Venlafaxine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 5)

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I've been taking antidepressants for about 15 years, due to panic attacks, general anxiety, and situational depression, and they have worked well. Additionally, for 10 years I have had very severe leg pain, seeming to be sciatica/nerve pain and muscle pain, from hips to feet. I was told by two orthopedists, 'You're just old (59) so live with it.' It's been only a month since I changed to SNRIs-namely Venlafaxine-and since the very first day, I have been pain-free. I can walk again with long strides and quickly. I can stand for long periods. I can take hikes. I hadn't been able to do that for 10 years. My life is no longer dictated by how much pain I can endure. I don't know how it works, but I wish I'd known about it years ago."

• nan...
• June 19, 2008

Venlafaxine for Hot Flashes "I have been suffering with hot flushes and insomnia since I entered menopause. I have been miserable until a friend who suffers the same told me she was on Effexor with great success. I am on the lowest dose (37.5) and my hot flashes have decreased by at least 80% and I am sleeping at least 5 hours a night now. I have just started taking it so I hope this isn't just a honeymoon period. I recommend any menopausal woman suffering with symptoms to give it a try. I had no idea this was a cure."

• Eff...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 17, 2018

Venlafaxine for Depression "Been on Effexor 150 mg for 16 years. Can't remember any side effects that weren't tolerable. I haven't had one problem in 16 years of taking it. I have had three clinical depression episodes (about ten years apart) so I have to stay on an antidepressant for the rest of my life. I like to say... I'm a 'quart low' on serotonin. Effexor has kept the level up. Happy patient!"

• STE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2019

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I owe a great thank you to Effexor. My cons are vivid dreaming and minor sleep difficulties. But the pros for myself outweigh the bad. For the first time in 10+ years, my anxious thoughts and sweats are almost nonexistent. I enjoy the taste of food again. And I feel like I have more purpose, I don’t walk around with the 'I’m just here, useless' cloud over me. I will continue to fight to feel right, Effexor has definitely given me my footing."

• may...
• May 18, 2013

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have been on Effexor for a couple of months, and I have to say it really works. I am telling you if I wasn't on this medication, I wouldn't know how to function right. There would probably be a lot of crying, not wanting to do anything, and beating myself up, which I hate. Now I feel so much better."

• lyn...
• September 12, 2011

For Fibromyalgia "I suffer from chronic pain from degenerative disc disease, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and depression. Doctor put me on this for my fibromyalgia. I found it has done wonders for my depression (got off Prozac), PMDD, and fibromyalgia pain. I'm only 42 yrs old and suffer every day of my life. This has given me some of my life back. As an added benefit I lost some weight."

• ang...
• February 4, 2012

Venlafaxine for Hot Flashes "Effexor XR works great for hot flashes, not to mention it elevates your mood as a bonus. I do recommend the extended release as the side effects are fewer. I have no hot flashes now at all. I recommend it to anyone who does not want to take hormones."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2012

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have been on 75 mg now for about 3 months. Before, I was completely out of it, did not want to do anything, would stay at home on the computer all day, suicide thoughts every day. Now I'm out every day, going to the gym. All my anger and anxiety, along with the thoughts, are gone. Feels great. I highly recommend this medication. I know it will have withdrawal effects when you are getting off it but it is highly worth it, to better your life!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 7, 2022

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I was in the deepest, darkest valley of suicidal ideation. I had it all in life and one day, I stopped sleeping, eating, smiling, and functioning. I was miserable. I was scared. I was paralyzed by depression and anxiety. Imagine having an 8-hour panic attack but having such deep depression that you couldn’t move off the couch. I literally just sat and watched the sun come up and go down. Day after day, night after night. After a while, I lost the ability to cry. I thought death was the only solution so I thought about it all the time. Luckily, I gave the doctor a try first and after trying two other medications, we finally tried this one and it completely turned it around for me. Game changer. I started sleeping a little bit longer, eating a few more nibbles, cracking a smile here and there. Started to hear music again. Started to feel like life mattered again. Venlafaxine saved my life. Two years in and I am better than ever. Don’t be afraid! This might be the one for you too!"

