Effexor XR and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• cd8...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2016

For Depression "Horrific side effects and incredibly difficult to wean off of as well because of the withdrawal symptoms. When I first started taking it, I felt some relief, but it didn't last very long. I'd taken Lexapro and Zoloft in the past and felt that, over time, they were no longer helpful in treating my depression, which is why my doctor put me on Effexor. It took me a while to realize this medication was worsening my depression symptoms, and I didn't realize it until after a botched suicide attempt. I don't recommend this medication to anyone for any reason. Worst of the worst as far as I'm concerned. It'll trick your brain for a little while into thinking you're improving, but the depression and anxiety will come back and hit you ten times worse!"

• Amb...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 8, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've had anxiety since I was 12 and have tried half a dozen different medications, all with a degree of success, but I always built up a tolerance to them, and they would stop working. Effexor was the only medication that continued to work at 225 mg for 16 years until I decided I'd had enough of taking pills and got off them in a week with hardly any side effects at all. I did notice when trying to find the right dosage for me at 150 mg, I felt my mind become numb. I had no empathy, emotions, and felt like a zombie, but increasing the dose took me out of the fog, and I could function like a normal human being. I still have anxiety today and don't go out as much as I used to, but I'm happy with that."

• tdi...
• March 24, 2012

For Depression "I have been on Effexor XR for years. I have been on several other SSRIs through the years that eventually stopped working. Effexor has been the most successful in the long term. I take 150 mg of the XR and 37.5 three times a day of the regular Effexor. The regular was recently added as my depression has worsened due to additional stress at work. I have not had any major side effects, even on this high of a dose. I do agree that withdrawal is serious. If I miss a dose, I have a buzzing feeling, crying, and an increase in depression almost immediately. This is one medication that I do not go without-ever. I am a bit worried about ever going off it for these reasons. I believe that this can be done safely with the help of a physician."

• Han...
• November 2, 2016

For Social Anxiety Disorder "The first two months of Effexor XR 37 mg were great, I felt good. But that apparently is just the startup. The first couple of days of taking it, I felt an awesome euphoria and a high like I was on cocaine. I was a little restless, had a hard time getting to sleep, and had diarrhea. The doctor bumped me up to 75 mg one week ago. The first day was awesome, I felt like I was on cocaine again. After that first day, I felt nothing other than an overbearing fact that I wanted to get off of this. I feel like complete trash. I feel emotionless but really down. I don't know if I can make it another week on this medication. I've been on four medications, and none of them have helped so far. This was my last hope for medication."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2018

For Depression "It was effective, but not in a way anyone would want. For the very first time in my life, I would go through episodes where I experienced absolute terror, and although I had been experiencing deep depression after losing several people close to me in a short time, I had never before contemplated harming myself. After less than a week on this medication, I was disassociated from everyone around me, largely unaware of anyone or anything outside 'my bubble', and had turned totally inward, to the point of not seeing the changes. I was in such a dark place. Luckily, when the thought flashed through my mind that 'I sure will miss my girls' followed by a second lucid thought hit... WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING>>>??!! Two days after stopping the med, all was back to the comparatively blissful normal depression, which has proven to be MUCH more effectively dealt with through some counseling, a regimen of exercise and outdoor activities, and an intensive hobby."

• sou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 8, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "This medication has saved my life. I’ve been on it for a few years, and I think maybe it might have a slight effect on my immediate short-term memory, but that also just might be me normally, lol. I could not function without Effexor medication, not only has it saved my life, it has given me a life. I am 26, and in the past few years, I’ve become more social and tolerable to be around. I am so thankful I stuck with it. If I miss a dose, I get a wicked headache and the depression and panic ensue so intensely, but I rarely miss a dose. If you cut yourself off of it, you will withdrawal, and it is painful. Only downfalls. I am so happy to feel normal!"

