Effexor for Depression User Reviews (Page 3)

• jdo...
• June 24, 2013

"Effexor might have saved my life because at the time I was given it, I had damn near given up hope. Paxil and Zoloft did nothing. Depakote attacked my liver. Lexapro made me numb. Then Effexor was given to me. Two weeks after taking it, I felt better. Four weeks later, I was back doing things again. Within a year, I had all my interests and hobbies back. Cons: 1. Withdrawal is terrible. When I miss a dose, I feel it. Neck pain. Headache. 2. I've found that I had to increase the dose after two years of usage. Seventy-five mg three times a day holds me. 3. Not really a con, but when more stress than usual, I relapse for a few days with depression, but it goes back to normal if you increase the dose for a while."

• My...
• August 23, 2015

"I just started about two weeks ago. I completely see a difference in myself for the better. My children are even noticing the difference in my reactions to basic things. I won't say I don't feel anything, but this is a period in my life... feeling nothing is what I need. I am able to react to situations with logic. Instead of being on the emotional roller coaster all the time! I was suicidal two weeks ago. I took my kids zip-lining yesterday. I needed this. I'll deal with the withdrawals later, this medication saved my life. I work out 4 days a week, so no energy loss. I don't feel a change in my appetite yet. I did have headaches yesterday briefly. Dreams... falling dream a few times. No weight gain so far. Sex. I don't have a desire yet."

• Tor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2017

"Stats: 26-year-old. Female. 110 lbs. Struggling with anxiety and panic attacks. I started Effexor 2 months ago when my panic attacks and anxiety got out of control, and I tried to overdose on pain medication. I am extremely against drugs, and it took a lot of convincing on my doctor's end to get me on them. I read reviews and got scared away. I wish I hadn't. I started off with a 37.5 dosage. My initial side effect was losing weight/my fever appetite. I'm a petite girl, but I love to eat. I supplemented this by drinking protein shakes and started working out. I am back to my normal weight now. A month later, I went up to 75 mg. Absolutely no side effects. Anxiety is much better, and no more panic attacks. Also, my sex life wasn't affected at all."

• j1a...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2014

"Celexa stopped working, and I was put on Effexor. My panic attacks are worse than they have ever been, my depression is totally off the charts, and I physically shake all the time. The irritability is by far the worst part for me. I'm forever angry now on this medication. My friends and family have noticed a big difference in my personality. I'm definitely getting off this medication!"

• alg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 14, 2020

"I was diagnosed with depression and GAD about 5 years ago and started Effexor. It worked well, but anytime I drank alcohol, I became a monster. I became violent and angry. I also lost the ability to sleep, so I had to go on another medication for insomnia. Over time, I realized I had become numb. I couldn't cry, feel any emotions, and I lost the ability to enjoy anything. My panic attacks became debilitating. I became fearful to leave the house, drive, etc. I ended up in the hospital, and I was immediately taken off Effexor because I was diagnosed with panic disorder and it was not helping at all. I was at the highest dose and eventually came off. I'm still experiencing brain zaps from tapering off, but since coming off, I can feel again and cry a lot, LOL. I started Zoloft today and am hoping to get my depression and panic disorder under control!"

• Anonymous
• December 7, 2012

"I was on Effexor for a few months only and found it to be not particularly helpful. I had weight gain, extreme tiredness during the day and feeling 'blah'. I decided to go off them, and it took me longer to get off them than I had been taking them. The withdrawal was terrible. I had head spins that would last all day, couldn't focus, extreme dizziness if I turned too quickly, etc."

• Plu...
• October 22, 2016

"I am extremely disheartened in reading the negative reviews. I have taken Effexor since 1993. I began taking 37.5 mg and later lived for one year in a private psychiatric hospital for a suicide attempt. My psychiatrist, then the President of the American Psychiatric Association, increased my dose to 600 mg per day. This miracle drug kept and still keeps me alive some 23 years later. I have experimented with not taking this or any medication. I never presented with any withdrawal symptoms. However, like clockwork, on the 3rd day w/o it, I begin to cry tears over nothing. By the 4th day, I find myself in the midst of severe depression. Within an hour of beginning my regimen again, I am back to my normal. Do not be afraid to try this medication."

