Effexor XR and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• Rya...
• January 23, 2020

For Depression "This drug is by far the best antidepressant I've taken, and I've been on it since age 17 (now 34). If you miss a day, you will be very emotional, but other than that, I haven't noticed many bad side effects. My depression is great now and has been for years. The only negative is my lack of sex drive and sleeping a lot. Not sure if that's all due to the medication or just my lazy arse. Heard a lot of bad reviews, but honestly, I've been on it for 7 years and I think it's great."

• aim...
• February 25, 2020

For Anxiety "I'm a 27 y/o female, good health but have GAD and MDD. I began taking Effexor XR when I began having panic attacks while driving. I began with 37.5mg for 4 weeks, then upped to 75mg after that. After 3 months, I began to sweat in my sleep despite not feeling overheated. I began to suffer from sexual dysfunction, lost my libido and had difficulty reaching an orgasm (neither had been an issue previously). My appetite increased and I gained 25 lbs in 1 year. I also noticed I felt very 'flat' emotionally. I wrote this because I feel like positive reviews are lacking. Effexor absolutely improved my anxiety. The side effects were unpleasant but not severe. Stopping this medication suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, so when I switched to a new one, I slowly tapered off it by opening the capsule and counting the granules, reducing them by about 4 per day. I did not suffer from any 'brain zaps' or any withdrawal symptoms."

• Hap...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 10, 2014

For Anxiety "I have been on Effexor for the past 10 years. I started having panic attacks as a child, although I didn't know at the time what was going on. When I was 17, the doctor prescribed Valium that I took periodically when my anxiety got really bad. Finally, when I was 40, the doctor suggested I go on a very low dosage of Effexor (37.5mg) because he was sure I had generalized anxiety disorder. What a difference this has made in my life. I felt 'weird' the first few weeks, but now I have very little anxiety and really no side effects except maybe lower libido. I had no idea how much anxiety I had been living with all my life."

• Add...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "After years of suffering from anxiety and panic attacks, I finally decided to start medication. I started with Lexapro, and it made me feel terrible, with horribly low libido. I then tried Buspar with the same side effects. Effexor XR was my next try. I’m writing this because I was nervous about taking this medication after reading reviews. This medication has saved my life. I can finally do things that anxiety stopped me from doing. My panic attacks have decreased to hardly any. I had social anxiety, and I feel like I can have a normal conversation without stuttering due to being anxious. The only “con” I have of this medication is if I skip it one day, I have horrible flu-like symptoms and extreme headaches. However, I don’t plan to skip it regularly, so as long as you take it as prescribed, this shouldn’t be a problem. I 10/10 recommend this medication!"

• OK2...
• October 4, 2013

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was started on 75 mg of Effexor and then increased to 150 mg. I felt much better overall. Anxiety was about gone, I could think through my thoughts. However, I was not happy with the sexual dysfunction I experienced on the 150 mg dose. My doctor lowered my dose back to 75 mg and the sexual dysfunction resolved, and my generalized anxiety disorder is within tolerable limits. I recently added Vitamin D and B12 to my daily regimen with my Effexor 75 mg ER dose and noticed a huge lifting of the mental fog that I had known for so long. This combination has been keeping my thoughts from racing, my hope from tanking, and my perspective in a good and positive place. It works for me."

• NoN...
• June 15, 2018

For Anxiety "I am a 31-year-old female and work as a lawyer. Effexor is the first medication I tried. I took it for 7 years and it worked great. I decided to stop a few years ago because I thought it was affecting my libido. The reality is that I was just in a bad relationship, and I wasn’t attracted to the man I was with. Anyhow, I tried all sorts of medications afterwards, including Buspirone, Zoloft, and Pristiq. I am now back to Effexor, the only medication that ever worked with my anxiety. It is just day 1, but all I can say is that for 7 years, it worked like magic. Most of my anxiety symptoms were gone. When off Effexor, anxiety slowly came back and manifested itself in the sneakiest ways... it just takes over your life to a point where you can’t function anymore. I was at a point where I literally couldn’t function. Now I have hope. Finally, I can go back to normal and enjoy life. I have a wonderful family, boyfriend, and a challenging & interesting job."

• Unc...
• September 24, 2020

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was prescribed Effexor 37.5 mg for GAD and depression. I also have OCD. Side effects were as follows: 1st day: fuzzy, lethargic, unable to focus, stomach issues. 2nd day: same as the first day with loss of appetite. 3rd day: same as the second day. 4th/5th day: same as previous days, except slightly raised anxiety and notably raised depression. 6th day: felt better, slept better, appetite still down. 7th day: noticeably less anxiety and depression, no libido, which in my case is good because I have a tendency to have lots of unprotected sex with random women. 8th day: appetite is still not right, but I feel better than I did before I took the meds, and definitely better than I did in the first 5 days of taking it. For some, it takes longer, but if you are a person with bad anxiety, any physical ailments seem worse than they really are. I'd say the first 7 days on 37.5 mg are tough, but it eventually got better. By day 9, I am feeling okay, no anxiety, and more of a baselined depression."