• jul...
• December 17, 2010

For Depression "I have been on this medication for about a year now. I am very, very pleased with it. It has changed my life at the age of 26. I used to have depression, social disorder, always tired, and some mood swings. Also, a very inattentive person. Now I am happy and can cope a lot better with life. I wish I had this medication way earlier in life. I would have had a better life as a teen. Probably could have accomplished a lot more. Thanks to Effexor XR."

• tes...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 14, 2022

For Depression "I have been taking Effexor for over 10 years, and it has helped me a lot with my depression. I tried almost all antidepressants that exist, and Effexor was the only one that really helped me. When I started, I almost immediately felt the effect of increased motivation and improved mood. It also helped with my anxiety, especially because I procrastinate a lot less. On the flip side, I feel like the effectiveness of the medication somewhat decreased over the years. But most importantly, there are the terrible withdrawal effects that start only a few hours after forgetting to take it. Plus, now that I want to start a family, I was told that I need to get off of it because it could harm my baby. Which is a problem because even though I only take out one granule from the capsule every day, I still feel extremely tired and sad on bad days. I was also extremely nauseous at some point. I have to taper down even slower now. I still would recommend Effexor because it is the only medication that has helped."

• Lyl...
• June 1, 2016

For Depression "Took first dose of 75 mg before bed. Fell asleep at 10:30 and slept well, actually. Woke up at 5:30 with eyes wide open as if I just had 10 espressos. It's now 6:30 and I don't have to be out of bed until 7. Can't sleep anymore. Feeling jittery with jaw clenching and teeth chattering when I open my mouth a little. Hands are sweating. I feel a little emotionally numb. Slight ringing in ears and slight headache with slight nausea. I feel peaceful but dull. Not sure if I will take again."

• Anonymous
• May 5, 2018

For Panic Disorder "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."

• Anonymous
• May 5, 2018

For Panic Disorder "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."

• ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 24, 2021

For Anxiety "I have now been on Effexor XR since the beginning of summer. At first, the first 2 months it seemed to calm my anxiety, and I didn't panic as much, but that quickly subsided as quickly as it started, so I went up a dose (from 37.5-75 to 112.5 mg), and it had not changed anything. About 5 or 6 months in, I started noticing spikes in my panic attacks, anxiety, and depression, the depression being the worst. I also got prescribed Adderall, which I take 'as needed,' and it also helps with everything. The Effexor now, I can't tell if it does anything, as my anxiety and depression came back full force. Like it didn't do anything to begin with now, or at least barely. Also, I do see many things about withdrawals. Yeah, it's said you get them, but at least for me, it is super bearable, like not smoking for a day. That being said, it seems to me as useless sugar. I'm really hoping to soon find something that actually does something. These kinds of drugs are sugar pills to me or increase depression and anxiety and irrational thoughts."

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

For Panic Disorder "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."

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

For Panic Disorder "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."

• sad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "Never knew how powerful this drug is until I tried to replace it with Cymbalta. Within 2 days of switching, my anxiety was sky-high, and my depression was so severe that I literally was suicidal. Went back on it, and these symptoms subsided quickly. By no means is this the perfect drug, but it seems to be a bit better than others. I wish it would control anxiety better. I have to take lorazepam to control anxiety fully."

• tri...
• August 28, 2008

For Depression "I have been on this wonder drug for many years. I find that if I forget to take my medicines for even one day, I become sad and can cry very easily. If I am off them for more than 3 days, watch out. So don't skip. Take your medicines. I am 46 and find I am forgetting things. I have been on antidepressants for 20 years now, 6 or 7 of those years on this medicine."

• Jus...
• June 19, 2008

For Depression "In 2003, I had initially tried Remeron to deal with anxiety/insomnia, but after 4 months and going through major depression, I started on Effexor. I took Ativan to get me through the first few weeks for anxiety until the Effexor kicked in. It definitely helped me get my life back. My only problem is the weight gain - about 25 lbs. I have tried to wean myself down from my highest dose of 225 mg/day to as low as 37.5 mg, but had recurring depression and anxiety, so I have gone back up."

