User Reviews for Venlafaxine (Page 2)

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 begin again so he up my dose to 75 milligrams. This work for the hot flashes yet again. The only issue is, I went out of town for the weekend I forgot to take my meds with me. I miss 3 days on the medication and the withdrawal symptoms hit me like a ton of bricks. I feel jittery, severe headache, I felt drained, my body felt flu-like. Don't miss doses!!!"

mill5 June 7, 2017

For Hot Flashes: "I was on estroidot 25 patch for nine years after a complete hysterectomy. Concerned about breast cancer my doctor put me on venlafaxine 37.5 mg to help with hot flashes plus anxiety after my son passed away, the effect was unbelievable. Minimal hot flashes and my grief and sadness was not nearly as bad as before. It was immediate. I was nauseated for a couple of weeks at first which passed. I also had anxiety for about two weeks which has passed. It has done wonders for me. I suggest that you not give up on it at the beginning because after about a month it really calmed me and helped with both situations that I needed help with. Hope this helps. Did not increase my dose as of yet.... four months."

OD (taken for 1 to 6 months) June 7, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: "I only took this medication for a short period of time I loved it when I was on it. Increased happiness and just overall life was better until one day as I was driving to work, I lost my peripheral vision in one eye. Luckily it came back...but it is one of the potential side effects that is not listed as it has only happened in a small amount of people. Something like 1-4% of people that take it. I need to try one of the other SNRI's. I am currently on sertraline for PPD, PTSD, and anxiety. And it's working, but not like the Effexor did."

Anonymous (taken for 1 to 6 months) June 5, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder: "I'm getting anxiety and have panic attacks that are horrible since I took these pills! I had anxiety before but never got the attacks that I'm getting today! I have bad thoughts and sleep all the time and don't feel like doing anything. Just worry and cry."

Dadaa (taken for 6 months to 1 year) June 5, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) for Depression: "I just started taking Effexor xr a little over a month ago. I was extremely tired the whole month (nothing would help that either, I took a 5 hour energy and fell asleep right after) and last night was my first night where I felt like myself for the first time in a few years. I am hopeful that this lasts and the exhaustion goes away. I have a cough but it's only really bad at night and have a small cough in the morning. My cycle seems a little off, I had spotting and then nothing so I'm not sure what is happening with that but I read that's a possible side effect as well."

SeaMom (taken for 1 to 6 months) June 4, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder: "Extremely effective and few side effects, which unfortunately include impotence."

AngryNeurotic (taken for 10 years or more) June 3, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) for Anxiety: "This changed my life. For 20 years I have been prescribed so many things and they all seemed to make me feel crazy. After having my son it got worse and I never wanted to leave the house. I have tried exercise, natural therapies, everything but I swear the chemicals are just not right in my head. I always felt lost, like every small thing mattered too much. I started on 75mg before sitting on 150mg for a year and a half. I have been so much happier and chilled out. Not worrying all the time. I have sleep apnea too so I am not sure if it's made my sleep worse as it's already pretty bad. My mind never stops. I felt myself losing control of my life lately due to huge stress at work and small kids. 225mg has evened me out and feel good :)"

NikNak7 June 2, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder: "I've been on antidepressants drugs for 30 years for my anxiety and depression. The last 5 on Venafaxine 150 mg .. We all know the side effects sweating, memory loss to name a few .. However this is the best drug I PERSONALLY HAVE EVER USED"

Dice1 June 1, 2017

For Depression: "I ran out of my medicine for about 5 days. I started getting these extremely strange noises in my head, something like the noise a squirrel makes or an electrical static noise. As soon as I started back on my pills it went away. Today I didn't take my medicine on time, 8 hours later I took it, but the noise reminded me. Someone please explain this to me."

