Venlafaxine for Depression User Reviews (Page 4)

• Red...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2021

Venlafaxine "This medication makes me feel... odd. Been on it for a little over 4 weeks now for bipolar. Get random twitches throughout my body, especially when I'm trying to fall asleep. This never happened before Effexor. Very blunted emotions, which is not something I had with Lexapro or Prozac. I find myself often watching/reading about stirring events just to feel SOMETHING, even if it is negative. Feel extremely lazy (I thought this drug was supposed to help with motivation??) and just want to sleep all day, which is very much NOT like me at all. Has anyone else experienced this with Effexor? My doc wants me to give it another couple of weeks, but if I still feel like this by then I am going to request to be put back on Prozac."

• lll...
• January 6, 2008

Venlafaxine "I ended up in the hospital after drinking a few glasses of wine, getting my stomach pumped, and feeling extremely out of it. I should have read the side effects of Effexor first, and I would have known that you should not drink alcohol while being on this medication."

• las...
• June 2, 2009

Venlafaxine "I am 24 years old, female, 5'1, 130 lbs. Treated for major depression and anxiety. I have aversions to junk food (I am normally health-conscious unless I am really depressed), weight loss (12 lbs), dry mouth, lighter mood, easier to focus, more motivated, mountains turn into anthills, lower sex drive, sometimes get headaches. For me, the pros overwrite the cons - I went off of this for 6 months with no problems. No addiction or sickness. I am back on it, and boy am I glad to feel happy again."

• 30...
• March 18, 2013

Venlafaxine "I had tried a number of different prescription meds before Effexor, none of which seemed to help. I can honestly say this worked the best, and with it, I was able to get out of bed and begin to function again. It really was one of those medications that did exactly what it was supposed to. I continued to take Effexor for three years, after which time I wanted to stop taking it and begin to manage my life without medicines. This is when the problems began. I can honestly say that it took me almost nine months to wean myself off Effexor. I no longer have to take medication but would warn anyone being prescribed this that it is not an easy medicine to stop taking."

• NDG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2013

Venlafaxine "I went on this medication as a last resort. I was at a point where I couldn't leave my house, I cried all day, and I had anxiety 24/7. I have just started taking the medication. The first day was terrible - cold sweats and brain zaps. I found I could not sleep. Now, 3 days into the medication, I find I am much happier. Perhaps I'm being optimistic, but the constant torture of obsessive thoughts and not being able to let the little things go has decreased. I would recommend this if you are at a last resort. The past 2 days have been reminiscent of how my life was before the year and a half of constant agony."

• Anonymous
• July 29, 2014

Venlafaxine "I took Effexor for three years due to depression. I loved the fact that I was no longer depressed, but I was tired all the time. I could sleep for 10 hours, get up, and two hours later I was ready to sleep again. If I missed taking a dose, I would get a horrible headache. The only reason I stopped taking Effexor was due to being tired all the time. Getting off of the medication was awful. I have never been so sick in my life. If you are going to take this medicine the rest of your life, I highly recommend it. It did wonders for my depression."

• Aut...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2016

Venlafaxine "I have been on 75mg ER of Venlafaxine HCL for over 3 months now and I really feel wonderful. It's working very well for me. I have plenty of energy, lost about 20 pounds of weight and I do feel very content and calm. I do have vivid dreams that are interesting and long. I socialize and react very well with people now and no longer have any fears of socializing with groups of people. Again, this antidepressant has so far worked very well with me and I am happy that my doctor switched me from 20mg of citalopram, which made me very tired and gained way too much weight, to 75mg Effexor ER (Venlafaxine). Everyone's system is a bit different and what may work well for someone may not work well for someone else. I wish you all the best."

• MEL...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 2, 2018

Venlafaxine "It saved my life! I've been on 150 mg XR for 20 plus years, and I cannot find words to adequately describe the benefits of this medication. It's been so long, I really don't remember if I suffered any ill side effects when I first started or not. I will say that I had the bright idea several years ago to stop taking it because I thought it may help me lose weight. Withdrawal was horrendous, and I decided weight gain or not, I was taking it. Quit eating like a pig, started walking, kept taking Effexor, lost my extra weight, and wasn't depressed. I highly recommend this - try it. The pros far outweigh the cons in my book."

• Bra...
• April 17, 2014

Venlafaxine "I'm 19. I had a terrible abusive childhood full of alcohol and physical and mental abuse. Depression also runs in my father's and my mother's family, and so my head's pretty screwed up. I was first prescribed Lexapro, that medication made me go insane, and now I'm on 75mg of Effexor XR. I probably should take more, but in my experience with depression, it really keeps me grounded. So, I told my doctor this was good enough for me. I've been depressed my whole life, and I just want to be good enough to where I won't be suicidal. This medication is great. The only side effect is that if I sit in weird positions, my feet will go numb really quickly."

