Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress User Reviews (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• December 2, 2009

Effexor XR (venlafaxine) "I starting taking Effexor XR two years ago for depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and OCD. This drug, in combination with therapy, has really decreased my symptoms. I feel what I think "normal" must feel like for people who don't have the above mentioned conditions. When starting the medication, I had some of the listed side effects (weird dreams, sweating, fatigue) when starting the medication, but they all subsided after about 4 weeks. I would recommend giving this drug a try, keeping in mind that every drug works a little different for every person. It may or may not be one that works for you."

• Anonymous
• October 18, 2009

Effexor (venlafaxine) "I have been on Effexor XR for approximately 7 years now. I was started off at 75mg and have since been raised to 225mg over the years. I have had good results on this medication. One downfall is the terrible withdrawals that I experience if I miss a dose. These effects happen within the first couple of hours of not taking it. Terrible headache, foggy feeling, and extreme eye sensitivity. Within a day of a skipped dose I become agitated, argumentative, and defiant. I do not look forward to switching from this medicine to a different one, which my doctor has suggested, due to the withdrawal symptoms."

• AA2288
• July 15, 2014

"Took this for almost five months and noticed a major impact on my sex drive. I never ever wanted to have sex like at all. Gave me killer dry mouth and I gained 8 pounds. Quit taking it three weeks ago and sex drive is back to normal and no more dry mouth."

• Luis
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2022

"Please remember that everyone is different and their bodies respond differently. Don't always take negative reviews as gospel as you never know how the drug will work out for you unless you try it. I started off using Prozac ( Fluoxetine) but didn't get on with the drug. I then tried Zoloft (Sertraline) but I didn't get on with this either as it increased my anxiety. I then tried a different class of medication, Venlafaxine (Efexor). I started off on the low side with 37.5mg instant release tabs. I had a small positive response so my doctor upped my dosage to the 75mg slow related tabs. I felt after a few weeks but this was short lived so my dosage was then upped to 150mg and then upped again to 225mg where I stayed for about 6 months. I was in a stable place, not bad but not fantastic, more stable. Then it stopped working. Back down to 150mg and added 15mg Mirtazapine at night. On second day and I've had no crazy withdrawals like some people experience, just a bit tired."

• Cece_...
• November 29, 2017

"Absolutely horrible drug!!! Made me feel really ill and when I started this drug I was 8 stone and 2 months later I’m 6 and a half stone!! Absolutely horrific, had bad dreams, felt aches all over, if you don’t want to lose weight I highly suggest you don’t take this medication!! "

• star
• May 6, 2021

"This medication made me feel awful from the first dose. I took the two prescribed tablets and about an hour and a half or so later I began to feel sick. I was retching, my head was pounding and I had extreme dizziness and tremors followed by an irregular heartbeat. It’s been horrendous. This happened last night and I’m still feeling worse for wear today. My legs feel like jelly. During the night I experienced the chills and then had hot flushes. My pupils were completely dilated. Even this morning my eyes were bulging. I’m not prepared to continue with this drug as the experience"

• raeche
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 10, 2012

Effexor (venlafaxine) "Barely took the edge off of my anxiety AND made me severely depressed. After a week of trying to consult a doctor about the depression I gave up and quit cold turkey. The withdrawal symptoms were bad. Never again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2017

"I started this medication 2 weeks ago to help with anxiety, cognitive issues, and hypochondria. I'm currently on 75 mg. The first day I began to feel calmer but within the next few days more anxiety symptoms switch to depression. I went from having OCD thoughts and medical worries to wanting to sleep any chance I can get. There's also a complete loss of libido. I've also started having constipation problems."

