Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2008

Venlafaxine "This drug has been a miracle for me. I've never been a nervous or a high-strung kind of person until the last year. I thought I was going crazy and was afraid to tell anyone. I talked to my doctor, and he prescribed the Effexor XR. Started at 75 mg, and then went to 150 mg. I feel normal again now."

• Rik...
• April 15, 2015

"I have been on and off this drug for about 15 years now. It is the only drug I have found that will slow my racing thoughts and general anxiety disorder. I was on Prozac when I was first diagnosed, and that was a nightmare, I had no short-term memory whatsoever. I have also tried Cymbalta and a few others, none of them helping like the Effexor does. I have taken myself off this medicine many times thinking I was better and didn't need it anymore, just to come to the conclusion it was indeed the medicine making me feel normal. I remember having side effects when I first started this medicine, but they do subside."

• FIN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2019

Venlafaxine "Okay, so I might be jumping the gun, but here’s my story. I am already on Lamotrigine (75 mg) for my bipolar disorder, and that helped. Recently, Effexor XR was added to my regimen (37.5 mg) for depression and also anxiety as well. Then I take Gabapentin 300 mg as needed for mood and anxiety relief (kind of acts like a benzo but isn’t a benzo). I’m also tapering off Lorazepam from my usual dose of 0.5 mg to now 0.25, then probably nothing. But when Effexor was added, immediately I felt my mood lift, like within 2 hours after taking the first pill. So I thought maybe I was tweaking, but usually, I know if pills work or not by how I wake up the next morning. Woke up the next morning and I felt close to normal again. So I know day by day it will just get better. I don’t even take it with food but haven’t noticed any side effects yet. Nothing. Just ease. I’m very excited to see if this medicine will continue this progress. Signed - am I finally getting my life back?!"

• sav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2014

"Started on a new dose of 225mg 9 weeks ago. At first, didn't think it was working, but slowly each day seems much better. Feel much happier & enjoying life again. This medication does not work overnight, it can take a while, but don't give up on them too quickly. Hang on in there & you will see the benefits. The only side effects I had were sweating & vivid dreams, but these do subside over time."

• Rae...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 12, 2015

"My doctor started me out on the 37.5 and now I am on 75 mg. I love my venlafaxine and I love my doctor. For the first time, I feel hopeful. I don't feel stuck in my head all the time. Most of all, I don't sit around with my body all tensed up, jaws clenched. I used to stay sore from tensing up. Not waking up scared and wired anymore. I am getting my life back. If I stay on this for life, I am good with that."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 6, 2020

Venlafaxine "I have suffered with GAD and panic disorder since age 6. Effexor XR has been a miracle for me since I began taking it 2 years ago. I was having such bad anxiety I could no longer function normally and had thoughts of not being here almost daily. I felt like I was going to die and had been to the emergency room with my entire body shaking uncontrollably and not having slept for 5 days in a row. Amazing medication is all I can say for me. I have been increased to 225 mg from 150 mg during a difficult time recently, and again it was wonderful."

• Lis...
• May 1, 2016

"My diagnosis: MDD. It is more of a situational depression. I can be okay for years, but as a single mom, business owner, and a few family struggles, the stress sneaks up on me and before I know it, there's anxiety, loss of interest, agitation, guilt, shame, and some paranoia. I tried Zoloft and it was okay. Tried citalopram and couldn't tell if it was working. A doctor gave me venlafaxine a few years ago. I took it for a year and almost took for granted how absolutely life-changing this medication was. I lost my insurance when the prescription ran out, so I went without it for a few years. I went back on it last week and it worked again almost instantly. No side effects here, just peace!"

• Anonymous
• May 9, 2008

Venlafaxine "I had developed severe anxiety and depression in my late teens/early 20s and like many before me, I have tried Wellbutrin, Paxil, Lexapro, etc. This is the only medicine that has shown significant improvement on both my depression and anxiety. I can be myself again. Don't be ashamed to talk to your doctor or family member. Get help as soon as possible."