Oolie (taken for 2 to 5 years) May 31, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder: "Venlafaxine is a good drug. It helps with depression and anxiety. What it doesn't work so well with is the mania. If anything, it can make the mania worse. I find adjusting my dose works the best. So anywhere from 150mg to 200mg. I know that is not the wisest course, but it does help keep the mania from being too strong. Olanzapine also helps me."

chgoman (taken for 2 to 5 years) May 28, 2017

For Anxiety: "I started taking Effexor XR about 10 years ago, for those last 10 years I have struggled with IBS-D. I would like to go off this drug but it has terrible withdrawal symptoms, and I've read the withdrawal can last for years after getting off this drug. When I read that people were taking the medication I think is causing my IBS to treat their IBS I was shocked. I'm glad if it works for them, but I wish I had never taken this drug."

Brodyv May 24, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) for Depression: "I take 300 mg effexor am and 15 mg mirtazapine pm just before I go to sleep. This combination has worked very well for me and the only side effect I really have is a bit of dry mouth but that's probably exacerbated by smoking. For me, they counteract each others side effects at these dosages cause at 225mg effexor and 30mg mirtazapine I had an insatiable appetite at night time!"

Paul619 (taken for 1 to 6 months) May 19, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) for Depression: "I've been taking 75mg for a little over a month, I've seen a positive difference for sure! There are so many bad reviews on the drug and it made me worry but being on it has really changed my life in ways. My depression is so much better, I don't take as many naps as I used to, my headaches are a little better, and it's even helped me with irritable bowel syndrome. It's still hard to focus sometimes, but not bad. I don't have many side effects on 75mg -- I have crazy dreams sometimes but it's not bad! And I think I might be a bit more hungry. Although, if I miss a dose by a few hours I will definitely feel it. I start to get a migraine and have to take the med right away. This really worked for me and I hope it could help someone else!"

Bay0315 May 18, 2017

For Depression: "There is a light at the end of tunnel. Have been taking Effexor XR 75 for almost 25 days. Initially felt miserable and had side effects (nausea, stomach upset and increased in anxiety). But today when I woke up I feel myself again, the real me - this drug has been a savior for me. Trust me this is awesome. Give it some time and it will give you your life back. I was really disappointed by taking Citalopram for almost 5 months it didn't get me feeling any better and even increased my anxiety but this drug is a miracle for me. Those thinking to quit, hang in there give it sometime and you will be back to normal :-)"

SajidAjmalKhawaja (taken for less than 1 month) May 18, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) for Depression: "I was prescribed 37.5 mg of Effexor (raised to 75 mg after a week) after going off Zoloft, for depression, GAD, and Panic Disorder. I took it for about 2 months and it was horrible. I had terrible insomnia and when I managed to sleep, I had night terrors that resulted in me waking up multiple times in the middle of the night sweating through my sheets. My depression became so much worse, suicidal thoughts/self-harm ideation more rampant, and I had panic attacks at least every second day, sometimes more than once a day. I had a public nervous breakdown before I finally went off it and was prescribed Escitalopram instead. The difference was like night and day. Effexor is definitely not for everyone."

AnPan (taken for 1 to 6 months) May 16, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) for Depression: "Does anyone have a cough With taking Effexor XR? This has helped me a lot. I had been on Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac and Effexor was the best. Feel more normal and have taken it since 2008. It does cause constipation. I tried going off of it once and I was back on it within 3 days. It was horrible. Does anyone have neck pain with it or maybe it's something else going on for me."

Digger49 (taken for 5 to 10 years) May 16, 2017

Effexor (venlafaxine) for Depression: "It Varies with me. At first it was good and helped me kick a 30 year weed habit. But now I feel less motivated and not as functional as when I smoked weed for the same symptoms. Weed worked. And had no side effects."

Jdm1126 May 15, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: "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."

Rii May 15, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress: "I'm on 300mg a day 150mg at night and 150mg in the morning. I have to say it's helped me LOTS 5 years being on it . I have come a long long way from where I was I suffer from anxiety and depression, I've taken many other meds till I found this one . It seems to b working for me for last 5 years (KNOCK on wood, lol) Wish you all the best and remember if it doesn't work for you then talk to your doc to find something that does. Best of luck to all n god bless"

Miss mandy May 12, 2017

Effexor (venlafaxine) for Major Depressive Disorder: "I've taken Duloxetine for years for major depression/osteoarthritis, but it never did much. My new psychologist wanted me to go off duloxetine and try a different A.D. **(Pro-tip - duloxetine can be titrated off of QUICKLY (within 2 weeks) if concurrent, temporary therapy of low-dose Prozac is performed at the same time. 10mg Prozac sufficient to prevent brain zaps and withdrawal syndrome from Duloxetine). I started with 75mg of Venlafaxine the first week. I didn't feel quite right, but not so bad that I felt I needed to report anything. After one week at 75mg per day, I began taking 150mg, a doubling. One day at 150mg was nearly the end of me. Immediately after it "hit" I became hostile, aggressive, suicidal, and unable to calm down."

