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

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 16, 2017

For Depression "The positive: it has an almost immediate effect. From day one, there's a lift in mood. Effexor XR also gives a feeling of energy, both mental and physical. I've also noticed a significant decrease in my social anxiety, I can talk to anyone without feeling nervous - this 'extra' effect began, again, on day one. The negative: slight feelings of nausea with a definite decrease in appetite. I don't really enjoy my meals as much while on Effexor. I've also noticed a form of insomnia since starting - early awakenings and not being able to get back to sleep."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 1, 2019

For Depression "I’ve been on Effexor for about a year. I take 75 mg ER a day for depression associated with bipolar disorder and anxiety/panic attacks, which were at such a high level that it led to pseudo seizures. I have had amazing results. I had my first winter without a major depressive episode, and the episodes that I have now are nowhere near as intense. My anxiety is at all-time lows as well, and I am able to hold a job for the first time. This is all in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle changes. But the withdrawal symptoms from missing a dose are HORRIBLE! You get brain zaps, which are similar to vertigo, and flu-like symptoms such as aches/pains and upset stomach. This is in addition to your depression and anxiety levels skyrocketing. When I first started the med, I had some nausea and dry mouth for a couple of weeks, but it passed quickly. Overall, I have had amazing results."

• pea...
• May 23, 2016

For Depression "I suffered depression and anxiety at a very difficult time in my life 5 years ago and have been on Effexor 75 mg since then. It took the edge off highly stressful situations and helped me to cope in a calm and positive way. :) Life has been good since then, even though family problems have endured (thankfully to a lesser extent). The side effect of nausea was to be expected during the first few weeks, but after that, no problems at all. Effexor has been a wonder for me. :) :) :)"

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2018

For Social Anxiety Disorder "I started on Effexor four weeks ago at 37.5 mg for a week and was advised to increase to 75 mg. My initial side effects for the first three days were excessive fatigue, I think I slept for two days straight. I also had nausea and sweating. After four days, the side effects stopped, except the nausea still continues. My overall mental health is a lot better. I am calmer, less stressed, and able to concentrate better. I have also lost 6 kg since starting the medication. So far, I'm happy on it, the nausea is slowly subsiding but is still there."

• Bra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 5, 2014

For Depression "This medicine literally saved my life. I took 75mg and the first day I took it, I noticed a difference in my mood. I woke up in the morning and actually felt like getting out of bed. I smiled and enjoyed being around people and was in a pleasant mood. I was getting my life back! The only side effect I noticed was that I was pretty nauseous the first week and lost my appetite. But, it wasn't bad at all! I stopped taking the medicine suddenly when I found out I was pregnant and the only side effect I noticed when I stopped was being dizzy for about a week. But that could've been because I was pregnant too. Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage, and started taking Effexor again. Looking forward to being happy again."

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2009

For Anxiety "I am 26 years old and I have been on Effexor for anxiety. When first starting the medication, I had severe nausea for about 2 weeks, but I stuck with it. Thankfully, the nausea went away and now I feel so much better. I feel smarter, more grounded, and able to make appropriate decisions. Before going on Effexor, it was like I was always working hypervigilantly to ensure nothing bad happened. Now I am able to relax and go with the flow. The only drawback is the severe withdrawal symptoms of dizziness and 'brain jolts.' I notice these beginning even if I am just an hour late taking my pill."

• Wor...
• September 25, 2019

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Effexor 37.5 mg ER by my doctor to help with menopause symptoms (mood swings, hot flashes, etc.), and I have mild generalized anxiety disorder. She said it would help also. I took one pill at 10 pm. By 11 pm, I had the worst anxiety I've ever experienced: shaking, hot/cold flashes, nausea, diarrhea, muscle rigidity, and complete loss of appetite. I tried to ride it out. By day 4, I still had the symptoms and ended up inpatient psychiatric. It's been 9 days now since I took just the one pill, and I'm still dealing with these side effects. My anxiety is higher than I've ever felt it. I feel like I'm in a constant fight or flight state. I'm having multiple panic attacks a day. I still can't eat or drink much. I've lost 12 lbs in a week. The psychiatrist at the hospital said this drug at this dose can induce an 'anxiety episode' in some people. How long this episode is going to last, no idea, but I hope it goes away soon."

• Jim...
• September 7, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "Started at 75, then gradually increased to 300 mg over the course of about a year. Has worked so well for me. 300 mg is optimal for me. If I drop below that, my symptoms return within a few days. It has horrible withdrawal effects, though: nausea, headache, dizziness, weakness. It's worth it to me, though. I can think clearly, focus on work, not irritated, not depressed, or having horrible thoughts on repeat all day. Have not had thoughts of harming myself since I've been on it. Also, I have social anxiety. Now I can go places without fear and heart pounding. I've tried Paxil and Wellbutrin, but this is it for me. Hope this helped."

