Venlafaxine and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Fre...
• February 10, 2017

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I never write reviews, but I figured I had to share how truly life-changing Effexor has been for me. I've suffered with GAD and Major Depressive Disorder for quite some time. I was on and off of Prozac for about five years. When it stopped working, I began taking Effexor XR 37.5 mg. I started feeling better, more calm, less anxious. Last year, someone I had dated for years and had recently broken up with passed away tragically. I was a disaster. My dosage was increased to 75 mg, then 150 mg, and now 225 mg. Honestly, I don't know how I would have made it to where I am today without this medication. It has controlled my anxiety, my panic attacks, and my depression. I still have bad days, I'm still in mourning, but I finally feel normal."

• Bir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2013

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "I started on Effexor XR 37.5 mg 12 days ago. Prior to this, I had been on Lexapro 20 mg for 8 weeks for extreme anxiety. The severity of my anxiety was so shocking on Lexapro after the 8 weeks compared to the commencement of Lexapro. I had heard so many people have success with Lexapro on review sites, but for myself, it was a nightmare. After 7 weeks, it felt like I was in a hole. My doctor took me off immediately without even reducing the amount, and within 5 days, I felt so much better with a significant reduction in anxiety. I still needed support, so my doctor put me on Effexor 37.5 mg, and within 5 days, I felt much better, then went to 75 mg. After 10 days on this, I am already starting to feel better, with anxiety problems only now and then."

• Wor...
• September 25, 2019

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I was prescribed Effexor 37.5 mg ER by my doctor to help with menopause symptoms (mood swings, hot flashes, etc.), and I have mild generalized anxiety disorder. She said it would help also. I took one pill at 10 pm. By 11 pm, I had the worst anxiety I've ever experienced: shaking, hot/cold flashes, nausea, diarrhea, muscle rigidity, and complete loss of appetite. I tried to ride it out. By day 4, I still had the symptoms and ended up inpatient psychiatric. It's been 9 days now since I took just the one pill, and I'm still dealing with these side effects. My anxiety is higher than I've ever felt it. I feel like I'm in a constant fight or flight state. I'm having multiple panic attacks a day. I still can't eat or drink much. I've lost 12 lbs in a week. The psychiatrist at the hospital said this drug at this dose can induce an 'anxiety episode' in some people. How long this episode is going to last, no idea, but I hope it goes away soon."

• ind...
• March 29, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "It took the drug company 11 years to get this approved. This drug should not be allowed on the market. I have been on SSRIs for 15 years and was switched to this pill, which is the worst. I was constantly dizzy on this, also anxious and brain-zapped. If you take this medication an hour late, you are sick. It has a very short half-life. Going off of it, if you can, is like one bad trip. I had breathing issues, my whole body ached so painfully, vertigo, so dizzy, vomiting, and I tapered off slowly. It will take you 6 months to a year to taper off and get ready for the issues you will continue to have. Don't take it. When I read the reviews, I thought it would be different for me because of the lies from my doctor. These reviews aren't lying, or they haven't tried going off. The XR is the only one that is approved??? The other Effexor is banned now. Please go on something else. Not an SNRI, it will bring you to your knees to pray you never took it."

• Hap...
• November 1, 2011

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "On 75 mg once a day in the morning, and I feel great! Before, I suffered from panic attacks and anxiety endlessly, especially while driving and even being around strangers in a grocery store. Now, I have no anxiety at all and can live a normal, happy life. Effexor has given that to me. I probably will have to stay on it for the rest of my life, and that's fine with me. I tried going off of it before for 6 years, and all my anxiety came back. I tried Celexa, and that was awful-major headaches with that one. I also tried Wellbutrin, but I felt like I was on speed 24 hours a day, which made my anxiety go through the roof. Recently, in July, I went back to my favorite Effexor XR and feel awesome. Good luck to all of you! Anxiety is no fun."