• Lin...
• February 1, 2015

Venlafaxine "My 1st anxiety attack was in 2000. I didn't know what was going on. Then I saw my doctor and said I had an anxiety attack. He placed me on Effexor XR 37.5 mg for 2 weeks, then 75 mg after that. I was on it for 14 years. Then I got off all medication, only took Xanax 1 mg when needed. I lost my job about 5 months ago and now having severe anxiety attacks even when I wake up. I get sweaty, chills, diarrhea, and rapid heartbeat. I went to see my doctor. He put me back on Effexor 37.5 mg and I'm on day 4, but still having attacks. I hope this gets into my system soon because it helped me before, and I know it will again. No one knows why I get them, but I've tried hypnosis, etc., and nothing helps. They keep on coming. Plus, going through menopause doesn't help."

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2020

Venlafaxine "I’ve had a real go with anxiety since I was 12. I thought everyone felt like me. I wish I would have known there was help back then, but at that age, you cannot explain it to someone. So, since 5 months ago, I started 37.5 mg Effexor XR and now I’m up to 75 mg. I find I don’t worry as much, and when I’m in a social situation, I’m not as stressed. I read horror stories about withdrawal that make me a bit nervous, but I’ve also been told by my doctor that Prozac helps with the withdrawal if you want to come off it. Apparently, it has a very long half-life. I will report back on how 75 mg is helping. Take care."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 9, 2015

Venlafaxine "I've been on medication since 18 years old, and this is by far the best I've taken. And it really works! The side effects are uncomfortable, however, in the beginning. But once they are gone, I feel good. I started with 75 mg, it was not enough. Once I was on 150 mg, the magic operated. And now I have been on 225 mg for about 6 months. So far, so good. I recommend it. Best thing that happened to me in a while."

• GSt...
• September 7, 2017

Venlafaxine "It has changed my life. I've been on Effexor (75 mg) for almost 2 months, and it's hard to realize that your life was a mess before Effexor. It took away my physical pain and my anxiety. The first few weeks felt as if a veil was pulled out, and then I was able to feel me again and to see everything around me in a new light, a calmer light. And I realized I was not a choleric (bad-tempered or irritable) person but a pretty laid-back one."

• Rii...
• May 15, 2017

Venlafaxine "I started Effexor XR in Nov 2016. The first week (37.5 mg) was a bit of a roller coaster for me in terms of emotions. Every day around noon, I would start to feel a bit panicky and get hot/cold flashes. After about 5 days, the mood swings stopped. I had a brief period where I could feel there was a difference, and then it 'crashed'. I upped the dose, and the same pattern repeated every 3-4 weeks, where the meds would become effective, crash, increase the dose, and repeat. After roughly 6 months of this, I have finally made it to a dosage that didn't crash (187.5 mg). I am SO grateful for this - the benefits were well worth the wait. Doing things/talking to people no longer makes me feel completely exhausted. Have patience with this drug."

• tqu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2015

Venlafaxine "You have to get through the uptake before judging. I am taking 75 mg of XR, and it took 12 days for the nervousness, hot flashes, complete loss of appetite, and weird nerve sensations to subside. I now feel great and have a sense of calm and happiness that I did not have before with GAD and mild depression. I don't worry as much. I'd give this drug a ten (10) if it wasn't for the delayed ejaculation (I'm 47) during intercourse. Ativan helped get me through the uptake. Buspar (hot flashes, dizziness) and Mirtazapine (weight gain) did not work for me."

• DJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2019

Venlafaxine "Almost 3 months on Effexor XR 75 mg, and the last 3 days I have been symptom-free of the debilitating GAD! I was on a small dose of Xanax for the past 30 years, and my GAD started to build up for about 6 months to the point of wanting to commit suicide. I've never gone through anything like this in my whole life. The side effects of Effexor for the first 6 weeks were brutal, but I'm so glad I hung in there. The medication did exactly what my Dr. said it would do. I no longer need to take any Xanax."

• dsh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2023

Venlafaxine "Went from treatment-resistant to feeling absolutely amazing on Effexor. Wish doctors had tried this medication on me years ago. Took away a lot of pain I hadn't even noticed I was having, reduced my extreme, nonstop anxiety to almost completely calm, stopped the depression from PMDD, calmed my mood, very few side effects, absolutely recommend for panic and anxiety disorders and treatment-resistant depression. My focus on books/shows/tasks is much improved. I don't have memory issues as a side effect, I still dream and feel creative, and I feel calm. I am smiling and laughing genuinely. Downside: less motivation to do chores/tidy, nausea when starting it, have to take next dosage quickly or symptoms of withdrawal show up within hours past the next dosage time. Can definitely feel if I've skipped my dose by an hour or so, but very minor symptoms."

