Effexor XR and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Kka...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 18, 2018

For Depression "This drug got me through an extreme time in my life. I was on it for over 2 years and wanted to wean down. The withdrawal was so terrible that I was ill. Light-headed, dizzy, nauseous, could not function. Just switched to Paxil, and I'm hopeful. I don't want to be forever medicated."

• JOd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been taken off Zoloft and put on Effexor for major depression. Oh my God, do the side effects go away? I feel so dizzy that my head spins all day, and I'm so sleepy all day. This is terrible. It's only been one week so far. Why does it have to be like this to get rid of depression? These pills make me so sedated that you would sleep your entire life away, and you feel dizzy all day. I'm not sure if I'm going to stick this out or not. It has been a terrible six days!"

• Nin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 24, 2012

For Depression "This medicine did boost my mood, but the side effects were awful. I gained 20 lbs. and became forgetful. I began to experience dizziness while on this medicine, and when I missed a dose, the dizziness got worse, so I figured Effexor reduced rather than caused it. The dizziness progressed to vertigo. I couldn't even drive. The doc tried everything to figure out what was making me dizzy: ENT, audiologist, physical therapy, brain MRI. Nothing showed up. I decided to quit the medicine on my own. I had the most horrible withdrawals - extreme irritability, worse vertigo (I was even dizzy in my dreams!). But after a few weeks, all symptoms disappeared! I'm on Wellbutrin now, lost the 20 lbs, and I feel fantastic!"

• Nin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 24, 2012

For Depression "This medicine did boost my mood, but the side effects were awful. I gained 20 lbs. and became forgetful. I began to experience dizziness while on this medicine, and when I missed a dose, the dizziness got worse, so I figured Effexor reduced rather than caused it. The dizziness progressed to vertigo. I couldn't even drive. The doc tried everything to figure out what was making me dizzy: ENT, audiologist, physical therapy, brain MRI. Nothing showed up. I decided to quit the medicine on my own. I had the most horrible withdrawals - extreme irritability, worse vertigo (I was even dizzy in my dreams!). But after a few weeks, all symptoms disappeared! I'm on Wellbutrin now, lost the 20 lbs, and I feel fantastic!"

• Sky...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Was prescribed Effexor XR (Venlafaxine ER) after 3+ years of chronic severe insomnia (onset & maintenance) that created GAD symptoms. Had been given Cymbalta first but had to stop after 18 days due to a facial rash. The same rash continued on Effexor XR, and after 23 days, tachycardia at night became a problem along with severe brain zaps with vertigo all day & night. Was on 37.5 mg (“starting dose”) for a total of 25 days and developed what is believed to be serotonin syndrome. Reading up on it, because I’m also on Gabapentin and a benzodiazepine, the combination with Effexor XR is a potentiator for serotonin syndrome (even at 37.5 mg) AND discontinuation syndrome (damned if you start, damned if you stop). Am incapacitated by severe ongoing vertigo. Wish I had never let the “very experienced psychiatrist” get me in this situation. Wouldn’t touch this drug with a 10 ft pole."

• pin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2021

For Anxiety "I am a college student with severe GAD and MDD, as well as having derealization disorder. Before switching to Effexor, I was on 75 mg of Zoloft for almost 5 years, and it had done wonders for my anxiety. Eventually, I hit a plateau point, and Zoloft no longer worked. I started taking Effexor soon after and had no problems in transitioning. I missed a dose about a month in and had horrible withdrawal symptoms, but still nothing comparable to the level of anxiety I’m used to. I felt super dizzy and just wanted to sleep. Missing one dose did set me back—it’s about two months later, and I’m getting back to the place I was before I missed. But other than that, I’d say that it has certainly helped me learn how to better cope with my anxiety."

• Tas...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 17, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "Effexor works reasonably well for me. I'm on 150 mg, and for the most part, it controls my depression. I do find it better to take this med in the morning, firstly because I think it lessens the depression for me when I take it at that time. Also, it stops the side effect of dizziness for me. If I miss the meds, I know about it, as the dizziness does not go away otherwise. That's really the only side effect that I find that's negative about this med."

• Ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2019

For Anxiety "I started the Effexor that was prescribed by my doctor for anxiety. By the second dosage, I felt nauseous. The nausea I could handle as it wasn’t severe, but what came next was not. From my elbow to my hands were weak and tingling. I experienced a severe brain fog, I couldn’t think properly, couldn’t respond. It was so severe that my husband had to pick me up from work. I was dizzy and lightheaded and almost fell going down a stairwell. With time, it did get better, but subsequently, I had a migraine. Today (the next day) my arms are still weak, my cognitive abilities are better, but there is still a delay. I was told by my doctor it would be in my system for an additional 48 hours."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 20, 2018

For Depression "Effexor worked in the same way surviving a traumatic event makes you appreciate life. The first two weeks I experienced the worst horrible side effects. Vertigo (almost fell while walking) and a range of emotions from anger to numbness, then it worked. I felt okay for a while until I missed a dose. Then the withdrawal symptoms hit me like I was a crack addict. I had to wean off slowly, the vertigo was so severe. After that, I felt like I survived and learned how to use natural coping techniques. I didn't want to take anything else."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2012

For Depression "I've been taking Effexor XR for about two months now. I was in the hospital after a suicide attempt when the psychiatrist there put me on it. At first, I had the worst side effects. I was super tired, couldn't concentrate on anything, and got dizzy all the time. After about two weeks, those went away. I have moderate anxiety, and it's helped a lot with that. I still get nervous a lot, but I haven't had an anxiety attack since I started taking Effexor. For my depression, though, it hasn't helped at all. I still find it hard to get out of bed and can't sleep at night. Also, I missed a dose once, and it was not good at all. I was miserable. I was tired, had the worst headache, and I was about ready to jump in front of a train."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 29, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I wouldn't wish this medicine on my worst enemy. There are other major issues with this medicine than the horrific uptake and withdrawal symptoms. If I missed one single dose of this medication, it made me crazy. Mood swings, dizziness, suicidal thoughts, blurry vision, and more. The only reason I gave it a 2 was because if you're perfect at taking your medication, then it might work for you. Maybe. But be ready for the withdrawals because it was the worst few weeks of my life."

• ByG...
• August 31, 2016

For Anxiety "I was put on 150 mg daily of Effexor after having a mental breakdown brought on by stress and severe insomnia. I did not find the medication helped at all other than to cause weight gain. Worst of all, I experienced horrific withdrawal symptoms coming off it. I started to wean off it in May, reducing the dose to 75 mg/day. I halved it to 37.5 mg a month ago, and my Dr. said I would be good to stop it after two weeks. Within 24 hours of taking my last pill, I experienced dizziness, nausea, insomnia, and brain zaps. I could barely function. Turns out the 'half-life' of Effexor is one of the shortest out there. I had to take a short 2-week course of 10 mg Prozac (much longer short life) to come off Effexor. Horrible!!"

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2021

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Effexor XR 75 mg, and at first, it somewhat helped my anxiety. I stopped taking it after about a week and a half because it made me completely lose my appetite. No withdrawals. I tried to start taking it again yesterday morning, felt fine all day until about 5 pm. I started feeling super dizzy and spaced out. Almost like I had been drugged. Felt out of reality somehow and detached. I will never take this medication again. The way I felt yesterday was so horrible, it's not worth it for me to take."

• hia...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 17, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "When I first tried Effexor, it was after a huge panic attack. Lexapro didn’t make a difference in the way I felt. I started on 37.5 mg. I was better, but still had a few panic attacks. 75 mg cured my anxiety, but I felt extremely suicidal for the first time in a while. I’m now on 150 mg of Effexor, and my social anxiety disorder is gone. I haven’t felt this happy in years. I no longer cry every time I hear my alarm go off in fear for the day and what's coming next. But I will admit that missing more than one day of medication will give you brain zaps and dizzy spells. This hasn’t happened since a lower dosage."

