Venlafaxine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

• ran...
• April 24, 2008

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "It gave me my life back. I would have panic attacks that lasted for hours, always anxious, work was crippling. After one year no side effects. Now I feel normal, confident - it's something I've waited on for 26 years!"

• Tha...
• January 28, 2010

Venlafaxine for Hot Flashes "My ob/gyn recently recommended Effexor to treat my menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, anxiety, mood swings) after having my ovary removed. I was skeptical because I have been treated with antidepressants in the past and the side effects were horrendous. I also suffer from GAD and SADD, but because I am such a wimp about taking pills, I have tried to tough it out. I was willing to try anything to help me get better. It has only been a week at the 37.5 dose, and I already notice a difference. Hot flashes are gone, I don't fly off the handle at everything and everyone, I am laughing, I can concentrate, I worry less, and am generally more calm. Side effects are minimal. A little spacey at times! Loss of appetite (which is good for an overweight woman). LOVE THIS MEDICINE!"

• Fee...
• September 10, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was prescribed Venlafaxine for major depression and debilitating anxiety while going through a massive life crisis (business and relationship divorce and resulting bankruptcy) about three years ago. My depression was my own worst enemy as when I needed to be sharp and confident for attorneys, I was a sobbing mess. My anxiety was debilitating and turned into panic attacks. While I don't think I would have taken my life, I certainly wasn't afraid to die. The crisis is finally behind me, and I have tapered from 225mg to 37.5mg over the last 3 months. The only downsides were, for me, cognitive function, apathy, and poor memory. I was unable to orgasm on the 225 mg dosage. It is important to mention that I did not get through this with drugs alone. I had a strong network of friends, family, attorneys, and healthcare professionals. Do not be ashamed of your mental health crisis! Be honest with yourself and your friends and seek professional help!"

• Cle...
• March 2, 2021

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I’ve had depression and anxiety my whole life, and I’m diagnosed with major depression and generalized anxiety disorder. I tried all the other antidepressants, but I didn’t really know if they worked or not. A new doctor slowly tapered me up on Effexor. That was about a year ago... The side effects weren’t terrible, some nausea and insomnia for like a week, and then after that, the side effects were gone. I feel so much better, honestly, and I’m not just saying that because with Lexapro and Cymbalta, I never knew if they were working or not. Effexor helps with my anxiety a lot, rumination, and this is the first winter I’ve enjoyed in at least a decade. Also, I have an eight-year-old, a four-year-old, and a three-month-old, all girls, and virtual schooling is still on, so it definitely helps me be more patient and takes the edge off so I don’t yell and scream in a fit of exasperation. I was also afraid of getting postpartum, but honestly, I haven’t felt any of that. Thank the Lord."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I would like to share something positive about venlafaxine because when I was prescribed it initially, I was so scared about the withdrawal symptoms I read about that I nearly decided not to even start taking it. So I have now been taking 75mg daily for 6 weeks. I purposely take it at different times of the day just to test the waters and even missed an evening dose accidentally one time. Well, thankfully I have not noticed any side effects whatsoever. Granted, I am on a low dose and not been taking it very long, but still I thought something may have happened... well, it didn’t. So please feel encouraged by this review that all these horror stories may not necessarily be true for your own experience and remain open-minded."

• Anonymous
• April 19, 2008

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been using 75mg Effexor for 9 weeks now and it has changed my life. I wake up looking forward to the day and can remain focused throughout. I woke up on my 30th birthday feeling very depressed and could not believe that's how I felt every day before taking Effexor. My libido is back to where it was a year ago and the only side effect I experience is an upset stomach during very intense workouts. I see a therapist and that too has helped. My wife says I'm now a different person."

• Daw...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 23, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "I have suffered from anxiety all my life in varying degrees and have tried lots of different medications to control the unpleasant feelings. From just feeling nauseous, butterflies in the stomach, or mild to severe full-blown panic attacks, Venlafaxine for me is a game-changer. It helped me within a week or so. I started on a very low dose for 2 weeks, then 75mg, which I have now been on for over 12 months. My panic attacks have gone, and I can now face the day without the constant feeling of overwhelming worry and despair. I would definitely recommend them. Very few side effects."

