Effexor XR for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 5)

• Ell...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 17, 2024

"It does work extremely well. I take it two times a day (150mg in the morning and 75mg in the afternoon). I also take it with 75mg of Buspar. This medication works so well but if you miss a dose even by 5+ hours, you get physical withdrawals. And it gets worse from there. While it works, withdrawals are horrible and quick to set in. So be very cautious. Best thing, don’t start this medicine unless it’s your last option. I’ll be on it for the rest of my life, mainly because it works but also because the withdrawals are so incredibly bad."

• Map...
• July 10, 2014

"I went on Effexor for panic disorder/social anxiety caused by OCD. It was debilitating, and the symptoms really affected my ability to go through life. I had been on other meds, which did not do much, so I was genuinely surprised and happy when the Effexor made a noticeable difference in the frequency and severity of my panic attacks. I have a few moments of panic now and then, but nothing as bad as it was. OCD is still there but does not cause me too much distress or interrupt my life as much as it used to (and Effexor is not meant to treat OCD anyway). The side effect that got me the most was tiredness, so I was put on Wellbutrin to balance that out, and it seems to be working for me. The other side effects are entirely bearable."

• Dis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 28, 2012

"I have been on this medication for over 15 years. I can tell you that this is the absolute best medication for panic attacks. The problem is that I never had any panic attacks until I quit taking the pill after a year of use. I was prescribed this when I was 18 after being hospitalized as a result of several traumatic events. I started on 32 mg and eventually was bumped up to 150 mg and then 225 mg. I weaned off and survived the withdrawals and felt amazing. Seriously, it felt like the best moment of my life, but about a year after I stopped taking it, the depression came back twice as bad."

• Gio...
• September 15, 2010

"I took Effexor for 10 years and found it highly effective controlling anxiety/panic attacks. After deciding to stop (with Doctor's approval), I reduced my dosage gradually, and am discontinuing it. Withdrawal has been rough - like the worst hangover - and I'm into the 5th day but getting better. However, my mood is still good compared to 10 years ago, and I would like to be medication-free. Effexor allowed me to control my anxiety/moods through some tough times and through it, I learned new ways to deal with such. I highly recommend it."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2012

"Overall I love this pill, I have been on 75mg of Effexor for 8 years after being severely depressed and suicidal. I haven't had the same type of mood the whole time. The only downfall to this medication is the side effects, I have found that I have no libido and often very tired. Also, if I miss one day, I have very bad side effects like a really bad hangover. I am a little afraid of getting off the pill but I would like to try. Overall, if you need help with your depression, this pill is amazing."

• jen...
• August 4, 2011

"I have taken this medication for over 4 years, and my life has changed dramatically since then. I take 75mg doses 3 times a day, and my days are so much better now compared to over 4 years ago when I would have panic attacks and anxiety attacks. I would recommend this to anyone who has depression or anxiety/social anxiety disorders. The only downfall is if you run out of your prescription, the withdrawal symptoms can be intense after about 2 days. Make sure your refills are ready and not about to expire because it can cause you a lot of problems, as it has been in my case. Other than that, it is a great medication to help you get back to your normal self again."

• Nik...
• June 2, 2017

"This changed my life. For 20 years, I have been prescribed so many things, and they all seemed to make me feel crazy. After having my son, it got worse, and I never wanted to leave the house. I have tried exercise, natural therapies, everything, but I swear the chemicals are just not right in my head. I always felt lost, like every small thing mattered too much. I started on 75 mg before sitting on 150 mg for a year and a half. I have been so much happier and chilled out. Not worrying all the time. I have sleep apnea too, so I am not sure if it's made my sleep worse as it's already pretty bad. My mind never stops. I felt myself losing control of my life lately due to huge stress at work and small kids. 225 mg has evened me out, and I feel good :)"

• Wor...
• September 25, 2019

"I was prescribed Effexor 37.5 mg ER by my doctor to help with menopause symptoms (mood swings, hot flashes, etc.), and I have mild generalized anxiety disorder. She said it would help also. I took one pill at 10 pm. By 11 pm, I had the worst anxiety I've ever experienced: shaking, hot/cold flashes, nausea, diarrhea, muscle rigidity, and complete loss of appetite. I tried to ride it out. By day 4, I still had the symptoms and ended up inpatient psychiatric. It's been 9 days now since I took just the one pill, and I'm still dealing with these side effects. My anxiety is higher than I've ever felt it. I feel like I'm in a constant fight or flight state. I'm having multiple panic attacks a day. I still can't eat or drink much. I've lost 12 lbs in a week. The psychiatrist at the hospital said this drug at this dose can induce an 'anxiety episode' in some people. How long this episode is going to last, no idea, but I hope it goes away soon."