• Jos...
• June 27, 2013

Venlafaxine "I am a 60-year-old male who has suffered from depression and panic attacks. In my late 30s, I decided to seek help. Like many others, the list of medications my doctors tried would fill a dictionary. Some worked for a while. I refused to take lithium. In my late 40s, I was also diagnosed with ADD. I now use 4 medications successfully: Effexor XR 450 mg daily, Xanax 1 mg daily, Adderall XR 60 mg daily, and Strattera 25 mg daily. I am now free of both depression and panic attacks for nearly 10 years! I am comfortable in public speaking and find that I love the adrenaline rush! I've tried to stop using Effexor XR but always restarted because of the horrible depression. Withdrawal is like a bad acid trip. Use Effexor to stay alive!"

• Law...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2014

Venlafaxine "I am a physically healthy (runner) 25-year-old male. I have never been mentally healthy, so I have tried antidepressants. I tried Prozac and Wellbutrin. Prozac didn't help or hurt, but it gave me dangerous mood swings. I was prescribed Effexor 2.5 months ago. It seemed like a perfect fit for me. I was wrong. I was on 75 mg each day. It actually made me sadder. I had no weight or sexual side effects but had vertigo. The worst was CRIPPLING insomnia while taking it, and now I am close to 0 mg, but I still get night sweats and 'brain zaps'. As I write this, I've had 13 hours of sleep in the past 5 days."

• Aks...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2019

Venlafaxine "This stuff is awful. Feels like MDMA but with only the bad effects. Jaw clenching, can't focus, nausea, shaking. I was literally scared. I called the advice nurse after trying to make myself throw it up because I felt so terrible. Stay away from this drug."

• nic...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2019

Venlafaxine "This medication needs to be illegal. It did not help my depression, it caused significant weight gain, and if a dose was missed by 1+ hours, the side effects were severe. The withdrawal symptoms are more intense than I ever would have imagined, and prescribing doctors do not warn patients against this. After beginning to taper off this medication, I experienced really dark thoughts and attempted suicide. I was in the ICU for a week and a psychiatric hospital for 4 weeks. Effexor almost cost me my life. Please don't risk yours by taking it."

• SLi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 10, 2020

Venlafaxine "Please, please, please take my advice. If Effexor is working for you, don't quit! I took Effexor for 8 great years (anxiety and depression). Tapered and quit. Started again two months later to be on the safe side while going through a stressful period at work. Within 24 hours, my life fell totally apart. Anxiety and depression through the roof. 18 months and 4 AD's later, I am still a wreck. Losing hope."

• ssh...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 3, 2019

Venlafaxine "Started weaning off Effexor 150mg 1 year ago. Got to 37.5mg with hardly any side effects. Then weaning off 37.5mg was terrible. Headache/head pounding, nausea, vertigo, diarrhea, extreme tiredness, random crying spells, very emotional, etc. Did a lot of research and trusted that it’d get easier with time. 4 wks later, finally feeling physically well again... Then it got bad. Sense of constant dread, horrible anxiety, heart racing, emotional as hell, trouble sleeping, extremely depressed, and felt like a zombie. Missing work, sleeping all day, no motivation to do anything. Went back to doc and she put me back on the 37.5mg. Extremely disappointed not to get off this medication. Been 3 days since getting back on it, starting to feel somewhat normal again, just want my life back. Wish I’d received more info when I was first prescribed it - had no idea it would be such a nightmare to try to get off of it. This experience has shaken up my whole world. BEWARE."

• Lit...
• June 28, 2013

Venlafaxine "I had been on several different meds for depression & anxiety. Starting with Paxil, Prozac and others I can't remember the names of. I started Effexor a year ago and it certainly works for me, for both depression & anxiety. Remember to take it every day. All SSRIs cause severe withdrawal symptoms. If you want to discontinue use, tell your doctor. Cold turkey is not only debilitating, it is dangerous. I am so thankful I have been prescribed Effexor. Finally relief from things that are no big deal! Where as before in my head, it was so exaggerated. Like many others have stated, I wish this was available in my teen years. I am enjoying life and am extremely happy!"

• dai...
• July 22, 2013

Venlafaxine "I was taking Celexa for 2 years for my depression. It was not working well enough for me. I managed to just live life day by day, and roll with the punches. I suffer extreme anxiety disorder and extreme panic attacks up to 8 times a day. Several caused me to call 911 thinking I was having a heart attack. With all this said, my GP and I talked about changing my medication. I had heard of Effexor, I researched it, and thought why not! I felt that life would not get any better than what I was living at that moment. 2 weeks after Effexor and some major hot flashes, I was looking at things differently. I actually feel really good and hopeful. Now my smile is not fake and the anxiety has subsided to a minimum. No panic attacks. I am happy!"

