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

• ket...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 28, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Effexor changed my 4 years battle with anxiety. It was rough in the start. I was sick, dizzy, feeling worse... But you have to take benzos in the start so you don't have a horrible time when your body adjusts to it. Now I can finally live normal and work on everything that caused this. And for all people, trauma is. And the only thing that will set you free forever is to find someone to work with you on causes. But you have to be better to work on it."

• Nor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started to take this med one week ago for my GAD. I'm feeling a bit 'lighter' in the head, but I also have a bit more anxiety, and I feel dizzy. I've read that this is totally normal, and I have been a benzo addict, so I had EXTREME anxiety when I was in rehab getting off that stuff. Now my life is looking brighter, and I have a lot of faith in this med. Just went from 37 mg to 75 mg once a day. I'm looking forward to sharing my experience here in one month :)"

• Fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2019

For Depression "I was put on Effexor XR for depression after the other medication was not available. It was awful from the get-go. My sense of smell was heightened, I had severe nausea, hot flushes were terrible (worse than menopause), felt dizzy all the time, and my mouth tasted awful, and no matter what I did, it never changed. I have now been off it for over 6 weeks and back on my normal medication, but the feeling of nausea, dizziness, and the taste and feeling in my mouth is still horrible, and the hot flushes are out of control. I spoke to my Dr, and she looked at me as though I was crazy and ignored my questions. I honestly wish I had never taken the stupid things, they have ruined my life."

• JRa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2018

For Anxiety "I tried Effexor XR 75 mg twice per day some time ago, in 2016 - but didn't like it, so I stopped after a couple of weeks or so. I don't recall any side effects. Lately, I have just been having bad thoughts, sleeplessness, and anxiety, including vertigo and dreamlike states to almost passing out, as well as attacks of sudden depression. I started again on 75 mg once per day, and I feel much more level and like I can deal with things. Still finding my place on it, getting my concentration and focus back, hopefully before my next assignment is due ... sigh, but I am having a positive outcome thus far."

• Meg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started taking Effexor about 3 days ago. So far, it's been pretty crazy. I'm sweaty all the time, nauseous yet starving, and cannot stay asleep for the life of me. However, it is really helping with my anxiety. I suffer from dermatillomania, which causes me to pick my skin. I have noticed that I've been picking a lot less in just 3 days! My scabs are clearing up, and I'm not 'catching' myself picking nearly as often. I also feel calm and relaxed. The side effects seriously suck though. As I type this, my phone is about to slip out of my hands from sweat. I'm a 95 lb, 21-year-old, and I don't think I've ever sweated so much in my life. It's also been making me dizzy. It's worth it to me though. If it will help me stop picking, I'll do anything."

• ind...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 22, 2019

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I was started on 37.5, then moved up to 75 mg, then 150 mg. I always had brain zaps when it was just about time to take my next dose. I also got hives when I started this drug, which I thought were bug bites. I got really red-faced and flushed and got dizzy and nauseous on a continued basis. This drug may work for others, but not for me. I have anxiety all the time. Now I am going off of it. I was on it for 1.5 years. It has been living hell. Very bad brain zaps, non-stop crying, dizziness, very unfocused. I have had to take off three months from work because of this drug. I am feeling so sick right now. Best of luck to those who take this. They have banned the non-Extended Release in Canada, so they need to take this off the market here too. It also made my heart rate go to 190 bpm and I had to go to the ER and was given two IV treatments to slow it down. Don't take this with clarithromycin or Biaxin, it can cause heart issues."

• NMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "My goodness. On Effexor XR for 5 to 6 months, last 6 weeks tapering down. Went from 37.5 mg up to 225 mg, never did much for depression or anxiety, though it did good to rid of any and all NSSI/SI. My main complaint isn't the drug itself, it's stopping it. 6-week taper, feeling fine save for some headache/nausea-until I got to 75 mg. Then: always dizzy, more depressed, feeling physically paralyzed. It got worse at 37.5 mg, brain zaps causing such bad vertigo that I avoided leaving my apartment. Stopping it entirely, depression was worse than it had been in months, felt too sick to eat, moving my head slightly was enough to cause a migraine. I had so little energy that I-no joke-called my pharmacy to tell them the Adderall they gave me was defective. I was cocky because I never get any bad side effects from meds. Stopping this med is dangerous: I almost went to the ER twice, once because I was worried I couldn't keep myself safe, then because the brain zaps and vertigo were so bad I thought I was going to collapse. Weigh your options before STARTING, not after."

• NMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "My goodness. On Effexor XR for 5 to 6 months, last 6 weeks tapering down. Went from 37.5 mg up to 225 mg, never did much for depression or anxiety, though it did good to rid of any and all NSSI/SI. My main complaint isn't the drug itself, it's stopping it. 6-week taper, feeling fine save for some headache/nausea-until I got to 75 mg. Then: always dizzy, more depressed, feeling physically paralyzed. It got worse at 37.5 mg, brain zaps causing such bad vertigo that I avoided leaving my apartment. Stopping it entirely, depression was worse than it had been in months, felt too sick to eat, moving my head slightly was enough to cause a migraine. I had so little energy that I-no joke-called my pharmacy to tell them the Adderall they gave me was defective. I was cocky because I never get any bad side effects from meds. Stopping this med is dangerous: I almost went to the ER twice, once because I was worried I couldn't keep myself safe, then because the brain zaps and vertigo were so bad I thought I was going to collapse. Weigh your options before STARTING, not after."

