... anxiety attacks and they are getting worse. Is there anyone in here taking Effexor XR and how is it helping you? Thank you, Nikki
Hello all, one ? I am currently taking Effexor XR for anxiety and depression. But I'm still having?
Question posted by FDSAnxiety on 14 Nov 2009
Last updated on 12 August 2020 by WildcatVet
19 Answers
WildcatVet
13 Aug 2020
No one responds the same way to this type of medication so what works for me may not work for you.
Effexor is a great medication but for anxiety I'd go to one of the SSRI's... Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, etc.
Another option is buspirone which is specifically for anxiety and doesn't carry the risk of short and long term side effects for most people. It's not addictive like the benzodiazepines and doesn't cause memory loss, increased anxiety, and new/increased depression like they can.
I take it and it's been a life saver.
dgarza6444
12 Aug 2020
I am taking this for supposedly depression and anxiety. I feel horrible. Tightness in chest and tingling in my extremities I have only been on for 6 days and not sure if it's worth it I also get anxiety attacks more than before this feels horrible praying I will come out from this
Tyler_Tyler
20 March 2018
Effexor seems to really be a bummer for anxiety... the only type of medications that work for me and for most others are some type of sedative.
Brincat
10 Jan 2018
Hi there I've been taking efexor for many years and on the highest dosage of 375mg, it used to help with my anxiety and depression yet I'm going to ask for a change. Saw an assoc professor at psychiatry centre and he recommended it.. It is thought they can stop being effective... Keep trying, don't give up and best of luck to you..
Meme42
25 Dec 2017
I have been on Effexor XR for about 11 years. It seemed like a miracle drug for years, but recently I've started having panic attacks again. If I skip it a day I feel o.k. but when I take it again, in a couple of hours I have a panic attack again. Guess it's time to switch to something else.
ruzicka
20 March 2018
I just responded to Nikki with my experience of over 15 years on anti's. And what I told her is that after a few years, different with everyone, but still same scenario, that the drug just kind of wears off. You have to keep changing it to keep "tricking" your body's natural chemicals. So now that I've been on Effexor for about 4+/- years now(prozac for 10 years, 75 mg Effexor before that) I can feel the depression and lack of life seeping back. Doctors say Effexor is really the best for depression. Maybe I'll try adding the Abilify. Uggh, such a drag.
hudson17
9 Jan 2012
Effexor XR made my anxiety and panic attacks worse after only 3 weeks. Will start weaning tomorrow to a non-SNRI drug.
caringsonbj
21 March 2011
I have taken Effexor in the past but my advice to you if you are currently taking Effexor XR and still have symptoms that do not allow things to improve then you need to call your doctor and discuss this with him, sometimes it takes changing medications or using a combination of medications before you obtain the best results.
eleng
21 March 2011
Hi there:
I have been taken Effexor Xr 225mg for two months now. It has helped me a lot in terms of functioning and at least still keeping my job. However, emotionally not at all. I can't enjoy my kids and this is bringing me very down. My doc added 2 weeks ago Wellbutrin 150mg, and I'm feeling a little bit better, but still disconnected, and not feeling my children as before. I don't know if this helps... and I don't what else I can do... I am so tired of having that disconnection feeling... Fortunately, I have my job and it keeps my hope alive... GOD BLESS
puckiemull
21 March 2011
Hi
Yes i was also on effexor but it did nothing for me.Made my panic attacks worse and anxiety hit the roof,i had to wean off it.Im now taking prozac and xanax which is very good for anxiety and panic.I had not a good experience with effexor but then some people swear by it,everyone is different and what suits some,might not suit another.
Good luck with it,maybe suggest something else with your doc if you are not comfortable with the effexor,i'm sure you'll find something that suits you,there are so many to try and test,i know its frustrating but you'll get there in the end!
Take care
vincent1905
21 March 2011
Hi Iam weening off effexor now. I find for myself that the anxiety and panic attacks are something that I have been going though all my life. Since I have gone into therapy that is helping more then the pills did. Don't get me wrong I have my bad days. I still have to take xanax when I get an attack. Talking in therapy has helped me understand why I have the problems I do. I don't know if that makes sense, but I have things from my childhood that have triggered a lot of these disorders that I have now.I don't have answers to everything and I may be like this the rest of my life, but talking and getting to know what is going on inside me has made a big difference. I now have a part time job 2 days a week and I am painting again. Before even on the medication , I could not leave the house. Pills are good but in my case I wanted to know why I was like this.
