Effexor for Depression User Reviews (Page 4)

• Iam...
• August 27, 2011

"I have been taking Effexor 300 mg for 2 years, and it has saved my life. I didn't care if I died prior to taking it. I never get sleepy or tired, and I can concentrate much better than I used to. My depression is gone."

• Eff...
• April 26, 2019

"Was on Lexapro for anxiety and depression, but it just wasn’t helping, so I switched to Effexor, and I've definitely seen improvements. I used to have to take Xanax before work every morning, but now I don’t. Highly recommend. Just remember to never skip a dose or you’ll feel terrible, my doctor told me."

• Anonymous
• March 5, 2015

"I am taking 35 mg, and it works great. I have strange dreams, but that's about it for side effects. It doesn't interfere with sexual health like a lot of antidepressants do. I can see staying on it for as long as I need to. I am glad that I tried, also lessened fibromyalgia outbreaks."

• Den...
• 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 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 for 2 days. On the third day, I was driving to work, and I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe. 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."

• Kay...
• 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 withdrawal 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."

• blu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 27, 2016

"Effexor has been absolutely brilliant for me. I was on and off Lexapro for years, it made the anxiety less, but I felt blunted and almost more depressed, as there was no meaning in my life. I have hardly any side effects with Effexor (75mg): nausea the first couple weeks, excess sweat for about 6 months, orgasms slightly less intense, but still very enjoyable and probably easier to reach as I'm more relaxed. I find I have less control over sugar/carb cravings and am a bit lower energy and have thus gained some weight - maybe 5 kilos. All in all, I was very reluctant to try this, but it has changed my life for the better. Sometimes I worry about withdrawal and safety in pregnancy, but I think Effexor saved my life, so that's the main thing!"

• Pur...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 4, 2012

"This was one of the better SSRIs I've been on. However, after using it for a few years, I began to notice that some of the granules were not getting absorbed into my system. The granules were showing up in my stools completely whole. It worked wonders on my rage and moodiness though."

• ese...
• April 14, 2009

"I have depression, anxiety, and stress caused by my workplace. I have noticed that for the first time, I can actually enjoy going to work. Before this medicine, I used to cry and shake in bed before work, and my poor husband had to drive me there like I was a little kid going through withdrawals from parents. I've noticed I don't 'freak' out as much, and the best thing is my anti-medication husband calls Effexor XR a 'miracle pill.' The only side effects I've noticed are extreme racing thoughts and night sweats."

• Anonymous
• September 13, 2008

"I had the 5HTTLPR biomarker and CYP450 genotyping tests from a blood draw (which can help doctors determine how antidepressants are metabolized by your specific genetics and help predict which medications may be most beneficial as well as how long it may take for you to notice results), and was prescribed Effexor based on that info. It has helped me GREATLY for 6 months so far."

• Jer...
• 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."

• joh...
• December 11, 2015

"I would highly recommend this medication. I tried multiple SSRIs like Prozac, Zoloft, Abilify, and Wellbutrin, and this works far better than those. For once, I actually feel happy, talkative, and good. Do not stop taking this medication cold turkey, or withdrawal effects will be bad. You should always taper over an extended period of time."

• ep1...
• March 10, 2017

"I am so very thankful for this medication. It has allowed me to get a handle back on my life. I have panic attack disorder, separation anxiety, depression, and generalized anxiety. I was prescribed Effexor for my depression. I was so depressed that I wouldn't leave bed, I'd have crying fits daily, everything would upset me, and I had suicidal thoughts. I take 150 mg daily, as well as some other medications, and I can honestly say I am a huge fan. I haven't had any side effects, I don't go through withdrawal if I don't take it at the same time daily, it doesn't cause any serious problems. My only advice is to take it with food, like most medications. Although this drug works for me, it might not work for everyone."

• App...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 4, 2023

"I was on 150 mg of Effexor for anxiety, depression, and ADHD for 8 months. It was great at first. I no longer woke up at dawn with anxiety attacks and could finally go to work, it also helped my anxiety when starting Ritalin. After a while, I started to feel very unmotivated and just numb, with no emotions. My sex drive went away, which before was super high, and I also couldn't orgasm, and if I did, it felt not as great. I stopped this medication because after missing just one dose, I had terrible vertigo to the point where I couldn't even stand without feeling like I was going to fall or throw up. I also got nausea and anxiety, along with tremendous fatigue and brain zaps, which I despise so much. Weaning off this medication now, and honestly, it's torture."

• Awe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2017

"I have been on this medication for at least a year and a half. I started out with Celexa, which at the highest dose completely stopped working for me, I was in a panic, crying for help. I became so much more depressed, and my behaviors were so impulsive. My doctor started me on Effexor, and what a difference this medication has made in my life. My mood became stable, I am no longer angry at the world, and I don't have the desire to go back to the way I was before Effexor. Remember, everyone, we are all individualized, some things may work for others better than ourselves!"

