Venlafaxine and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Kls...
• March 14, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "Please do not take this drug. I’ve had depression and anxiety for years. I’ve gone to many doctors and therapists, and nothing has worked. About a year ago, I was prescribed the generic venlafaxine. I exhausted all non-drug options first and finally caved in. I decided to give up this drug recently and go back to trying more natural remedies. Going off has been a nightmare, and I was only on a 75 mg dose. I tried to taper off like everyone says, but that wasn’t working. I’m on day 6 of diarrhea and stomach pains. The first day, I couldn’t move, I had such a headache, and my whole body hurt. No drug should do this to a person. I read reviews just like mine and thought my doctor knew best. They don’t. You know what’s best. Don’t ignore your instincts. This drug does more harm than good and should not be on the market. Shame on the FDA for allowing the continued sale of this drug."

• Mol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2019

For Anxiety "I'm sharing my experience on venlafaxine because I felt it warranted a positive review. I've been taking Lexapro for six years for premenopausal anxiety. It worked great until recently, my anxiety returned. My doc prescribed venlafaxine 75 mg. I read reviews on this drug and was petrified of starting it, but I did, and I'm glad I did. The only side effects were tingling in my legs with a slight headache on the first day, nothing else since. Huge improvement in anxiety and mood. It's been a lifesaver."

• Hol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 19, 2017

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have been tapering off Effexor for the past few weeks. I was originally prescribed 150 mg per day, and the dose was too much for me. I was brought down to 112.5 and stayed on that dose for almost 2 years. My mood was greatly improved, and my anxiety was nearly non-existent. The downside was that I was always tired and taking naps constantly-most of my weekends were spent sleeping. I'd drink a few cups of coffee in the morning, and I could barely keep my eyes open. I became a napper and would nap for 2-4 hours at a shot. I became extremely lazy and gained about 25 pounds due to a complete lack of energy. The side effects of missing a dose were extreme nausea and horrible headaches."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Sti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2022

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "Took it for about a week and started feeling great. But within a few days, my blood pressure increased, I started getting migraines, so I had to stop. The withdrawal was horrific. So dizzy I could barely walk. Headache 24/7. And the brain zaps were unbearable; they always came out of nowhere and left me feeling dazed and afraid for my sanity. Not worth trying it, in my opinion. When you try to get off of it, God help you. You’ll regret ever hearing the name. I can’t believe this medication is legal!"

• ron...
• October 22, 2019

Venlafaxine for Depression "This drug ruined my life. I stopped taking it months ago, and I still suffer constant headaches, weakness, body aches. I can't do anything. I feel like I don't have enough power for taking a bath and brushing my teeth."

• tea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2021

For Anxiety and Stress "Lasted 4 days on this, far worse than any depression, anxiety, or stress. Extremely confused, no attention span, couldn't concentrate, lost all motivation, and even with the tiredness and life sucked out of me, I never slept once during the 4 days. Time practically disappeared and felt like a robot. Decided to stop yesterday and feel far worse than I did taking it. Headaches and even more anxious than before and sweating a lot, feel like I'm going crazy during this withdrawal, and it was only 37.5 mg. Research into the medication before starting this because the withdrawal is even worse than the side effects on the medication."

• Bea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 7, 2020

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I've been taking this medication for around five years. It has helped me a lot. I no longer have constant suicidal thoughts or feel as sad and as angry as I did before taking this medication. However, the withdrawal can be terrible. If I miss taking my medication by an hour, I begin to feel dizzy. As time progresses, it becomes a throbbing headache and a feeling of vertigo."

• 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."

• jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2019

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "Stopped after the first capsule. I had nausea, headache, dizzy, disoriented, rise in blood pressure to 170/93, blurred vision, extreme fatigue, difficulty breathing, tightness in chest, caused onset of IBS. I couldn’t get out of bed for 36 hours."

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2019

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I started venlafaxine 37 mg about 3 months ago. I am having a great experience with my medicine. I have PTSD and anxiety. I have suffered from sleep hallucinations since age 14. I would have the hallucinations about 3 to 5 times per week at times. The side effects with this medicine aren’t bad at all for me. I take my medicine around 8 pm and get drowsy about 1 hour later, but that’s okay because I go to sleep around 9:30 pm. No headaches or stomach issues with it. I would keep an open mind with trying this drug and give it a few weeks to get through any initial side effects. Since this medicine, I have not had any sleep hallucinations, and I feel great. My anxiety all went away, and I feel like I am living my best life!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2016

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I had been off all meds for 10 years when I had a major relapse and knew it was time to medicate again. Effexor is hard to get on, lots of dizziness and exhaustion. Also, if I am late taking it, I feel awful. Headaches, anxiety, mood swings. Don't ever miss a dose! I can't stress this enough. Withdrawal hits hard and fast, even within 12 hours. Sweats, chills, headache, dreams, whole-body pain. HOWEVER, it does help me get through the day. I have suicidal depression and clinical anxiety, so for me, it is worth some struggle to stay with Effexor because it does give me relief. It calms my brain, allows me to get moving with my day, and not have the threat of my own self-destructive tendencies."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2016