• Ken
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 8, 2022

"I can confidently say this medicine truly works wonders!! I am a 31 year old female and struggled with depression and anxiety since I was a child. I was put on a number of different anti depressants before that I found the side effects to be extremely uncomfortable and either didn’t stick with the medicine or felt numb. After being put on venlafaxine 6 months post-partum I can honestly say I feel so good. My anxiety has completely diminished. The strongest benefit though is the ability to think clearly, manage stress and still sleep wonders. I take two 37.5mg every morning with breakfast and find it is the perfect dose and time of day. The first 10 days adjusting to the medicine I felt a little bit brain zappy and minor headaches / fatigue but that quickly subsided and now 3 months in I feel awesome. I do suggest taking this everyday or you will feel groggy or foggy if you miss a dose. I too was weary of some of the 1 star reviews but I can honestly say I give this medicine 5 stars!!!"

• 375mg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2017

"I have only been on it a couple of days, but the side effects are terrible. I am prone to insomnia, and this exacerbates it terribly. Even with 10mg of Ambien at bedtime, I am only getting 3.5 hours of sleep. I am also having muscle shakes, mostly at night. I'm having daytime muscle twitching that causes me to be very uncoordinated and drop things. Last night while I was trying to sleep I saw strange geometric patterns, and when I would get close to actually falling asleep I would see a bright flash of light and hear a booming noise which would wake me back up again. Considering all of that I am able to function pretty well in the day time. Also: constipation..."

• jeff
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 20, 2017

"I was prescribed this drug due to very stressful and lack of help at work, the company l worked for refused to help me in a very busy office always manned by two staff and made to run the office by myself. I worked on till l cracked and had to seek help, l was placed on a very high dose in the first instance and laid off work through ill health. I am now on this medication for life as l cannot get off this drug through the side effects of a 'buzz like static electricity at the back of my head' this gets so bad that l feel like passing out at times. This is why l will be on this for life. If l had known this at the outset l would not have taken it, but nothing explained so, through ignorance and placing my trust in the doctor, l suffer."

• gdill
• December 16, 2009

Effexor (venlafaxine) "It has definitely helped with depression and anxiety. But the withdrawal effects are horrible. If I forget to take a dose, I wake up SO groggy and out of it. I have these electric-like pains through my body, my vision becomes wavy, and I get a migraine."

• Lennys
• November 18, 2017

"I was prescribe this medicine to help me because I was gaining to much weight with the bupropion XL, this didn’t do any good at all for me. I had the anxiety 3-4 times a week, you know, that feeling of something is going to happen and you feel like you have your heart in your throat. I did like that I felt strong emotionally, not depress at all, I wish I didn’t feel that anxiety at all. Hope it works for everyone else."

• Anony...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 5, 2024

"I started Effexor XR at 28M - my brain never shut off at night, and I was constantly worrying about things out of my control (or that stray thought of something embarrassing I did 10 years ago). It got pretty uncomfortable, and I didn’t want to do sleeping pills. I took it to help with sleep delayed by anxiety. It helped! By taking it first thing in the AM, even on an empty stomach, it not only helped my sleep, it also helped my overall mood and any potential anxiety and worrying throughout the day. I started with 75 mg, then 150 mg, and I kind of plateaued around there so I’ll be starting 225 mg tomorrow actually. I’m choosing to up my dosage over changing meds because when it worked for the first few months, it was the best I had felt in a long time. Despite withdrawal symptoms being an issue if you miss a dose (it does happen) it’s still 10/10 for the benefits it does provide."

• jmend
• July 31, 2010

Effexor (venlafaxine) "I've been on Effexor for about two years. Previously, I was taking Lexapro and went off it for a short period of time. I returned to my doctor and he prescribed Effexor, 75 mg/day. I experienced improvement with my anxiety, depression and panic attacks. Like everyone else, I feel it (dizzy, hungover like symptoms) when I miss a daily dose. I experience constipation and don't sleep as deep or through the night like I used to. These side effects are on the list for this medicine - so, no surprises here. I give this a rating of 9 because it is very helpful to relieve the symptoms of my depression, anxiety and panic attacks. And, it helps to control my moods so I can better manage my emotions."

• Anonymous
• September 25, 2009

Effexor (venlafaxine) "Whilst it helped me, it was hard to discontinue. I have tried several times to come off it without success. The withdrawal symptoms even with a gradual lower dose, are horrific. I now have to decide whether or not to stay on this drug at maintenance level (37.5 mg) for the rest of my life or go to bed and try to sleep for at least a month whilst my body learns to live without it."

