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

• 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."

• JB7...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2019

For Anxiety "On a 150 mg dose for social anxiety and depression. I take the 75 mg tablets twice a day. It works better on my depression and is somewhat effective for my social anxiety. Still too early to tell if it will work. Mild tiredness and trouble sleeping at night are the only side effects that I notice, with occasional nausea if I don't eat small meals every 4-6 hours. The only time that I got scared was when I started Effexor and stopped the Prozac. I had a major panic attack for two days, but after that, it subsided. So I'm back on my Effexor. At least now, I notice some improvements in my mood compared to taking Prozac, which didn't work for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 31, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Completely lost myself, I complained that it made me not feel right. My wife told me I needed to give it long enough to work, she was sure it was just my body getting used to it. I was completely shut down, was numb, no emotion, didn’t care about anything but myself and was completely in my own head, left my family. Had zero emotion, none at all. Alienated myself from family. I have always had an addictive personality, but I started drinking again and smoking (pot and cigarettes). Had horrible insomnia, compulsive lies about even simple things. Blew through money. Tons of anxiety, my blood pressure went through the roof, cholesterol climbed like crazy, headaches, nausea, and restlessness. Restless legs were horrible. Vivid dreams. Bouts of anger and rage. Brain snaps and blurry vision. Worst med of my life. I was spiraling out of control. Withdrawal was horrendous but so worth it."

• 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."

• 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."

• XOA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2022

For Anxiety "I have suffered from panic attacks, social anxiety, driving anxiety, and health anxiety since I was 16 (I am 23 now). At 18, I went on Lexapro, which helped me a lot (it took away the nausea and anxiety in the pit of my stomach that I would wake up to), but after 3-4 years, I questioned if it was still working as it didn't get rid of my panic attacks completely. Going into my master's program resurfaced a lot of anxiety and panic again. My doctor suggested I try Effexor. The only side effects I had were nausea the first few days and a huge increase in appetite (which I was worried about). However, after a few weeks, all side effects went away! This drug practically CURED me. 95% of PAs and anxiety went away (with the help of beta blockers). My experience in an anxiety attack is that I feel the rush of adrenaline rising and rising until it just ... stops. I feel so normal and free."

• Laa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 28, 2019

"I went on this two months ago, and the first few days I experienced all of the worst side effects: dry mouth, extreme nausea, lost all of my appetite, I was dry retching, had headaches, and vivid dreams. I wanted to quit and spoke to my GP twice. I am on a 75 mg dose and was taking it at night but swapped to the morning. I now honestly feel like the person I was meant to be. This tablet has worked wonders for me. All side effects have gone (I did lose a lot of weight in this period, and I didn’t have weight to lose), and everyone around me has noticed a difference in me, and I genuinely feel happier. I do believe I may just naturally lack serotonin."

• 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."

• maj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "I've started taking Effexor XR recently at the lowest dose, 37.5 mg, and the first day you get very nauseous even if you do eat beforehand. I felt so foggy. After a few days, the side effects subsided, so I upped my dosage to 75 mg, and the same thing happened. So I'd recommend when starting this medication you also have an anti-nausea medication with it, otherwise you'll have a few crappy days. This medication has benefited me the most out of all the others I tried because it brought back my focus."

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2021

For Anxiety "I guess I'm one of the unlucky ones and had what I would consider a pretty bad reaction to this medication. I only took two doses, but I didn't want to know how much worse it would get. The first day was okay, no nausea, but I felt moments of depersonalization. The second day I felt more of the depersonalization, and at night I woke up with racing thoughts and hot flashes - my entire body felt like it was tingly and hot, and my heart was racing, and I was sweating profusely. This episode lasted for a good 10-15 minutes. Once I calmed down, I got chills and tried going back to sleep. I was woken up two more times with the same feeling. I decided to discontinue this med because if it's going to make my anxiety worse, even just for the first few weeks, it isn't worth it to me."

• Too...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2017

For Anxiety "I was prescribed this for the onset of anxiety and possible hormonal mood swings. I was not told by my doctor how it would make me feel or how hard coming off of it would be. I took one 37.5 mg capsule and was horrified that I was given this. I woke up at 2 am with an anxiety attack for about the first hour. It then went into being wired, nauseous, shaky, weak, chills, and sweating. Eleven years ago, I quit using meth, and this was awful that I felt like I was on it again. I laid in bed the entire day, wide awake and ill. I never took another dose! And even one pill took at least another full day to leave my system. My nervous system is obviously sensitive, and I could not handle this medication at all."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• lad...
• June 20, 2016

For Depression "Made depression worse, was not effective even at 150 mg. I got an understanding of why people become alcoholics or drug abusers on Effexor/Venlafaxine. I would lay in bed all day waiting for life to pass by. I never had feelings of despair so severe. If I missed a dose or waited for an hour later to take Effexor, I had an intense 'rush.' I would pace around like on cocaine or speed. You cannot stop taking this medication. I am still trying to get off it! When I reduced my dose, I had a drunk effect with nausea, I just felt so awful. I consider this to be a drug that shouldn't be prescribed. Celexa and Zoloft 'robot drug' worked well on me for anxiety and depression, but I do NOT recommend this medication. Going back to Elavil."