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I had been off all meds for 10 years when I had a major relapse and knew it was time to medicate again. Effexor is hard to get on, lots of dizziness and exhaustion. Also, if I am late taking it, I feel awful. Headaches, anxiety, mood swings. Don't ever miss a dose! I can't stress this enough. Withdrawal hits hard and fast, even within 12 hours. Sweats, chills, headache, dreams, whole-body pain. HOWEVER, it does help me get through the day. I have suicidal depression and clinical anxiety, so for me, it is worth some struggle to stay with Effexor because it does give me relief. It calms my brain, allows me to get moving with my day, and not have the threat of my own self-destructive tendencies."

• N2H...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2018

Venlafaxine for Depression "I dreaded taking Effexor. It put me into a darker mood, outlook was foggy, nausea, headache, loss of libido, incapacitating loss of motivation, and extreme/intolerable drowsiness. I was in an important meeting with engineers, and I couldn't keep my eyes open no matter how desperately hard I tried. For me, there was no upside to the medication. It was an entirely negative experience. Had to discontinue and will never take it again. Yikes!"

• 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."

• Mer...
• April 24, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "Male, 32 y. I was suffering from stomach complex pains, terrible headaches, and depression. 16 months ago, I was prescribed Venlafaxine up to 225 mg/day and Trimipramine for sleeping. It was very complicated, with ups and downs, but I finally got to a normal life. Since then, I have gained ~10 kg, but I think it's not bad for me since I was underweight before. My doctor suggested I decrease it gradually and cut it off. I was on 75 mg until yesterday, and today I didn't take it. In the afternoon, I was very irritated and anxious, but it could be the short-term withdrawal. I will update you if I can stay off medication. I wish you all strength and happiness."

• Kay...
• February 18, 2016

For Hot Flashes "I'm 28 and had a hysterectomy in August of 2015. I was put on Effexor 75 mg in September, and my hot flashes went away after taking the first dose. I have gone some days and missed a dose here and there and have felt the withdrawal side effects from doing so: nausea, headaches, flu-like symptoms. Recently, I have been getting hot flashes more frequently, so I'm thinking of upping my dosage to 150 mg. Any advice?"

• Blu...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 22, 2019

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "After starting Effexor (went up to 200 mg) for my anxiety/panic attacks, I felt great. No more anxiety or panic attacks at all, and it was amazing. After having suffered so much, I thought the side effects were worth it at first. Then I gained 15 pounds. If I didn’t take it exactly at the same time every day, I would get dizziness and headaches and often had headaches even if I properly took it. I had constipation, so I had to take meds for that. Then after a while, the stomach pains started and only got worse until I had to start taking meds for that too. So after 8 years, I felt it wasn’t working as well as before for the anxiety, and I was fed up with the side effects, so I decided to change meds. Getting off of it was hard (lots of side effects), and it had to be done VERY slowly (took months). Now I have been off it for 4 years, and my stomach is still destroyed (heartburn & reflux), and I still need to take meds for my stomach!"

• SNL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2019

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am taking Effexor 37.5 mg and have been on it for 5 days now. This is for severe anxiety and major depression. I noticed a change the very first day, with the anxiety level going way down. I have had a consistent headache for the full 5 days and throat/neck pain. No appetite and just feeling overall yucky and sick. I am going to hang in there to see how it goes. My Dr. also prescribed Trazodone to take at night for insomnia, and I have been sleeping better. I take the Effexor in the morning. So for now, I will stick it out and hope the side effects will go away."

• Fed...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2018

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was given a dosage of 75 mg for a month, then up to 150 mg. It has been the worst experience I've had with any medication. After 10 weeks, my new psychologist has started weaning me off. It will take 4 months in order to avoid the worse effects. Anxiety, suicidal thoughts, headaches, stomach problems... just a few of my side effects."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2019

For Anxiety "I took venlafaxine for severe anxiety and depression after trying other antidepressants that had no effect over a four-year period. With venlafaxine, I only had limited side effects, including blurred vision and mild headaches, and my anxiety reduced after two weeks, but I continued taking the drug for another six weeks. By then, my anxiety had gone, and my zest for life had returned. I weaned myself off the tablets within 5 days and had no side effects from this. Two months later, I still feel good."

• 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!"

• JD3...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 8, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "Taking Effexor in the beginning was hard to get used to, but after 6 months I felt great. Downside is I have headaches and sweat a lot. If I miss more than 4 days, then I have withdrawal symptoms. I'm taking 150 mg a day, and despite the side effects, I wouldn't change a thing. Oh yeah, I have also lost weight while taking Effexor."