Venlafaxine and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Cal...
• May 6, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "Started Venlafaxine 37.5mg - 150mg over a 6-week period for anxiety and PMDD but had to stop. Previous to this, I was on Mirtazapine 15mg to help with sleep and appetite, but it did nothing for my 'feelings.' VENLAFAXINE - PROs - Slightly more confident, didn't blush, more energy, less body pain. CONs - INSOMNIA, no appetite at all, started losing weight, muted feelings, had no empathy anymore, like a I don't give a shit attitude, NO LIBIDO and couldn't orgasm! I decided to quit this garbage and return to the mild Mirtazapine for good. Some of the weeks I was on venlafaxine, I actually also took the Mirt (the combo known as Californian rocket fuel) so I could get some sleep, although doctors did not allow me to do this! Effects after stopping Venlafaxine - 3 days."

• Hel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been prescribed Effexor for over 6 years. Initially, it worked great. Now they have made me go on a generic version, venlafaxine HCl ER. The manufacturer is TEVA. And I have had major anxiety, hives, headaches, can't sleep, night sweats, just to name a few. I have heard from others they cannot take the generic form. However, when I requested the name brand, my insurance wouldn't cover it. In going to fill my prescription, it was going to cost $963 to fill. I was shocked. What is a person to do? Is there any help for those of us who can't take the generic format? And how do we find out what is actually in this to know what we are allergic to? Any help is appreciated..."

• I...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2017

Venlafaxine for Postpartum Depression "At 3 months postpartum, I started experiencing slight symptoms of PPD. I handled it and worked myself through it, thought I had it under control until I found myself uncontrollably crying, panic attacks, insomnia, excessive anger, lots of feelings of self-worthlessness. My doctor first prescribed me Zoloft at 5 months postpartum, for 3 weeks, I had no luck. She then switched me to Effexor XR 37.5 mg, as they say, the 'light bulb' came back on after 2 weeks. I have had very bad anxiety since I was 14, I am now currently taking Effexor XR 75 mg daily and am at 7 months postpartum. Depression, the horrible self-feelings I experienced were not anything I have ever felt prior to this experience. Effexor changed my life!"

• Han...
• November 2, 2016

Venlafaxine for Social Anxiety Disorder "The first two months of Effexor XR 37 mg were great, I felt good. But that apparently is just the startup. The first couple of days of taking it, I felt an awesome euphoria and a high like I was on cocaine. I was a little restless, had a hard time getting to sleep, and had diarrhea. The doctor bumped me up to 75 mg one week ago. The first day was awesome, I felt like I was on cocaine again. After that first day, I felt nothing other than an overbearing fact that I wanted to get off of this. I feel like complete trash. I feel emotionless but really down. I don't know if I can make it another week on this medication. I've been on four medications, and none of them have helped so far. This was my last hope for medication."

• Anonymous
• November 14, 2011

Venlafaxine for Depression "This is the best medication I have ever taken! I am an 18-year-old college student, suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, mood disorder, and depression, and I cannot fathom how much this medication has helped my life. The first two weeks of taking it, I could notice differences in how I socially interacted with people (much more out-going and easy-going). Now I've been on the medicine for two months, and I will NEVER stop taking it! I have absolutely no problems anymore, I still can sometimes work myself up every now and then, but I'm prescribed 0.5 mg of Klonopin for onset anxiety. The only thing I can say bad about this medicine is that I crash at the end of the day for about an hour, and then have disrupted sleep."

• Swi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 27, 2017

For Social Anxiety Disorder "Been on it now for 3 months at 150 mg, never had a lot of side effects. (- a bit of sleeping problems the first month) Social anxiety 8 out of 10 - has gotten much, much better. Depression, well, 7 out of 10. All over 8-10."

• Anonymous
• March 14, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "I started taking the generic venlafaxine XR about one month ago for anxiety attacks and feelings of being overwhelmed. It started working within a few days. I have had a positive experience, although my sex drive is depleted, and I'm having much more difficulty reaching orgasm (I'm female). I am now waking 3-4 times a night, and although I can go right back to sleep, I feel tired every morning. I already take 1 mg Klonopin at night and 350 mg of Soma as I have degenerative neck disease. I am still waking up. I hope my doctor can give me some pointers on sleeping through the night, but other than that (oh, and increased sweating at night), I do feel great. We'll see how the sweating goes and the sleep disturbance."

• Swe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 24, 2018

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was prescribed Effexor 75 mg two years back, and subsequently, I decided to taper off once in a while. It helps a lot to be focused, but the side effects for me were sleepless nights and nausea. I am going back on it again. I felt that without it, I am spiraling down the dark tunnel."

