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Effexor for Depression User Reviews (Page 3)

Effexor has an average rating of 5.5 out of 10 from a total of 318 reviews for the treatment of Depression. 40% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 37% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Effexor

  • Anonymous
  • July 17, 2019

"I have finally had the courage to go through withdrawal symptom, 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 not 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."

3 / 10
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  • alge
  • 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 become 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 & panic disorder under control!"

3 / 10
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38 Report
  • Bette...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • September 3, 2019

"I have been on 300mg 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"

1 / 10
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39 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Aussie...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • January 10, 2016

"Awesome! Changed my life for the better completely. Side effects are minimal but my mood has stabilized like never before. I wish I was medically compliant earlier. This stuff has changed my life for the better!"

9 / 10
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60 Report
  • Sbrooks
  • November 7, 2013

"I have been on this med for only 4 days after being on multiple other meds for general anxiety disorder for several years now. And I can already feel the difference in myself. Not exactly where I want to be yet but definitely positive results so far. It does make my pupils seriously dilated and at night when it's dark my vision seems like I'm on a merry go round if I moves my eyes to quickly. Other than that I feel much better than just a few days ago! Hopefully this med will work for me. I hate switching meds cause of the time I have to wait to start a new one. Sends me in a downward spiral of panic attacks and irritability. So far since being on Effexor EX I've not had even one episode!!!!!! And I was having them every single day!"

6 / 10
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Are you taking this medicine?

  • reeem...
  • March 28, 2015

"Effexor helped me see the reality of my life when I couldn't. I took Zoloft for a while (up to 150mg) and I felt more numb than "happy". When I switched to a family doctor from my psychiatrist, they recommended Effexor XR; I've been taking 75 mg a day for the past four months and my life has done a complete 180. No depression, very little anxiety, and I finally have CONFIDENCE. I have more friends now than I ever did, a wonderful new relationship that I could never have foreseen myself happening, and I'm performing really well academically. Best decision of my life was taking Effexor- I can immediately see a difference in my thought processes when I forget to take it for two days at a time."

10 / 10
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  • Jeron...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • September 28, 2020

"Took 75 mg Effexor for 21 years. Dr said to come off and for 6 weeks I weaned off of this hard to quit drug. So now I stop taking it and 8 days later I'm still having the brain zaps. If you start taking it be prepared to experience a living nightmare if you want to quit. It did nothing to help me."

4 / 10
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  • jdofh...
  • 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. 2 weeks after taking it I felt better. 4 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 75 mg 3x times a day holds me. 3. Not really a con, but when more stress then usual I relapse for a few days with depression but it goes back to normal if you increase dose for awhile."

9 / 10
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  • Sazzl...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • November 27, 2018

"My experience with this drug was horrific. At 150mg I hit a new low, I was impulsive, severely anxious and constantly in tears. I was so desperate to be off this med 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 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!"

1 / 10
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  • 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 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."

8 / 10
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  • 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. "

4 / 10
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72 Report
  • Cantl...
  • 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."

8 / 10
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68 Report
  • Anony...
  • 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 withdraw symptoms. But, I consider it worth it."

10 / 10
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70 Report
  • 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 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 withdraws later..this medication saved my life. I work out 4days 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."

10 / 10
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58 Report
  • dougs...
  • 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 an up dose I sweat more. I don't know what to do. "

3 / 10
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69 Report
  • 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."

9 / 10
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  • Toronto...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 15, 2017

"Stats: 26 year old. Female. 110lbs. 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 doctors 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 went up to 75mg. Absolutely no side effects. Anxiety is much better and no more panic attacks. Also, my sex life wasn't effected at all."

10 / 10
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  • InThe...
  • January 13, 2013

"My dr prescribed this for my depression, bipolar disorder and panic attacks. Within an hour of taking it, I couldn't keep my eyes open. 4 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."

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  • Denise
  • March 29, 2014

"I'm 48 and in menopause. I've suffered bouts of little depression through life but since menopause, it hit me like a brick. I had had a couple of panic attacks throughout the years and I couldn't shake this gradual depression that was coming over me. I've always been able to talk myself through it but this time, I just couldn't. My doctor prescribed EFFEXOR. I took it 2 days. On the third day, I was driving to work and I SUDDENLY felt like I couldn't breath. I was shaking, my heart was racing and I really thought I was going to die. I pulled over thinking I was having a heart attack. I called 911, throwing up on the side of a freeway. By the time the ambulance came, my heart rate had skyrocketed! Worst experience of my life."

1 / 10
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  • Natasha
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 26, 2013

"I've been on many anti-depressants. I experienced a few side effects from this one. The major one I experienced was the headaches. However within less than 1 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."

8 / 10
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63 Report
  • 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 everyday, 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!"

9 / 10
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72 Report
  • 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."

9 / 10
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77 Report
  • Kayde
  • September 23, 2014

"Was so excited to try Effexor XL and did for the past 6 years. Well, I didn't realize that it made me anhedonia, or without feeling towards a lot of things. I just went on my merry way, but would do nothing....sat and watched TV, couldn't get anything done. Everything was just Great!.....that is what I thought....then I started gaining weight......gradually, but I mean 60-70# over the past 6 years or so.....but just kept on eating. Then I thought I have to do something about this. I gradually took myself off, but WOW the side effects of the withdrawl was unbelievable. My son told me never to do that again...and I told him see.....this medication has so changed me.....and I will never take that again....!Trying to lose this weight now"

5 / 10
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56 Report
  • NLano
  • August 24, 2015

"I have been taking Effexor for several years, first starting at 50, 75 then 150mg. 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 excaberates my chronic constipation condition. I have tried taking other anti-depressants, but they did not work as well treating my depression as Effexor."

10 / 10
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51 Report
  • Lano
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 9, 2019

"This was the worst of of all medications i have tried for anxiety and depression. This antidepressant made me more depressed than I have ever been in my life and made me suicidal. I tried it for 6 weeks and now am in process of weaning off this dirty drug. Poison."

1 / 10
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32 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.