Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• FINALLY
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2019

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "Okay so I might be jumping the gun, but here’s my story. I am already on Lamotrigine ( 75mg) for my bipolar disorder, and that helped. Recently Effexor XR was added to my regimen (37.5mg) for depression and also anxiety as well. Then I take GABAPENTIN 300mg as needed for mood and anxiety relief ( kinda acts like a benzo but isn’t a benzo). I’m also tapering off Lorazepam from my usual dose of .5mg to now .25, then probably nothing. But when Effexor was added immediately I felt my mood lift like within 2 hours after taking first pill. So I thought maybe I was tweaking but usually I know if pills work or not on how I wake up the next morning. Woke up next morning and I felt close to normal again. So I know day by day it will just get better. I don’t even take it with food but haven’t noticed any side effects yet. Nothing. Just ease. I’m very excited to see if this medicine will continue this progress. Signed- am I finally getting my life back?!"

• JohnK
• December 16, 2014

"Side effects are plenty, like tremors, shakes, jolts, shudders, lack of libido and seeping semen (sorry if this puts anyone off their dinner), weird dreams (initial period), yawns that make me almost pass out (initial period), double vision at night looking at bright objects. I've been on 150mg for over a year. With all these side effects you'd wonder why I keep taking it!? It's because I remember weeping driving to work, gagging before going into what other people would only find mildly stressful situations and I've gained a great deal of control again in my life, having been promoted in work and being able to play with my kids and talk to my wife. You'll read horror stories about side effects but it has worked wonders for me."

• dshio...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2023

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "Went from treatment-resistant to feeling absolutely amazing on Effexor. Wish doctors had tried this medication on me years ago. Took away a lot of pain I hadn't even noticed I was having, reduced my extreme, nonstop anxiety to almost completely calm, stopped the depression from PMDD, calmed my mood, very few side effects, absolutely recommend for panic and anxiety disorders and treatment-resistant depression. My focus on books/shows/tasks is much improved. I don't have memory issues as a side effect, I still dream and feel creative, and I feel calm. I am smiling and laughing genuinely. Downside: less motivation to do chores/tidy, nausea when starting it, have to take next dosage quickly or symptoms of withdrawal show up within hours past the next dosage time. Can definitely feel if I've skipped my dose by an hour or so, but very minor symptoms."

• Mulloz
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 4, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "If my comment helps anyone not to take this drug Effexor then I will have helped many people. I have been on and off Effexor for 10 years I'm currently off Effexor I weaned myself over 6 months. I have not read any where and I have done a lot of research that anyone has written if they have successfully stayed of this drug for more than 12 months. So hear I am to tell you it's been 9 months and once the side effect of the brain buzzes nauseous aching bones itchiness have gone away Life does begin to feel better I caught myself laughing and not feeling it was fake and crying at Tv shows Effexor gives you a fake feeling of happiness/sadness but after being on it for to long you just feel numb I believe this is why people end up wanting to come off it cause you have no emotion that and the amount of weight you will gain. 9 months and I'm probably back to where I began in needing this medication but I am trying everything I possibly can to stay of it This includes: Free hypnosis apps Free mediation apps Self help quotes Vitamin b12 Iron tablets The biggest one is when I mentally feel myself thinking negative I tell myself to stop and think of my daughters smiling face I'm not cured I'm far from it but I will never take this drug again I was worse with it than without it If I help one person not to take this drug the I will be a better person good luck"

• Rikki
• April 15, 2015

"I have been on and off this drug for about 15 years now. It is the only drug I have found that will slow my racing thoughts and general anxiety disorder. I was on Prozac when I was first diagnosed, and that was a nightmare; I had no short-term memory whatsoever. I have also tried Cymbalta and a few others, none of them helping like the Effexor does. I have taken myself off this medicine many times thinking I was better and didn't need it anymore, just to come to the conclusion it was indeed the medicine making me feel normal. I remember having side effects when I first started this medicine, but they do subside."

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2008

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "This drug has been a miracle for me. I've never been a nervous or a high-strung kind of person until the last year. I thought I was going crazy and was afraid to tell anyone. I talked to my doctor, and he prescribed the Effexor XR. Started at 75 mg, and then went to 150 mg. I feel normal again now."