I felt like a freak a times and I still can't be around a lot of people but I have seen improvement in myself. It is so easy for a doctor to say just take a pill and that will take care of everything and it did for awhile.The effexor is a drug that helped me for a while. I think in your case you should sit and talk to your doctor and see what he thinks about maybe having you find a doctor that can get to the root of your problems. Please do not stop taking this drug by your self. I know in my case they had to increase the dosage. I was on 225mg a day and now I am down to 37.5. I don't know if this has helped you in any way. I wish you the best and remember talk to your doctor.
vincent1905
2 March 2011
Hi this is vincent 1905. I have been taking effexor xr for 7 years. My doctor I am going to now is trying to get me off it. I am having some bad withdrawels and it is not easy but I want to get off it. I have a good doctor and I want to get to the real problems which is my past. Things that happen to me. I have had this all my life but did not know what it was. My mother and grandmother also suffered from panic and fear of prople. Today I had a really bad melt down but my doctor talked me through it. Stay well and there is hope.
vincent1905
28 Feb 2011
Hi. I have taken it for about 7 years and it helped alittle at first but I still get panic and anxiety. My one doctor who is taking me off it does not like it because of the side effects and boy going through withdrawal is very hard. I went from225 a day and now this week I am down to37.5 and it is hard.
vincent1905
24 April 2011
Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter and also Happy passover. Take care friends.
Koalamaiden
27 Aug 2011
Vincent - I have been 3 times on Effexor XR - yes, it sint easy, BUT it is a lot better than Aropax (paxil) how Ive done eachvb time is just to prolong the taking of the dose. Now I did it with out doctors help the second time and it took a week. If I took it at night, I'd take it later, then when the mind spasms kicked in, I'd take one, then it just took longer and longer then they went away. Believe me the side effects of coming off in my opinion are alot easier than others. I hope this helps.
adassel
23 Nov 2010
I have been on effexor for about 2 years and it has really helped. It did take awhile for it to really kick in. How long have u been taking it? U may just need to hive it some more time.
eleng
5 Jan 2011
Hi adassel... How long did it take for you to kick in. I have been on diff meds, but since I tried Effexor Xr (75mg for the first week, 150mg for the second, and 225mg for the third) I had at least no side effects at all. The third week I started to feel better... I was doing housework, cleaning (but still like disconnected outside). I was so excited to feel a little better that the fourth week for ONLY TWO DAYS I increased myself to 300mg twice daily. It's the fifth week right now and Im going again through hell, eventhough after those two days I put myself on 225mg once daily, but I'm still not feeling like that third week. I'm so dissapointed because I thought OMG finally I found the drug for me. Today I was crying a lot (I have two small children that need me) and I told my husband there is no reason I should continue living..My doctor told me he doesn't know why I'm feeling like this this week... I think he is a stupid..how come he doesn't know...
Moreover, he suggested I take wellbutrin with Effexor Xr, but I have tried wellbutrin alone for a week and I didn't like it. I FEEL SO HOPELESS..I WANT TO FEEL LIKE THAT THIRD WEEK AGAIN... WHAT WENT WRONG... AND PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME THE TRUTH HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR IT IN GENERAL... COULD IT BE 3 OR 4 MONTHS... DOES THAT DISCONTINUING FEELING GOES AWAY LAST... I CANT STAND IT ANYMORE... p.S i HAVE CLINICAL DEPRESSION/ANXIETY
eleng
7 Jan 2011
Hi everybody:
If anyone remmeber mu first posting I'm back on 225 mg of effexor Xr and I;m feelin better with this rather than 300mg (which killed for the two days). I'm getting so anxious with those drugs. Back to 225mg at home I feel myself, but still not connecting with the outside, and still like having no heart. The point is I'm getting a full time job at the college I'm working on (it was my dream before getting sick), and the irony I am not sure if this drug will work for me so that I will be able to keep my job. My promotion starts March 18, 2010. I cant believe how this illness changes everything in your life... It's teh WORST OF EVERYTHING. Also, my doc wants me to try wellbutrin with Effexor XR, and I dont know why since I'm tolerating Effexor 225 well... he believes that 4 weeks I should feel connected with the outside... he is confusing me and stressing me out...
LaurieShay
2 March 2011
Hey eleng,
Please try to relax and trust the ole doc. The Wellbutrin acts differently then the Effexor on the brain and may well be the solution to your disconnectedness. I do wish you the very best, Changing jobs can be stressful, so take good care of yourself and keep in touch,
Laurie
till33
15 Feb 2010
yea i remember it making mine worse then finally they put me on ativan..you should really probably be treated with an antianxiety medicine ,tell your doc that its makeing you worse
desperatemama
13 Feb 2010
I took effexor xr until the dose could go no higher. It had no possitive effect on me what so ever. I can tell you I did have positive outcomes with my anxiety useing; lorazapam(adivan) ; (clonzapam) unsure of correct spelling on this one but it is pronounced; ca- lon-apen; and the most recent perscribed to me was ; (valum) I can confidently say these all provide positive outcomes. Everyone is different but I would say give one of those a try.
guitaryes
28 Jan 2010
I took effexor for anxiety panic attacks and sleep disorder. It caused me to have heart palpalations and didn't help very much with the anxiety , I took it for almost a month and then I was switched to paxil later. Paxil stopped the panic attacks for me and also helps me sleep at night
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effexor, effexor xr, depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder
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