• kmave...
• January 13, 2012

Effexor (venlafaxine) "WARNING: Discontinuation Syndrome is the WORST I have ever experienced. I previously took a max dose of Zoloft and it took 6 months to titrate off the medicine. I have taken 37.5 mgs of Effexor the minimum dose (see my review under Depression) for 6 weeks and I have switched medicines and am still suffering daily "brain zaps". My doctor's concern is significant enough to re-prescribe Effexor to rid me of the residual withdrawal symptoms. "

• Cattys
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2022

"I had a horrible experience! Severe headache, severe nausea and vomiting, so jittery that I thought I was going to lose my mind! All within 40 minutes after taking it! Dizziness and my ears were ringing so loudly! Never will I ever take it ever again"

• Anonymous
• March 14, 2012

"I started taking the generic venlafaxine XR about one month ago for anxiety attacks and feelings of being overwhelmed. It started working within a few days. I have had a positive experience, although my sex drive is depleted and I'm having much more difficulty reaching orgasm (I'm female) I am now waking 3-4 times a night and although I can go right back to sleep feel tired every morning. I already take 1mg Klonopin at night and 350mg of Soma as I have degenerative neck disease. I am still waking up. I hope my doctor can give me some pointers on sleeping through the night, but other than that (oh and increased sweating at night!) I do feel great. We'll see how the sweating goes and the sleep disturbance."

• thebo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 2, 2023

"Was on this for 8 years with great success. It works!!! Decided to get off it and that was a bad idea!!! Went back on and it's working again. Great stuff for anxiety and depression. Try it and don't give up!"

• CeCe_...
• April 17, 2017

"My experience with this was so horrible, made me feel worse, was always tired and so irritated, not to mention the headaches it gave me! I was always so hungry after taking the tablets, I was constantly eating and still didn't feel like I was full. Made me feel really achey and weak, I would not recommend this anti depressant to anybody!!!"

• nrduk...
• December 30, 2011

Effexor (venlafaxine) "Someone here said: dizziness and "brain jolts" = YES! This is what happens if I miss a dose. Add to the dizziness, nausea and irritation. I want to go OFF this medication - and feel trapped. I have gone to 37.5 mg but my doc has suggested I go to a psychiatrist to get recommendations on how to go off this medicine without the horrific side effects. "

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2024

"This medication has been life-changing. I wish I would have tried meds sooner for my anxiety. The first 8 days were filled with brain fog, dry mouth, fatigue, but after that, it has been so great. I have energy now, no racing thoughts, and I am not irritable."

• Kad
• September 28, 2017

"I rate this a 5 because this worked for me 3 years ago. I originally started taking it for fibromyalgia and it essentially took away my pain in a week or two. I stayed in it for about a year and a half and noticed how less anxious I felt. I tapered off over 6 months which has its side effects, but nothing like others have reported. I write this review though in case someone has had a similar experience. I went back on about a month ago, this time solely due to anxiety. I took two pills and started have burning on my tongue and lips. I will also mention that I took Xanax these two days as well so I can't be certain it was the venaflaxine. I then started having 24/7 panic, lost 12 lbs in 2 weeks and blood pressure went really high."

• Failure
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2023

"I took Venlafaxine 37.5-75mg for a month, then 150mg for 2 months. Compared to the 10 mg Fluoxetine I was taking previously, it was more comfortable. I felt less numb but it didn't help with my anxiety. I switched to Sertraline 50-100mg. It seemed to have fewer side effects but didn't help with anxiety. I took 0.5 mg daily for 1 month of Clonazepam while switching from Venlafaxine to Sertraline. Even then I was anxious. Worst of all after I spent over a year cycling through meds. Tapering properly, I had long-lasting sexual dysfunction for 5-7 years. Very problematic for a young man. SSRIs/SNRIs... TCA's, and Anti-psychotics. Not for me. But they help some."