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2011

"I'm a 24-year-old female with major depression and anxiety. I've been on nearly every antidepressant I can think of (Prozac, Cymbalta, Abilify, Lexapro... and even a few others) and Effexor has been the only one thus far to be effective. The others either made me an emotionless zombie or didn't do anything at all. The only side effects I've had were a bit of shakiness for the first week I started taking it, along with some dry mouth. These only lasted a week while my body got used to the medicine. I've had no changes in weight or appetite, which I know is a common concern with this class of drugs. If you've been through the ringer trying to find an antidepressant, I would recommend this to anyone. I also take Buspar daily."

• Ano...
• March 23, 2013

"I have been on Effexor for about 6 months now. I was prescribed it for anxiety and social anxiety. My social anxiety is basically gone. I still get a little bit of anxiety but it is way better than it used to be. However, if I forget to take it, I get very bad withdrawal symptoms. But, I consider it worth it."

• Dar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2013

"I've been on 75 mg for two months now, started at a baby dose of 37.5 about 3 months ago. I can honestly say I woke up feeling the difference and the burst of energy. Only complaints are if you forget to take a dose, you're not in for a good day until you take your next dose. I vomit and have a terrible headache, and also with the medication I found that I had a couple of bad lows while getting used to it. But as long as you keep up with your dose and don't mess around with taking it, you should be very satisfied with the result."

• Anonymous
• November 6, 2011

"Effexor gave me my life back again. I was so severely depressed that I had to struggle to find a reason to live every day. I was very suicidal. I was no longer able to function. 4 weeks after starting Effexor, I was returned to my 'normal' self. I was happy and could feel pleasure again, and I was excited about life. I have experienced a few minor side effects like constipation and nausea with dosage increases, but the benefits far outweigh the minor side effects!"

• Can...
• October 3, 2013

"I was prescribed Effexor for menopause symptoms, and it treated my undiagnosed depression! It completely changed my life. I was an angry, laughing/crying mess, and Effexor turned me around and put me in a good place with an excellent attitude. Cons are brain zaps and sweating from the forehead. I was weaning off of it when I couldn't take it anymore and went back on it. I started crying and felt horrible. Night sweats were miserable too. I'll take the zaps and sweats over depression and night sweats any day."

• Anonymous
• October 4, 2009

"It saved me from committing suicide. Never thought there would be a drug that could help me since I tried many antidepressants and all didn't work. Was extremely suicidal and overnight after taking Effexor XR, my thinking and feelings changed. It saved my life."

• NLa...
• August 24, 2015

"I have been taking Effexor for several years, first starting at 50, 75, then 150 mg. As far as treating my depression, it has been the best. I am a totally different person when taking it. I do have weird dreams, but I would rather have those than be a living nightmare in reality. What I do not like about Effexor is that it exacerbates my chronic constipation condition. I have tried taking other antidepressants, but they did not work as well treating my depression as Effexor."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2013

"I've been on many antidepressants. I experienced a few side effects from this one. The major one I experienced was headaches. However, within less than one week, the side effects were gone. I also experienced night sweats in the first few weeks. This has stopped me from crying a lot, which is good."

• Que...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2016

"I stopped taking Topamax for mood disorder due to side effects of tingling in fingers and legs. I was recently prescribed 75 mg Effexor ER for chronic depression, the generic. I started on JAN 16th, noticed the loss of appetite the first day, and on January 21, 2016, weighed in at 228.2 from 234 at 5'6. My mood has also improved, now I have a bit more energy and feel hopeful despite my situation not looking that way. I will be adding Wellbutrin with my Effexor. I hope the depression continues to get better and I am hoping to lose 70-80 lbs. as well. Give it time, if it isn't working, try something until you find the pill(s) for you, different pills work for different people. We all deserve a better quality of life than we had before. Good luck."