• I...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 12, 2021

For Anxiety "Okay, so I was only on the lowest dose of 37.5, but it worked for my anxiety and OCD. Did it completely change my life? No, but that was probably just due to the dose, and I could’ve gone higher but didn’t want to mess with my mind. What got me to finally stop taking this was the side effects when you miss a dose. Good God, I don’t want to go through that ever again. I’m a nanny, so often I would get home and fall asleep and forget to take my med. Usually, I’d just take it in the a.m., but if I had a particularly rushed morning and forgot, by noon I would be suffering the consequences: migraines, dizziness, nausea, that hazy feeling when you’re extra sensitive to the light, and you feel like there’s a fog around you. All of that until I was able to get home and take another pill. It shouldn’t be like that. Do I need to maybe be better about taking it on time? Yes, absolutely. But I shouldn’t feel like a zombie 12 hours after missing it. Anyway, I ran out of them and decided it was time to stop."

• Anonymous
• May 19, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "I take 150 mg of this every day for anxiety. I was previously on Paxil for a few years, which stopped working for me. It's pretty good at helping me control my anxiety, however, if I forget to take the pill by more than 4 hours from the previous day (exactly 8 am day 1, past Noon day 2), I get the worst withdrawals: dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, insomnia. Then when I remember to take it if I had forgotten, it takes a few hours to kick in and for the side effects to go away. I never experienced this with Paxil. If it weren't for this issue, then I would give Effexor XR 9/10."

• And...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I tried this medication for my anxiety and could not continue after 2 days at 37.5 mg. I was okay for the first 4 hours, and then, I became so dizzy as if I was drunk. I could not walk straight, and the nausea wouldn’t stop, and I could not eat and think straight. The second day, I started to have tinnitus, which I never had. The second night, I tried to go pee, and it wouldn’t come out without forcing for 2 minutes. I never had that problem before."

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

For Panic Disorder "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."

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

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "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."

• bec...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 28, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "I'm on the Effexor 50 mg dose. You can get a bead form or a tablet form. Well, when I'm on the bead form, it acts like I haven't taken it at all - I get dizzy, feel sick, often vomit, but when I'm on the tablet form, I'm fine."

• Meo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 26, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been taking Effexor for years, in doses ranging from 150 mg up to 225 mg. It works very well for GAD and depression, however, the side effects with dose changes suck (dizziness, nausea, brain zaps, headaches), but usually only persist for about a week. Cannot forget a dose, or the side effects come back. Overall, though, it has done well to manage my symptoms."

• Anonymous
• July 30, 2009

For Depression "I have currently been taking Effexor XR for about a year. It seems to be helping with my depression. I could do without the weird side effects, such as the constant yawning and vivid dreams. Also, never miss a dose because after missing only one dose, I experienced jitters, a massive headache, and dizziness, it felt like my head was full of water, kind of a 'sloshing' feeling."

• Fra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 10, 2016

For Depression "I experienced increasing blood pressure with increasing dosage, an immediate and drastic decreased libido compared with being on Zoloft, weight gain increased with increasing dosage, and worst of all was almost dying when I decreased the dose. I had dizzy spells with shortness of breath after weaning from 225 mg down to 150 mg despite gradual dose reduction. Once I got to approximately 187.5 mg over the course of two weeks, I read recommendations to cut 37.5 mg at a time and went to 150 mg. I experienced near syncope multiple times, heart rhythm abnormalities with pulse varying at rest from 67 to 105, and shortness of breath. Pulse oximeter indicated a drop to 85% sats and no pulse."

• Anonymous
• April 20, 2011

For Depression "I took Effexor XR about a year ago for about 6 months. At first, it worked great. Then, I got sick and couldn't take it for a couple of days, and OMG, the withdrawal. I felt like I was going to pass out and throw up. I was dizzy. It was awful, and it took two more days of taking it before those feelings went away. I finally decided to talk to my doctor about getting off the Effexor. I had to step down at half-dose intervals and, in turn, go through the withdrawals 3 times over the time frame of three weeks. Just as the withdrawals subsided from one cut, I had to cut again."

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

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "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."