Venlafaxine and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• And...
• July 7, 2017

Venlafaxine for Depression "This medication worked for me for a few years for my anxiety, but eventually made me feel worse. When my new doctor recommended tapering me off, I had 2 weeks of pure hell. I was fortunate enough not to experience the brain zaps others experienced, but I had diarrhea, suicidal thoughts, terrible migraines, dizziness, couldn't eat, nausea, non-stop crying...the list goes on. I was a mess for 2 weeks straight and could barely work. I do not recommend starting this unless you plan to be on it for life. The withdrawal symptoms were not worth it, please try something else. This drug should not be on the market!!"

• Gig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2017

For Hot Flashes "This drug did help with hot flashes, but BEWARE! It's horrible if you miss a dose or when you need to get off of it. Brain 'zaps,' dizziness, crying jags, depression, and more can last for months, even when you wean off according to directions. The withdrawal is horrendous. Please be very thoughtful before you decide to take this drug."

• nab...
• December 15, 2008

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Effexor for over a year, and my dosage has been 37.5 mg daily. The drug has worked wonders for me, but I have had some side effects of sweating, strange dreams, and dizziness when I forget to take it."

• You...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2023

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I have never taken any medication like this in 40+ years and was really nervous. The reviews I kept reading didn’t help, and I almost didn’t fill the prescription. I decided to give it a go and am so glad I did. Initial side effects: weird eye twitches and perhaps some fatigue. Ongoing side effects: none. One of the things that scared me was all the talk about withdrawal if you had to miss doses or stop. As it happens, my pharmacy ran out, so I had to go two days without and experience it for myself. I was okay the first day, but on day 2, there was dizziness, a foggy head, headache, nausea…but I still worked and lived life. Nothing debilitating. I was glad to get it back though, and it took 24 hours to feel back to my new normal. If you’re considering this, it’s for a reason. No shame, just do it!"

• Sam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 22, 2013

Venlafaxine for Depression "This medication has been life-changing for me. Suffering from depression and extreme anxiety, I have much more control now, and the black moods are not so dark. I no longer feel suicidal and am so relieved to have some relief from the constant pressure of being depressed, moody, or anxious. It is important I remember to take it every day, or I start to withdraw pretty much straight away with dizziness and a strange sensation in my throat, plus rather severe radical dreams. Other than that, I am grateful to have something that works with minimal side effects."

• myt...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 7, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "Switched from citalopram to 75 mg and then onto 225 mg venlafaxine. Worked great, to be honest. Got me out and more social. That was until I started getting hives and horrid allergic reactions. Swelling eyes/mouth and breathing problems. I denied it to myself initially that it was the pills because I thought they were working so great, and I didn't want to give them up. Had to face reality though eventually. Pushed my luck, and I got stung. Awoke one morning unable to breathe + swelling badly. I ended up having to go to the hospital... so I had to give them up. Didn't think withdrawal would be tough, to be honest. I thought that I had done this many a time on other ADs and done fine. Oh boy, was I wrong. The vertigo and brain zaps are by far the worst!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 27, 2019

For Hot Flashes "I was prescribed venlafaxine for the hot flushes I was having after having a hysterectomy due to estrogen-positive breast cancer at the age of 34. I also was on tamoxifen, which made the hot flashes even worse. It worked for a while, but please do your research. The first two weeks were horrible, with nausea and dizziness. Also, no one told me how bad it was to come off of the drug. I experienced the worst vertigo and nausea. I would have never taken it if I’d known."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 27, 2019

For Hot Flashes "I was prescribed venlafaxine for the hot flushes I was having after having a hysterectomy due to estrogen-positive breast cancer at the age of 34. I also was on tamoxifen, which made the hot flashes even worse. It worked for a while, but please do your research. The first two weeks were horrible, with nausea and dizziness. Also, no one told me how bad it was to come off of the drug. I experienced the worst vertigo and nausea. I would have never taken it if I’d known."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2020

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "Was prescribed Effexor XR to help with menopausal hot flashes and mild anxiety. After just one dose, I was up all night, vision distorted, muscle twitches. Finally, I slept and woke up violently ill, with a horrible stomach ache and severe nausea. I got up to use the bathroom and had extreme vertigo and blurry vision. Felt like a bad case of brain fog. I was unable to get out of bed except to use the restroom and wouldn’t dare attempt to drive. It ruined the entire day. I would not recommend this to ANYONE. The side effects are unbearable. I’d rather have hot flashes than feel like I did on this drug. Oh, also, my gums had inflammation and bleeding, never a problem before."