• lav...
• December 16, 2014

Venlafaxine for Depression "This stopped my depression the second day! It felt like a hole in my heart mended! Literally! I seem to be able to skip days here and there in the spring and summertime with no effects, but never have plans to wean off. It has been too great a miracle prescription for me! Seven years!"

• Jon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2016

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I told myself I'd come back and write a review if I liked Effexor, because people tend to only write reviews if they don't like it, and that's scary for someone who is trying to figure out whether to try it or not. This was the first medication I've tried to treat my chronic GAD. Before Effexor, I was living in a state of constant panic and anxiety. It was really awful, and I felt like I couldn't continue much longer without completely breaking down. I'm now 3 months in, and it has helped so much. I am still myself and I have anxious thoughts, but there is no longer that sense of panic and overwhelming fear. I feel like I did pre-anxiety and its wonderful. Everyone reacts differently, but have hope! Medication can work!"

• tut...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2014

For Hot Flashes "After suffering from extreme hot flashes, night sweats, and overwhelming anxiety that I really thought was just me and my lot in life, my cousin told me about her doctor giving her Effexor. I made an appointment and now take 75mg. I am a different person! Sometimes I have to look in the mirror to be sure it is me. It took me years to discover I can feel good!"

• MsS...
• April 1, 2012

Venlafaxine for Hot Flashes "I had hot flashes every 2 hours. My face would turn beet red, my glasses would fog up, and always at an inappropriate time. Took my first dose of Effexor 37.5mg, my hot flashes are basically nonexistent. Mood is also awesome now."

• sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2014

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I've suffered severe anxiety/panic attacks my entire life. I've had Xanax, Valium, Prozac, and Edronax over the course of my years. I finally changed doctors, came off everything, to start where I'm at now. I began on 37.5mg over two weeks ago and noticed a difference straight away. Now on 75mg and getting better every single day. My panic attacks could cause me to pass out, so this is a huge leap in health for me. For those concerned about coming off Xanax, it's so worth the effort. I now feel like I'm getting my life back, and I'm truly grateful."

• Ate...
• May 7, 2015

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "Started on 37.5mg for a month. First two days were only side effects - I was a little jumpy, couldn't keep legs still, and had insomnia. That went away in 48 hours. Then it shifted to making me sleepy and fairly relaxed. However, I still had breakthrough anxiety crying and didn't feel much change in depression. Decided to up the dose and have been at 75mg for a while now. No side effects. This dose has obliterated my anxiety and helped with depression. All I feel is calm and relaxed. I am more outgoing and happy. Only thing I noticed, like so many others, is that it is tough to miss a dose. But, don't let that dissuade you from trying it. It really has been a miracle for me."

• 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."

• VIR...
• April 11, 2014

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been taking Effexor for 4 weeks. Finally, I feel good. It's a miracle! I was suffering real bad depression and anxiety, and thoughts of giving up on life. Effexor works. This is the best I've felt since I was 23. Now I'm 30, and yes, I feel very happy to know I didn't give up and finally found a miracle pill. It's only been a month. Thanks Effexor, saved my life. Thank you."

• ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Those side effects are all real and horrible but it goes AWAY!! Stick with it people! After 2 plus weeks on venlafaxine, you continue to feel amazing! All that horrible anxiety, stress, all the perimenopausal symptoms women have all go away! You can focus and be able to lead a normal life. That first week or so taking it, yes, I almost quit, but continued on believing what my doctor told me about it, they are right! Best depression anxiety drug on the market."

• xyz...
• July 31, 2013

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have taken Effexor on and off for nearly ten years for depression and anxiety brought on by a sudden traumatic situation. It took a week or so for the side effects to disappear when I first started. I felt so well that I weaned myself off it, which took at least a week with side effects. I have done this twice, thinking I was very well and able to cope when I take the medication. However, I have come to realize that I need to stay on it, and my husband now understands that it keeps me well, happy, and balanced. If I miss a tablet, I feel quite nauseous and a bit unbalanced, even though I only take 75mg once a day. I have come to realize that there are a lot of people out there, including many high-profile people, who need Effexor."

• Dev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2013

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I am from Canada, 24-year-old female. I have always been a worrier but first experienced anxiety in my 4th year at University 3 years ago. I had a panic attack which then turned into panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Effexor is a GREAT medication for me. My dose was raised way too quickly at the beginning. I went from 75mg to 150mg to 225mg in a month and a half and got horrible Effexor-induced anxiety. But when my GP realized what was going on, she put me back to 75mg and then very slowly put me up to 112.5mg. I have been there for 2 months now, and I think it is the perfect dose for me. I don't have intrusive thoughts or panic sensations. Be patient, it's worth it!"

