Venlafaxine and Headaches: What Users Say

• don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2021

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "After trying Lexapro and Zoloft for depression and anxiety, I decided to give Effexor a try. Effexor was so much easier to start for me, with very few side effects (mild headache, some shakiness, some mild chest tightness). I started at 37.5 mg then bumped up to 75 mg. Once I went to 75 mg, something just clicked and so much fogginess went away. My anxiety improved and my mood is much more stable. This is definitely a much better drug for my chemistry. That being said, don’t be afraid to try it, and don’t take the negative reviews to heart, people are much more likely to leave negative reviews for bad experiences. Best of luck!"

• Luc...
• January 6, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "Venlafaxine changed my life, after only taking it for 2 months. The side effects were horrible at first. I had headaches and would shake or tremble when anxious, and I got extremely itchy. When you suffer from depression, GAD, PTSD, and OCD, it's a small price to pay because I started to see a change in my mood and my anxiety. For the first time in my life, my anxiety was almost gone, I could go out in public and engage in conversation for the first time in my life. I started on 75mg and I am still on it 6 months after. Lexapro made me a slow zombie and did nothing for my anxiety, it only helps for depression. A lot of reviews have negative feedback, but if you are in a bad place, push through the side effects because it's worth it, they do go away. This is the only antidepressant that doesn't make me a zombie during the day, I feel more awake. Stay strong."

• Wil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 2, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been taking venlafaxine (Effexor XR) for over 7 years and I'm giving it a rave review! It's the best medication I've ever used for my anxiety disorders and I've tried almost all the SSRIs. As added bonuses, it also relieved my depression, and the only side effect I had was a mild headache for the first few days after I started it. I can't say how happy I am with this medication! It's turned my life around."

• Add...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2021

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "After years of suffering from anxiety and panic attacks, I finally decided to start medication. I started with Lexapro, and it made me feel terrible, with horribly low libido. I then tried Buspar with the same side effects. Effexor XR was my next try. I’m writing this because I was nervous about taking this medication after reading reviews. This medication has saved my life. I can finally do things that anxiety stopped me from doing. My panic attacks have decreased to hardly any. I had social anxiety, and I feel like I can have a normal conversation without stuttering due to being anxious. The only “con” I have of this medication is if I skip it one day, I have horrible flu-like symptoms and extreme headaches. However, I don’t plan to skip it regularly, so as long as you take it as prescribed, this shouldn’t be a problem. I 10/10 recommend this medication!"

• Gra...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 19, 2023

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was taking 37.5 mg Effexor for several years. My depression was pretty much non-existent during that time. Last spring, I got cocky and had my doctor wean me off the drug over a two-month period. For six months, I felt great… until late fall arrived. I suffered with continuous anxiety for the next two months. I denied the heaviness in my chest and the constant worrying that overloaded my brain until I said enough was enough. If this situation was prolonged, I would be in a full-blown depression. I called my doctor, who put me back on 37.5 mg Effexor. I had a few side effects with nausea and headaches, but after four days, I started to feel the anxiety lift. By the fourth week, I was back to my usual happy self. I will never stop taking Effexor again. Lesson learned. My body does not produce enough serotonin. Despite my focus on exercising and other interventions to be mentally healthy, I need Effexor to keep my depression and anxiety away."

• Cha...
• December 22, 2019

Venlafaxine for Panic Disorder "I am a chemist and worked at a Pharma company when my panic attacks got really bad. My doctor put me on Effexor. The 75mg dose was way too much and I ended up in the ER. I decided to open the capsule and count the pellets. 1 pellet was about 1 mg. I was so desperate to get better (I had tried Xanax, Lexapro, and 1 other SSRI and I had severe reactions to them). I started taking 10 pellets a day and noticed an improvement immediately. I did have a headache in the back of my head at times and also had vivid dreams, but it was working. I only needed 10 mg a day for about a year and weaned off very slowly. Eight years later I developed POTS, and my anxiety, brain fog, panic attacks were terrible. Again I got on 10 mg of Effexor and needed to work up to the 37.5 mg pill. I have no panic or anxiety and can drive on the freeways again. It took 2 years to work up to the 37.5 mg. If you start on a smaller dose, these meds should work."