• Anonymous
• July 17, 2019

"I have finally had the courage to go through withdrawal symptoms, agitation. Headaches, nausea, electric shock in my head. I am free of this drug, and for the first time in years, I feel like a human being. I am alert and feel a range of emotions. I was feeling nothing, numb for many years. This drug should be taken with great caution. I feel it is dangerous."

• dou...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 16, 2013

"I have been on Effexor XR on and off for about 14 years. At first, it seems to work, but then I end up going back to where I was and then worse. I have suicidal thoughts at all times. I'm depressed and agitated, even more so now than ever. If I get a dose increase, I sweat more. I don't know what to do."

• Saz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 27, 2018

"My experience with this drug was horrific. At 150 mg, I hit a new low, I was impulsive, severely anxious, and constantly in tears. I was so desperate to be off this med that I went cold turkey. Huge mistake. Developed discontinuation syndrome: fever, tremors, panic attacks, vertigo, hives, flu-like symptoms, night terrors, constant vomiting. Got to the point I couldn’t even keep down water. By day 6, I was hospitalized with severe dehydration and exhaustion. Was immediately hooked up to an IV to replace fluids and given anti-sickness meds. Doctors introduced a lower dose and I am now tapering. Down to 18 mg, so nearly there. Have to take it slowly as I’m extremely sensitive to this medication. Another 2 weeks and I will be free of it. Can't wait to have my life back!"

• Bet...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 3, 2019

"I have been on 300 mg for the past 5 years. I cannot handle the withdrawal symptoms, as the feeling of being completely disconnected from reality is too intense, let alone the nausea, etc. I'm 25 and worry that this will eventually do irreversible damage. The side effects are not worth it for me, but again, I cannot stop taking it even though I want to."

• zep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2015

"I had to restart Effexor for the 4th time, and it still works very well. My depression started to lift by the second week. The last time it took longer-about a month-before I felt any relief, it all depends. If the period of time before depression is one full of stress, longer, with many irritations, then it takes a little longer for Effexor to work. This 4th time, it was only a sudden stressful situation with my mother's health-she was diagnosed with cancer-that sank me into depression. Somehow, Effexor worked again, and I thank God for that. The side effects for me are almost not worth mentioning, and exercise helps a lot. I feel like myself again, and some joy of life is back. I first took Effexor in 2005, and I'm glad it still works."

• BAC...
• April 19, 2016

"It changed my life. 48 years of just dealing with anxiety and depression, not wanting to be on medication. With the onset of pre-menopause, the depression was unbearable and more feelings of hopelessness. My doctor prescribed 75 mg, and I feel alive again. The torment of paranoia, anxiety, and the depression are gone."

• InT...
• January 13, 2013

"My doctor prescribed this for my depression, bipolar disorder, and panic attacks. Within an hour of taking it, I couldn't keep my eyes open. Four hours later, I was wide awake, jittery, nauseous, and having the worst panic attack I had ever had. Needless to say, I didn't try to take another dose, even if my body had to get used to the medication."

• fly...
• March 25, 2013

"I've been on Effexor for 7 years now. After a crazy upbringing coupled with drug and alcohol abuse as a teenager, I spiraled into a deep depression after my wife died 13 years ago. I still have bouts of anxiety, but they are short-lived. I try to avoid people that trigger situations where I might start to feel like an anxiety attack is coming. I had a huge weight gain and struggle with that. I've lost 80 lbs so far due to a gastric bypass and am on only 25 mg, down from 150 when I started."

• Jim...
• November 15, 2008

"I started taking Effexor about a year ago. Started on 75mg and went all the way to the maximum 375mg over a 6-month period. The side effects were really quite bad, thus had to cut back to 225mg, this dose works very well. Some doctors are quite quick to push up your doses if your progress is slow. My advice is give it plenty of time before increasing doses. More isn't always better. Effexor is a good drug just sometimes can be a little slow working, the withdrawal from cutting down tablets wasn't really that bad at all; as long as you take it slow. Good luck to everyone who takes this drug."