Effexor XR for Depression User Reviews (Page 2)

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2020

"Have taken Prozac, Zoloft, bupropion XR on and off over the years. Nothing has snapped me out of a major depression episode quicker than this Effexor. Already take 80mg Strattera for ADD. Venlafaxine kicked in almost immediately and has been tremendously helpful. I have read all the horror stories about going off of it but I was desperate for relief and this really did the trick. I don't want to be on it forever though."

• Gin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2020

"My neurologist prescribed me Effexor XR for nerve pain. I had a head injury from a car accident and have been suffering from facial nerve pain, neck injury, and depression. This drug has improved my quality of life. I highly recommend it for nerve pain. I started out taking 37.5mg for a month. Then, 75mg. The 75mg dose works for me. It took 6 weeks for me to feel the benefits."

• Gra...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 19, 2023

"I was taking 37.5 mg Effexor for several years. My depression was pretty much non-existent during that time. Last spring, I got cocky and had my doctor wean me off the drug over a two-month period. For six months, I felt great… until late fall arrived. I suffered with continuous anxiety for the next two months. I denied the heaviness in my chest and the constant worrying that overloaded my brain until I said enough was enough. If this situation was prolonged, I would be in a full-blown depression. I called my doctor, who put me back on 37.5 mg Effexor. I had a few side effects with nausea and headaches, but after four days, I started to feel the anxiety lift. By the fourth week, I was back to my usual happy self. I will never stop taking Effexor again. Lesson learned. My body does not produce enough serotonin. Despite my focus on exercising and other interventions to be mentally healthy, I need Effexor to keep my depression and anxiety away."

• Cot...
• October 12, 2019

"I will be 60 this year. My first experience with treating my anxiety and depression started around 1968 with a doctor convincing my adoptive mom to put me on Ritalin. In 2004, my doctor placed me on Effexor XR. Within a week, I felt relaxed and human. About a year ago, I had a really bad breakdown. My current doctor suggested I up the Effexor dosage to 150mg per day. It worked, except that I have lost my drive and ambition. I know I have things to do, they just do not seem to interest me enough. I get the things done I have to, then I just kinda slack down. Effexor saved my sanity, so to speak, but I have lost the extreme drive that propelled me in my younger days, and I wish for that back! I just wonder if after 15 years on Effexor, there is something that betters it in the 'drive' and emotion department. Again, wonder drug. Sign me, Depressed from birth."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2020

"I have only been taking Effexor for a little over 2 months and noticed that if I was even an hour late taking my daily dose, I’d feel nauseous and anxious. I also began to notice that I was feeling nauseous anytime I didn’t have a full stomach, so weight gain was inevitable. I decided this drug was making my physical symptoms seriously distressing enough to outweigh any good it may be doing. I was shocked at how awful the withdrawal symptoms have been, even though I was only on it for two months at a dose of 75mg. I’ve been experiencing nausea and 'brain zaps' for two weeks now. My GP put me on Effexor, but after meeting a psychiatrist at a dinner function and casually asking her thoughts on Effexor, she said she doesn’t prescribe it, its withdrawal is so awful. I’m glad I’m getting off it, but alarmed at how nasty the withdrawal is. Can't imagine how bad withdrawal would be for those at a higher dosage and for much longer than my 2 months."

• Gol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2017

"I'm a middle-aged professional that's dealt with depression and anxiety since my teen years. I've tried many different types of medications that target anxiety and depression, albeit with mixed results. My depression, stress, and anxiety levels had gotten worse within the last year (haven't been on any medications for over 10 years), so I went to see my doctor. I've been taking Effexor for about a month now and it's, by far, given me the most relief over any previous med. Stress levels have gone way down as I no longer tend to ruminate on things out of my control. It's much easier to drop the negative thinking and move on to something else. Anxiety and depression have also been greatly reduced. No major side effects for me (at 37.5)"

• Lov...
• February 9, 2017

"Effexor changed my life. I was suffering from bad depression for over two years due to something that happened in my life. I couldn't get the thoughts out of my mind. So daily, I would feel sad and depressed. I started with Wellbutrin, which I liked for depression and energy, but it made my anxiety, which I also have, worse. Anyways, back to Effexor. The first 2 weeks taking Effexor were kinda horrible. I felt weird, tired, and I was thinking of stopping this medication. But I stuck with it. I have to say I feel normal again, and my depression is gone. Even if I think of my past, I don't get sad anymore. So thank you Effexor."

