Effexor XR for Panic Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• NoE...
• November 4, 2010

"I have been taking Effexor XR for several years, alternating between 37.5 mg and 75 mg when needed. I feel better, but it still does not keep me from having attacks. I have to take an Ativan when I have an attack to get it to stop. I have been dealing with this for about 12 years, and Effexor XR is the most effective out of Celexa and Zoloft."

• Fat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2018

"I was on citalopram and propranolol after a breakdown, as I couldn't go out for 6 months. Totally given up on myself. Citalopram helped, although I gained weight, but I was always tired, everything was an effort. Another few breakdowns, and I couldn't walk over a bridge. I asked the doc to change. He gave me venlafaxine 37.5 mg, right away felt better. My doc has wanted me to go up a higher dosage, but I must say I am so happy, got a new job, going on holidays, and just happy, happy. I split the pill half in the morning, half about one in the afternoon, and I'll stick to that dose, but if I need to go higher, I will, because I will never want to feel like life’s over again. I've so much energy now and am always looking to the future."

• Wet...
• September 30, 2020

"I started Venlafaxine in July 2020 after having a series of terrible panic attacks. I eventually increased the dose to 150 mg. The panic attacks were less severe since being on the medication, and I only had them after increasing doses. Two reasons I got off of it: sex life diminished horribly, and it increased my blood pressure. I was given Metoprolol to help with that, and it just made me gain weight while still having high blood pressure. I was put on Prozac (Fluoxetine), and I’ve got my sex life back and no more high blood pressure. I didn’t have withdrawal symptoms because my doctor had me take Prozac while tapering off Venlafaxine. I only tapered down to 75 mg from 150 mg, I had forgotten a dose and just quit taking it altogether (while still on the Prozac). I was only on Venlafaxine a total of 2 1/2 months. The meds do work, every person is different. I just switched meds because of my own personal reasons. I’ll never forget that it made me feel good for the first time in 10 years."

• Ran...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 6, 2021

"Effexor XR saved my life for years! When I was going through a rough time with panic disorder! It took time to work, but when it fully kicked in, I had my life back. I really had no side effects from this medication that I can remember. But this can really help for you for a while. Only thing that I don't like is you need an increase like once a year, and I'm on the max dose, and my anxiety came back!!! But now, currently I'm on the max dose, 300 mg, and it lost its effectiveness, so my anxiety is back, and it's getting hard again. Not sure what to do. Afraid of change and other meds."

• Nel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2016

"GP recommended Effexor 7 months ago when I was going through some extremely stressful life events. The Seroxat I was on for GAD for the previous 17 years was no longer effective, and now I had become depressed. Effexor 37.5 mg worked well at first, was upped to 70 mg. Benefits: Immediately made me feel less depressed (hooray - no more tears), no panic attacks at all, able to sleep all night. Costs: Felt like a zombie, lost my spark, didn't feel present when talking to people (the lights were on but no one was in), not bothered about anything including if I upset someone; more aggressive verbally (usually a very placid person), withdrawn (usually a very social person). Withdrawal if missed dose was torture. Currently tapering off it."

• Jac...
• February 6, 2017

"I took Effexor for about 2 years for my panic disorder, and it was a huge mistake! Effexor caused me to have violent outbursts, which I never had before the medicine, increased anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. I thought I was doing good on the Effexor, but everyone around me saw a complete change in me, and it was bad. Almost 1 month ago, I was sick for 3 days and was unable to keep my Effexor down from being sick, so without knowing, withdrawal began, which included manic behavior, crying spells, nausea, brain zaps, and a suicide attempt that landed me in a mental hospital, and while there, detoxed from the Effexor and put on new medicine. I know Effexor has worked for a lot of people, but I wanted to share my story so people will research before starting."

• HNG...
• September 13, 2020

"I’m not going to come on here and be dramatic and tell you to absolutely stay away from Effexor XR because it’s “the drug from nightmares.” Every person’s body is unique, and everybody responds to medicine in different ways. However, Effexor XR absolutely did not work for me. From day 1, it has caused more problems than it solved. Not only did it not help with my panic/anxiety disorder, but it made me get my period 3 times in 6 weeks, and I only know this because every time my dosage was switched, I would get my period again, which was also awful because I have PMDD. I’ve tried several medications. Last but not least, I’m currently coming off of it, and the withdrawal is awful. I’ve been sick and throwing up for 2 days straight with HORRIBLE panic attacks and headaches. I’m super lethargic and honestly just feel like I have the flu and was told by my primary that it was all from stopping this medicine. Like I said, everybody is going to react differently. It was not the drug for me."