• ooo...
• April 17, 2015

"I have been on this medicine for 6 years. I love it. I never thought I was going to get better, especially after my last pregnancy. Oh my gosh, I couldn't even get out of the house, but then my doctor introduced me to this amazing pill, 150 mg a day. That's all I needed, and bang... my life was like before."

• Lee...
• November 17, 2015

"I went through a horrible domestic violence issue with someone I loved very dearly. In the end, I lost my home and everything in my life. It left my daughter and me homeless. I felt so lost, hopeless, emotions all over the map, and the depression I was experiencing was so severe, and the anxiety was at a whole new height, through the roof. This medicine saved my life. I wanted to die, the pain and emptiness I felt inside was like nothing I have ever felt before. I have battled depression my whole life, nothing ever worked, but this medication was prescribed to me along with Buspar, and it has helped me tremendously. It levels me out, and I don't feel so hopeless. My emotional state has improved tremendously."

• She...
• December 4, 2017

Venlafaxine "I have been on Effexor for 9 weeks now, and I have to say it is working like a charm! I have not experienced any side effects other than a dry mouth and am a little slower to achieve an orgasm (the desire is still there, however). I am so glad I decided to take Effexor! I had been dealing with horrible anxiety for about a year and would constantly think about it throughout the day. I was affecting simple tasks and crippling me. I feel like my old self again! Not overthinking every damn thing! I had an allergic reaction to Zoloft, so I was very afraid to start a new med. So glad I did!"

• wif...
• October 6, 2013

"I've been on 75 mg of Effexor XR for about 3 weeks. I still have some anxiety, but I can tell it is helping. I was very afraid of sexual side effects when taking this medicine, but I'm happy to report that overall it's not been a problem. Seventy percent of people do not have sexual side effects."

• AAa...
• June 1, 2019

Venlafaxine "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."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2017

Venlafaxine "Let me start by saying... Two years ago, I was prescribed 37.5 mg for 7 days, then was supposed to step up to 75 mg... I got both prescriptions, but after reading all the negative reviews, I got scared, never took one pill, and threw them all away. Until recently, when I needed to try and see if they work for my own peace of mind. I have generalized anxiety disorder and apparently was depressed as well, but didn't realize it until I started taking it. I take 37.5 mg at the same time at night, just before bed. No side effects. The doctor keeps trying to up it to 75 mg, but 37.5 mg works for me, so I won't fill the 75 mg script. It takes the 'edge' off. I suggest if you want to try it to start low and take it for a while, but only increase if it's not enough. Cheers!"

• sai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2014

"Have been on a lot of different antidepressants for anxiety. Most meds made my condition worse (making me more hyper) or made me 'not care' (e.g., citalopram). Although it's been hard getting used to Effexor - it made me very sick for the first few weeks and affected my sleep - I now feel more in control now than I've ever been before."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2016

"I have been taking SSRIs on and off since I was 28 for acute and chronic anxiety, often exacerbated by hormone changes. They have never leveled me and often give adverse side effects but have given me time out. Since turning 40 (I'm nearly 41!), I have been suffering terribly with stress-induced/hormone-induced anxiety and had 6 months on sertraline (the last of SSRIs I wish to ever try!). My lovely new doctor suggested venlafaxine. Now this is not a drug to mess with. I was on 150mg of sertraline, so the doctor felt I could happily transfer over to 1 week of 75mg venlafaxine in the morning and then the same plus 75mg in the evening after the first week. Woooo, I was tired. Couldn't stop oversleeping, but after 4 weeks, I feel the best I ever remember!"

• Len...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 6, 2019

Venlafaxine "I’ve been taking Effexor XR for about 8 weeks now and have noticed a pretty great improvement with my general anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. I still have days where I feel like I can’t leave the house or even take care of myself because I’m so focused on my anxiety, but those days come a lot less often and don’t feel so intense compared to how I felt on previous medications (Zoloft and Prozac). I feel like benzodiazepines are what work best for my severe symptoms like panic attacks, but the side effects (like increased anxiety and dependency) are enough to keep me trying SNRIs and other natural remedies to keep my panic attacks and obsessive thoughts at bay. Will definitely keep taking the Effexor as it seems to be helping."