• mol...
• February 27, 2010

Venlafaxine for Panic Disorder "I had suffered from anxiety and panic attacks since adolescence (with random social anxiety). In college, it got so bad I was having a hard time functioning. I've been on Effexor XR for 9 years now and it's been 9 years with NO anxiety or 1 single panic attack with no lasting side effects. It is a miracle! At the beginning, I was over-medicated with 225 mg (no sense of time, heart raced, weird brain 'flashes', very hyper), but I am stable on a lower dosage of 75 mg with no side effects. I've even been pregnant/breastfed on 75 mg and have a healthy child. Effexor XR saved my life. It truly is a miracle drug! Before it, I suffered so much, I couldn't imagine life could be this good!"

• ATT...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2019

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I have been on Effexor for just over a month and I can say that I'm rather surprised. I am a 25-year-old male who has been on antidepressants for almost 12 years. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with depression and a social anxiety disorder at a very young age. Prior to being prescribed Effexor, I was on Zoloft for a few years. Zoloft worked, but as time went on, it started to lose its effectiveness. With Effexor, I have more energy and feel that I can get through the day. I hope this medicine continues to work for anyone suffering ❤️"

• Anonymous
• July 29, 2011

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I started taking Effexor about a year ago. It has made an incredible difference to my life. I was extremely anxious, waking at night in a sweat (possibly also the onset of menopause) and struggling to go back to sleep. I was also depressed and found myself often crying for no reason at all. I started very slowly, increasing the dose every 2 months. I cannot recommend Effexor enough. I feel that it has turned my life around. I did not gain weight at all, which was a big concern. I did feel quite lethargic at first, and it took a while to get any sex drive back. I am still not back to my usual sex drive, and reaching orgasm is harder. I still feel my decision to stay on Effexor has been the right one. Hope this helps. Good luck."

• Bla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have not been able to stay awake for more than a few hours at a time and so depressed that I couldn't go out in public. But since I have been taking Effexor, I am 100% better. I am a new person. I want to get out and do things, and I have a sense of well-being. I love this feeling!! It's like a new me. I am better than ever."

• Cma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "After 15 years of struggling with deep depression, PMDD, and postpartum depression, 1 suicide attempt, and 1 hospitalization, I have found the medicine Effexor that has worked for me. It's been a long road, but now I'm at peace and living life to the fullest."

• Den...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 30, 2012

Venlafaxine for Hot Flashes "I was put on Effexor 37.5 for hot flashes. I had uterine cancer and went into very fast menopause. After trying to live with the hot flashes for about 6 months, I asked for help. Effexor has been wonderful. I am now able to sleep through the night. I really only have a hot flash when I forget to take my medicine."

• Rob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 23, 2014

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "Update to review below. I have now been on Effexor XR for six months, and I can honestly say that it's worked wonders in eliminating my depression and obsessive thinking. I wasn't able to stay on the low 37.5mg dose, as I discovered that this is a starting dose only. I have been on 150 mg for about four months, and apparently this is the lowest effective dose for achieving a therapeutic effect for most disorders. My depression has gone, and I no longer have obsessive thoughts that were making daily life a living hell. The only drawback with Effexor XR is that it has a low half-life, which means that it doesn't stay in your system for long, and if you miss a dose you will feel withdrawal within a few hours. This medicine has been a lifesaver!"

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2020

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "My OCD intrusive thoughts were destroying me. I felt the only way out was suicide. My doctor didn't seem to care. She is too involved in impressing her colleagues with her talks and presentations. Her psychiatric patients pay the bills. So, I went to a walk-in clinic and discussed my OCD and situation with this new doctor. He prescribed me 37.5 mg Effexor for a couple of weeks and then he suggested I increase it up to 75 mg. My mind slowed down from repetitive negative intrusive thoughts pretty much in the first week. My life will never be perfect, but I feel so much better, and I'm no longer tormented by intrusive thoughts. I no longer see that psychiatrist anymore. My new doctor is thorough, and I appreciate him. Please be careful in choosing the right mental health care professional, and all the best to those of you still suffering."