• Anonymous
• July 29, 2011

For Anxiety "I started taking Effexor about a year ago. It has made an incredible difference to my life. I was extremely anxious, waking at night in a sweat (possibly also the onset of menopause) and struggling to go back to sleep. I was also depressed and found myself often crying for no reason at all. I started very slowly, increasing the dose every 2 months. I cannot recommend Effexor enough. I feel that it has turned my life around. I did not gain weight at all, which was a big concern. I did feel quite lethargic at first, and it took a while to get any sex drive back. I am still not back to my usual sex drive, and reaching orgasm is harder. I still feel my decision to stay on Effexor has been the right one. Hope this helps. Good luck."

• Anonymous
• July 29, 2011

For Anxiety "I started taking Effexor about a year ago. It has made an incredible difference to my life. I was extremely anxious, waking at night in a sweat (possibly also the onset of menopause) and struggling to go back to sleep. I was also depressed and found myself often crying for no reason at all. I started very slowly, increasing the dose every 2 months. I cannot recommend Effexor enough. I feel that it has turned my life around. I did not gain weight at all, which was a big concern. I did feel quite lethargic at first, and it took a while to get any sex drive back. I am still not back to my usual sex drive, and reaching orgasm is harder. I still feel my decision to stay on Effexor has been the right one. Hope this helps. Good luck."

• cwi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2020

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Amazing drug. Changed my life. I have had horrible issues with my sleep, with my diet, and my stomach always hurting and being in knots 24/7. When I started Effexor, everything changed for the better. I started being able to sleep, and I was able to eat again because my stomach pain stopped completely. I feel so confident on this medication. It gives me energy and lights a fire in my soul. I only take a dose of 37.5 mg. I would like to increase it one day. The only side effect that I would say is why I rate this a 9 is it has caused some sexual issues but not as bad as SSRIs did to me. It is true once on it, you're hooked forever. But that is 100% fine with me. I am more social and excited about life, knowing each day I will never have to feel the knots and pain in my stomach, horrible anxiety ever again. THANK YOU to whoever made this medication. It was made for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2017

For Anxiety "This medication strongly relieved my depression/anxiety. After having a horrible experience with sertraline, I was wary of trying a new drug. However, this drug has been a lifesaver and I'm so glad I continued to try medication. It made me functional and able to enjoy life again :) I did experience some side effects for the first two months, including lack of appetite, weight loss, sleep disturbances, and difficulty achieving orgasm. These effects faded though, and now the only time I experience anything negative is if I miss a dose. Do NOT try this medication if you cannot adhere to a strict regimen. The withdrawal symptoms after missing a dose are unpleasant. That said, don't be afraid of this drug! Take it as directed and it works."

• Mar...
• October 24, 2013

For Depression "I entered the beginning stages of menopause, and my mood changed dramatically. I was getting very concerned as I had never felt so sad and hopeless. I could not stop crying, and things that normally I would not let bother me were becoming huge issues. I did not recognize myself. I am known as a glass-half-full kind of person, so the change was dramatic. I was put on 35mg of Effexor, and wow - what a difference. Surprise, surprise, my hot flashes stopped (I have since read it helps with that), my mood back to normal, and strangely my joints don't hurt so much, and I have more energy. The few negatives are I yawn a lot, and though I still enjoy sex, I cannot have an orgasm. I consider both minor due to feeling so much better."

• kra...
• August 19, 2013

For Depression "I am a 23-year-old male suffering from extreme MDD and GAD. I have been taking 150 mg of Effexor XR and 15 mg of Remeron for two months. I have tried Celexa, Lexapro, Wellbutrin XL, Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac, and this is by far the best medication! I have been lifted from the darkness and have had no side effects, including sexual dysfunction. Yay!"

• Reg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 2, 2015

For Depression "Effexor has been the most effective antidepressant for me. I've tried 5 SSRIs. Effexor doesn't make me lazy or spaced out. I feel it helps my cognitive functioning, as well as focus, motivation, and memory. I will go off Effexor for periods of time, plenty of time for my brain/body to reset, but I keep finding it better to be on Effexor. It's helped me to not be so negative, irritable, and just miserable overall. I can feel its slight pain-killing effects as well. It keeps me doing things instead of laying in bed ruminating negative thoughts. Side effects for me are constipation and lower libido. Miralax fixes the first one. As for the second one, before Effexor, I wasn't socializing at all anyways, so I can handle that side effect."