• Jer...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 24, 2019

For Anxiety "Was on 150 mg for the past 3 years. I tried to get off them earlier last year to no avail, for the withdrawals from this drug seem to be incredibly dangerous and life-halting. For 2 months now, I have been going down in dosage from 75 mg to 37.50 mg and now 0 mg. Throbbing shocks in my head, convulsions, bad stomach pains, nausea, mentally destroyed - random crying and rage from anything that catches my emotional attention (dropping a pencil, etc.). I do not recommend this drug. It may have helped me get through some hard times, but in my honest opinion, I feel this should be illegal. I have had to take time off from work, for I cannot function appropriately."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 21, 2019

For Depression "These pills are horrible. The lights are so much brighter now. I always feel sick to my stomach. I have no motivation to do anything. I wake up 5-6 times a night having cold sweats. I always feel exhausted. My hands and feet are constantly sweating. Do not take this drug. The withdrawals are atrocious."

• Ell...
• January 7, 2020

For Depression "Our son, 16 years old, was put on Effexor XR in January 2019 for depression, after Prozac wasn't working on him. The dose was slowly increased to 225 mg. At the time, his psychiatrist went on holiday, and he developed dilated pupils, racing heart, jiggling, sweating. Took him to the GP, who immediately took an ECG, reduced his meds, said that he was developing serotonin syndrome. The psychiatrist did not have a replacement while away and had planned to add another antidepressant as Effexor wasn't working. The reduction side effects have been horrible, made more manageable by using micronutrients, but still losing a lot of school time. From August to December, we have gone down from 225 mg to 42, reductions have become smaller and slower as the dose reduces. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, head zaps, fatigue, and insomnia are his side effects. I wish I had done more homework. Since reading more, using it on those under 18 is not recommended."

• Pur...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 23, 2014

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Once the correct dosage was established, my anxiety and panic attacks steadily improved. I underwent prolonged treatment due to a nasty relapse after the first round, following the birth of my first child. In the last stretch, I was on this medicine for 8 years. Dosage peaked at 150 mg, and after a couple of years following complete symptoms remission, we started dropping the dose VERY gradually. I have been off it for 9 months now. I had only mild adjustment side effects when starting the medicine: headache and nausea - both transient. During treatment, I had very low libido and poor appetite. Over time, while initial symptoms positively disappeared, I became more irritable, but the doctor did not attribute this to the medicine but circumstance/nature."

• MzT...
• January 25, 2014

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "My body responded very negatively to this medicine, and I had to be pulled off of it. I had a lot of side effects with no relief for my generalized anxiety disorder it was prescribed for. Side effects: tremors, blurred vision, ringing in ears, constipation, irregular period, insomnia, nightmares, light-headedness, coldness in extremities, suicidal feelings, murderous feelings, cloudy head, weight gain, nausea, metallic-tasting dry mouth."

• Ano...
• October 2, 2013

For Depression "I took 225 mg of Effexor XR for about 6 years for MDD and was doing well until I started to notice a drop in its effectiveness. I then tried Lexapro (terrible) and Cymbalta. The latter worked well for about a year and a half, until, again, its effectiveness waned. My physician suggested that, since Effexor XR had worked in the past, I give it another shot. I've been back on 150 mg now for over a year and a half and am doing well on it. The medicine, along with talk therapy, has helped significantly. The side effects I experience are: increased sweating, dry mouth, and loss of libido. Also, missing a dose for more than a day is miserable, as it causes nausea, a 'disconnected head' feeling, and slight anxiety."

• Mul...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 4, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "If my comment helps anyone not to take this drug, Effexor, then I will have helped many people. I have been on and off Effexor for 10 years. I'm currently off Effexor, I weaned myself over 6 months. I have not read anywhere, and I have done a lot of research, that anyone has written if they have successfully stayed off this drug for more than 12 months. So here I am to tell you it's been 9 months, and once the side effects of the brain buzzes, nauseous, aching bones, and itchiness have gone away, life does begin to feel better. I caught myself laughing and not feeling it was fake, and crying at TV shows. Effexor gives you a fake feeling of happiness/sadness, but after being on it for too long, you just feel numb. I believe this is why people end up wanting to come off it, cause you have no emotion, that and the amount of weight you will gain. 9 months, and I'm probably back to where I began in needing this medication, but I am trying everything I possibly can to stay off it. This includes: free hypnosis apps, free meditation apps, self-help quotes, Vitamin B12, and iron tablets. The biggest one is when I mentally feel myself thinking negatively. I tell myself to stop and think of my daughter's smiling face. I'm not cured, I'm far from it, but I will never take this drug again. I was worse with it than without it. If I help one person not to take this drug, then I will be a better person. Good luck."