• GAD...
• March 22, 2019

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I’m a 32 y/o female with GAD diagnosed 2 yr ago & ADHD. My doc felt it was more important to treat my severe GAD before ADHD. After trying Zoloft for 6 months, I stopped it. NO libido. Lexapro, same thing!! Plus I was super tired. First two days on Effexor XR were amazing. (Placebo effect?) Then days 3-10 were filled with a little more anxiety than normal. Had vivid weird dreams, would wake up once in the middle of the night to pee then it would be harder than normal to fall asleep. Also, jaw popping like I was grinding the heck out of my teeth for a few nights. Day 11-now, it's wonderful. I don't feel panic attacks or anxiety anymore. I feel normal and relaxed. No more headaches, muscle tension, or sleeping problems. I'm not short-tempered with my kids. I don't worry as much! I'm just chill. Oh, and I can still pour some tears watching my chick flicks. With the sex side effect 'O'... I can still do it, just takes a tad longer. I can live with that!! I can also drink beer with this."

• jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 29, 2012

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I am 18 years old and started Effexor 3 months ago for anxiety. It has given me my life back. I used to have a hard time even leaving the house, now I enjoy life. I haven't been this happy in a long time. I don't think I would ever quit taking it. The first week, I had the shakes, felt nausea, had headaches, and had no appetite. The side effects went away and now I don't have any at all. I am so grateful, it's changed my life for the better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2019

Venlafaxine for Autism "I took this about 3 weeks ago. I started on 75 mg. I felt nausea the first day. Then the second day was easier, just a headache and a little nausea and panic. But as the week went on, the symptoms went away and I felt a lot better. The reason why I don't give it a full 10 is that if you take it late, after the 24-hour period since your last dose, you start to experience withdrawal. It is different for everyone, but I was fine. I'm autistic, suffer from acute anxiety, PTSD, and severe depression. It has saved my life so far. I am scared of horror stories, but as an autistic adult, I look at it as an opportunity."

• Can...
• April 1, 2016

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I don't normally review anything, but this time I thought I should, especially considering most people only tell you the negative experiences of a drug. I really didn't know my anxiety was bad until now. I know I had bad 'nerves', is what I call it, and I'm normally on edge and get paranoid about almost everything, especially my relationships. I got so used to being anxious that it became normal to the point that I forgot what the other side felt like. Strange but true statement. Effexor has allowed me to handle just about anything thrown at me. Yes, I get a little anxious but overall I'm okay. I did have bad gas and a headache, but it got better, totally worth a try."

• Ban...
• October 25, 2019

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I started this medication, Effexor, in combination with therapy for major depressive disorder, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. I worked up to 150 mg from 37.5 mg. It has helped me immensely. I’m less irritable, I have energy again, I stopped sleeping 14 hours a day, my anxiety is better, and I feel happier than I have in a long time. I have forgotten to take it for a day and didn’t notice any symptoms at that point. I had a bit of a headache and maybe some nausea at first and with the dosage increase, but it was mild and went away after a day or so."

• FIN...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 28, 2016

For Hot Flashes "My doctor prescribed this, along with other meds, for hot flashes due to perimenopause. I read up, at the time did not find anything too alarming. What I SHOULD have been researching was the WITHDRAWAL process for this drug. If I'd read that first, I would have asked for a different treatment route. First, it didn't help the hot flashes. So, last week, after starting at 37.5 and being upped to 75, 6 months ago, my doctor advised me to quit. COLD TURKEY. No tapering, he didn't appear alarmed, no big deal. My last dose was on a Wednesday morning. Friday morning, I awoke with a KILLER throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea. I tried to manage with OTC medications like Excedrin and Benadryl. After vomiting and experiencing visual delays, meclizine helped. Pupils were, and still are, PINPOINT."