• all...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 11, 2016

For Anxiety "I tried Effexor XR after most of the SSRIs I recently tried gave me diarrhea for more than just the initial adjustment period. I tend to be more on the anxious side of life, and the SSRIs seemed to treat that better than Effexor, but I can't be in the bathroom all day. 75 mg/day works well for me currently. I was on 150 mg for a year, which worked well, but then suddenly my anxiety and obsessive thinking were coming back. The doctor upped the dose to 225, and I got way worse, so we lowered it, and boom, way better. 'Less is more' worked for me this time. Effexor XR also has fewer side effects for me regarding fatigue, hunger, weight gain, and sexual side effects. As a woman, this is a huge perk. Mental health - the struggle is real! Good luck!"

• AAa...
• June 1, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Have tried other meds in the past. My anxiety went away, but I also felt like I just didn’t care about anything. Tried 37.5 mg dose of Effexor in the mornings, and after a few weeks, I was feeling pretty great. I felt much more stable, and the constant worry and mood swings faded away. But I could still feel happy, occasionally sad, and I felt more motivated than I had in a long time. After a year, I weaned myself off and still felt pretty good for about 6-8 months. Recently, I went back on as my anxiety was coming back, and this time it’s just 25 mg a day. My only noticeable side effect is my sex drive is pretty low. As I am feeling better, I’m also not self-medicating with (lots of) alcohol. I actually feel sick if I drink more than 3 drinks on these meds. This has worked for me and has definitely changed my life. It may not work for everyone, but after years of avoiding meds, the only thing I regret is not doing it sooner."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2012

For Anxiety "Overall I love this pill, I have been on 75mg of Effexor for 8 years after being severely depressed and suicidal. I haven't had the same type of mood the whole time. The only downfall to this medication is the side effects, I have found that I have no libido and often very tired. Also, if I miss one day, I have very bad side effects like a really bad hangover. I am a little afraid of getting off the pill but I would like to try. Overall, if you need help with your depression, this pill is amazing."

• Bro...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 15, 2016

For Depression "I started experiencing depression and anxiety attacks at around 19 years old. At the time, I didn't quite realize what was wrong with me; I just knew something was horribly wrong. I have tried every medication known to man: Celexa, Prozac, Cymbalta, Pristiq, Viibryd, Wellbutrin... and nothing. The emptiness, emotional turmoil, and suffocation I felt were ruining my life. Then in 2011, I started Effexor. I feel alive again, and I never thought I would feel normal again. The one thing I will warn about is the dependency. If you miss one pill, you will think you are coming down with the flu. If you ever decide to stop, you will have to taper off. Adverse effects: constipation, weight loss, vivid dreams, insomnia, sexual dysfunction."

• Anonymous
• November 22, 2011

For Hot Flashes "I had horrible hot flashes, getting one every 45 minutes to an hour on average. Since I've been on Effexor XR 37.5, my hot flashes have decreased to on average one a day and it's much less severe. I've been taking it for over a year. The only drawback for me is a reduced sex drive."

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2020

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "The people saying they don’t get side effects maybe they just don’t notice, but there are side effects. I sweat more, sleep less, and have no sex drive, but those are all things I can live with in exchange for the positive effects I get. I started taking Effexor in high school because I was sleeping an average of 16 hours a day, likely had depression because I was anxious so much, and my quality of life was abysmal. I left the house like four or five times a week at the most as a 16-year-old. Once I started Effexor, I started to feel more energized, I didn’t need nearly as much sleep, and my depression has cleared away completely. I still have issues with anxiety attacks, but have recently lowered my Effexor dose and started taking Lexapro as well. This is a medication you cannot miss doses on because you will start to feel serious symptoms of withdrawal if doses are skipped, but it’s a great medication worth trying if you haven’t found what’s worked for you yet."

• 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."

• Kin...
• February 12, 2017

For Depression "I started off with 75 mg and have stayed on it ever since because I found no reason to change it. The first day, I could feel this medication working, it was a little much at first, but nothing I couldn't handle. But I soon noticed that it took all my emotions away and made me dull to everything going on around me and in my life. Most don't like that, but I really do, I feel as if I have no cares in the world at all. Nothing goes through my head at all, it's like magic. It takes me a little bit to actually get my brain going and operating, but that's fine with me. Sleep and sex drive have gone down, but I still get the sleep I need, and if I need to perform, I can. I just don't have the desire to want sex. It's changed my life in such good ways."

• 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."

• 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."

• Dan...
• June 9, 2017

For Depression "This drug is heaven. I feel no side effects whatsoever. Just 37.5 mg a day keeps my depression symptoms at bay. The only minor complaint is a lower sex drive, but that is a given side effect with antidepressants in general."