tracks, etc. I could not function without this combination of tablets and go out shopping with my family and take my dogs out. So, I think this is a great drug."

• Anonymous
• February 13, 2010

Venlafaxine "I love this medication for the positive effects as far as helping my depression and such. I have been on it for over 10 years. I thought about getting off of it a few years ago and had horrible withdrawal symptoms. It is almost like electricity running through your head and face. If I miss two doses, I am flat on my back sick. I can't keep my eyes open because of the visual disturbances. It's like all of my senses are heightened, and when I move my head, it almost feels like everything kind of moves with a short shift. Needless to say, I didn't get off of it. It is really strange. The withdrawal symptoms lasted more than a week and didn't improve until I started taking it again."

• Her...
• July 18, 2024

"Here to only tell you all side effects are temporary. If you experience positive effects for your depression, but can't stand the side effects, don't stop taking it. All side effects will disappear after a maximum of one month! I had tinnitus, problems with libido, but my depression was gone after a few days on 150 mg. I think I will never stop this medication. It works 110%. Make sure you take the right milligrams for you. All other antidepressants just are not working, even the most expensive ones. Good luck to you all."

• Fun...
• January 31, 2018

"I’ve been taking Effexor XR and now the generic brand venlafaxine for 20 years this year. I have a love-hate relationship with this medication. It has helped me wonderfully with my depression, but the side long-term effects make me hate it. I have become dependent on it. I believe it has ruined my short-term memory. If I miss one dose, immediately after the next dose, I get sick. I’m nauseous for the day, I have a migraine, and the worst is the muscle and bone aches. My body hurts so bad. If I miss two doses, I become psychotic. I can’t speak normally. I repeat the same thing over and over. I shake terribly. I feel trapped in my head. I hallucinate. I get brain zaps too. I’m terrified to come off of this drug in search of an alternative, but I am at the highest dose and it’s not working anymore. I am incredibly stable mentally. I’m a busy mother of 4, and I take the mental health in my life very seriously. I don’t recommend this drug unless it is for short-term use."

• Ove...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 25, 2020

"Been on this medication, venlafaxine, for 2 years now, along with quetiapine for bipolar, and the antidepressant works. I've only had one bad manic episode. I’ve been on different antidepressants over a 20-year period, but venlafaxine works for me."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2017

"This drug was the worst experience of my life, watching my partner take it! He was prescribed it by his GP for cycling moods (later diagnosed with BPL and rapid cycling bipolar). After a week, he began to run away from home, sat in the road in the rain, and ran away from work. (Before he had held a job for 9 years despite awful mood swings). GP felt this was 'normal' and upped his dose. He then began to plan his own suicide and was only stopped thanks to a security guard at the car park. He stopped caring about me or anyone else. Two days later, he turned psychotic with a knife (we are talking about a gentle, animal-loving, world peace advocate, I might add). Stayed in a mental hospital to detox, now on quetiapine, much better. Awful drug!"

• nev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 14, 2020

"I had an 8-month mania where I lost large chunks of memory. Did terrible things and also had a reset to many of my abilities to handle the thought of pain in others or myself. I'm now a sensitive flower to the point where silly, gory movies make me shake. I HATE this medicine. On top of that, it made me super sick to my stomach."

• Anonymous
• March 24, 2011

Venlafaxine "After trying a variety of medications over the years, the doctor put me on Effexor. This medicine has, by far, been the best treatment! I am thankful to find something that finally stabilizes my mood and doesn't interfere with concentration!"

• Pet...
• November 11, 2016

"Chemotherapy brought on bipolar disorder, and several years of meds and regular sessions of therapy have made me feel somewhat normal. I take 300 mg of Effexor, along with 800 mg of Seroquel. My side effects are some memory loss, thirst, and fatigue. I do have an issue with staying engaged. However, my unrealistic fears are not something I think about as often, and my anxieties are minimal. I had some income issues, and I did not take my meds, all my symptoms returned. I suspect that I will need this drug for my entire life."

• Ash...
• October 12, 2009

Venlafaxine "I have tried at least a dozen different psychiatric drugs, and Effexor XR works better for my depression than anything else has, and it does not make me at all manic. I also had a positive side effect: it made me lose weight! I was very pleased."

• kra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 20, 2012

"I have been taking this for 2 years now, and it has been the best thing to happen to me. It was only when I had bad suicidal thoughts that my doctor finally realized I had bipolar. They just kept saying I was depressed, but to be fair, I never told them how bad it was until I had a complete breakdown. After being admitted to the hospital, I had to speak to a counselor and was a few seconds away from being sectioned under the Mental Health Act that they realized I was worse than what I was originally saying. Venlafaxine has made my life and my kids' lives better. I am on 225 mg per day: 75 mg at night and 150 mg in the mornings."

• Sol...
• July 10, 2015

"I have been on Effexor for twelve years, and it's been very effective until just recently. (I think my body has grown too used to it.) When it was still able to affect me, it was super useful. The bad part is that you'll suffer from withdrawal symptoms if you don't take it for over 24 hours. I ran out in college for FIVE DAYS (I lived in one city, and my psychiatrist was in another), and I was miserable - chills, weird dreams, everything. Never let it run out and never forget to take it. Otherwise, it's a good medicine."

• Anonymous
• April 20, 2009

Venlafaxine "Just came from the doctor after 'weening myself' to 75 mg of Effexor. Bad move, doctor put me back to 150 mg. Doctor put me on Buspar with my Effexor. FANTASTIC. Haven't felt this good in years, but I felt so good I thought I could get off the Effexor. Lesson here, if you feel better, don't stop taking your medicines, it's working. Ask your doctor about taking Buspar with the Effexor. I have never felt better. No more racing thoughts, etc. Now, just waiting for Effexor to work its way back into my system. As for coupling it with the Buspar - RIGHT ON THE MONEY."

• emb...
• November 14, 2009

Venlafaxine "I've been on Effexor XR for almost a decade. The withdrawal symptoms have prevented me from stopping it. Every attempt in the past to change/stop the medicine has landed me in the hospital. I am now taking the generic due to the cost, I can't see any difference. I consider it my happy pill and have to take it every day, or I experience uncomfortable side effects."

• Rek...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 4, 2021

"I have been using venlafaxine for about 10 years alongside quetiapine, but at first, my doctor didn't want to prescribe it in fear that it would trigger a manic episode. The quetiapine was a lifesaver, but this helped me not use extra-large doses of quetiapine in severe depressive episodes, and it never triggered mania. The key is to taper down gradually when you feel well, so that you can increase again if needed. The same goes for quetiapine, by the way."

• Ler...
• October 28, 2010

Venlafaxine "I take anywhere between 112.5 and 187.5 mg of Effexor XR. It is the only thing that has worked on my bipolar depression. It has been a miracle medicine for me. Nonetheless, one has to be careful. I was manic on it at 150 mg without a mood stabilizer. Now I take 20 mg Abilify with it, and it is working great."