User Reviews for Effexor

I started taking Effexor XR 4 months ago. My entire life I've struggled with anxiety. I have gone to cognitive behavioral therapy to help me change my responses to anxiety producing situations, all to know avail. I never wanted to take medication as I thought only weak people do that. About 2 months prior to taking Effexor XR I began having panic attacks so severe I felt as though I was going to die. I couldn't function and became depressed. As a last resort I decided to try medication. I take one 75mg capsule every morning. Please note, the 1st 2 weeks were misery - I could barely lift my head or body, I had neck pain and slept constantly and still had anxiety. I stuck it out and haven't had an anxiety or panic attack since then.

I had suffered from extreme anxiety and depression for a few years and countless prescribed anti-depressants prior to trying Effexor. I suffered anxiety so bad that it was hard to do daily tasks such as driving and going to the grocery store. I went through countless jobs because a panic attack would strike at work and I would have to rush out of the situation and never return because the fear of it happening again would haunt me. The very first day being on Effexor, I felt like a different person. For the first time in years, I wanted to venture out into the world and be around people. After a week of being on 75 mg, I landed a job and now, two years later I am still symptom free and off the medicines. I give this medicine a big 10!

I have been on Effexor for over a year and my dosage has been 37.5mg daily. The drug has worked wonders for me but I have had some side effects of sweating, strange dreams and dizziness when I forget to take it.

This drug worked within a few weeks to alleviate panic attacks, stress, and anxiety. I still get stress and anxiety but not about everything like before. The overwelming stress and anxiety I had before taking the drug caused me to be depressed as well...crying a lot etc. It helped with that too. I am able to cope better and don't emotionally eat causing me to lose 25lbs pretty quickly. I have been on 75mg for almost 2 yrs now and don't plan on going off it anytime soon. The only thing that is a little scary is when I miss a dose there are almost immediate side effects. I get cranky and get weird electric like zaps in my head (hard to explain until you experience them).

This worked well for hot flashes/night sweats

Whilst it helped me, it was hard to discontinue. I have tried several times to come off it without success. The withdrawal symptoms even with a gradual lower dose, are horrific. I now have to decide whether or not to stay on this drug at maintenance level (37.5 mg) for the rest of my life or go to bed and try to sleep for at least a month whilst my body learns to live without it.

It has definitely helped with depression and anxiety. But the withdrawal effects are horrible. If I forget to take a dose, I wake up SO groggy and out of it. I have these electric-like pains through my body, my vision becomes wavy, and I get a migraine.

I have used a few different antidepressants over the years, but when I started getting panic attacks my Dr put me on Effexor. It works well for me. Missing a dose is the worst thing though. If I wake up in the morning feeling hung over and dizzy and useless, I know that I forgot my pill the day before. It takes several hours after taking it to begin to feel better. I recently switched to taking it at night because then if I miss a dose the horrible side effects will come at night and I can just take a pill and go to bed, but am finding that if I don't take a sleep aid, I am up after 3 hours (like right now) and end up having to take a nap the next day. I am thinking that I better go back to taking them in the morning.

I've been taking Effexor for about 20 months and it's my MIRACLE! I'm 34 and began taking an medicines since I was 18. I tried Paxil, Zoloft, Buspar, Wellbutrin and finally Effexor. I am so genuinely happy and jubilant I just can't believe it. I'm sure part of it is maturity, life experience and such but WOW. I plan to continue taking it forever as my anxiety is not situational as in some cases. I have a chemical imbalance that will require a medicine forever so this is the one! I've never bee happier!

I've been taking 25mg twice a day for about 6 weeks and have experienced no side effects whatsoever. I feel normal and competent for the first time in years. Prozac and Celexa both gave me such bad dreams that I had to discontinue them. That being said, I consider my anxiety and depression to be largely situational and temporary, and I hope eventually to be drug-free.

Effexor saved my life. I never knew what I "had" could be cured. I'd tried other antidepressants but they made my anxiety worse or vice versa. Effexor has given me back a will to live. It's lifted the fog of anxiety. I take 150mg. My stress level and blood pressure is WAY down. Someone mentioned strange dreams, I'd like to second that.

I have been on Effexor for four days and have already noticed a difference in my mood. I am taking it for PTSD after a long battle with cancer. I became hypervigilent looking up cancer metastasis everyday for hours. I did this for two years and realized finally that I had to do something to stop this behavior. I was certain that my cancer was going to kill me and I wouldn't be diagnosed quickly enough. This brought on deep depression and a constant fear. I isolated myself because I thought it would be better for me and family and friends if I just stayed away that way if I died no one would miss me. Stupid huh. I am so glad I finally asked for help. I can't wait for the pills to really take effect.

I've been on Effexor for about two years. Previously, I was taking Lexapro and went off it for a short period of time. I returned to my doctor and he prescribed Effexor, 75 mg/day. I experienced improvement with my anxiety, depression and panic attacks. Like everyone else, I feel it (dizzy, hungover like symptoms) when I miss a daily dose. I experience constipation and don't sleep as deep or through the night like I used to. These side effects are on the list for this medicine - so, no surprises here. I give this a rating of 9 because it is very helpful to relieve the symptoms of my depression, anxiety and panic attacks. And, it helps to control my moods so I can better manage my emotions.