• Gre...
• August 10, 2019

"It ruined my life. Was on it for 13 years and tapered off it in March 2018. Every day intense cognitive problems, intense headaches, and stomach problems. Even if I missed a dose, I felt incredibly sick. I am disabled because of it. I'm 29."

• Unk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2019

"I had the worst depression and anxiety. I was taking Zoloft, and it quit working. I am now taking Effexor, and my anxiety completely went away! I was having to take Xanax throughout the day for my anxiety before I took Effexor. I now no longer have to take Xanax. I had no side effects from Effexor, and my depression is completely gone and my anxiety. The only thing it did not help is that I have no energy. I feel tired and fatigued and have no motivation to do anything. I also have had no problem sleeping at night."

• Anonymous
• April 10, 2012

"I'm 17, about 125 pounds, female, and a senior in high school. I've had depression for a while and started taking Effexor. I strongly encourage trying this medicine for any teens or college students who deal with depression. It helps me concentrate and feel altogether in a stable and happy mood. I've had weight loss, also, the only thing that makes me nervous is the withdrawal effects I've read about."

• But...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 11, 2016

"If you want to try this drug, make sure you're prepared to either stay on it forever or be able to take at least 1 month off from your life to try to get this out of your system. I've been on other psychiatric drugs, and I'm all for them. They really help get you through rough episodes, therefore I'm not a scathing anti-drug, crunchy all-natural person. However, I can say this is one nasty, nasty drug. I feel like I've been dumping poison in my system for the last 2 years. 3 weeks tapering VERY slowly, and the room still spins. I can't move my eyes without intense brain zaps and basically feel like a raging lunatic. If you've tried many other drugs and they haven't worked and this is a last resort, then I say go for it, but with caution."

• Dru...
• January 17, 2020

"I've been on Effexor for 3 or 4 months. So far, I've noticed things are more pleasurable, and I have a tiny bit more energy. Still have depressed days, though. As for the anxiety... still there, and hasn't improved much. Panic attacks aren't as frequent or intense, but I still get them. My anxiety is so bad it's to the point I can barely leave the house unless I really have to. If you're on this drug, you're going to want to stay on it and make sure you don't skip doses. I get major withdrawal symptoms like extreme dizziness and headaches. Make sure you wean off it. Overall, still depressed and definitely still anxious. The effects of relief are mild and sometimes hard to notice. I still rate it a 7 because if it has helped anything, it's the panic attacks, which are easily the worst mental experience you can go through aside from being tortured to death. It's very tormenting. But because Effexor hasn't relieved much else, I'd consider trying something new."

• NW6...
• November 1, 2008

"I've taken Effexor for 7 years, in a dosage that has decreased from 225 mg to 75 mg over the last 2 years. While I had some benefit with depression, I experienced side effects from Effexor. I experienced short-term memory loss, problems concentrating, blurry vision, weight gain, sweating, and dry mouth. I cannot drink at all on the medication since it exacerbates the memory and mental focus problems enormously, even with one glass of wine."

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2019

"This was the worst 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 the process of weaning off this dirty drug. Poison."

• Lan...
• December 7, 2014

"I am a 21-year-old female. I was on Prozac for ten years (40 mg at the end) before switching to Effexor (37.5 mg at first, 262.5 mg now) because I was having issues with anxiety. I was okay for a while, then I became extremely depressed and suicidal. My doctor increased my dose, and although it did take away the misery and suicidal thoughts, I wouldn't describe myself as happy. I feel constantly tired, sleeping up to 16 hours a day. I can't work, and social situations exhaust me. It took me a while to realize Effexor might be responsible for some of these symptoms. I am talking to a psychiatrist about changing my medication, but I'm very worried about the infamous withdrawal from Effexor."

• Anonymous
• May 11, 2012

"I was on this medication for about 3 years for depression/anxiety. During the time I took this medication, it completely numbed any emotion that a normal person would get. About six months ago, I decided that I was ready to discontinue my use of this medication and slowly reduced my doses. Coming down from this was extremely difficult and painful. I would have the craziest/scariest dreams, intense night sweats, severe headaches, uncontrollable body shaking and muscle twitching, some nausea/vomiting, but the worst of all the side effects was when my heart would race so fast it felt like it was going to break out of my chest, and my heart would feel like it was skipping beats, and each time that happened, I would get an intense head rush."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 29, 2019

"You better make damn sure your diagnosis is correct because if you are manic depressive instead of plain old depressed, this medication could cause huge disruptions in normal life, which it did to me... twice."

• Mis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2013

"I spent several years taking Citalopram, which I found to be very good until it stopped working. I was then prescribed Venlafaxine. I started off on 225 mg daily, but it was not controlling my anxiety and I became depressed on it. I was then told to up the dosage to 300 mg daily by my psychiatrist. Several months on, and I can firmly say this medicine has turned me into the same state I was in prior to ever taking any medication. My anxiety has increased, and I now suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts which I never had before. I have had no appetite, which can be a side effect for some people. I have lost a lot of weight. Food and drink taste strange, my skin has developed pimples."