Effexor XR and Depression: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Cal...
• May 6, 2012

For Depression "I'm 22, male, with major depression, and have been taking Effexor XR for over a year. It has partially helped, I still suffer from anxiety, lack of motivation, mood swings, and it seems like it's changing my personality. The withdrawal symptoms are the worst. I missed 2 days of my dose and am feeling sick."

• Exp...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 25, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I am sure Effexor has helped many people over the years. I was one of the first patients to take Prozac. I was given ever-increasing doses as my depression increased. At first, I was HEALED! I wound up in the hospital with a psychotic break due to SSRIs. Effexor was given to me a few years later (doctors still did not correlate medication as a possible issue), and again I got more depressed. At this point, I was taking a bi-polar med, Lithium. The Dr. abruptly stopped Effexor from a high dose, and I do not remember the next month. I was on the payphone in a psych ward talking to my mom and came back. The nurses said I do not want to know what happened. I take my meds every day, at the same time, see my Dr. every 3 months, and am well."

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "My doctor put me on 37.5 mg regular (generic brand) for about 2 weeks, and I was so tired and still depressed. So she upped my dosage to 75 mg XR. After 2 days, my anxiety was out of control and I was depressed, so I had to be watched 24/7. I finally got off it after I switched back to 37.5 before going cold turkey. I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms. Good luck to anyone on this medication."

• Jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 31, 2021

For Depression "I was worried about taking this med, but I also really wanted it to work. For me, it did not, even though it was on my GeneSight “Go” list. I have battled depression on and off most of my life, and I have always responded well to the older tricyclics, which are basically SNRIs, so I figured this has got to be a newer, better SNRI version. I kept telling my psychiatrist that it was making me tired and depressed, and we kept going up in dosage. Got some pretty dark thoughts on this, too. Maybe it helped a bit with anxiety. Took it for about 9 months. When it was time to come off, I literally had no withdrawal, so not everyone goes through those. The doctor had warned me about this med and not to miss a dose, etc., due to the short half-life, and then warned me again coming off. She was amazed I got off it so easily but basically said it probably just wasn’t doing anything. I’m sticking to the older tricyclics. Trial and error."

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

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "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 :)"

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

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "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."

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

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2016

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Effexor XR for anxiety while I was home from college over winter break. I took it one day, and I felt good, but then I couldn't sleep for the following entire next day, and then it made me feel completely sick, so I didn't take another one the next day because I wanted to be able to fall asleep. Five days later, I tried to take it again to see if I would be able to fall asleep, and that time I wasn't able to fall asleep the next two days, and I felt extremely sick and like my brain hurt so bad the next day after taking it. It's been over a week now since the second time I took it, and I feel like I hate my life. I've never been so depressed and anxious. How long will this last? Major regret."

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

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "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."