Effexor XR for Generalized Anxiety Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 17, 2018

"On Effexor for 2 years, weaned off to a half dose for a week, which was ok, then a quarter dose, which again was ok. When I got down to zero, I was very dizzy, which also made me nauseated because I'm prone to motion sickness. Also had diarrhea. Took Imodium for the diarrhea, no biggie. IF YOU ARE DIZZY, take OTC Dramamine or Bonine, the motion sickness medicines. They are the same as prescription anti-vertigo meds. You will probably still feel off for a week, but you will be functional. I had a low-grade headache the whole time and 'brain zaps.' Dramamine seemed to make those less severe also, down to just annoying."

• kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2022

"I am taking Effexor XR, along with 5 other drugs for my mental health. I am diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder (with severe depression), OCD, GAD, C-PTSD, borderline personality disorder, ADHD... anyways, this is definitely helping with my intrusive thoughts, depression, and anxiety. My ONLY complaint is that the first few days on it, I had just come out of the hospital, and I was feeling more manic than normal. Fortunately, with my other drugs (plus some melatonin for sleep), I was able to stabilize, making Effexor XR worth it, I think. I'm still relatively new to it (a few weeks) and on a low dose (although that might be for the best with the mania risks), but I certainly see a difference now. I think patience is required! (note: I also take Zyprexa, Depakote ER, Requip [that's for restless leg syndrome], Concerta, and Clonidine... it's taken me 7 years of many trials to find a good balance... who knows if it'll last, but I'm hopeful. I've had other drugs work for me for a while)"

• Tay...
• February 14, 2018

"My GP put me (female, 19) on Effexor for anxiety. It was the first time I'd taken medication for mental health. I'm going to be honest, it was fine while taking it, but looking back, I was in an apathetic fog for the year I was on it and totally disregarded my relationships. Coming off of it, on the other hand, was an absolute nightmare. Even under the supervision of a doctor and weaning off slowly, I've never been more miserable! Could not sleep because of paranoia, and the mood swings had me ripping books and sobbing over spilled milk or dropping something on the floor. For long-term use, it would probably be great, but if you're new to antidepressants or just testing it out, be so, so careful!"

• Fit...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 17, 2019

"My experience was really up and down, but now that I am completely off of it for 4 weeks now after being on it for 5 years, I don't know how I coped while on it. I feel amazing off that junk. It's very hard to get off of it, but my doctor put me on 10 mg of Prozac and decreased the dose of the Effexor. No problems at all. The Prozac is such a low dose I just quit taking that, and no problems. I am happy and feel really good. I'm beginning to question if I even ever had anxiety... or maybe somehow I was cured..."

• adr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2022

"This is the first medicine I have taken that has greatly lessened depression, generalized anxiety, obsessions, and DPDR. SSRIs were no good for me. I titrated up slowly. Once I got to 150 mg, anxiety and panic were greatly reduced. I’m at 187.5 mg now. The medicine does come with side effects: high blood pressure, which I take medicine for, so I can stay on Effexor. Low libido on the low doses, but it has gone up a bit once you go up in dose. I don't know if this is a side effect from Effexor or my DPDR, but I still have a degree of anhedonia and lack of satisfaction/pleasure in things. DPDR has lessened in intensity, though. All I feel now is a thin layer of it. Hopefully, going up more takes care of it. Although it may not work, it’s worth a try if SSRIs don’t do it for you. It saved my life, it may save yours too. Good luck :)"

• lov...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 9, 2017

"I started taking Effexor around 3 years ago, 150 mg, because I was having a terrible time with anxiety, and it was starting to physically manifest itself at the worst possible times. Initially, it worked quite well, and I was more or less getting back to my normal self. I felt so good, in fact, I thought I no longer needed the Effexor and started the slow taper and eventually stopped taking it. My anxiety quickly returned along with terrible dizziness and an overwhelming fear of being around other people. I also suffered several seizures, which we are still not sure are linked to coming off the Effexor, but my doctors are suspicious. Nonetheless, my life has been hell since stopping. Trying Lexapro now to hopefully get some of 'me' back."

• Jim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 17, 2021

"I was on this medicine from July 2010 until December 2013. When I started taking it, it made me feel like a zombie. I thought I was also going crazy. It made me gain around 40-80 pounds, if not more. It made me depressed and even more anxious. I would not leave the house and sometimes would not shower for days. I decided in June 2013 that I was going to wean off the medicine. I was weaning off of it for about 5-6 months. While weaning off of it, I still didn’t want to do anything and was falling classes in college. Once I got off it fully, which was December 2013, I started to experience extreme anxiety. What helped me was being distracted, seeing a therapist, exercising, and being on a keto diet. I didn’t feel like myself until September 2014, so it took a while. I absolutely would never go back on this medication."

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 7, 2018

"Got sick on day 1, and rash just started. 50 mg of trazodone, don't remember falling asleep. I just called the doctor to see if I can cut it in half. I feel like I'm in a daze. How long does trazodone take to work, in weeks or days?"

• Ray...
• January 4, 2016

"Been on Venlafaxine 75 mg a day for a month. It's the first time I've felt normal in 30 years. I tried everything else and it helped, but this is perfect. No side effects."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2018

"This medicine made me want to live again! The first days are tough, but then comes heaven after some days!"

• sav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2014

"Been on Effexor at 75 mg now for 7 weeks, still having really bad anxiety. It's only the diazepam that's helping at the moment."

• Dea...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 17, 2021

"The Effexor XR worked quite well for GAD at a dose above 150 mgs. Memory issues are a problem with this med."

• Mel...
• March 1, 2016

"I've only been on this medicine for a month and am experiencing more mood swings. My anxiety has worsened along with my fatigue. I am also experiencing hives and skin sensitivity."

• Mun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 16, 2019

"I have been taking Effexor XR 150 mg. So far, the results are good, just sometimes, I still have a panic attack."

• cpe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2021

"I don't even know how this drug is legal. It legitimately made me feel like I was on LSD. It also made me suicidal, but not depressed, suicidal, just like indifferent to life."

• Squ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 2, 2022

"Effexor XR treated my anxiety very effectively. It did cause some emotional blunting and sweating. It was difficult to quit because of the withdrawal symptoms."

• Lex...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2022

"This made me feel like rubbish. My anxiety was worse. I felt very manic on it. Going back to Zoloft."

• Suz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2018

"Just started Effexor XR 36.5 mg. I am hoping for good results."