• BTa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 27, 2019

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Effexor is a miracle drug. Never had ritualistic OCD, but as far as intrusive and obsessive thoughts go, I was in a bad spot before I was prescribed. I take 187.5 mg daily, and will forever. It takes about 10-12 weeks to get it completely into your system. But worth it. Side effects for me include an occasional headache, cured with ibuprofen. Effexor is a game changer."

• las...
• June 2, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "I am 24 years old, female, 5'1, 130 lbs. Treated for major depression and anxiety. I have aversions to junk food (I am normally health-conscious unless I am really depressed), weight loss (12 lbs), dry mouth, lighter mood, easier to focus, more motivated, mountains turn into anthills, lower sex drive, sometimes get headaches. For me, the pros overwrite the cons - I went off of this for 6 months with no problems. No addiction or sickness. I am back on it, and boy am I glad to feel happy again."

• Anonymous
• July 29, 2014

Venlafaxine for Depression "I took Effexor for three years due to depression. I loved the fact that I was no longer depressed, but I was tired all the time. I could sleep for 10 hours, get up, and two hours later I was ready to sleep again. If I missed taking a dose, I would get a horrible headache. The only reason I stopped taking Effexor was due to being tired all the time. Getting off of the medication was awful. I have never been so sick in my life. If you are going to take this medicine the rest of your life, I highly recommend it. It did wonders for my depression."

• mil...
• June 7, 2017

For Hot Flashes "I was having about 10 to 12 hot flashes a day. At night, it was unbearable. My OB-GYN told me about the medication and started me on 37.5 mg per day. In three days, I was not having any hot flashes at all, it was great! Four months later, my hot flashes began again, so he upped my dose to 75 milligrams. This worked for the hot flashes yet again. The only issue is, I went out of town for the weekend and forgot to take my meds with me. I missed 3 days on the medication, and the withdrawal symptoms hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt jittery, had a severe headache, I felt drained, and my body felt flu-like. Don't miss doses!!!"

• ssh...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 3, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "Started weaning off Effexor 150mg 1 year ago. Got to 37.5mg with hardly any side effects. Then weaning off 37.5mg was terrible. Headache/head pounding, nausea, vertigo, diarrhea, extreme tiredness, random crying spells, very emotional, etc. Did a lot of research and trusted that it’d get easier with time. 4 wks later, finally feeling physically well again... Then it got bad. Sense of constant dread, horrible anxiety, heart racing, emotional as hell, trouble sleeping, extremely depressed, and felt like a zombie. Missing work, sleeping all day, no motivation to do anything. Went back to doc and she put me back on the 37.5mg. Extremely disappointed not to get off this medication. Been 3 days since getting back on it, starting to feel somewhat normal again, just want my life back. Wish I’d received more info when I was first prescribed it - had no idea it would be such a nightmare to try to get off of it. This experience has shaken up my whole world. BEWARE."

• Mon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 5, 2013

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "My doctor prescribed this for my anxiety due to perimenopause, 37 mg. I was always tired on it so he increased it to 75mg XR. I'm not as tired as I used to be and I no longer wake with anxiety and can sleep through the night. My energy level is not as high as it used to be before Effexor. My appetite has also increased. I've heard this can be due to a combination of the Effexor and menopause. If I skip a dose, I get headaches."

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2021

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I was prescribed Effexor XR for anxiety. After taking 75 mg for two weeks, the nightmare begins. Insomnia, night sweats, horrific dreams and visions. I couldn't think or concentrate, I couldn't work or drive, my head was spinning, I couldn't talk properly. The headache was so bad it landed me in the hospital. I was so tired and couldn't stop yawning. I actually thought I was going insane on this drug. Loss of appetite followed by drastic weight loss, diarrhea. I persisted another week, then that's when the electric shocks started through my body. They were horrendous and left me thinking there was something wrong with me neurologically. Against the doctor's advice, I went cold turkey off of this drug. The withdrawal was horrific, but I was determined to get this stuff out of my body. Even seven months off the drug, I still get some of the shocks and feel this drug has permanently damaged me. I would do your research well before considering this drug. I'd never touch it again. Worst experience of my life."