• Jenni...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 6, 2020

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "I have suffered with GAD and panic disorder since age 6. Effexor XR has been a miracle for me since I began taking it 2 years ago. I was having such bad anxiety I could no longer function normally and had thoughts of not being here almost daily . I felt like I was going to die and had been to the emergency room with my entire body shaking uncontrollably and not having slept for 5 days in a row. Amazing medication is all I can say for me. I have been increased to 225mg from 150mg during a difficult time recently and again it was wonderful"

• Lisa...
• May 1, 2016

"My diagnosis: MDD. It is more of a situational depression. I can be okay for years, but as a single mom, business owner, and a few family struggles, the stress sneaks up on me and before I know it, there's anxiety, loss of interest, agitation, guilt, shame, and some paranoia. I tried Zoloft and it was okay. Tried citalopram and couldn't tell if it was working. A doctor gave me venlafaxine a few years ago. I took it for a year and almost took for granted how absolutely life-changing this medication was. I lost my insurance when the prescription ran out, so I went without it for a few years. I went back on it last week and it worked again almost instantly. No side effects here, just peace!"

• Raegan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 12, 2015

"My doctor started me out on the 37.5 and now I am on 75 mg. I love my venlafaxine and I love my doctor. For the first time, I feel hopeful. I don't feel stuck in my head all the time. Most of all, I don't sit around with my body all tensed up, jaws clenched. I used to stay sore from tensing up. Not waking up scared and wired anymore. I am getting my life back. If I stay on this for life, I am good with that."

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2020

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "I’ve had a real go with anxiety since I was 12. I thought everyone felt like me. I wish I would have known there was help back then but at that age you cannot explain it to someone. So since 5 months ago I started 37.5 mg Effexor xr and now I’m up to 75mg. I find I don’t worry as much and when I’m in a social situation I’m not as stressed. I read horror stories about withdrawal that makes me a bit nervous but I’ve also been told by my dr that Prozac helps with the withdrawal if you want to come off it. Apparently it has a very long half life. I will report back how 75 mg is helping. Take care x"

• Linda...
• February 1, 2015

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "My 1st anxiety attack was in 2000. I didn't know what was going on. Then I saw my doctor and said I had an anxiety attack. He placed me on Effexor XR 37.5 mg for 2 weeks, then 75 mg after that. I was on it for 14 years. Then I got off all medication, only took Xanax 1 mg when needed. I lost my job about 5 months ago and now having severe anxiety attacks even when I wake up. I get sweaty, chills, diarrhea, and rapid heartbeat. I went to see my doctor. He put me back on Effexor 37.5 mg and I'm on day 4, but still having attacks. I hope this gets into my system soon because it helped me before, and I know it will again. No one knows why I get them, but I've tried hypnosis, etc., and nothing helps. They keep on coming. Plus, going through menopause doesn't help."

• Anonymous
• May 9, 2008

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "I had developed severe anxiety and depression in my late teens/early 20s and like many before me, I have tried Wellbutrin, Paxil, Lexapro, etc. This is the only medicine that has shown significant improvement on both my depression and anxiety. I can be myself again. Don't be ashamed to talk to your doctor or family member. Get help as soon as possible."

• Rii
• May 15, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "I started Effexor XR in Nov 2016. The first week (37.5 mg) was a bit of a roller coaster for me in terms of emotions. Every day around noon I would start to feel a bit panicky and get hot/cold flashes. After about 5 days the mood swings stopped. I had a brief period where I could feel there was a difference, and then it "crashed". I upped the dose, and the same pattern repeated every 3-4 weeks, where the meds would become effective, crash, increase the dose, and repeat. After roughly 6 months of this, I have finally made it to a dosage that didn't crash (187.5 mg). I am SO grateful for this - the benefits were well worth the wait. Doing things/talking to people no longer makes me feel completely exhausted. Have patience with this drug."

• GStella
• September 7, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "It has changed my life, I've been on effexor (75mg) for almost 2 months and it's hard to realize that your life was a mess before effexor. It took away my physical pain and my anxiety, the first few weeks felt as if a veil was pulled out and then I as able to feel me again and to see everything around me on a new light, calmer light. And I realized I was not a choleric (bad-tempered or irritable) person but a pretty laid back one."

• Katos
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 9, 2015

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "I've been on medication since 18 yrs old and this is by far the best than I've taken. And it really works!! The side effects are unconfortable however in the beginning. But once they are gome I feeled good. I've started with 75mg was not enough. Once I was on 150mg the magic operates.And now I have been on 225mg for about 6 months. So far so good. I recommend it. Best thing that happened to me in a while."

• DJano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2019

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "Almost 3 months on Effexor XR 75mg and the last 3 days I have been symptom free of the debilitating GAD! I was on a small dose of Xanax for the past 30 years and my GAD started to build up for about 6 months to the point of wanting to commit suicide, I've never gone through anything like this in my whole life. The side effects of Effexor for the first 6 weeks was brutal but I'm so glad I hung in there. The medication did exactly what my Dr. said it would do. I no longer need to take any Xanax."