• car...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 18, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was using Prozac, and my Dr changed me to Effexor XR, started with 75 mg and up to 150 mg, and it's been much better. I still have my moments of anxiety and sleeping, but with other medication helping me with both. Without Effexor, I get too emotional and super depressed."

• Anonymous
• July 18, 2012

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder 10 years ago. I also struggled with panic attacks and depression. I could feel the positive effects of the medicine right away. Because of its immediate fix, I would recommend this to someone who has severe anxiety. The negative things I can say are that it is extremely hard to come off of. The withdrawal made me feel like I was crazy. I took myself off of it too quickly. I had hallucinations, tremors, and anxiety attacks. So make sure you use your doctor to wean off of it."

• Saz...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 27, 2018

Venlafaxine for Depression "My experience with this drug was horrific. At 150 mg, I hit a new low, I was impulsive, severely anxious, and constantly in tears. I was so desperate to be off this med that I went cold turkey. Huge mistake. Developed discontinuation syndrome: fever, tremors, panic attacks, vertigo, hives, flu-like symptoms, night terrors, constant vomiting. Got to the point I couldn’t even keep down water. By day 6, I was hospitalized with severe dehydration and exhaustion. Was immediately hooked up to an IV to replace fluids and given anti-sickness meds. Doctors introduced a lower dose and I am now tapering. Down to 18 mg, so nearly there. Have to take it slowly as I’m extremely sensitive to this medication. Another 2 weeks and I will be free of it. Can't wait to have my life back!"

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

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "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."

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2020

Venlafaxine 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."

• Djf...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 3, 2025

Venlafaxine for Social Anxiety Disorder "This drug has helped me a lot with my social anxiety. I realized how bad it was when I started to ignore my own parents and everyone around me. It helped me get my mental clarity back. It took me out of a dark place that I was in when I first took it. It felt like I was on meth, then those side effects went away, and now everything seems better. No more negative thoughts towards people, no more feeling heat all over my face when confronted or starting a conversation. It seems to me this drug works, and it helped me a lot. Still need to do mental health appointments, though, to get the full benefit. Doing cognitive behavioral therapy. Glad to share my experience with you people."

• BAC...
• April 19, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "It changed my life. 48 years of just dealing with anxiety and depression, not wanting to be on medication. With the onset of pre-menopause, the depression was unbearable and more feelings of hopelessness. My doctor prescribed 75 mg, and I feel alive again. The torment of paranoia, anxiety, and the depression are gone."

• InT...
• January 13, 2013

Venlafaxine for Depression "My doctor prescribed this for my depression, bipolar disorder, and panic attacks. Within an hour of taking it, I couldn't keep my eyes open. Four hours later, I was wide awake, jittery, nauseous, and having the worst panic attack I had ever had. Needless to say, I didn't try to take another dose, even if my body had to get used to the medication."

• Dro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2020

For Anxiety and Stress "Given venlafaxine at the lowest dose of 37.5 mg for 5 weeks. Very manic feeling followed by very sleepy. After 5 weeks, decided to come off them. VERY, VERY difficult, brain zaps, mania, anxiety through the roof and couldn't settle down. If you are taking this drug, beware: missing a dose is very, very bad on your body. Now a week off it and am taking diazepam to remain calm during bad moments. Would NOT RECOMMEND."

• Rid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "This drug venlafaxine was a nightmare for me. Problems started after the first dose. The expected dry mouth, but also severe nausea. After the second dose, the nausea was the most extreme I have ever experienced, and I began to vomit. Completely killed my appetite. Unable to sleep and spent the second night pacing, suffering anxiety attacks and taking Gravol. Day three even worse--another night of no sleep and a day of throwing up. Day four added diarrhea to the mix. Called Dr and said I would rather deal with the anxiety I had before starting. Just a horrible experience."

• Ano...
• October 2, 2013

Venlafaxine 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

Venlafaxine 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."