I have been on Effexor XR for approximately 7 years now. I was started off at 75mg and have since been raised to 225mg over the years. I have had good results on this medication. One downfall is the terrible withdrawals that I experience if I miss a dose. These effects happen within the first couple of hours of not taking it. Terrible headache, foggy feeling, and extreme eye sensitivity. Within a day of a skipped dose I become agitated, argumentative, and defiant. I do not look forward to switching from this medicine to a different one, which my doctor has suggested, due to the withdrawal symptoms.

I have been on Effexor for 3yrs. The only side effects that have been bad were ones caused when my doctors advised me to increase dose. This caused me to fall asleep in classes, gave me severe anxiety attacks, paranoia and bi-polar like symptoms. After taking matters into my own hands and suffering through the horrible withdrawal which felt like being hung over and having the flu at the same time I am on a better dosage. This dosage has allowed me to continue living my life to an extent. I do suffer from the mild side effects and am afraid to sleep during the night at times due to the intense dreams that I have. Overall more good then bad.

Effexor has helped me more than other antidepressants I've taken. I have severe depression and take 75 mg twice a day. On occasion, my doctor increased the dose to 75 mg 3 x day.

I took Effexor XR for about 13 years. It worked fine. I just went off it VERY slowly in February so that we could try and get pregnant. Pregnancy did not happen an panic attacks came back. I went back on Effexor and it is like a different medicine! My vision has gotten so bad that I cannot drive. I am sick all of the time and I have constant diarrhea. One of my pupils dilated. I find it strange that the same medicine won't work for me as before. I have been on it now for 5 weeks.

This medication helped me with panic attacks but my anxiety was still pretty prevalent even at 150mg a day. In addition, it caused uncomfortable side effects of excessive sweaty, especially at night which would wake me although I used to be a person who could sleep through a thunderstorm. I also began having severe gastrointestinal problems which lasted for months before I switched to a different medication. We'll see how it goes.

This medicine works very well with me for my mood swings but I have never taken any other drug for mood swings before, but so far so good and the only thing that I can say about side effects is if I forget to take it I feel sick to my stomach and I do become a little agitated but once I take it I am better within in 5 to 10 minutes. Also mixing a pain pill such as Vicodin seems to counteract with the Effexor because it has made me very very irritable. Otherwise as a drug for mood swings and anxiety it works great!

I have been taking Effexor XR 150mg for about six months now. I started with Lexapro then Zoloft to help aide in anxiety relief. The only thing those two did was make me put on 30 pounds. Since diligently taking the Effexor the results have been remarkable. I lost the weight I gained and no longer feel anxious about every little thing. You have to definitely make sure you don't miss a dose especially consecutively. I ran out of my prescription, had to wait for the doctor to call it in and was without for three days...withdrawal symptoms were HORRIBLE.

Effexor has worked at times for me for my panic disorder, but has not gotten rid of my panic attacks. I've been tapering off it for months 150 to 37.5 ... Remember with Effexor almost everyone is going to suffer from discontinuation syndrome... or as many know it the "zaps". Effexor's lowest dose was 37.5 mg now they make a 25 mg to help. I understand that getting off it is possible, but the reason for the discontinuation syndrome is due to the short half life of the medicine. Prozac at a low dose around 10 mg does help because of its long half life.

It was great at first for my GAD. I have never been able to concentrate so well. Unfortunately, it completely eliminated my personality. I didn't get upset or excited about anything. I eventually went off of it after my desire for sex had been completely eliminated. My ability to become aroused returned within a few weeks. Fortunately, I did not have any withdrawal symptoms when I stopped taking it.

Be smart about getting off of this medicine. Follow doctors instructions, it is very important.

I have multiple health issues and am very anxious about them. Have been on and off Effexor 75mg twice now (going off when felt better) over 3 years and just started again with anxiety of upcoming surgeries. Going on I experience nausea and can only eat dry biscuits for about 2 weeks. Going off them 1st time no withdrawals...2nd time was suicidal as I stupidly went 'cold turkey' - not recommended. Pupils dilated and some dizziness and sexual dysfunction (I think due to MS though) otherwise great. Day 4 now and already feeling less 'freaked out' about everything but complete loss of appetite this time - not a bad thing after the summer indulgence. Have experienced insomnia this time which I had not previously. Female 37.

I started Effexor at my lowest dose, 37.5mg and then was bumped up to 75XR and now 75XR twice a day. I can honestly say it's been life changing. Not only did my anxiety go away, but I sleep better and I can function. I used to wake up at 11-12:30pm in the morning/afternoon now I can wake up at 7am without a problem. I am really happy with this medication. Before I was hazardous, suffering from anxiety after a terrible accident. I couldn't even drive now I can. And also, it helped tremendously along with Adderall for my GPA. Went from a 2.4 to a 3.6 GPA and deans list! My life changed.