• Two...
• April 19, 2019

"Suffer panic disorder, had a depressive episode for over 6 weeks after relationship breakdown. GP put me on Effexor 37.5 mg, felt better mood instantly; followed by a sedated, sleepy feeling. Couldn't cry at all, which was a bizarre experience for me, as I previously cried all day long. On the third day, had a migraine by the evening and went to bed at 10 pm. At 1 am, woke up agitated, racing thoughts, eyes wide awake; pupils dilated. Panic was not the word; I was manic with fear, fluttering in my chest and sweating. Started pacing in my lounge, and after ten minutes, was on the floor grabbing my head and screaming, rocking back and forth, and called 999, begging for an ambulance as I felt unsafe, paranoid, and was worried for the safety of my pets. I have never suffered from mania, only panic attacks and depression. I will never touch this med again. Awful."

• Gui...
• May 20, 2015

"After very unsuccessful attempts with Lexapro and Prozac, I started on Effexor XR 2 months ago. Really suffered a lot to have my system adapted to it in the first 5 days. After that, I had 2 wonderful weeks. It has helped me a lot with panic attacks I used to have (especially dizziness and balancing issues), but I have started suffering with huge stomach pains. I think those are related to Effexor."

• Gen...
• April 18, 2020

"I'm 50, suffering from severe panic attacks and anxiety with depression, it's hereditary in my family. Started around when I was around 13 years old. Went to the doctor, and he put me on Pamelor, did not work. Then Buspar, that did not work. Then Lithium, that made me feel like I was going crazy. Then Paxil, then Zoloft, then Prozac, and nothing worked. Then I got by with alcohol, and it worked better than any of the drugs the doctor prescribed. I know it was not good self-medicating, but it worked for years. Then it came back, as my doctor said this will only get worse as you get older. Now I have not drunk any beer in about a year and a half. The doctor put me on Celexa, which did nothing, then he put me on Effexor 37.5 for 7 days, then bumped it up to 75, and I've been on it for a little over a year. Truthfully, it really helped my depression, but not for my panic or anxiety. Now I'm trying to come off of it, and it's been nothing but a nightmare."

• Anonymous
• May 5, 2018

"I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder after some life-changing traumatic events. The panic was daily and crippling. It happened often, every day for no rhythm or reason. With Effexor, 37.5 mg worked great for a couple of months. Flash forward now, 8 months later, I'm on 150 mg now, experiencing no anxiety, BUT instead, depression, excessive weight gain, horrible night sweats, lack of motivation, and feeling withdrawn. I used to be a very outgoing person, but now all I do is work, eat, and sleep. I'm currently seeking other alternatives to get off this medication. Just isn't working out for me. Wish me luck."

• Mam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 19, 2019

"I have had a pretty good experience with Effexor. I tried numerous SSRIs before and had terrible side effects with most of them for treating panic disorder. I was very nervous starting Effexor and the only starting side effect I had was feeling like a slight buzz in my head and a little bit of muscle tension in my jaw and shoulders. Those went away in about 10 days. I'm a smaller woman and 75 mg worked wonderfully for keeping all panic symptoms at bay, the only negative is after about 6 months, I started having incredibly vivid dreams due to the medication. So much so that I didn't feel like I was getting any rest at night, so I cut down to 37.5 mg. It masked most of the panic symptoms, but I can sometimes feel them creeping up, but I am able to sleep soundly now."

• Aly...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 11, 2023

"Second time trying Effexor (after trying every other SSRI-type med) and taking it for 2 years now. Have increased over time to 225 mg. For depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. It helped with panic attacks the most. Anxiety is also better. Depression is mildly better. I am now wanting to taper down as some side effects have become more noticeable in the last 6 months: no sex drive, can’t reach orgasm, excessive sweating (especially face and hands), tiredness, and lack of motivation to do things, emotional flatness. Will try to taper down by 75 mg to start. Last time I went off Effexor, I tapered down really slowly and that helped with the withdrawal symptoms a lot. Fingers crossed I can get through it again, and things improve after discontinuing. I’m hopeful."

• GKB...
• August 5, 2008

"I found Effexor to be a good medication for my symptoms, which were anxiety, panic, slight depression. I forced myself to get off of this medication because all it really does is mask the problem. It took me two tries to get off it. I had been taking 75 mg for 5 years, eventually moving up to 150 mg."