• Dre...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 22, 2017

For Depression "I was having moderate anxiety and dealing with a lot of stress in my life. I began seeing a psychiatrist and was started on Effexor. Around my 3rd month of being on Effexor, I was increasingly paranoid and tired. My doctor's response was to increase the dose. I began to become very nervous and started pacing and having trouble sleeping. He put me on trazodone for sleep, which made me feel incredibly tired the next day. His response to the sleepiness was to increase my dose again. I started to have severe depression then and became incredibly moody and volatile. I no longer had a fuse for my anger and became very withdrawn from everyone. This, of course, sent me on a downward spiral, ending with me being hospitalized."

• Jrh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2017

For Depression "I was given this medicine for anxiety and depression. After a month of taking the 37.5 mg, this medicine has increased my symptoms of anxiety and depression substantially. Also, since I have started taking this medication, I have developed some new symptoms such as mania and hallucinations. The pain attacks associated with this medicine are horrifying as well. The most disturbing thing about the drug, to me, is the extremely lifelike and vivid dreams that make you believe you've been up all night, but in reality, you've been asleep. This makes waking up very difficult because it's hard to tell if you're awake or not. This is an extremely powerful drug, I would discuss other options with your doctor before trying Effexor XR."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 10, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I took Effexor for a year. Got up to a 325 mg dose. My depression and anxiety got worse. Three suicide attempts in a year. Constant suicidal thoughts. Wasn't until I accidentally ran out of the Effexor that I felt some relief from depression and realized this med was making me worse! Needless to say, I fired my doc and am currently trying nortriptyline."

• Anonymous
• September 21, 2018

For Depression "I've been taking Effexor for 12 days now, my doctor told me to take it at night because it may cause drowsiness, but I have had the opposite effect. At night, I can't sleep, and I'm very fidgety and anxious. I know this is a side effect, I'm not 100% sure if it's caused by the drug, but I never had this issue before. I may start taking it in the morning if it persists. All in all, I feel okay, though, through the day. Although I missed a dose yesterday and had to take it almost 20 hours later, and I felt instantly a feeling of dread and sadness wash over me, as if I had been holding it in unknowingly for 4 days."

• Kyl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 25, 2016

For Depression "Didn't find it a whole lot different from SSRIs other than a couple of weeks of jitters. Starts off with a contented, floaty feeling, and then after a month, subsides to having a minor, yet meaningful effect in helping me recover from recurrent depressive episodes. It helps, but only marginally. The withdrawal effects I've experienced going cold turkey off it numerous times are strange. A couple of months of severe flu-like symptoms, and I'll cry very easily over anything even remotely sad. Also causes me to start rapid-cycling between euphoria, mixed, and extreme depression. Also lasts a couple of months. Going off of it abruptly is quite terrifying. I recommend titrating off it."

• sco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2021

For Depression "My GP has just switched me from Lexapro to Effexor XR. Have been on SSRIs for 10+ years, and have felt they've always provided a 'floor,' but have gone below the floor for weeks at a time after getting sober 17 months ago. He thinks, because I've been on SSRIs, it could take only a week, not 3, for its effect to be felt. Mainly, just feel a combination of uninterested/tired/down most of the time, so wanted a status check on my meds. We'll see. Wary of the warnings if you don't take it at the same time all the time. Wish all you well!"

• Anonymous
• July 31, 2009

For Depression "I was on Zoloft for 8 years, and my doctor first tried to wean me off that and put me on Effexor. It was miserable. I am sure some of it was related to the withdrawal from Zoloft, but I was eventually able to transition to Lexapro without the same problems. This medicine made me extremely nauseous. I had a horrible headache and was so depressed my family cried from being around me."

• Nor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I tried Effexor for 4 weeks, and it really made my life a living hell. I got more and more anxiety, and after 4 weeks, I just couldn't take it further because of the side effects. But the worst part was the week after I stopped taking Effexor. It was an insane depression."