• Gc6...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2014

Venlafaxine "I started this medication about 4 months ago after being on Prozac for 5 months. Antidepressants react differently for everyone, and I am happy to say I have had a very good experience with this medication thus far. I have much more energy, will to live, and my anxiety has also decreased immensely. I have not experienced any side effects with this, however, I strongly recommend staying away from alcohol. After a night of drinking, I would fall into a depressive state or have a panic attack. This never happened to me before taking this medication."

• Fin...
• September 16, 2019

Venlafaxine "Effexor almost ruined my life. When I was 13 and didn't fit in with my peers, my doctor decided that I must need antidepressants. This medication was useless in treating my depression as I was not actually clinically depressed. I was just a teenager going through teenage crap. I tried to go off the medications but would get sick with seizures when I tried. One day at age 26, I decided enough was enough and went off cold turkey. It was rough. I could not go to work, was getting seizures daily, and living with constant nausea. But after 3 months, I started to get better. The seizures became fewer and farther between, and the nausea stopped. Fast forward 10 years and I'm in a good career, am in great physical shape, have a stable mood, good self-esteem, an excellent credit score, and live the life I used to dream of living. Getting off Effexor was the best thing I have ever done for myself. It cleared my mind and allowed me to find myself."

• Anonymous
• May 14, 2019

Venlafaxine "I found out I was pregnant and was a little surprising as I'm almost 41. Initially, I was okay and happy, but within a week, spiraled into suicidal thoughts and wanting to terminate the pregnancy. Prior to finding out I was pregnant, I was not depressed or anxious-life was great. After almost three weeks of feeling like I was losing my mind and trying all the natural things I could-acupuncture, etc.-I decided to try Effexor. I had been on it once before, 6 years before, I knew it worked, but the last thing you want to be on when pregnant. I started on 75 mg as I was running out of time to make a decision. I endured the worst side effects for 5 days, and on the 6th, they decided to change back to 37.5 mg. I've been on that for almost a month now, and that's the right dose for me. I'm happy and excited about the pregnancy, and I feel like myself again. Full of energy and thinking clearly. My sleep is a little bit interrupted, but it's nothing. The best decision I could have made!"

• Sun...
• August 25, 2011

Venlafaxine "I've struggled with depression since I was a teenager (and attempted suicide then). In college, I started having panic attacks. A few years later, I was put on this new medicine called Effexor (after getting no relief from Paxil nor Zoloft) and for the first time in my life, I felt relatively normal! I've been on Effexor - 150 mg/day for 20 years now, and it has REALLY helped me to function at a high level. I have gone off it several times - VERY slowly, but each time, a few months after being completely off, BANG - unbelievable depression, and I'd go back on. I'm at peace knowing I'll most likely be on it for the rest of my life. Helps with depression AND anxiety. No problems drinking while taking it, had three healthy kids while on it."

• Maj...
• February 11, 2020

"I took Venlafaxine 75 mg twice in my life. I took it for a year in 2018 and went back to it at the end of 2019. The first time taking it was hard because of the side effects: no appetite, libido gone, headaches, and vomiting. After two weeks, it got so much better, so keep trying it and don't give up because after a while, side effects are gone. The first time taking it was very good, helped me a lot, much better than the previous med that I was taking (fluoxetine 20 mg). At the end of 2019, I had to start taking it again, and in the first weeks, it was okay. It helped me for around 3 months, but then I got worse, apparently, my body was tired of the chemicals, and now I changed to a new antidepressant. Let's try it... Do not give up on venlafaxine, it was really good and helpful for me. Don't be harsh on yourself and be strong with the side effects because it is just in the first days. Good luck to everyone who is reading this.. <3"

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

Venlafaxine "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."

• Veg...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 22, 2020

Venlafaxine "I have been on Effexor XR for about ten years. I am moderate bipolar depressive (per two doctors). I went off the medication after about two years-long time ago. Was okay for a while, and then my depression came roaring back. My doctor put me back on with 25 mg first, 50 mg, and then 75 mg per day. Also taking lithium carbonate-three pills per day. I feel better 95% of the time. Some days, I feel the lows, but they are not as bad."

• kam...
• August 8, 2009

Venlafaxine "I gave this a high score because I got lucky. I went for years struggling with depression, weary of Big Pharma, self-medicating. Finally, a friend took me to a doctor. The first drug she prescribed was Effexor. I was prescribed the 75mg capsules. I found it to be too much for me, so I take one every other day. The only side effects I feel are from withdrawals if I skip a few days, and 'ditziness' if you will. Other than that, managing my depression has changed my life. My weight has even dropped because I used to self-medicate with food. I do recommend taking only the lowest dose possible for your symptoms. I am not a big fan of prescription drugs, but this was a lifesaver for me."