• Bon...
• September 1, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have been on Effexor for over 5 years now, and I cannot imagine life without it. I was crying all the time for no reason. My doctor put me on 75 mg a day, and it made me extremely anxious. He then upped it to 150 mg per day, and I have no side effects and function great! The only side effect I have noticed is that if I forget to take it, I start to feel dizzy after a few hours, and by night, I am crying."

• Anonymous
• February 16, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been taking 75 mg of Effexor for a year and a half now and it has made me a much happier person. If I miss 2 days in a row, I start to feel dizzy, overly emotional, and like I have the flu. Only drawback (which is a big deal for me) is that I have gained 40 lbs."

• KAP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2019

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "Doctor wanted to take me off Xanax and try Effexor. It was the XR 37.5 dose. I took one dose, and that was the worst experience I ever had-just about landed in the emergency room. Awful headache, severe dizziness, and nausea. I tried walking to the bathroom, and I didn't know where my feet were landing, and my heart was racing. Thank goodness I only took one dose of this. Obviously, everyone cannot tolerate it. Xanax it is for me (0.5 mg once or twice daily). Never ever had any side effects from that."

• luc...
• August 21, 2010

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've never been so happy in my life. It's not a fake, life is strangely perfect happiness. It's not the 'I'm in my head, three feet away from everything and no one knows me' feeling I've gotten from previous antidepressants. I feel balanced and for the first time in my life (I'm 28, female), feel like I am actually coming from a well-grounded place. As others have said, when a dose is late or missed, the effects are pretty awful. The longer I've been on it, though, they are getting less intense. The first few times I was late, I became very quickly, extremely depressed, lethargic, dizzy, nauseous, and irritable. I was having shooting, lightning-like feelings in my brain that would cause me to stop dead in my tracks and look pretty crazy."

• Luc...
• August 4, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "In 1997, I was involved in a MV wreck, which cost me 6 years of no memory of my life, not able to return to my Director's position with a major railroad company. I have been on Effexor XR 225 mg (now Venlafaxine XR 225 mg) since then. This has been the worst journey of my life. I am now 71 years of age and will be on it for the rest of my life. I suffered severe head trauma in 1997, two breakdowns, and memory loss. If I don't take this medicine, I am in a great deal of head pain, vertigo, and many other symptoms. I decided not to try to get off of it anymore."

• Anonymous
• March 25, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been taking Effexor for 5 years now for depression. As far as my mood goes, it works wonders. I'm a completely different person, and it's awesome. As far as side effects go, I have had some sexual ones, concentration issues, and short-term memory problems. I'd rather deal with those than the depression, though, and if I forget to take one or can't afford to get them right away, all hell literally breaks loose. I get dizzy, emotional, and aggravated. All I want to do is cry and sleep."

• Dru...
• November 26, 2011

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "It works well. I did gain weight with it since it does affect the regions of the brain associated with this, but I simply try to stay fit by exercising (which helps my condition as well) and eat healthy foods. Be religious in taking your daily dose, though! The side effects are quite debilitating. This includes being completely useless for anything, sleeping, really weird dreams, and the vertigo described (quite accurately) here as an electrical zapping sensation. Any time you move your head or eyes, it feels like a bzzzzt. Also heed the warning of interaction with alcohol. ONE very occasional glass of wine or beer, but that's it! Mixing this medicine and any alcohol beyond the occasional drink and you'll get seriously messed up."

• Ele...
• March 4, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been taking this for about half a year now. It's been working great for me. My depression is a bit better, I get fewer suicidal thoughts, and my social anxiety is reduced. However, I still do feel anxious (in non-social situations) most of the time, but at least I haven't had a panic attack in quite a while. I'm taking 75 mg every morning. The first week on it, I had severe headaches and felt really dizzy, but it lasted only a week, so that was fine. As for side effects, like any medication for anxiety and depression, my sex drive became nonexistent. One other thing - it causes you to have wild dreams, but to me, this is more of an advantage."

• Sno...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "Only took 37.5 mg Effexor for 6 days, zero appetite, constant bloated sick stomach, lost 7 lbs and feel like a zombie. I’m completely emotionally numb/dead. I’ve been shaky, dizzy, thick-headed, and very fatigued. I admit I’m not depressed and crying, but I feel so sick that I can’t handle it. Sips of water make me feel nauseous. I need to know if I can just stop cold turkey since it was only 37.5 mg for 6 days. What do I do? Doctor thinks quitting cold turkey is okay, but so many horror stories online, I’m scared."