• Bar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2019

For Depression "My prescription was for anxiety, pain, and depression. After taking it for a year, I beg to discontinue taking it. PLEASE READ OTHER REVIEWS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING WITHDRAWALS. I have spinal cord damage and have gone through withdrawals from opioids. The withdrawals from this were ten times worse and took almost a year. After going to the lowest dose, I was ready to start the every other day. That did not work. One day and brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, and a horrible sense of unwell. I took the pill apart and reduced it by ten little grains each week. It did not matter. Each ten was a horrible withdrawal. Down to five grains and stopped. I still had brain zaps and incredibly horrid withdrawals for weeks. This drug should not be on the market."

• Hap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2019

For Depression "This is rubbish, don’t take it. I was feeling bad after going through some difficult times in my life and thought I was depressed because I didn’t seem to be as happy as I was before, so I went to a doctor, and she told me I had depression and prescribed the Effexor 75 mg with sleeping pills. She told me I need to take Effexor for six months, but first with sleeping pills for two weeks. I took only two pills for two days! It was awful, I felt like a zombie. I couldn’t function or think or concentrate or feel. Nausea and slurred speech, extreme fatigue. I stopped the medicine after the second pill. I immediately felt better, meds are not for everyone. It would have been a life mistake to take this medication for me."

• Osg...
• January 6, 2017

For Depression "I used Effexor XR for depression and anxiety for almost two years. Effexor has terrible anxiety and nausea the first several days. I started at 37.5 mg with .5 Clonazepam in the morning and before night, then upped to 75 mg. Clonazepam was removed once my sleep was restored. Great drug, gave me life and energy. Side effects: lowered erection, sex drive, and orgasm. Kept me going well, gave much more energy compared to Lexapro. Getting off after 2 years was not a problem. I was slowly reducing the dose every 2-3 weeks."

• Man...
• January 7, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was in the hospital for suicidal ideation, and they gave me Effexor. I remember I was sick the first night (nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain), but after the second day, I magically felt better. The depression felt like it went away, and I was ready to be released and start my life back. Well, this turned into an EXTREME manic episode less than a week later. I left my relationship of four years, I ran off and engaged in dangerous activities, and shut everyone out of my life. But I felt “happy.” I was out of my mind. I don’t have bipolar disorder, but this is exactly what it felt like. Two months later, this all came crashing down, and I ended right back in a psych ward again after trying to commit suicide. My therapist told me she calls it “sideffexor” because it’s a hit or miss medicine, it either really works or makes things worse. If you start this medicine, I highly recommend being closely monitored, it can be dangerous."

• Mar...
• September 7, 2015

For Depression "I started with Prozac and could not sleep at all. With Effexor 150 mg, I could sleep standing up and was so sedated that I could not function. Withdrawal from 150 mg to 75 to 37.5 mg was OK, but after that withdrawal was hell with dizziness and nausea. Changing back to 75 mg, I still slept well, had a good sense of well-being, and could still function. With it 20 years now."

• Jeo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 28, 2016

For Depression "Used it during menopause for extreme emotional distress. That was 15 years ago. It was slowly increased from 33 mg to 225 mg due to ineffectiveness. I finally decided after reading up on it that it wasn't worth the side effects that I had if I ran out or if I wanted to get off. Well, I decided to get off. Please do not go on this drug if there is a chance you will ever want to go off of it. It took me 4 months to wean myself off. This past week was the first week I have been completely off. It has been an excruciatingly long 4 months. I took my time, but the withdrawal is bad. I cannot imagine withdrawal from other drugs being much worse. Feel sick to my stomach, joints ache beyond belief. Emotionally I am a mess, but I try, I try!"

• Mad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2019

For Anxiety "Took this before bed and woke up at 3:30 am, nauseous, bad diarrhea, sweating, and shaking. Had no appetite all day and was dehydrated. Tried napping, and my heart was pounding just laying there. The next day, I had a migraine up until day three and felt awful. Will not take again. Should be called Sideffexor."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 17, 2015

For Depression "I've taken this medication for about 5 years now after having no success with other antidepressants. I take 75 mg every day. On the rare occasion that I run out of pills or miss a dosage, the side effects are incredibly hellish. The nausea and dizziness are hindering, and I have found nothing that can help these side effects."

• Hol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 19, 2017

For Depression "I have been tapering off Effexor for the past few weeks. I was originally prescribed 150 mg per day, and the dose was too much for me. I was brought down to 112.5 and stayed on that dose for almost 2 years. My mood was greatly improved, and my anxiety was nearly non-existent. The downside was that I was always tired and taking naps constantly-most of my weekends were spent sleeping. I'd drink a few cups of coffee in the morning, and I could barely keep my eyes open. I became a napper and would nap for 2-4 hours at a shot. I became extremely lazy and gained about 25 pounds due to a complete lack of energy. The side effects of missing a dose were extreme nausea and horrible headaches."

• Tee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2021

For Anxiety "I started taking Effexor XR 3 days ago. So far, I have just been nauseated, so I got nausea meds. I’m starting to feel a difference already. I feel the effects of the meds pretty early. I am really hoping this is my ‘miracle’ pill."