Effexor and Withdrawal: What Users Say (Page 3)

• rae...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "Barely took the edge off of my anxiety and made me severely depressed. After a week of trying to consult a doctor about the depression, I gave up and quit cold turkey. The withdrawal symptoms were bad. Never again."

• Anonymous
• May 28, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "It was great at first for my GAD. I have never been able to concentrate so well. Unfortunately, it completely eliminated my personality. I didn't get upset or excited about anything. I eventually went off of it after my desire for sex had been completely eliminated. My ability to become aroused returned within a few weeks. Fortunately, I did not have any withdrawal symptoms when I stopped taking it."

• Anonymous
• March 31, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been taking Effexor XR 150 mg for about six months now. I started with Lexapro, then Zoloft to help aid in anxiety relief. The only thing those two did was make me put on 30 pounds. Since diligently taking the Effexor, the results have been remarkable. I lost the weight I gained and no longer feel anxious about every little thing. You have to definitely make sure you don't miss a dose, especially consecutively. I ran out of my prescription, had to wait for the doctor to call it in, and was without for three days... withdrawal symptoms were HORRIBLE."

• Dep...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 6, 2017

For Depression "This medication was by far the worst antidepressant I have taken. The first month I seemed to do very well on it, after a year on it, I hit rock bottom mentally. It caused more terrible symptoms than what was beneficial to me. I had weird brain zaps that left me in bed for days, sleep disturbances, attention-seeking behavior, as well as OCD that I had never experienced previously. It took forever to get off this terrible drug, and I call it a terrible drug because your brain and body get physically addicted the way a street drug would. You miss one day, and you start having severe withdrawals, sweats, extreme brain zaps, feeling out of touch with reality, and strange thoughts. After a month of being off Effexor, all of the bad stuff stopped."

• Ano...
• January 27, 2017

For Depression "Awful, awful drug! I was put on this when I was 18 and was up to 150 mg for 7-8 months. If you literally took this med 5 minutes later than your scheduled time, you would get withdrawal symptoms. The worst are what they call brain zaps, which feel like your brain is getting electrocuted, and the shocks travel all through your body to the tips of your toes and fingers. I weaned off and had these symptoms for 4 months before they dissipated! Also, I was in constant panic while weaning off for weeks, thinking I was dying. Never again."

• Pur...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 20, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have fibromyalgia, and the doctors also diagnosed major depressive disorder. After a few attempts, I was prescribed Effexor, but I was never warned of the side effects or the horrible withdrawal symptoms if you ever want to stop. Research it first, I wish I had. I could not get my prescription for 4 days once, and I felt like a drug addict, throwing up, sweating, headache, chest pains. It was severe. I think dying would have been a welcome option at one point. All because I had not realized I was out of refills. Anything that severe is not safe for your body. Now, I am stuck on a medication that has made me feel worse until I can slowly wean off that, it may take a year plus because it impacts your entire body when you cut back slightly."

• Aur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2017

For Depression "Tapered off generic citalopram 40 mg after 12 years, just didn't work anymore. Then tried Effexor after reading great reviews. I took 75 mg a day, and into the 3rd week, I had severe pounding migraines, pressure behind my eyes, nausea, dizziness/brain zaps that were constant, crying fits, insomnia, but vivid active dreams when I did sleep, body chills, leg twitches, and severe terrible neck soreness. All these symptoms were happening at the same time, and a few times I had hard pounding fast heartbeats that I almost called 911. I think it may have been moderate serotonin toxicity. If you start this med, start at the lowest possible dose. It shocks your body. Doc wants me to try Prozac but will talk to my psychiatrist first. Bad withdrawal symptoms too."

• Sal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 30, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "Many years ago, I took Effexor with wonderful results. After ineffectiveness, the doctor switched me to Paxil, which helped for 5 years. That too became ineffective and put me back on Effexor. An absolute nightmare! The doctor has been weaning me off for about 2 months, and I have constant lightheadedness, no energy, and very sad. I have never had withdrawal symptoms like this. I can’t wait to be off of this medication and to be reintroduced to another medication. I've been on about 5 different ones in 6 months! Really can’t wait to try something that works! My life has been close to hell! Never again."

• Bro...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 11, 2015

For Depression "Horrible experience, although everyone is different. I was on 150 mg, I am currently tapering off while switching to Wellbutrin. With Effexor, tapering is necessary. I've tried going off cold turkey, and the withdrawals are like nothing I've ever experienced. I had intense brain zaps (Google it), flu-like symptoms, could easily sleep half a day away. Even if you miss one day, you experience these withdrawal symptoms. While on it, it only worked somewhat well for a month or so. I experienced light nausea, which went away. I also experienced impotence and was unable to climax, which has not gone away. Now that I'm tapering and introducing Wellbutrin, the sexual side effects seem to be getting better."

• Ann...
• December 14, 2009

For Postpartum Depression "I've been on and off Effexor since 2004. Mostly taken for postpartum depression. I also have BPD and used it for only 6 months. I found that Effexor made me numb. It makes sense in the beginning, but I want to learn how to deal with my emotions, and after about six months, I start getting withdrawal symptoms because it is no longer working, even though I take as prescribed. That is what I hate the most, the withdrawal symptoms are horrible. I found working out aggressively, like at least 1.5 hours a day, gives me better results than this. It took two weeks for the withdrawal symptoms to subside, and I was on the lowest dose."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 8, 2022

For Depression "I have been on Effexor for years. I got a new batch and I am having severe anxiety and major withdrawal symptoms. I stopped taking them and used some old ones I had as extra. No anxiety and no withdrawal. What is happening??"

• jfb...
• August 14, 2007

For Depression "I was on Effexor for 3 years. I recently was weaned off. The withdrawal from the drug is indescribable."

• Lon...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 3, 2013

For Depression "Had weight gain, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, anorgasmia, bad withdrawal symptoms."

• Anonymous
• September 2, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "Trying to come off Effexor is hard, it's like withdrawal effects."

• Anonymous
• December 7, 2012

For Depression "Bad side effects, bad withdrawal."

• Mis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 10, 2015

For Depression "Works pretty well. Yet it's terribly hard to stop the pill. Horrible withdrawals."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 24, 2016

For Depression "Not worth the side effects and withdrawal symptoms."

• Jul...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 16, 2021

For Depression "The worst withdrawal and side effects of any medication I've ever taken. It's effective, but you need to weigh the good with the bad."