My pharmacy just switched my Effexor XR 75 mg to this generic - venlafaxine HCL 75mg - Is this ok?

I was on effexor XR 150 and was switched to Venlafaxine XR. Had no problem. Just be sure they are XR capsules.

I was on venlafaxine HCL 75mg for a long period and had to stop it because of persistent and increasing dizziness. The doctor switched me to Effexor XR 75 mg and the problem went away. You might ask your doctor to specify to pharmacy that you must have Effexor.

No generic is same. Some people can over analyze it and say it is different just stick with it

Since the amount of the active ingredient is the same as the brand name you are probably reacting to the inert ingredients ~ fillers ~ and this will resolve within a few days to a week or so.

Deleted - inappropriate comments.

I was intolerant to the generic. According to scientific data they have to be % close to the actual ''drug recipe'' and many have side effects with generic. My doctor had to write a referal to the pharmacist and my insurance company stipulating that I do not tolerate it. Now they have no choice and they are paying the brand name Effexor XR for me. As soon as I took the effexor back, the side effects went away. Good luck

All of the websites say that the generic version and the name brand are the same. With that said everybody is different, all of us have different chemical make ups, I would start with the pharmacy and make sure the correct Mg dosage was administered. If it was and the change was due to insurance then you need to involve your doctor.

I think im having the reverse effect. i was on the generic venaflaxin (dont know if im spelling it right) and my pharmacy gave me Effexor XR and i feel light headed and dizzy at first i thought it was a side effect of the Mirena but now that im reading these post im thinking it might be the Effexor XR..

I took the generic venlafixine hcl last summer. I took it for anxanity attacts because my husband had passed away. I took it for 3 weeks and one morning I woke up and saw about 5 people in my front yard. I called the Sheriffs dept and let my german shepherd dogs out. Well needless to say the dogs did not react at all. The sheriff & deputy came out and saw no one. I just stood on the front porch & cried. Thats what venlafixine did to me. Then I found out that I was not the only one who had this reaction. Never again. Thats what generics do to you God help us all Sheba3878

When doctors write scripts sometimes they write its ok . I would call my doctor and tell him what they gave you and the symptoms you are having. Ask him if he wants you taking the brand name. I know my doctor wants me taking brand names on some of my meds.

Mine is the worst scenario... Starting with the generic up to 225mg, feeling much better by the fourth week and after that my doc switched me to the brand name 225mg, and three weeks right now I'm going crazy. I paid 300 for the brand name for nothing... I feel like I'm starting a new med directly on 225mg... my anxiety is terrible and insomnia (I didn't have any of those with the generic, which I started slowly). I hate psychiatrists...

Thank you to all who have answered to the posted question. Yesterday I called my pharmacy to ask about differences between the 150mg ER Venlafaxine tablet versus the 150mg ER capsule. I have never had an issue going between brand name Effexor xr 150mg and the venlafaxine ER tablets, but this switch from tablet to capsule has been grueling. I feel light-headed, sick to my stomach, and have had headaches.
I have been on the drug for 10+ years, and because of insurance changes have had to switch back and forth. Now the pharmacy gave me the new ER capsule. This sucks!

Hello, I was switched to generic without notice and I was spiralling downward and had no idea why! The only change I could think of was that when I was paying my dispensing fee they mentioned it was generic and my benefits only covered generic. So i figured they would never give me something that didn't work exactly like the brand name! Well I was wrong! I spoke to my doctor and she was actually flooded with complaints about this new 'generic' effexor! She emmediatly prescribed "brand name only" Effexor and had to write a note for the pharmacist etc. I began to feel back to my old self pretty quickly.
So my doctor explained to me that Effexor has a patented time release system in it. Try as they might, the generic people can not seem to emmulate it. I find it rather discouraging that they market their product as the same as the brand name! It just doesn't seem right to play with people's lives like this! If I hadn't figured it out as quickly as I did I would have been in serious trouble.

I don't like generic pain medications (I have been through five kinds) I would say from my experience every person's body is different what might not be a problem for you might make me really have problems, now I am not trying to scare you if this continues please contact you prescriber and tell him what has happened far better if this does not work then maybe he can intervene my best wishes and prayers

I found that I'm experiencing the same thing! I'm on 225mg of Effexor XR, and once switched to the generic (it is the extended release too), I've started feeling as though I'm withdrawing, even though it appears to be the same dosage.. I've been dizzy and very irritable and sensitive, so I've been wondering the same, if there's a difference at all, that could be making me feel this way... Let me know if you figure it out, I'm going (back) to the doctor!