• Gra...
• August 18, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Great feeling so far. Been on it almost two weeks for anxiety. Other than feeling a little jittery, it's been the best experience on meds thus far. I started being treated for major depression and was put on Celexa, which had horrible side effects and eventually stopped working. Then came Lexapro, which was considerably better, but I gained 45 lbs while taking it and had very low energy. Effexor makes me feel like I have energy again! So far, I'm in love."

• Oce...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 7, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "While this medication calmed my stress, I wish I had never gone on it. I have been trying to go off it for two years. The withdrawal symptoms are horrendous. Brain zaps, anxiety ten times worse than before meds, isolation, low energy, extreme irritability, very quick to anger. No joy. I used to be a very happy and caring person. No more. I would never wish this on anyone else..."

• Ano...
• January 27, 2010

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I have been taking Effexor XR for about 8 years after suffering a serious mental breakdown. This medicine has given me back my life. Having said that, the UK government has recently told all doctors to prescribe the generic version. THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE, I began suffering terrible headaches and anxiety again. After speaking to my consultant psychiatrist, I am now back on Effexor with all the nasty symptoms gone. There really is no substitute for the real thing."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2022

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I used to be a person with extreme anxiety. For over a decade, I always had to rely on Xanax bars and/or Klonopin. Until my Dr. prescribed me Effexor 37.5 mgs, now almost four months later, I'm on 150 mgs, and Effexor has almost completely taken away my anxiety while at the same time has helped control my stress, agitation, and depression. I thank my Dr. for prescribing me Effexor, it has changed my life for the better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2012

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "About two to three months ago, I was prescribed Cymbalta for my anxiety problems (extreme nervousness, nervous habits, and constant worrying). I took Cymbalta for about three to four weeks and absolutely hated it! It made me feel horrible, so I asked the doctor to prescribe me something different. He started me off on 35 mg of Effexor. I have to say, this medicine at first wasn't all that great either. For the first four to five days, I was extremely angry and annoyed about everything! I thought it was going to be hopeless, but finally, the Effexor got better, and now I'm on 75 mg a day. My mind is not constantly racing nearly as much as it used to. Every now and then, when I start to have panic attacks, I will have to take either 0.5/1 mg of Ativan to calm me."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2016

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Started on Zydus Pharm generic venlafaxine ER 37.5 mg for 1 week, then on to 75 mg. Been about 6 weeks on medication. First 3 days I felt amazing, immediate relief of anxiety. After that, the side effects were very difficult. Everything in me told me this was not the right medication for me: constant mood swings, anxiety, insomnia. I stuck through after reading positive reviews, hoping when side effects cleared up, it would work well for me based on first few days' experience. Side effects disappeared suddenly right on the 3-week mark, and the medication really started to work. After reading reviews on generic vs. brand name, I switched to the name brand. Name brand definitely feels cleaner and more effective. Generic side effects went away immediately."

• Rca...
• January 28, 2018

Venlafaxine for Social Anxiety Disorder "Started out taking 75 mg at night and could not sleep at all. Taking 37.5 mg now in the morning and still am dealing with being very jittery at night when trying to relax or sleep. On the positive side, this has been great in dealing with past negative issues and moving past them. Also, much more relaxed in social situations and a much more positive attitude about life in general. Every day more confident and things seem a little better."

• App...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 4, 2023

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was on 150 mg of Effexor for anxiety, depression, and ADHD for 8 months. It was great at first. I no longer woke up at dawn with anxiety attacks and could finally go to work, it also helped my anxiety when starting Ritalin. After a while, I started to feel very unmotivated and just numb, with no emotions. My sex drive went away, which before was super high, and I also couldn't orgasm, and if I did, it felt not as great. I stopped this medication because after missing just one dose, I had terrible vertigo to the point where I couldn't even stand without feeling like I was going to fall or throw up. I also got nausea and anxiety, along with tremendous fatigue and brain zaps, which I despise so much. Weaning off this medication now, and honestly, it's torture."