Venlafaxine and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Moo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2014

Venlafaxine for Depression "Day 4 of venlafaxine, 37.5 mg at 6:30 am and 6:30 pm. I have only just realized the importance of taking it at the same time if you are doing split doses. Previously I was taking it as I woke up (5 am) and before bed (10 pm). Not good - headaches turned into full-blown migraine. First dose, I was sick immediately and was sweating, trembling slightly. I felt I could feel the chemicals literally swooshing around my brain and body. It was very strange. I calmed myself down, told myself to go with it. The rest of the day - fine. Day two, realized I had to EAT with the venlafaxine to ensure I wasn't sick. I've never been a big eater, but half a banana with a venlafaxine plus milk in between bites was enough to line my stomach. Much better this time."

• Ros...
• March 1, 2018

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I have been on this drug for 2 weeks and am already in love with it. I feel like it’s balancing out something in my brain that has been broken a long time. I feel like if I’m not constantly struggling and fighting to lose weight, the pounds just pile on. When I stop exercising while sick, I gain everything back. I also have depression and anxiety. Most pills make me feel like a zombie. So since starting this drug, I have lost almost ten pounds in 2 weeks. And I haven’t even tried! I am less hungry, like if I’m not hungry, food doesn’t even look good. I was on vacation for one of the weeks I’ve been on Effexor and didn’t eat the healthiest, but did eat less. I haven’t exercised either, except for a few days here and there. I know it takes longer to see the real effects of the drug, but I’m already less anxious and the weight is just falling off. No bad side effects except a little constipation and a slight headache the first week."

• Pur...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 23, 2014

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Once the correct dosage was established, my anxiety and panic attacks steadily improved. I underwent prolonged treatment due to a nasty relapse after the first round, following the birth of my first child. In the last stretch, I was on this medicine for 8 years. Dosage peaked at 150 mg, and after a couple of years following complete symptoms remission, we started dropping the dose VERY gradually. I have been off it for 9 months now. I had only mild adjustment side effects when starting the medicine: headache and nausea - both transient. During treatment, I had very low libido and poor appetite. Over time, while initial symptoms positively disappeared, I became more irritable, but the doctor did not attribute this to the medicine but circumstance/nature."

• Bay...
• May 18, 2017

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been taking 75 mg for a little over a month, I've seen a positive difference for sure! There are so many bad reviews on the drug, and it made me worry, but being on it has really changed my life in ways. My depression is so much better, I don't take as many naps as I used to, my headaches are a little better, and it's even helped me with irritable bowel syndrome. It's still hard to focus sometimes, but not bad. I don't have many side effects on 75 mg -- I have crazy dreams sometimes, but it's not bad! And I think I might be a bit more hungry. Although, if I miss a dose by a few hours, I will definitely feel it. I start to get a migraine and have to take the med right away. This really worked for me, and I hope it could help someone else!"

• Jim...
• September 7, 2015

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "Started at 75, then gradually increased to 300 mg over the course of about a year. Has worked so well for me. 300 mg is optimal for me. If I drop below that, my symptoms return within a few days. It has horrible withdrawal effects, though: nausea, headache, dizziness, weakness. It's worth it to me, though. I can think clearly, focus on work, not irritated, not depressed, or having horrible thoughts on repeat all day. Have not had thoughts of harming myself since I've been on it. Also, I have social anxiety. Now I can go places without fear and heart pounding. I've tried Paxil and Wellbutrin, but this is it for me. Hope this helped."

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

Venlafaxine for Depression "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."

• Rog...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I am so excited about my initial experience with this drug. For the first time in 13 years of treatment for anxiety (GAD & social), I have experienced an extended period of relief. I took an SSRI for most of the past decade, and it seemed somewhat helpful but never really gave me sustained relief. I am now at 6 weeks on Venlafaxine (75 mg for 12 days, 150 mg for 30 days, now at 225 mg), and I am feeling much calmer. Most exciting, I still get panicked thoughts, but don’t seem to have the associated fear feelings. I am so hopeful that this will last! Side effects are very noticeable but bearable: headache, some nausea, minor dizziness, a dry mouth, and frustratingly slow urination. I hope those will go away with time, but I’ve been on the 225 mg for a week, and they have been consistent. If it means I can live without the constant struggle with fear, then it's worth it."

• Anonymous
• May 11, 2012

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was on this medication for about 3 years for depression/anxiety. During the time I took this medication, it completely numbed any emotion that a normal person would get. About six months ago, I decided that I was ready to discontinue my use of this medication and slowly reduced my doses. Coming down from this was extremely difficult and painful. I would have the craziest/scariest dreams, intense night sweats, severe headaches, uncontrollable body shaking and muscle twitching, some nausea/vomiting, but the worst of all the side effects was when my heart would race so fast it felt like it was going to break out of my chest, and my heart would feel like it was skipping beats, and each time that happened, I would get an intense head rush."