• Kin...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 4, 2014

Venlafaxine for Depression "Great experience on Effexor. Was very anxious, maybe a little depressed. Panic attacks, etc. Effexor gave me a great bump within 3 days at each dose. Ultimately, went up to 225mg (2 years). I was a new person, no worries, loving life. Went down to 150mg (2 years), and then down to 75mg (2 years). No problems. After 7 years, went off. Then I started to feel very badly again, went back on to no avail. But the 7 years I was on it, I felt tremendous. Great med for me."

• lll...
• January 6, 2008

Venlafaxine for Depression "I ended up in the hospital after drinking a few glasses of wine, getting my stomach pumped, and feeling extremely out of it. I should have read the side effects of Effexor first, and I would have known that you should not drink alcohol while being on this medication."

• jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 29, 2012

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I am 18 years old and started Effexor 3 months ago for anxiety. It has given me my life back. I used to have a hard time even leaving the house, now I enjoy life. I haven't been this happy in a long time. I don't think I would ever quit taking it. The first week, I had the shakes, felt nausea, had headaches, and had no appetite. The side effects went away and now I don't have any at all. I am so grateful, it's changed my life for the better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 1, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "It does make you feel anxious and a bit sick, but only for the first few days. It's good to support yourself with some light meditation for stress. It goes away after a few days, you just need to make it through. After that, you feel really good. I was on a 75 mg dose for 5 years. Now I've lowered it to 37.5mg, but I am not planning to stop taking it. It improved my life and allowed me to use my potential. I can see that the negative comments here are mostly from people who just started taking it. As I said, it's temporary sickness. After 1-2 weeks, it gets better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 3, 2017

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I have been taking Effexor on and off for the past 10 years. There is no better medicine for my anxiety than Effexor. The trick with Effexor XR is that you need to know exactly how to take it and not to take more than what you really need. I am now on a steady 37.5mg (minimum dose) and it works just fine. My doctor tells me that that low dose is hardly therapeutic but it works just fine for me. Of course, I need to practice many anxiety relief techniques, especially the ones that help get you back to sleep, but overall, Effexor XR at 37.5 mg each morning takes the severe edge off my condition. I do the rest. It's a good mix."

• thp...
• April 26, 2008

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I started taking 75 mg Effexor XR four weeks ago. I used to be extremely manic, impulsive, restless, aggressive, destructive, and all-round volatile. I'm back to being a bubbly, happy, normal twenty-year-old girl. I sleep soundly every night for 8-10 hours and wake to the alarm the first time it goes off (both are firsts in my life). I can concentrate in school, and I have hardly any anxiety. I do tire easily, and I have lost about 20 lbs (I was a normal weight to begin with)."

• Fog...
• November 6, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "Effexor XR saved my life! I had severe clinical depression for one year, and my doctor tried 8 different antidepressants on me, all to no avail. I sought the help of a psychopharmacologist in Palo Alto, CA. He met with me for 90 minutes, did an evaluation, and prescribed Effexor XR for me. He stairstepped me up to 300 mg/day within 12 days, and within 2 weeks I felt like my old self again. It felt miraculous. I may be on it for the rest of my life, but I don't mind one bit. I am enjoying life again!"

• las...
• June 2, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "I am 24 years old, female, 5'1, 130 lbs. Treated for major depression and anxiety. I have aversions to junk food (I am normally health-conscious unless I am really depressed), weight loss (12 lbs), dry mouth, lighter mood, easier to focus, more motivated, mountains turn into anthills, lower sex drive, sometimes get headaches. For me, the pros overwrite the cons - I went off of this for 6 months with no problems. No addiction or sickness. I am back on it, and boy am I glad to feel happy again."