• bun...
• June 23, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I took this drug a few years ago when I was 18. I stopped having panic attacks but still felt anxious at times, but I was still much more outgoing. I feel like it made me want to drink all the time, but I felt much better than I did without it. I remember waking up one morning and thinking this is what normal people without depression feel like. I stopped taking it after about a year because I felt like it was working and I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms, except one day where I felt like I had the stomach flu for one day, feeling severely depressed a few months after taking it. I have been on 37.5 mg for a month now and just started 75. It gives me restless legs and a little insomnia, not much difference in depression, but I feel less anxious."

• kma...
• January 4, 2012

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have suffered from MDD, GAD, SAD, OCD, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and PTSD for the past 25 years. I have tried several other SSRIs and was recently switched to Effexor XR. I was prescribed 37.5 and was to build up to 150 mgs. The side effects were so severe I could not get past the initial dose. I took it for the past 6 weeks, and it abruptly quit working. I could not tolerate increasing to 75 mg. I will be switching to Celexa. The side effects include tachycardia, sweating, hypostatic, extreme blurry vision, nausea, headaches, insomnia, and weight gain of 5 lbs. I experienced 'spatial disorientation' where I would get waves of vertigo. I had great depression relief for about 3 weeks, but the side effects were too numerous to tolerate."

• Sal...
• January 16, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "Was very depressed and couldn't sleep. Started on 37.5 mg twice a day, then doubled. My mood has improved a little, but not my sleep. No interest in sex. Can't eat - have lost two stones. Don't know what to do for the best! Not suicidal anymore, at least."

• You...
• October 6, 2017

Venlafaxine for Depression "Worked quickly (or it was in my head), lots of yawning. By week 4, very drowsy in the morning on my 90-minute drive to work, so started taking it after I got to work, which is better for society in general. Sometimes restless sleep. Having said that, I had a lot of negative thoughts about my life that I don't notice or dwell on now, so I am really good with these minor side effects. I'm much happier, less irritable, and family recognized it easily. I'm genuinely happy with it, and thankfully no nasty side effects (thus far)."

• Dan...
• August 19, 2015

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "Increase dose more slowly than the doctor says. I was convinced I was actually in hell for a week after increasing my dose for one single day. It helps my situation, but it ruins my memory, kills motivation, kills desire or will to do anything. A cool and crisp morning loses that good feeling, and your sleep sucks, causing you to be tired all day. I would recommend taking a dose only on days you feel awful. Maybe 15 mg. I regret taking this every day. The withdrawal is worse than alcohol, tobacco, and other SSRIs combined."

• car...
• January 1, 2016

For Panic Disorder "Effexor was a miracle drug for me. Before taking it, I had horrid panic attacks and acute distress. I was at my wits' end. I felt hopeless and tormented by recurring panic attacks and terrified thoughts and feelings. I tried everything for anxiety, even Klonopin, having nothing worked. After taking Effexor for 2 weeks, my anxiety decreased by about 60%. I felt happier and more in control of my life. I went from a terrified worrywart to a content person. I highly recommend it. It is the best anxiety drug I ever had. The benefits definitely outweigh the side effects. The ones I experience are constipation, insomnia, and muscle convulsions, but it is worth it if you are suffering a lot from anxiety."

• Anonymous
• December 3, 2008

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been on Effexor XR for around 6 months now. My dose is up to 300 mg, and it will probably increase to 375 mg next visit. I was in an extremely deep depression and was initially prescribed Prozac. That was a mistake for me. After a 2-week washout, I was switched to a low dose of Effexor, and it was gradually increased. It is helping with the depression. I have feelings again, and I can talk to people and meet their eyes. It's not so good for the generalized anxiety. Side effects at the start were lack of appetite and insomnia. Only the insomnia remains and has gotten worse as the dose has increased."

• Cin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "Terrible med for me, like it was for a lot of people. I used it for 6 weeks (enough time to get into my system). It caused panic attacks, which was not fun. I would have several each day. I was taking this med for anxiety and depression. I cried every single day, and several times a day on this med, and I did not sleep a full night's sleep for the entire duration. I felt way more sad and felt like I was in a zombie-like state daily. I read reviews of this drug and prayed that I would soon start to feel better and wouldn't be one of those that this drug did not work for. Alas, I was one of those. I stopped taking Effexor cold turkey 5 days ago. Best thing I ever did. I experienced some withdrawal symptoms, like severe brain zaps."