• Cer...
• January 26, 2017

"I believe this medication saved my life. I did feel extremely sleepy at first while my dosage was being raised, but that went away quickly. I have a new feeling of wanting to get up and do things that wasn't there before. I also feel a sense of calm and peacefulness. The only side effects so far that were troublesome are constipation, and sometimes it's hard to concentrate if someone is speaking."

• lil...
• September 11, 2016

"Started Effexor after citalopram stopped working for anxiety and depression, been taking it for 3 years, was up to 150 mg, tapered down to 37.5 mg, slowly over 6 months, mainly because of weight gain and feeling more calm. No problems in reducing, but am reluctant to go lower in case of a relapse. Has anyone lost weight after reducing the dose, or do you have to come off completely? I rate Effexor, except for weight gain and sweating, the only med that has made me function normally."

• Jer...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 24, 2019

"Was on 150 mg for the past 3 years. I tried to get off them earlier last year to no avail, for the withdrawals from this drug seem to be incredibly dangerous and life-halting. For 2 months now, I have been going down in dosage from 75 mg to 37.50 mg and now 0 mg. Throbbing shocks in my head, convulsions, bad stomach pains, nausea, mentally destroyed - random crying and rage from anything that catches my emotional attention (dropping a pencil, etc.). I do not recommend this drug. It may have helped me get through some hard times, but in my honest opinion, I feel this should be illegal. I have had to take time off from work, for I cannot function appropriately."

• fee...
• December 7, 2016

"Just an FYI. Not all anxiety medications work for everyone. This one works amazingly for me but works horribly for a good friend of mine. She took a test to determine what medication was best for her and was able to find the best match. If you are on a medication that isn't working, don't give up hope, ask to do the test, and try something until you find one that works for you. If your doctor isn't accommodating, look for another one. Cheers."

• kev...
• April 13, 2015

"You have to keep taking this medicine forever. The withdrawal is awful after a day. However, once you find your dose, everything is fine. I don't recommend this medicine because it's like a marriage with a messy, long divorce. It's better to stay on it once you're on it. I am on 150 mg, and it works for me. Don't try and go off."

• And...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 25, 2019

"I started taking Effexor 75 mg for my anxiety at 22 years old when Lexapro and Prozac were no longer working for me. I immediately felt relief after I started taking it. I am very bad at taking it at the same time every day/remembering to take it every single day and have experienced some of the most horrendous withdrawal symptoms. I start to notice it about 6-7 hours after a missed dose. I’ll start to feel off balance, headache, fatigue, flu-like feeling, vomiting, etc. This drug is amazing if you remember to take it, but it is definitely something you need to be on long-term. Highly addictive and horrible withdrawal symptoms."

• Bil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2019

"Effexor was awesome for my anxiety and panic, but being a male, I had a very hard time in the bedroom. Could not finish. Unfortunately, I had to go back to Pristiq for this reason. I've been on Pristiq for a long time and it works quite well. When you compare it to Effexor XR, the Pristiq just doesn't feel as good. But it is a lot milder in its side effects in the bedroom. Anyway, I read that a lot of people are having a horrendous time getting off Effexor. My doctor advised me to straight swap Effexor 75mg for 50mg Pristiq the next day, and it worked great. I felt a bit sick in the stomach for a day, but that was it. Just allow yourself a day or two free days, just to be on the safe side. I've also done the same for 150mg Effexor to 100mg Pristiq. I've always tolerated Pristiq quite well. That's also how my doctor advised me to transition from Pristiq to Effexor as well. Just straight swap next day, and it also worked fine. Hope this helps."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2021

"10 days in on 37.5 and already feel decreased anxiety. Sleep issues still and some daytime fatigue, but I know this will pass with time. Worried about stopping them one day from all the reviews, but I'm looking forward to taking a year to feel good."