• 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."

• Sky...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2020

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was given Effexor XR to help with anxiety and panic attacks. The first week, I was constantly nauseated, but I stuck with it. Weeks 2 and 3, I did feel better. But at week 4, anxiety and panic returned even worse than before. I’m tapering off this medication and onto Celexa. It’s been awful. I think the “N” part (norepinephrine) reuptake part of SNRIs isn’t helping me. Cannot recommend."

• 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."

• Sim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2016

For Depression "Sadly, only lasted 5 days on Effexor XR. The side effects from the 75 mg dose were unlike anything I have experienced before. Within 10 hours of the first dose, I had severe anxiety-something I had never experienced before. Within hours of the second dose, the extreme nausea came on. By day 3, I was practically bed-ridden in cold sweats and feeling completely 'out of it.' I persevered, hoping the effects would begin to subside, but by the 5th day, I had severe nausea, couldn't get out of bed from feeling so sick, horrible tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and felt spaced out to the point that I began to wonder if I would ever feel 'normal' again. Advised by my GP to cease immediately on hearing my side effects."

• Bec...
• November 17, 2020

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Day 1: I know it was too soon, but I felt like I had less anxiety than usual. Day 2: I had slurred speech and was walking kind of funny as well, felt like a zombie. Day 3: I tried to go out with some friends, but had to leave after 20 minutes. I had horrible nausea, and my heart felt abnormally accelerated. Day 4: I talked to my doc, and she suggested I continue for 2 weeks to see if side effects went away. Day 5-14: I would wake up with racing thoughts, my brain felt like it was on caffeine, felt restless. It's like I became bipolar. I would become instantly irritated at stupid things, then happy again. Anxiety did subside for most of the day, but then out of nowhere, I would get horrible panic attacks for no reason, worse than before the medication. I also didn’t feel like me, like when I talked, it was like someone else was talking. It was a very weird feeling, hard to explain. I stopped taking it exactly after 2 weeks. I did give it a chance, but it's not for me."

• Kxh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2015

For Anxiety "2.5 years after the birth of my child, I realized I needed help for PPD/PPA. My irritability and anger just kept getting worse, and I would go days without leaving the house. I was put on Effexor XR 75 mg. I only took one dose around 8:30 PM. I was up all night, jittery, restless, vivid dreams. The following day, I was so out of it I feared I couldn't care for my child and had my SO come home. I was incredibly nauseated and jittery with sporadic muscle spasms, my fingers were shaking a bit, and I had heart palpitations. It was awful. Around 6 PM, it started to go away but didn't completely until the following day. I will never take this medication again, it was very scary."

• 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."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2019

For Depression "26 yrs old female. Severity of my depression and anxiety is at its worst. Recently had a few deaths in the family the last few months. I was diagnosed with depression at 13 years. Tried a few other meds prior but never really stuck to them since they didn’t work. This time I am trying to stick to meds. Started me at 37.5 mg, after a month, I’m on 75 mg. I’ve been on it for a little over two months, depression has subsided better than what it was. But my anxiety is worse, I’ve had 2 trigger unknown panic attacks while driving. I wake up a few times at night, my dreams are crazy weird, sometimes scary and very vivid. I wake up sweaty at night. Don’t skip a dosage for 2 days, I did accidentally, and withdrawal symptoms are pretty intense (nausea, lightheadedness, and difficulty catching breath). Currently experiencing breast tenderness (3 weeks), not sure if it’s from the meds or not. Looking to possibly switch to focus on controlling anxiety and difficulty with concentration."

• 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."

• Hel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2016

For Postpartum Depression "Was taking two 37 mg per day, but it made me nauseous, so I kept missing the second dose and it wasn't working. Now taking 75 mg slow release per day. Was completely spaced out for a few days... zoning out! But after 10 days, I feel great. Loads of energy. Depression easing off. Impressed, but hope it lasts. Side effects were dry mouth, but this has now gone. Sex drive has also plummeted, but I do have a baby, so it could be down to that. In any case, I'd rather have my old self back than a sex drive, so not too bothered. Have tried Prozac and citalopram in the past until they stopped working. I'd say this is just as good, if not better. Fingers crossed."