• hol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "After being admitted to the hospital following a panic attack and suicide attempt, I was prescribed Effexor because I had tried four different SSRIs and none worked, so the doctor thought I should try an SNRI. My first dose was 30 mg, and half an hour after taking it, I started to feel really weird-terrible headache, blurred vision, anxious/uneasy, jittery, and kept spacing out. The next day, they moved me up to 75 mg, and the headache went away, but the other symptoms remained. The next few days were awful. It gave me horrible social anxiety (which I don't normally have), and I couldn't get any work done because my eyes wouldn't focus and I would stare off into the distance for minutes at a time, sort of dissociating. Also made me SUPER lazy. It made me just want to sit on my couch and stare into space."

• Anonymous
• October 20, 2012

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been taking Effexor XR for about 3 weeks now for depression and generalized anxiety disorder. For the first three days, I felt a little dizzy but continued with the medication, and the dizziness went away once my body got used to it. I get a dry mouth and have lost interest in sex and cannot reach orgasm. I do feel a lot more focused at work and can think more clearly. I do find if I don't take the medication right on time around 9 a.m. every morning, I get a headache and agitated, so I try to take it at the same time every day. Despite the dry mouth and loss of sex drive, I will continue with it for another month or two and see what happens when I see my doc again."

• Maj...
• February 11, 2020

For Depression "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.."

• jay...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 19, 2017

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been on Effexor for about 2 years. It's changed my life completely. Before I went to rehab and before I was on it, I couldn't get out of bed for days at a time. It gives me energy and motivation! However, the withdrawal symptoms are horrific. If I miss a dose, I get severe headaches. I feel like there are fireworks going off in my head. Last year, I had to go to the ER because I couldn't breathe or stop shaking after 3 weeks of cutting it cold turkey (due to an insurance error). This is definitely not the drug for people who regularly miss doses or have problems with addiction pills. It's not for everyone, but works great for me."

• Dan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 27, 2020

For Anxiety "I've been on venlafaxine 75 mg for 7 months. Have been dealing with general anxiety and OCD all my adult life but never taken meds before. First positive effect was not tearing up all the time over a sudden wave of grief. At 2 months, I wasn't depressed at all anymore. I don't get stuck in the obsessive anxiety spirals anymore. I think I still experience the feelings of fear, sadness, and regret, but they don't consume me every day and color my every thought. During the first 2 weeks, I experienced dry mouth, nausea, and headaches. I take the dose in the morning, and if I forget, the next night I will wake up in a cold sweat. I haven't noticed other side effects. If I forget for ~12 hours, I don't notice a difference. I'm a 30-year-old woman."

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2021

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I was prescribed Effexor XR for anxiety. After taking 75 mg for two weeks, the nightmare begins. Insomnia, night sweats, horrific dreams and visions. I couldn't think or concentrate, I couldn't work or drive, my head was spinning, I couldn't talk properly. The headache was so bad it landed me in the hospital. I was so tired and couldn't stop yawning. I actually thought I was going insane on this drug. Loss of appetite followed by drastic weight loss, diarrhea. I persisted another week, then that's when the electric shocks started through my body. They were horrendous and left me thinking there was something wrong with me neurologically. Against the doctor's advice, I went cold turkey off of this drug. The withdrawal was horrific, but I was determined to get this stuff out of my body. Even seven months off the drug, I still get some of the shocks and feel this drug has permanently damaged me. I would do your research well before considering this drug. I'd never touch it again. Worst experience of my life."

• Gra...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 19, 2023

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was taking 37.5 mg Effexor for several years. My depression was pretty much non-existent during that time. Last spring, I got cocky and had my doctor wean me off the drug over a two-month period. For six months, I felt great… until late fall arrived. I suffered with continuous anxiety for the next two months. I denied the heaviness in my chest and the constant worrying that overloaded my brain until I said enough was enough. If this situation was prolonged, I would be in a full-blown depression. I called my doctor, who put me back on 37.5 mg Effexor. I had a few side effects with nausea and headaches, but after four days, I started to feel the anxiety lift. By the fourth week, I was back to my usual happy self. I will never stop taking Effexor again. Lesson learned. My body does not produce enough serotonin. Despite my focus on exercising and other interventions to be mentally healthy, I need Effexor to keep my depression and anxiety away."

• Kac...
• November 6, 2019

For Hot Flashes "I started into peri-menopause in 2009, hot flashes and night sweats. The doctor put me on venlafaxine, it helped a lot with both, but after being on it for 10 years now, I wanted to try to go off. I tried a couple of other times just briefly, but the headaches got to me. This time, I was more determined, so I properly weaned myself off of it. Having said that, I got past the headaches, nausea, and diarrhea, but I have been very anxious and nervous since I went off of it, and the hot flashes returned and are worse than ever. I found myself getting upset or mad about the most silly things, which I never was as a nervous or anxious person. So, I went back on them today as I just couldn’t handle the side effects of not taking them. By the way, I had been off of them for almost a month. I wish there was a better solution, but for my own health and sanity, I am going to continue to take them."