• Tha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2019

"I'm a 53-year-old female and still in perimenopause. Effexor XR 150mg has been a life-changer for me! I have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and also bipolar by different psychiatrists. I was depressed, very irritable/angry, and moody. I couldn't function or get out of bed, had no desire to do anything but sleep! Currently diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). After being on many other antidepressants (Paxil, Cymbalta, Bupropion, Abilify, Seroquel - very sedating) and some bipolar meds (Lamictal, Risperdal, Depakote - which made my fine thin hair fall out) that didn't help over a 10-year period, I was really losing hope and tired of feeling sad, horrible, and constantly worried. I felt this was no way to live. After 8 months on Venlafaxine 150 mg XR, I feel so much better and much less irritable and anxious."

• hhh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2020

"Started taking Effexor in the luteal phase of my period (approx. 10 days before menstruation) for premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and it has CHANGED MY LIFE. I feel the best I've felt. I cannot even access the dark and awful thoughts/insecurities/self-loathing that used to be a constant during this period. The only side effects I've felt were a slight bit of nausea/lightheadedness in the first few days and difficulty sleeping (I keep waking up at 6 a.m., but feel pretty refreshed, so it's okay). Will report back on how it feels to go off them at the end of this phase."

• Vin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2016

"Effexor XR really has been working wonders on my life. It has relieved me of a lot of my depression while still giving me my energy, unlike SSRIs. If weight gain is a problem for you and you have depression, definitely try an SNRI first. As you may or may not know, Wellbutrin is another antidepressant that is supposed to encourage weight loss while relieving depression. It affects norepinephrine and dopamine. I tried Wellbutrin a while ago, and failed miserably on it due to the anxiety it brought on. Therefore, I was hesitant at first because I heard that Effexor XR affects norepinephrine as well. However, it has been completely the opposite. I have gone from constantly laying in bed all day long to wanting to get up and exercise."

• Anonymous
• July 12, 2008

"Life changing. I was prescribed Effexor XR for depression and anxiety with attacks. I suffered for years until I hit rock bottom and saw a doctor. This was the first medication I was prescribed and after 2 weeks, I saw an improvement, and after a month, I was a completely different person. I actually, for once, feel normal, and I am never sad and cry for no reason. I have energy, I don't feel crappy. I am hardly ever in a bad mood, and the best part is I don't feel like I am taking anything. Best decision of my life."

• Gam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 15, 2020

"Effexor was by far the worst medication I have taken. If you miss even one dose, within hours you are sick and having withdrawal symptoms. It took a good six months before the brain zaps stopped. Run away. It's terrible."

• Cla...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 21, 2022

"I had several severe depressions in my life — between the ages of 20 until 50 — and only took a drug once at age 24, and it didn't help. At 50 years old, I found a good psychiatrist who recommended Effexor XR. I didn't want to take medication, but he said he couldn't treat me without it. It took about a month for me to respond, but at about the 4-week point, my depression miraculously lifted. I had no bad side effects, although I remember being sleepy at work, so my psychiatrist told me to take it before I went to sleep instead of in the morning. I have been on it for 20 years and, for me, it was a lifesaver."

• hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2015

"I've dealt with depression/anxiety all of my life, or at least as early as I hit puberty. I tried Zoloft and Wellbutrin to their max doses, and neither were effective at all. After dealing with unbearable constant depression, I stopped seeing my psychiatrist and went to a family physician who prescribed me Effexor. It's been maybe 4 months on Effexor XR 75 mg/day, and I've done a 180-degree turn around. I feel so content, so confident, rarely feel sad or bothered by little things. I started dating and met someone, and my friendships with people are stronger than ever. I finally feel like the person I should be, and more importantly, I feel like an optimist. The only bad thing is that withdrawal is bad, and it can make you nauseous. Otherwise, 10/10!"

• Emo...
• October 27, 2013

"At 56 years old and being raised to 'put on a happy face', I can finally say I feel happy and emotionally alive. Depression had consumed me for 35+ years. I was a hollow shell. Talk therapy did nothing. Once the Dr. discovered the brain had damage to the neurotransmitter/receptors and started me on slowly increasing doses of Effexor XR, the depression cleared. I now take 150mg daily. There have been no negative side effects. It's been 3 years now. People who know me well are extremely supportive; those who don't know my 'history' would be surprised to learn that I take an antidepressant. Only rated as a 9 because long term/lifelong use is still unknown."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2019

"After trying Celexa (meh) and Aoloft (horrible), I asked my psychiatrist for an SNRI. Effexor has changed my life, depression and anxiety have gone way down. I have the motivation to do the small things that I was never able to before, like making my bed in the morning. No side effects unless I take it without food, in which case, I get little episodes of shaky/wobbly vision."