• MzT
• January 25, 2014

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "My body responded very negatively to this medicine and I had to be pulled off of it. I had a lot of side effects with no relief for my generalized anxiety disorder it was prescribed for. Side effects: tremors, blurred vision, ringing in ears, constipation, irregular period, insomnia, nightmares, light headedness, coldness in extremities, suicidal feelings, murderous feelings, cloudy head, weight gain, nausea, metallic tasting dry mouth."

• tquick
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2015

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "You have to get through the uptake before judging. I am taking 75 mg of XR and it took 12 days for the nervousness, hot flashes, complete loss of appetite, and weird nerve sensations to subside. I now feel great and have a sense of calm and happiness that I did not have before with GAD and mild depression. I don't worry as much. I'd give this drug a ten (10) if it wasn't for the delayed ejaculation (I'm 47) during intercourse. Ativan helped get me through the uptake. Buspar (hot flashes, dizziness) and Mirtzapine (weight gain) did not work for me."

• ooop
• April 17, 2015

"I been on this medicine since 6 years, I love it. Never thought I was going to get better especially after my last pregnancy, oh my gosh couldn't even get out of the house, but than my doctor introduced me to this amazing pill, 150 mg a day. That's all I needed, and bang ....my life was like before."

• Lee
• November 17, 2015

"I went thru a horrible domestic violence issue with someone I loved very dearly in the end I lost my home and everything in my life it left my daughter and I homeless. I felt soooo lost , hopeless , emotions all over the map and The depression I was experiencing was soooo severe and the anxiety was at a whole new height thru the roof this medicine saved my life I wanted to die the pain and emptiness I felt inside was like nothing I have ever felt before. I have battled depression my whole life nothing ever worked but this medication was prescribed to me along with Buspar and it has helped me tremendously It levels me out and I dont feel sooo hopeless . My emotional state has improved tremendously"

• AAano
• June 1, 2019

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "Have tried other meds in the past. My anxiety went away but I also felt like I just didn’t care about anything. Tried 37.5mg dose of Effexor in the mornings and after a few weeks I was feeling pretty great. I felt much more stable and the constant worry and mood swings faded away. But I could still feel happy, occasionally sad, and I felt more motivated than I had in a long time. After a year I weaned myself off and still felt pretty good for about 6-8 months. Recently I went back on as my anxiety was coming back and this time it’s just 25mg a day. My only noticeable side effect is my sex drive is pretty low. As I am feeling better I’m also not self medicating with (lots of) alcohol. I actually feel sick if I drink more than 3 drinks on these meds. This has worked for me and has definitely changed my life. It may not work for everyone, but after years of avoiding meds the only thing I regret is not doing it sooner."

• wifey...
• October 6, 2013

"I've been on 75mg of Effexor XR for about 3 weeks. I still have some anxiety but I can tell it is helping. I was very afraid of sexual side effects when taking this medicine but I'm happy to report that overall its not been a problem. 70% of people do not have sexual side effects. "

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2020

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "The people saying they don’t get side effects maybe they just don’t notice, but there are side effects. I sweat more, sleep less, and have no sex drive, but those are all things I can live with in exchange for the positive effects I get. I started taking Effexor in high school because I was sleeping an average of 16 hours a day, likely had depression because I was anxious so much, and my quality of life was abysmal. I left the house like four or five times a week at the most as a 16 year old. Once I started Effexor I started to feel more energized, I didn’t need nearly as much sleep, and my depression has cleared away completely. I still have issues with anxiety attacks, but have recently lowered my Effexor dose and started taking lexapro as well. This is a medication you cannot miss doses on because you will start to feel serious symptoms of withdrawal if doses are skipped, but it’s a great medication worth trying if you haven’t found what’s worked for you yet."

• sailor
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2014

"Have been on a lot of different antidepressants for anxiety. Most meds made my condition worse (making me more hyper) or made me 'not care' (eg citalopram). Although it's been hard getting used to Effexor - it made me very sick for the first few weeks and affected my sleep - I now feel more in control now than I've ever been before."

• Manel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "Let me start by saying..... Two years ago I was prescribed 37.5mg for 7 days then was supposed to step up to 75mg......I got both prescriptions but after reading all the negative reviews I got scared, never took one pill and threw them all away. Until recently, when I needed to try and see if they work for my own peace of mind. I have generalized anxiety disorder and apparently was depressed as well but didn't realize it until I started taking it. I take 37.5mg at same time at night, just before bed. No side effects. Dr. keeps trying to up it to 75mg but 37.5mg works for me so I won't fill the 75mg script. It takes the "Edge" off. I suggest if you want to try it to start low and take it for awhile but only increase if it's not enough. Cheers!"