• PPD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2020

Venlafaxine for Postpartum Depression "My doctor told me Effexor is supposed to help with anxiety and depression. It didn’t help with my anxiety. I first started experiencing side effects when I was a little late taking my dose. Turns out that the side effects are actually withdrawal! It feels like I’m being electrocuted briefly, then I immediately get vertigo and a sharp headache until my next “zap,” which can occur every couple of minutes! The only thing that helps is taking more of this drug! I’m trying to come off of it slowly, but it will take at least 3 weeks, and the withdrawal symptoms just keep getting worse and more frequent! Right now I experience the zaps every 45 seconds all day long, and I’m only in my first week of trying to come off of it! I would never recommend anyone take this medication, rather, ask your doctor for an alternative as the side effects are making my anxiety worse since I literally feel like I’m getting “zapped” constantly, and it is a scary feeling!"

• Anonymous
• March 20, 2010

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "I have used a few different antidepressants over the years, but when I started getting panic attacks, my doctor put me on Effexor. It works well for me. Missing a dose is the worst thing, though. If I wake up in the morning feeling hung over, dizzy, and useless, I know that I forgot my pill the day before. It takes several hours after taking it to begin to feel better. I recently switched to taking it at night because then, if I miss a dose, the horrible side effects will come at night and I can just take a pill and go to bed, but I am finding that if I don't take a sleep aid, I am up after 3 hours (like right now) and end up having to take a nap the next day. I am thinking that I better go back to taking them in the morning."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 2, 2020

For Hot Flashes "I was diagnosed with hormone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer 2 1/2 years ago. I had terrible hot flushes, so I was prescribed venlafaxine. I was on 37.5 mg, and it helped a little, but my doctor told me to go on 75 mg. Big mistake. She told me it would upset my stomach but to stay on it. It will get better. I survived 6 months, but stomach issues never went away, I had a terrible constant headache right in the area of my prefrontal cortex or sinuses, I am not sure. I feel faint and dizzy like I am an 'airhead.' I get sweats, I am tired and weak all of the time. Yawn constantly. I never suffered from depression before, but I felt depressed after taking this, and I had memory issues. I am trying to wean myself off now, but my head bothers me. I hope I can recover from the dizziness and 'airhead' feeling. How long do these side effects last after you are off this drug?"

• upa...
• January 26, 2016

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "This is my second time on Effexor in the 7 months. I began taking 34.5 mg in June 2015, then it was upped to 75 mg after 2 weeks. The first week, the side effects were really bad, but they only lasted the one week, and then I felt great. Best thing I ever did, but then I started feeling better to the point I didn't even think about the medication and missed about 4 doses before I noticed. After missing that many, I just stopped taking it. About a month later, the depression was back and worse than ever. I just got put back on it, started last night, and the side effects are back, but I have to push through because I know they are temporary, and if I have to feel dizzy and nauseated for a week for the depression to lessen, it's worth it to me."

• 911...
• December 21, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was given Effexor after Lexapro stopped helping me. I was on it approximately 1 year. But what I know now, that I wish I would have known then... the withdrawals are horrible! I am dizzy all the time, feel like the room is spinning. The pharmacist said this could last up to 3 months. I went off of it very slowly! I have been without it for about a month now. I have never been an addict of any kind, but I feel like one with this. I know that taking more will make these side effects go away, and I think about this pill all day, every day. Please research before you start this medication. I would not wish this on my worst enemy!"

• 911...
• December 21, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was given Effexor after Lexapro stopped helping me. I was on it approximately 1 year. But what I know now, that I wish I would have known then... the withdrawals are horrible! I am dizzy all the time, feel like the room is spinning. The pharmacist said this could last up to 3 months. I went off of it very slowly! I have been without it for about a month now. I have never been an addict of any kind, but I feel like one with this. I know that taking more will make these side effects go away, and I think about this pill all day, every day. Please research before you start this medication. I would not wish this on my worst enemy!"

• ind...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 22, 2019

Venlafaxine for Social Anxiety Disorder "I was started on 37.5, then moved up to 75 mg, then 150 mg. I always had brain zaps when it was just about time to take my next dose. I also got hives when I started this drug, which I thought were bug bites. I got really red-faced and flushed and got dizzy and nauseous on a continued basis. This drug may work for others, but not for me. I have anxiety all the time. Now I am going off of it. I was on it for 1.5 years. It has been living hell. Very bad brain zaps, non-stop crying, dizziness, very unfocused. I have had to take off three months from work because of this drug. I am feeling so sick right now. Best of luck to those who take this. They have banned the non-Extended Release in Canada, so they need to take this off the market here too. It also made my heart rate go to 190 bpm and I had to go to the ER and was given two IV treatments to slow it down. Don't take this with clarithromycin or Biaxin, it can cause heart issues."