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2009

"This medication has helped me out very much. I used to get anxiety attacks often about school or work, a couple of times a week, but now I rarely get them at all. I also used to just 'blow up' in arguments with my wife, but now I feel in control of my actions and speech."

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2019

"Took this before bed and woke up at 3:30 am, nauseous, bad diarrhea, sweating, and shaking. Had no appetite all day and was dehydrated. Tried napping, and my heart was pounding just laying there. The next day, I had a migraine up until day three and felt awful. Will not take again. Should be called Sideffexor."

• ada...
• July 24, 2014

"I'm 19 and have suffered with anxiety for three years or so. Previously, I had been on Prozac and Lexapro, which were both hellish. I began taking Effexor XR two months ago and started feeling better two weeks in, but out of nowhere, the medication not only ceased to work but actually made my anxiety a lot worse. I have horrible agitation, depression, irritability, and insomnia. Pity I could really do with an antidepressant that works!"

• Anonymous
• January 1, 2011

"I was switched to Effexor XR after 2 years of Paxil. It worked wonderfully for about 3 years. I was on 75 mg and started to have uncontrollable movement with my one arm. Talked to my doctor, who said it was not the medicine. Well, after another year, I was having the problem in my legs and both arms and could no longer sit or walk without frequent jerking. My doctor finally realized that it was a rare side effect of the medication from long-term use and switched me to another. I still have the jerking at least 2 to 3 times a week. If you notice this problem at all, you need to talk to your doctor immediately."

• Anonymous
• July 22, 2011

"I was prescribed Effexor XR for anxiety, and it has worked wonderfully. I have no panic attacks, my constant level of anxiety is gone. However, I think it has worsened my depression slightly. Everyone responds to this medicine differently, I guess, and I am more than willing to deal with minor depression if it means my anxiety is gone. This medicine has been great."

• Ano...
• January 27, 2010

"I have been taking Effexor XR for about 8 years after suffering a serious mental breakdown. This medicine has given me back my life. Having said that, the UK government has recently told all doctors to prescribe the generic version. THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE, I began suffering terrible headaches and anxiety again. After speaking to my consultant psychiatrist, I am now back on Effexor with all the nasty symptoms gone. There really is no substitute for the real thing."

• Anonymous
• June 2, 2011

"I have found Effexor and therapy to be a fantastic combination. The Effexor alone has kept me from feeling like I'm going to climb the walls. I didn't lose any weight on Effexor. I actually gained some (in part due to my own lack of exercise). I weaned off for about a year while I was pregnant. Withdrawals can be rough but not impossible. My advice is to wean VERY slowly. I went from 75 mg daily to 37.5 daily. Then to 37.5 every other day, then every two days, then every three days, etc. until I was taking it once a week then stopped."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2022

"I used to be a person with extreme anxiety. For over a decade, I always had to rely on Xanax bars and/or Klonopin. Until my Dr. prescribed me Effexor 37.5 mgs, now almost four months later, I'm on 150 mgs, and Effexor has almost completely taken away my anxiety while at the same time has helped control my stress, agitation, and depression. I thank my Dr. for prescribing me Effexor, it has changed my life for the better."

• JD2...
• July 23, 2009

"Effexor XR did its job in balancing me out. I had a significant anxiety and depression problem. I started out with 75 mg, moved up to 150 mg, and tried 300 mg. In the end, I settled with 150 mg. At 300 mg, my dreams at night were very vivid and real. They were too much to deal with, and mentally I felt bogged down. I did too with 150 mg but not as much. I didn't notice many side effects when I started taking it. However, it is true it does affect your sexual drive and experience. The prescription is fine if you have health and prescription insurance. The drug itself for a 30-day supply is about $180. The company does not offer you any helpful programs to try to reduce the cost. The company no longer offers free samples to my doctor, so if and when I might need it due to a lack of funds, I can't get it from them. I'm trying to come off it and have buzzing zaps dominating my head. As time goes on without the medicine, the body feels like it's shriveling up and deals with other irritable side effects. During the time of coming off it, you are very irritable. I have followed my doctor's orders of dropping the mg down to 75 for two weeks and then taking one capsule every other day after that for two weeks. It's the day in between that is awful if I don't have one a day."