• Bob...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 6, 2019

"I've been weaning off of Venlafaxine for the last month and a half. It's my least favorite medication of all time. Every time I brought this up with my psychiatrist, she said, 'What you need is more.' Then she would raise the dosage. I hate the stuff. July 1, 2019, was my first day of being Venlafaxine-free. In the last 6 days, I've gone through the 'feeling weird' and 'bad dreams' stages of withdrawal. They call it 'discontinuation syndrome,' but it's most certainly withdrawal... extreme withdrawal. Now I'm experiencing the 'involuntary weeping' and 'jitters' stages. I'm most likely going to stay in the bedroom with the dogs today."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2019

"I thought I would share my experience with Effexor XR. I have been on an antidepressant since 2000. I started with Paxil, then Citalopram, and finally Cymbalta. The Cymbalta stopped working, and I was prescribed Effexor XR and am in the middle of my second week. When I first started taking it, after a couple of days I was feeling very odd, extremely fatigued, and very sleepy, but went with it. I researched this medication and read many reviews. I’m so grateful for the reviews people have posted. I decided to stick it out, at least for a month. I am so happy I did! After sleeping every spare moment the first week, it appears that side effect has alleviated. I’m feeling pretty good and am looking forward to my days now. The website says if you have an improvement in the first week or two, that it’s a good sign the medication is working."

• Edg...
• July 1, 2019

"I thank God for this drug. I've been on it for 18 months now. I'm a 55-year-old woman and have suffered on and off with depression for most of my life. A couple of years ago, I started suffering from diurnal mood variation, also known as morning depression. I'd wake up suicidal but would recover during the day. It was an awful, relentless 24-hour cycle I was stuck in. My doctor prescribed several drugs that made me feel worse, more suicidal, and on the verge of being hospitalized again. Then he prescribed Effexor XR. I felt lethargic and spaced out for 5 days, then fell asleep for almost 48 hours! After that time, I woke up, shook myself off, and felt amazing! I'm so well that I'm happy to stay on this drug for the rest of my life. My side effects have been dry mouth (it went away after a couple of months), a very itchy scalp, weight gain, and vivid dreams. Still, I'm happy to put up with all of that to simply not suffer from depression again."

• No ...
• April 1, 2013

"I suffer from depression and anxiety. For the last 20 years, I've had counseling and been on many antidepressants; Prozac, Wellbutrin, Paxil, etc. Effexor is the first medication that has noticeably helped. I was worried after reading all the negative reviews, but tried it anyway. I noticed a change after the first week, and it has gotten better ever since. Been on it for two years now and all is good in the world. Very rarely get sad, unless there is a reason for it (death, break up, pet dying) also I used to have anxiety talking to more than one person at a time, now I can talk to a room full of people with little to no anxiety."

• Red...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2021

"This medication makes me feel... odd. Been on it for a little over 4 weeks now for bipolar. Get random twitches throughout my body, especially when I'm trying to fall asleep. This never happened before Effexor. Very blunted emotions, which is not something I had with Lexapro or Prozac. I find myself often watching/reading about stirring events just to feel SOMETHING, even if it is negative. Feel extremely lazy (I thought this drug was supposed to help with motivation??) and just want to sleep all day, which is very much NOT like me at all. Has anyone else experienced this with Effexor? My doc wants me to give it another couple of weeks, but if I still feel like this by then I am going to request to be put back on Prozac."

• MEL...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 2, 2018

"It saved my life! I've been on 150 mg XR for 20 plus years, and I cannot find words to adequately describe the benefits of this medication. It's been so long, I really don't remember if I suffered any ill side effects when I first started or not. I will say that I had the bright idea several years ago to stop taking it because I thought it may help me lose weight. Withdrawal was horrendous, and I decided weight gain or not, I was taking it. Quit eating like a pig, started walking, kept taking Effexor, lost my extra weight, and wasn't depressed. I highly recommend this - try it. The pros far outweigh the cons in my book."

• Aks...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2019

"This stuff is awful. Feels like MDMA but with only the bad effects. Jaw clenching, can't focus, nausea, shaking. I was literally scared. I called the advice nurse after trying to make myself throw it up because I felt so terrible. Stay away from this drug."

• nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2019

"This medication needs to be illegal. It did not help my depression, it caused significant weight gain, and if a dose was missed by 1+ hours, the side effects were severe. The withdrawal symptoms are more intense than I ever would have imagined, and prescribing doctors do not warn patients against this. After beginning to taper off this medication, I experienced really dark thoughts and attempted suicide. I was in the ICU for a week and a psychiatric hospital for 4 weeks. Effexor almost cost me my life. Please don't risk yours by taking it."

• SLi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 10, 2020

"Please, please, please take my advice. If Effexor is working for you, don't quit! I took Effexor for 8 great years (anxiety and depression). Tapered and quit. Started again two months later to be on the safe side while going through a stressful period at work. Within 24 hours, my life fell totally apart. Anxiety and depression through the roof. 18 months and 4 AD's later, I am still a wreck. Losing hope."