• Rog...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I am so excited about my initial experience with this drug. For the first time in 13 years of treatment for anxiety (GAD & social), I have experienced an extended period of relief. I took an SSRI for most of the past decade, and it seemed somewhat helpful but never really gave me sustained relief. I am now at 6 weeks on Venlafaxine (75 mg for 12 days, 150 mg for 30 days, now at 225 mg), and I am feeling much calmer. Most exciting, I still get panicked thoughts, but don’t seem to have the associated fear feelings. I am so hopeful that this will last! Side effects are very noticeable but bearable: headache, some nausea, minor dizziness, a dry mouth, and frustratingly slow urination. I hope those will go away with time, but I’ve been on the 225 mg for a week, and they have been consistent. If it means I can live without the constant struggle with fear, then it's worth it."

• Maj...
• February 11, 2020

For Depression "I took Venlafaxine 75 mg twice in my life. I took it for a year in 2018 and went back to it at the end of 2019. The first time taking it was hard because of the side effects: no appetite, libido gone, headaches, and vomiting. After two weeks, it got so much better, so keep trying it and don't give up because after a while, side effects are gone. The first time taking it was very good, helped me a lot, much better than the previous med that I was taking (fluoxetine 20 mg). At the end of 2019, I had to start taking it again, and in the first weeks, it was okay. It helped me for around 3 months, but then I got worse, apparently, my body was tired of the chemicals, and now I changed to a new antidepressant. Let's try it... Do not give up on venlafaxine, it was really good and helpful for me. Don't be harsh on yourself and be strong with the side effects because it is just in the first days. Good luck to everyone who is reading this.."

• hol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "After being admitted to the hospital following a panic attack and suicide attempt, I was prescribed Effexor because I had tried four different SSRIs and none worked, so the doctor thought I should try an SNRI. My first dose was 30 mg, and half an hour after taking it, I started to feel really weird-terrible headache, blurred vision, anxious/uneasy, jittery, and kept spacing out. The next day, they moved me up to 75 mg, and the headache went away, but the other symptoms remained. The next few days were awful. It gave me horrible social anxiety (which I don't normally have), and I couldn't get any work done because my eyes wouldn't focus and I would stare off into the distance for minutes at a time, sort of dissociating. Also made me SUPER lazy. It made me just want to sit on my couch and stare into space."

• Dan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 27, 2020

For Anxiety "I've been on venlafaxine 75 mg for 7 months. Have been dealing with general anxiety and OCD all my adult life but never taken meds before. First positive effect was not tearing up all the time over a sudden wave of grief. At 2 months, I wasn't depressed at all anymore. I don't get stuck in the obsessive anxiety spirals anymore. I think I still experience the feelings of fear, sadness, and regret, but they don't consume me every day and color my every thought. During the first 2 weeks, I experienced dry mouth, nausea, and headaches. I take the dose in the morning, and if I forget, the next night I will wake up in a cold sweat. I haven't noticed other side effects. If I forget for ~12 hours, I don't notice a difference. I'm a 30-year-old woman."

• Ros...
• March 1, 2018

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I have been on this drug for 2 weeks and am already in love with it. I feel like it’s balancing out something in my brain that has been broken a long time. I feel like if I’m not constantly struggling and fighting to lose weight, the pounds just pile on. When I stop exercising while sick, I gain everything back. I also have depression and anxiety. Most pills make me feel like a zombie. So since starting this drug, I have lost almost ten pounds in 2 weeks. And I haven’t even tried! I am less hungry, like if I’m not hungry, food doesn’t even look good. I was on vacation for one of the weeks I’ve been on Effexor and didn’t eat the healthiest, but did eat less. I haven’t exercised either, except for a few days here and there. I know it takes longer to see the real effects of the drug, but I’m already less anxious and the weight is just falling off. No bad side effects except a little constipation and a slight headache the first week."

• fir...
• February 8, 2017

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I've been on Effexor for 2 weeks now. I feel a lot less anxious and generally happier. I've noticed some side effects, which I was expecting. So I thought I'd share my experience: sweaty hands, blurred vision, nightmares, stomach ache/headache, loss of appetite, weight loss, trouble sleeping, major increase of the effects of alcohol. Those are just some of them."