• OK2...
• October 4, 2013

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was started on 75 mg of Effexor and then increased to 150 mg. I felt much better overall. Anxiety was about gone, I could think through my thoughts. However, I was not happy with the sexual dysfunction I experienced on the 150 mg dose. My doctor lowered my dose back to 75 mg and the sexual dysfunction resolved, and my generalized anxiety disorder is within tolerable limits. I recently added Vitamin D and B12 to my daily regimen with my Effexor 75 mg ER dose and noticed a huge lifting of the mental fog that I had known for so long. This combination has been keeping my thoughts from racing, my hope from tanking, and my perspective in a good and positive place. It works for me."

• The...
• June 23, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "Sure saved the quality of my life. I was not suicidal; I was more like the guy who didn't care if the plane crashed. I took Effexor for 8 years. After that time period, it had been a long, long time since I had felt depressed, so I began to taper off. I think it probably took me a couple of months to get completely off. I have been off for 5 years. I learned a lot about clinical depression and how to treat it. If my depression ever returns, I will not hesitate to go back to Effexor."

• TeT...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2014

For Hot Flashes "I have been on Effexor 37.5 mg for three months for Hot Flashes. After my first bedtime dose, I was feeling lightheaded and a little jittery the next morning, but those symptoms went away after three days. Before Effexor, I would wake up several times a night due to the Hot Flashes. I am a totally different person and a pleasure to be around. I am dating again after a two-year hiatus, and the medication has not affected my sex drive."

• aim...
• February 25, 2020

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I'm a 27 y/o female, good health but have GAD and MDD. I began taking Effexor XR when I began having panic attacks while driving. I began with 37.5mg for 4 weeks, then upped to 75mg after that. After 3 months, I began to sweat in my sleep despite not feeling overheated. I began to suffer from sexual dysfunction, lost my libido and had difficulty reaching an orgasm (neither had been an issue previously). My appetite increased and I gained 25 lbs in 1 year. I also noticed I felt very 'flat' emotionally. I wrote this because I feel like positive reviews are lacking. Effexor absolutely improved my anxiety. The side effects were unpleasant but not severe. Stopping this medication suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, so when I switched to a new one, I slowly tapered off it by opening the capsule and counting the granules, reducing them by about 4 per day. I did not suffer from any 'brain zaps' or any withdrawal symptoms."

• Sti...
• October 14, 2016

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I cannot describe how life-changing this medication has been for me. I've been suffering from anxiety/depression, specifically social anxiety and low self-esteem, my whole life. It was at a point where I thought it was normal to be negative, pessimistic, anxious, and depressed all the time. I tried EVERYTHING including therapy, exercise, diet, and an array of medicines and nothing worked. I nearly developed an addiction to Xanax just trying to combat the anxiety. Prozac, Lexapro, Concerta, Strattera; Nothing worked. Finally got introduced to Effexor XR. Started on 75mg for 2 months, I wasn't that satisfied. I got put on 150mg for 2 months then. CANNOT BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCE. I'm happy, confident, and positive. AMAZING. Long may it last."

• mom...
• August 22, 2017

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I started Effexor XR (generic version) about 3 weeks ago. I will admit, the bottle sat on my counter for a week before I took my first one because the negative reviews terrified me. I finally took one and I am so glad I did! I have been on practically every anxiety/depression med there is and had kind of lost hope with them working. I have also tried several different natural methods and they helped a little bit, but not nearly enough. I struggle mainly with anxiety and have for about 15 years now. By day 3, I had already noticed a difference. It's been 3 weeks & not only is my anxiety significantly better, I no longer have swollen joints or numbness in my hands & feet, I'm so much happier & way less stressed. Life changing!!"

• sta...
• October 2, 2020

Venlafaxine for Depression "From my experience, Effexor is a very effective treatment for depression and anxiety. I took it for 10 years at a dose of 150mg and felt great. I stopped 3 months ago and already depression is returning, so today I'm going back on! Yes, the side effects can be grim, but for me, it was only when being late with dose or quitting. But overall, I think it's worth it for not having to suffer depression and anxiety every day!"