• Ann...
• February 2, 2020

"I'm going to be honest here, it's not pretty. My doctor prescribed this to me for anxiety after a death in the family. Two hours after taking it, I was trying to get from the bathroom (felt like puking and diarrhea at the same time) to the couch, crawling on the floor. Needless to say, after being asked by a family member (7-year-old daughter), 'Should I call an ambulance?' I kept saying no. I just need to get to the couch. Remember, I'm crawling. Finally, she said, 'You look so pale, are you sure you're okay, Mommy?' I said, 'Yeah, I just need to get to the couch.' My heart was pounding, and I was losing consciousness. Daughter called the ambulance anyway, and the main EMS gentleman said any later I would have suffered a heart attack. I was in a-fib. My blood pressure was dangerously high. I had no previous issues. This drug was almost the end of me! Kudos to those it works for. But not me, never again."

• Bre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 1, 2018

"Been on this drug previously for about half of a year, and it didn't work. I became manic and had thoughts of suicide after I was increased to 225 mg. That first time, I was introduced with a starting dose of 37.5 mg for a week and then upped to 75 mg and had no side effects at start. My new doctor wanted me to try it again almost 10 years later after we tried Celexa and had no change. The doctor was out of town, and another doctor prescribed a starting dose of 75 mg and instructions to up to 150 mg in a week. Four days after starting, I started having tremors, dizziness, insomnia, and nausea. On the 7th day, I started the 150 mg and started vomiting, and tremors were way worse. Went back to the 75 mg the next day and asked the doc for a new med, he said to stick it out because the doctor who prescribed started too high. I realized I was stupid to be on it again in the first place. I quit them."

• hea...
• December 2, 2009

"Effexor was given to me a few years ago for depression. The first time I took it, I felt extremely anxious and panicky. I ended up going to the ER. The doctor had to give me Ativan and Clonidine. My blood pressure shot up higher than it's ever been."

• Sou...
• August 15, 2016

"My experience with Effexor XR vs. Prozac. 1) EXR eliminates all panic attacks. 2) Prozac eliminates all obsessive thinking. 3) Prozac made me sleep like a fat cat even though I rarely ate, and I gained a ton of weight when I was only 106 lbs to start. 4) EXR did not cause me weight gain (or loss), however, it made me very irritable, and I caught myself clenching my jaw all day. However, I had a lot more energy than Prozac. 5) Both meds I used over 12 weeks to make a fair comparison. 6) I saw a bio-identical hormones therapist to see what's going on. No clear-cut answers. So here is my thought. You're a normal person living a normal life with a normal energy level. You take Prozac, and wham! You're sleeping 10 hours a day..."

• Sti...
• October 29, 2019

"Have tried every SSRI and NSRI. 37.5 Effexor XR should be avoided. I just took one dose, and I am still on a drug high after being off of it for 7 days. I take 1 mg of Klonopin three times a day, 30 mg of Restoril, and 10 mg of Ambien. It has kicked me into having fear phobias. I am going from laughing to crying. I am sickened by being a test rat for the pharmaceutical industry, who just give me my benzodiazepines. Atypical antipsychotics throw me into hypomania or no sleep mania. I believe I have taken every mood stabilizer with Vyvanse and minimal benzodiazepines. I was better off than I am now. I wish they would stop playing around with medication."

• Pig...
• July 13, 2018

"This drug caused the most horrifying experience of my life. 7:30 pm I took one 37.5 mg pill. 11:30 was horrible. I was vomiting and had diarrhea. Pupils were dilated. Wasn't sure if I was real or where I was or what was happening. Phoned Mom and an ambulance and was taken to the hospital. After tests were done, I was sent to the waiting area and became tired because I had 1 mg of Ativan. After 6 hours, I went home to sleep. Then the real nightmare began. Woke up at noon to complete hallucinations. Didn't know what was real, and I was actually hallucinating this time. There were colors everywhere. Like a drug trip, and I had been on those before, but this was not the same. This was much more intense. Pupils were dilated so much I couldn't see the color of my eyes. Sweating profusely and was getting chills over my entire body. Got to the bottom of the apartment when I collapsed, and I could barely see. I was able to dial 911 on my phone before I could barely see anything at all. Found on concrete outside and was taken to the hospital."

• t b...
• April 20, 2015

"Overall good, no side effects, only some little red dots on the skin, doctor says that's normal."

• SS1...
• December 18, 2009

"This medicine is good for depression but did nothing for me in terms of anxiety or panic."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2019

"What is this stuff? I had to come off after 6 months, and I am in unbearable pain! It has been 2 months of hell! When will it let up? It has ruined my life. I am now disabled. Total terror every day."