Badkittym (taken for less than 1 month) May 12, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder: "I only took this drug for 4 days because the side effects for me were too much. The first day I was extremely restless. I woke up having a panic attack which has never happened to me before. Though I will say this one may be coincidence. Day two I noticed a drop in my visual acuity. It wasn't too bothersome this day. But on day three it had declined in my right eye to the point where I had difficulty reading. When I closed my right eye everything seemed normal but when I closed my left eye everything was extremely blurry. I've never had vision problems before and this was starting to effect my work. My eyes are very dry as well. Been off for four days and nothing's changed but I expect that to take time."

Blue94 May 10, 2017

For Hot Flashes: "My experience? I've been on many meds since age 16. Then at age 48, they gave me Effexor. It was the end of the life I knew. I constantly hallucinated. I yelled at my husband almost daily and when I could no longer feel the loving bond between my son and I and just wanted to scream at him until he cried, I stopped it cold-turkey and I was on ONLY 37.5 mg! I will NEVER take this medication again and for me, it brought out my mother in me and that's when I knew there was a HUGE PROBLEM with this medication in my body because to act like the very person who abused me showed me that I needed to get off of it or turn my son into me - broken and afraid."

Luppernoodle (taken for 2 to 5 years) May 9, 2017

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) for Depression: "Was prescribed Effexor XR 75mg in 2015 for depression. I was on it for 7 months. It helped at first, but not in a healthy way. It kinda just kept me calm and numb to my surroundings. It was almost like some type of fake permanent trance that helped me to not be able to focus for more than a couple seconds on issues. Just a constant blur, I had absolutely no feelings. Whether it be love or hate.....I had nothing. I didn't care about anything, nothing seemed to bother me. Then I started to have memory loss along with brain zaps every night before bed. I quit cold turkey because I knew I had to save myself. I now suffer with sleep paralysis and occasional brain zaps, two years later. I believe they are 2 lifetime side effects caused by this drug."

G_Mal (taken for 6 months to 1 year) May 8, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress: "Started Venlafazine 37.5mg - 150mg over a 6 weeks period for Anxiety and PMDD but had to stop. Previous to this I was on Mirtazapine 15mg to help with sleep and appetite but it did nothing for my 'feelings'. VENLAFAXINE- PROs- Slightly more confident, didn't blush, more energy, less body pain. CONs- INSOMNIA, no appetite at all started losing weight, muted feelings, had no empathy anymore, like a I don't give a shit attitude, NO LIBIDO and couldn't orgasm! I decided to quit this garbage and return to the mild Mirtazapine for good. Some of the weeks I was on venlafazxine I actually also took the Mirt (the combo known as Californian rocket fuel) so I could get some sleep although doctors did not allow me to do this! Effects after stopping Venlafaxine -3days"

Cali2 May 6, 2017

Effexor (venlafaxine) for Depression: "I am a female senior and started taking this drug about 8 months ago, so far it works well for the depression at 150mg. I missed taking the drug for 2 days and as a result I had terrible symptoms when I went to bed, my muscles felt like they were tensed and shaking, could not go to sleep but must have at some point and had terrible dreams, now I feel quite ill, stomach upset, gut upset, sweating, horrible. Had to take some pepto bismol tabs to try to settle my stomach. Took my pill at lunch today, waiting to see if I start to feel better. Surely there must be a drug that can do the same job without the necessity to take it with food and won't send you body into a tizzy if you miss a dose or 2."

brownie1951 (taken for 6 months to 1 year) May 5, 2017