• Don...
• December 13, 2017

For Depression "This medication worked well while I was taking it. Under the supervision of my doctor, I have been slowly getting off of this medication. This has been the worst experience for me. Dizzy, headache, nausea, brain fog. I wish I would have never chosen to take this medication. I urge anyone looking to start this medication to talk with your doctor and try something else first. If you ever want to stop taking this medication, it is a terribly uncomfortable process."

• Kd2...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 13, 2018

For Depression "I’ve been on this for 15 years. Started weaning off about 6 weeks ago - very gradually. I am now only a few days into none at all, and my life is falling apart. I am bedridden because I’m so dizzy and lightheaded. I cry constantly. I have diarrhea. And the worst symptom is when I do finally fall asleep, I have these awful dark nightmares, stories of which I can’t even repeat here. I feel like I’ve been possessed by demons. Not good at all! I’m a mental mess! Feeling hopeless. But under no circumstances will I go back on this drug. Any medication that causes these bizarre and severe side effects during weaning is a no-no in my opinion! Please tell me these side effects will go away!"

• 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."

• Ah ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 7, 2018

For Depression "Was put on Effexor after hallucinating on Prozac. What a relief. It worked for a good 14-15 years, till it turns on you. Just starts out as a migraine or a click in your knee, then the shoulder, and then the unsteadiness and loss of coordination. Then the brain zaps that keep you from relaxing. The doctors would not say, 'It's the med.' So I called the FDA. Hey, I am waking with brain zaps and blood on my pillow from a bloody nose. I also am too weak to get up, have muscle spasms, have slurred speech, and am confused. FDA... Call your doctor... Called. Doctor... 'Can't be the Effexor XR.' Rubbish! Went to pharmacy, asked the pharmacist who said get off this one... 'Effexor XR.' This is the cause of your problems."

• Ah ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 7, 2018

For Depression "Was put on Effexor after hallucinating on Prozac. What a relief. It worked for a good 14-15 years, till it turns on you. Just starts out as a migraine or a click in your knee, then the shoulder, and then the unsteadiness and loss of coordination. Then the brain zaps that keep you from relaxing. The doctors would not say, 'It's the med.' So I called the FDA. Hey, I am waking with brain zaps and blood on my pillow from a bloody nose. I also am too weak to get up, have muscle spasms, have slurred speech, and am confused. FDA... Call your doctor... Called. Doctor... 'Can't be the Effexor XR.' Rubbish! Went to pharmacy, asked the pharmacist who said get off this one... 'Effexor XR.' This is the cause of your problems."

• Nat...
• February 26, 2016

For Anxiety "Been on Effexor XR for approximately 12 years! I regret taking it. Am on 225 mg per day, doctor wants me to taper down to 150 per day! It's a damn nightmare. I'm on day 2 of being on 150 mg, and the withdrawal symptoms are horrible. I feel dizzy, nauseous, feel like my head is hot, feel very tense, very moody, and short-fused. I could go on."

• Sid...
• February 19, 2021

For Depression "I took this years ago and checked my journal when a friend mentioned she was starting it and that she was feeling dizzy, to see if this was the one that gave me withdrawals. It was. When I decided to stop taking it, it was a nightmare. The brain zaps were unexpected and scary. I felt so sick. After my doctor at the time told me there was no withdrawal and to just take more instead of less. I was done and decided to find a way to get it out of my system. I had to go to two more new doctors before I found one who believed me and was willing to help me get off of it. The way we did it was switching to Prozac and tapering off of that because it has a much longer half-life. It was still bad but not as horrible as coming off Effexor. I feel like it took a couple of years after getting off of antidepressants before I started feeling somewhat normal after being on different ones for over 10 years. Stay away."

• MrT...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 9, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Started Effexor XR in 12/2018. Started with the lowest dose and worked up to 150 mg capsule daily. Starting the medication, my BP was normal, I just had bad anxiety and at times panic attacks. I thought all was well and didn't think much of it, but each time I went to see the Dr., my BP would raise just slightly higher each visit. My wife told me I wasn't acting myself, so I decided to make an appointment, and my BP had gone from normal to 175/130. The Dr. immediately cut my dose to 75 mg a day, which had brought it down to the 140s over 90s. This medicine can make some people's BP go through the roof, and when you stop taking it, the withdrawal effects are terrible. When you're coming off Effexor, your BP can also run severely high along with dizziness, muscle/joint aches & pains, some chest discomfort, headache, and possibly brain zaps. While Effexor does work well for a lot of people, it did nothing for me except give me high blood pressure and nearly put me in the hospital. Always monitor your BP on this medication. Best of luck to you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2016

For Depression "I wouldn't recommend this medication to my worst enemy. Although it seemed to work in a mild sense for my anxiety, when I missed even one dose, I paid dire consequences. I would wake up the next day dizzy, unable to see straight, started experiencing migraines, and would sweat day and night. I wish that my healthcare provider would have warned me of the detoxes before I accepted this treatment."

• mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 12, 2023

For Depression "I have combined ADHD. This medicine, Effexor XR, really helps with stabilizing my mood and keeping me feeling good. I have been able to focus more on it. The bad parts are the heat flashes. It was -9° and I was in a tank top outside. I had both my fans going too. Another thing is sleeping. I can’t fall asleep. It was fine when I was on 37.5 milligrams, but my dose got upped to 75 milligrams, and now it’s getting harder and harder to sleep. Sometimes I would get so dizzy I would fall to the ground. The dry mouth isn’t as bad as it was when I first started taking it. Oh boy, but the constipation is so bad."

• Pir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2016

For Depression "My experience with Effexor was abnormal but still scary. My psychiatrist prescribed me 37.5 mg of Effexor XR. After a few days of taking it, I had a decrease in appetite, nausea, upset stomach, and some dizziness, but I was told that was normal. However, after a week, I felt as though I had no more emotions. My memory became terrible and I felt emotionally dead inside. Some moments I couldn't get out of bed and others, I couldn't sit still. After two weeks, she increased my dose to 75 mg. Within two hours of taking that dose, I was rushed to the ER because of intense stomach upset, diarrhea, and dangerously low blood pressure whenever I stood or sat up. After the ER, I quit cold turkey and had withdrawal symptoms for only a week."

• Gui...
• May 20, 2015

For Panic Disorder "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."

• Sky...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was prescribed this medication when Celexa wasn't working. My doctor put me on 75 mg to start, and that night I took my first dose at 9:30 pm, and by 11 pm, I was a total wreck. I became super nauseous and began throwing up quite a bit. My body was restless, and my arms and neck were numb and tingly. I managed to get a bit of sleep, but the next morning was a write-off - I felt completely disabled and lethargic. I was so weak, I could hardly hold my cell phone. I could hardly walk, I was so dizzy, and the brain zaps were fierce. I immediately visited my doctor, and he prescribed me something else. 75 mg to start was way too strong for me. I can't believe the side effects I've suffered after one dose. My advice would be to please try another option."

• Aft...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 22, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on 75 mg of venlafaxine for 6 or 7 years. It is good for me. Before Effexor, my emotions felt like being hit by a truck. After Effexor, it gives me a moment to THINK about things, rather than just disintegrating into a puddle on the floor. I still have feelings, but they're not as overwhelming, and I don't feel like I HAVE to react to them. Side effects: sweating and tiredness. I take a lot of naps! Missing a dose: about an hour or two after my time to take my pill, if I forget to, I'd get tingly and dizzy. Withdrawal: I recently tried to stop taking Effexor cold turkey. I lasted 6 days. Intense anger, bursting into tears, a static feeling in my head, like a TV set on no channel, and a tingly feeling in my lips."

• Anonymous
• November 9, 2009

For Depression "I've been on tons of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications throughout the years. When I started taking Effexor XR, I was thrilled, I felt so much better... minus all of the side effects. The side effects are just awful. I sweat constantly, I have awful headaches, no sex drive, and I gained 15 pounds. And now the medication has stopped working, sort of... I don't feel sad or happy... I just kind of feel here. I've tried to get off of Effexor, but I get those brain zaps/vertigo feelings and vomit, so I stop and keep taking it. I guess it helps some people, but if I can ever get off of it, I will be going back to another medication."

• Rea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was prescribed Effexor after a really bad anxiety attack about 3 years ago. At first, it was really great. Less suicidal thoughts, my anxiety wasn't as bad, but I wasn't eating. I had absolutely no appetite whatsoever; I starved myself until I lost 20 lbs, and they increased my dosage from 37.5 to 150 mg. It's years later, and I now suffer from an eating disorder that I didn't have before. The side effects: dizziness, bad coordination, insomnia, headaches, lightheadedness, and especially the fatigue, all impacted my life to the point where I dropped out of high school. The withdrawals, which occur after 24 hours of not taking the pill, make you feel inhuman. I was better before."

• Hai...
• March 1, 2021

For Anxiety "I had some severe anxiety after everything that went on with COVID and my partner being in constant suicidal depression. My GP offered the medicine as a way to get through the tough time, and it kinda did, but not without some major downsides. It did lessen the anxiety, but it also got rid of any kind of drive I ever had (sex, motivation, creativity), so my depression got much worse in the meanwhile. It felt like nothing mattered anymore. I didn't care. I gained 8-10 lbs in the 2 months I was on it (I was losing slowly beforehand), and I got NOTHING done aside from the bare minimum while I was on it. My sleep was also heavily disrupted/unrestful, more so than usual. I was on the lowest dose for such a short amount of time, yet the withdrawals were pretty bad (zaps, dizziness, nausea) and lasted several days. I've been off it for almost a week now, and yesterday was the first day where I felt like taking care of myself since I'd started it."