• Ann...
• November 2, 2019

For Anxiety "I've been taking 75 mg venlafaxine slow release once a day for 5 1/2 weeks and would recommend it! Day 1 I took it at 8 pm, woke up at 1 am with horrible nausea and vomiting, was really shaky and sweaty. Day 2 freezing but had sweaty palms, clenched jaw, couldn't focus, felt exhausted and had a headache. Day 3-7 felt stoned, slept a lot, no appetite. Day 8 felt really high, had huge pupils and sweaty palms. Day 9 appetite started to come back, but was shaky and exhausted in the evening. Day 10-14 spotting and tired. Day 16 exhausted, couldn't focus, had night sweats. Day 16-23 spotting and felt very dopey. Day 26 felt good. Day 27 a period started (I'm on the pill). Day 28 felt OK. Day 29 forgot to take the meds, took the missed pill in the morning, no adverse side effects. Day 30-31 tired, but OK. Day 32-38 felt like my normal self, without the anxiety and constant rumination! Stick with it for 6 weeks, it takes a while for your body to get used to it."

• Anonymous
• October 14, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "I just started a few weeks ago, and it has helped stabilize my mood, give me energy. Not noticing any major side effects. I've had some headaches, some light nausea, and some crazy dreams. But I've always had crazy dreams. Other medications gave me much worse side effects. Effexor seems to be working for me. My daughter says that I'm 'funny' again. I love that!"

• Anonymous
• July 17, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have finally had the courage to go through withdrawal symptoms, agitation. Headaches, nausea, electric shock in my head. I am free of this drug, and for the first time in years, I feel like a human being. I am alert and feel a range of emotions. I was feeling nothing, numb for many years. This drug should be taken with great caution. I feel it is dangerous."

• ind...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 27, 2019

Venlafaxine for Panic Disorder "When I read the reviews about Effexor XR, I couldn't believe what some people had written, and I took it anyway because I had been on Citalopram for ten years. Wow, now I want to go off of Effexor XR because it makes me feel unfocused, brain zaps happen just before I am to take my next dose. If you miss a dose, OMG.... dizziness, brain zaps, headache, crying spells.... from 1 missed dose. I had a QT heart issue. Took this med with Clarithromycin and had to go to the hospital, it put me into Tachycardia, my heart rate was 190 bpm. Had two shots to slow my heart. Now I am weaning from 150mg to 75mg, wish me luck. I hate this bad boy. Never again."

• Byr...
• February 12, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I can't rate this medicine just yet because it's only day 4, but after the first few days of nausea, headaches, and a foggy feeling, I smiled and had good thoughts today. I know it's way too soon, and I'm only on 37.5 mg so far, but I have a good outlook on this medicine now. I see my therapist on Monday, and I'm hopeful for the first time in a long time after battling this for 11 years. They started me on buspirone 15 mg, and it did absolutely nothing. I started lashing out and hated every moment of it, so after 2 months I tried 20 mg Celexa, and again nothing, but I was hyper the first few days, then went to lashing out again at everything. I couldn't drive to work without freaking out the entire 15 minutes. I was supposed to try Pristiq, but my insurance wouldn't cover 400.00 and said they would cover Effexor/venlafaxine. I'll update in a month again, but give it a try."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was switched from Prozac to this (150 mg), and it is amazing! It really helped me, but I will say, DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE IT! My side effects of missing one day were these really weird dreams and a horrible headache, but if I was off of it for more than a day, I felt super dizzy."

• Anonymous
• October 18, 2009

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Effexor XR for approximately 7 years now. I was started off at 75 mg and have since been raised to 225 mg 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."

• Ree...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "4 weeks on 37.5 mg, and my irritability and anxiety are so much better. My horror week before periods is no more. The PMDS was well treated, as was the mild underlying anxiety felt during the rest of the month. Side effects for me were headaches for the first week, visual change (2 weeks), and feeling tired (lasted a few days). None of which would make me stop, given positive benefits."

• Zil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2016

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "Effexor has finally made me feel like myself again... Can't remember the last time I was me, it's been at least 7 or 8 years. Tried Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Zoloft with no relief and bad side effects. Celexa worked so-so. Effexor has given me my motivation and happiness back. Only side effects for me are night sweats and slight headache/dizziness if I forget a dose... worth it, in my opinion, to be me again! Don't forget counseling/therapy too... Didn't feel the most helpful most days (I cried every time I went), but I can tell my maladaptive thought patterns have changed."