Effexor XR and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Eri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2022

For Depression "I have been on Effexor for 6 months now. My starting dose was 37 mg, and the most I went up to was 75 mg. Let me state, I have mild depression with high anxiety. I’ve tried a couple of medications, but I mostly prefer to go without, but my doctor suggested trying it. I felt relief in the beginning, but it slowly went away after 4 months. I have read that you need to continue increasing your dose until you find the correct amount that works for you. The night sweats were annoying, and my sleep was heavily affected, which didn’t help with my mood. I was put on another med to help with sleeping. My sex drive crashed after 5 months too. I’m currently tapering off Effexor only because I don’t want to continue increasing my dose, as it’s really hard to get off of. I will say that I never felt numb on this med compared to how I felt with Lexapro, which was nice. Hope this helps!"

• Lef...
• August 6, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been taking Effexor XR (Venlafaxine) at the 150-225 mg per day level for 17 years. Initially, it worked very well, and I lived my life up until the last year when I seem to have become 'tolerant' to the medication, meaning it doesn't work as well anymore. I put up with the low sex drive and difficulty urinating for the past 5 years, but am not sure if it's the medication or my age, I'm 62 now. The worst thing about Venlafaxine is that you just can't quit it. The withdrawals are the worst. The head spasms or ringing or whatever you want to call it (people who take Effexor know what I'm talking about) cannot be tolerated for long. They will start in less than 24 hours for some if they miss the medication or stop taking it. A careful tapering must be done, and it can take up to a year for some people. I continue taking it as of today but am trying to go to Lexapro at this time."

• Cat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 25, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I started taking Effexor at 50 mg, and my dosage has slowly been increased to 300 mg. It has helped a little, in conjunction with managing my PMDD, sleeping pills, and DBT. The side effects are awful. When I first started taking it, I got so nauseous I had to lay in bed all day and couldn't do anything. I started taking it at night to combat this, but then that gave me insomnia. The anorgasmia is awful. I still have the same libido as before, but reaching orgasm is near impossible thanks to this medication. The withdrawal is bad too, which is awful for me because I often forget to take it and will often leave it at home."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2012

For Depression "It seemed to help my depression and anxiety, but the trade-off was the side effects I experienced. If I was a few hours late, I would experience significant withdrawals that made my anxiety worse than it was. I had sexual side effects such as lack of sex drive and inability to ejaculate during intercourse."

• Dep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I started Effexor after not being able to take Paxil due to headaches, and felt like trash after a week on Paxil, sexual side effects from Paxil as well. On Effexor 37.5 mg I feel better, less depressed, don't have a lot of energy, but have less depressive thoughts. After a week my dose was upped to 75 mg. After a week on 37.5 mg I noticed it was almost impossible to orgasm. On 75 mg it is impossible for me to orgasm. This is making me want to stop it and try to find something else that may not affect me in this way. I don't have an issue with getting an erection and performing, it's just I can't orgasm. I have even tried generic Viagra 'sildenafil,' which does improve the erection but still can't orgasm."

• Dep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I started Effexor after not being able to take Paxil due to headaches, and felt like trash after a week on Paxil, sexual side effects from Paxil as well. On Effexor 37.5 mg I feel better, less depressed, don't have a lot of energy, but have less depressive thoughts. After a week my dose was upped to 75 mg. After a week on 37.5 mg I noticed it was almost impossible to orgasm. On 75 mg it is impossible for me to orgasm. This is making me want to stop it and try to find something else that may not affect me in this way. I don't have an issue with getting an erection and performing, it's just I can't orgasm. I have even tried generic Viagra 'sildenafil,' which does improve the erection but still can't orgasm."

• Ash...
• August 1, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "I started Effexor XR two weeks ago for generalized anxiety disorder. Apparently, it takes at least 4 weeks to work, but I have already noticed a difference. I have had very positive effects on my mood and anxiety problems. There are definitely side effects, though. I have had some trouble sleeping, and my orgasms are very delayed and are very hard to reach. I have noticed, however, that my sex drive has gone through the roof (which isn't a bad thing). Currently taking 75 mg daily. Considering increasing, but I am worried about increasing dependency and side effects. Male, 23 years old."

• RSK...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 24, 2024

For Major Depressive Disorder "I had incapacitating depression coupled with anxiety. It literally was not possible to live with this condition. I tried Paxil first for a month, but that did not change anything. My doctor recommended Effexor next, starting with 37.5 mg, which was increased to 150 mg in two weeks. Depression/anxiety lifted. Side effects were constipation and decreased libido. Currently, I am on 112.5 mg in the morning, which is optimal for me (when I tried 75 mg, I felt signs of depression returning), along with 7.5 mg Remeron in the evening, mainly for sleep."

• clr...
• September 8, 2009

For Depression "I was prescribed venlafaxine a year ago after a suicide attempt. After about four weeks on 150 mg once a day, I started to feel less miserable all the time and a bit more sociable. However, the side effects have affected my life quite a lot. I am now constantly getting sweaty, often feel restless (especially at night), and I have little to no sex drive. The side effects of skipping a pill (just one day) are also extremely drastic. Nausea, vomiting, crying, headaches, and my anxiety problems are exacerbated to the max. It is not helpful at all to my anxiety, I have been prescribed buspirone for that on top, as I am still having frequent panic attacks, etc."

• 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."

• adr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "This is the first medicine I have taken that has greatly lessened depression, generalized anxiety, obsessions, and DPDR. SSRIs were no good for me. I titrated up slowly. Once I got to 150 mg, anxiety and panic were greatly reduced. I’m at 187.5 mg now. The medicine does come with side effects: high blood pressure, which I take medicine for, so I can stay on Effexor. Low libido on the low doses, but it has gone up a bit once you go up in dose. I don't know if this is a side effect from Effexor or my DPDR, but I still have a degree of anhedonia and lack of satisfaction/pleasure in things. DPDR has lessened in intensity, though. All I feel now is a thin layer of it. Hopefully, going up more takes care of it. Although it may not work, it’s worth a try if SSRIs don’t do it for you. It saved my life, it may save yours too. Good luck :)"

• Ner...
• February 7, 2018

For Depression "Been on it for about 5 days; my doctor told me to take it at night because it could make me sleepy. I'm still very sleepy all day but also feel it's helped a little. I'm also having low sex drive. I will update as I'm hoping these side effects go away."

• Anonymous
• April 14, 2023

For Depression "I used this short term, about 7 months, because I got pregnant. I was in extreme burnout, and it brought me out within days. It lifted my depression and kept it away for at least a year after. Very grateful it did save my life, but withdrawals are terrible, side effects are horrible. I experienced lockjaw, restless leg syndrome, and sexual dysfunction. If I ever experienced burnout again, I would try again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 18, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "Been on Effexor for many years. It does what it's supposed to. Forget a sex life."

• qwe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 15, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "Effexor is the only medicine that helps my depression. The only side effect was sexual dysfunction, but now that is completely gone. I take 187.5 mg a day."

• Max...
• September 2, 2017

For Social Anxiety Disorder "Worked great for social anxiety and anxiety, the downsides for me are loss of appetite and sexual dysfunction. Had no luck ejaculating when I'm on it. Other side effects disappear around 2 weeks."

• Edw...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 26, 2016

For Depression "I experienced a very low libido, very few erections, and dry orgasms."

• Anonymous
• May 17, 2011

For Anxiety "Continual weight gain, sexual dysfunction, lack of normal emotions, stomach problems."

• cmc...
• April 15, 2011

For Depression "Side effect: sexual dysfunction."