• 51...
• October 8, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was put on Effexor for depression and anxiety. (Was on Paxil for many years.) I told the nurse/practitioner I felt pretty good but always wondered if there was 'something better.' After starting on Effexor, I did have vivid dreams, and headachy, nausea, and dizziness, and was unable to have an intense orgasm (always fell short). The big problem came when I ran out of pills, and they wouldn't refill until I saw a nurse. So without my pills for 3 days... OMG! Terrible withdrawals... dripping with sweat, terrible headaches, insomnia, nausea, diarrhea, to feeling hopeless and extreme dizziness. Awful!!! Don't run out! I was terrified of going off the pill (switching to Wellbutrin). Day two on half a tab, and so far so good! :) Effexor may have its place... just not with me! :) You need to wean off them slowly!!!"

• Rel...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 24, 2013

For Anxiety "I started on Effexor 37.5 and graduated to 75 mg. I was on it for about 7 years, and it really worked for me. No more panic attacks and insomnia. It was also prescribed for hormone replacement. About 4 months ago, I decided that I wanted to be free from medication, and my doctor weaned me off of it. I did well for a while, but the panic attacks returned about 2 weeks ago, along with a preoccupation with death. I started Effexor 75 mg yesterday and can already tell a difference. It works for me, and I'm staying on it this time."

• Rho...
• October 16, 2019

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "This stuff is bad. On Effexor, I could not think, could not eat, could not sleep, over-stimulated and felt like I was having a 24-hour panic attack, and it's highly addictive! More big pharmaceuticals pushing highly addictive garbage."

• Hai...
• March 1, 2021

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I had some severe anxiety after everything that went on with COVID and my partner being in constant suicidal depression. My GP offered the medicine as a way to get through the tough time, and it kinda did, but not without some major downsides. It did lessen the anxiety, but it also got rid of any kind of drive I ever had (sex, motivation, creativity), so my depression got much worse in the meanwhile. It felt like nothing mattered anymore. I didn't care. I gained 8-10 lbs in the 2 months I was on it (I was losing slowly beforehand), and I got NOTHING done aside from the bare minimum while I was on it. My sleep was also heavily disrupted/unrestful, more so than usual. I was on the lowest dose for such a short amount of time, yet the withdrawals were pretty bad (zaps, dizziness, nausea) and lasted several days. I've been off it for almost a week now, and yesterday was the first day where I felt like taking care of myself since I'd started it."

• Rea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2016

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I was prescribed Effexor after a really bad anxiety attack about 3 years ago. At first, it was really great. Less suicidal thoughts, my anxiety wasn't as bad, but I wasn't eating. I had absolutely no appetite whatsoever; I starved myself until I lost 20 lbs, and they increased my dosage from 37.5 to 150 mg. It's years later, and I now suffer from an eating disorder that I didn't have before. The side effects: dizziness, bad coordination, insomnia, headaches, lightheadedness, and especially the fatigue, all impacted my life to the point where I dropped out of high school. The withdrawals, which occur after 24 hours of not taking the pill, make you feel inhuman. I was better before."

• Rac...
• October 31, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was prescribed Effexor on Monday, and I have had the worst experience with it. It's now Saturday, and I can't sleep for more than like 2 hours at a time. I can't eat, and I feel so foggy. Worst experience ever."

• Nad...
• July 25, 2016

For Anxiety "After many months spent being given ten different types of antidepressants, which none agreed with me, my Dr suggested Venlafaxine 37.5 twice a day, but I personally found it too much (turned me into a zombie). So we agreed on one 37.5 dosage daily. Slowly but surely, it has given me my life back, no major side effects other than insomnia. Darkness is all I could see before venlafaxine. 10/10 highly recommended."

• 375...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "I have only been on it a couple of days, but the side effects are terrible. I am prone to insomnia, and this exacerbates it terribly. Even with 10 mg of Ambien at bedtime, I am only getting 3.5 hours of sleep. I am also having muscle shakes, mostly at night. I'm having daytime muscle twitching that causes me to be very uncoordinated and drop things. Last night, while I was trying to sleep, I saw strange geometric patterns, and when I would get close to actually falling asleep, I would see a bright flash of light and hear a booming noise, which would wake me back up again. Considering all of that, I am able to function pretty well in the daytime. Also: constipation..."

• Rob...
• May 27, 2019

For Hot Flashes "I’ve been on venlafaxine 37.5 mg for nearly 6 weeks. My hot flushes are substantially less than when unmedicated, but not completely gone like on HRT, which I had to stop recently for medical reasons. I started on an evening dose, switched to morning due to poor sleep, switched back to evening due to several mild flushes overnight, and now switching back to mid-morning due to wakefulness and lack of dream sleep on the evening dose. I had at least a dozen side effects initially, and many of these have continued, including alertness and difficulty sleeping, blurred vision, inability to orgasm, calf cramps some nights, and brittle fingernails. Looking forward with trepidation to my hysterectomy so I can go back on HRT and stop this medication."