Venlafaxine and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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."

• cwi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2020

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Amazing drug. Changed my life. I have had horrible issues with my sleep, with my diet, and my stomach always hurting and being in knots 24/7. When I started Effexor, everything changed for the better. I started being able to sleep, and I was able to eat again because my stomach pain stopped completely. I feel so confident on this medication. It gives me energy and lights a fire in my soul. I only take a dose of 37.5 mg. I would like to increase it one day. The only side effect that I would say is why I rate this a 9 is it has caused some sexual issues but not as bad as SSRIs did to me. It is true once on it, you're hooked forever. But that is 100% fine with me. I am more social and excited about life, knowing each day I will never have to feel the knots and pain in my stomach, horrible anxiety ever again. THANK YOU to whoever made this medication. It was made for me."

• 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."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2017

For Hot Flashes "70 mg worked great for hot flashes, but sexual side effects were a problem. Reduced down to 37.5 mg, and that helped. Still have a few hot flashes, but they are tolerable. This med is also used off-label to help chronic back pain, which I have. Helps uplift your mood, too."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2008

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been taking Effexor XR since 2004. The side effects that I experience are loss of appetite/weight loss and sexual side effects. However, every time I try another medicine or try to 'get off' my medicines, I crash, and I always go back to Effexor, and it works really well. So, it is a consistently reliable drug for me, and I am very thankful for it."

• Bro...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 15, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "I started experiencing depression and anxiety attacks at around 19 years old. At the time, I didn't quite realize what was wrong with me; I just knew something was horribly wrong. I have tried every medication known to man: Celexa, Prozac, Cymbalta, Pristiq, Viibryd, Wellbutrin... and nothing. The emptiness, emotional turmoil, and suffocation I felt were ruining my life. Then in 2011, I started Effexor. I feel alive again, and I never thought I would feel normal again. The one thing I will warn about is the dependency. If you miss one pill, you will think you are coming down with the flu. If you ever decide to stop, you will have to taper off. Adverse effects: constipation, weight loss, vivid dreams, insomnia, sexual dysfunction."

• can...
• May 21, 2020

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "This drug has literally saved my life. I agree with others that the initial side effects can be bad, so sleepy for the first week but switched to taking it at night. I take the slow release after dinner (better tolerated with food), helped me sleep, which helped me to feel a little better initially. The dose to start was 37.5 mg for 3 weeks, then up to 75 mg. So sweaty!!! If I don't take it with food, I get horrible nausea. Sex drive decreased slightly initially, and weight gain of about 5 kgs. Now I've been on it for about 6 months. Slowly losing the weight, sleeping great, no suicidal thoughts/ideation, or maybe just a couple fleeting thoughts, decrease in obsessive thoughts, no nightmares, decrease in impulsive behaviors, disassociation, emotional regulation!! Highs and lows kind of dulled, I would say. Experiencing the gray areas for the first time in 20 years. Feeling 'normal', increase in interest in social activities. Honestly, this is the best antidepressant I've ever had. I will never stop taking it!!"

• 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.."

• Anonymous
• September 2, 2009

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "This medication changed my life. I'm sorry I waited so long to admit I needed it. It's wonderful to be able to cope with all of the daily challenges of life and yet still feel happy to be alive. If you're feeling out of control, don't waste your life out of fear of asking for help. Side effects like loss of sexual drive are minor compared to the benefits."

• Lon...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 3, 2013

Venlafaxine for Depression "Had weight gain, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, anorgasmia, bad withdrawal symptoms."

• qwe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 15, 2013

Venlafaxine for Bipolar Disorder "Effexor is the only medicine that helps my depression. The only side effect was sexual dysfunction, but now that is completely gone. I take 187.5 mg a day."

• chr...
• February 12, 2016

For Hot Flashes "My doctor prescribed venlafaxine for my hot flashes. When I talked to her about going on hormone therapy, she suggested that venlafaxine may be a good option, and not understanding much about anti-depressants, it sounded like a good idea. Wow, was I wrong! I took this medication for a total of approximately 2 months. At first, 37 mg worked great, but then my body adjusted within a few days and the hot flashes returned. I ended up increasing to a total of 3 37 mg per day tablets but continued to have hot flashes, and my sex drive became non-existent. I finally realized what I was doing to my body when I ran out for almost 5 days, and the withdrawal symptoms made me feel like a zombie (seriously). This stuff is a very strong drug and very addictive."

• Kin...
• February 12, 2017

Venlafaxine for Depression "I started off with 75 mg and have stayed on it ever since because I found no reason to change it. The first day, I could feel this medication working, it was a little much at first, but nothing I couldn't handle. But I soon noticed that it took all my emotions away and made me dull to everything going on around me and in my life. Most don't like that, but I really do, I feel as if I have no cares in the world at all. Nothing goes through my head at all, it's like magic. It takes me a little bit to actually get my brain going and operating, but that's fine with me. Sleep and sex drive have gone down, but I still get the sleep I need, and if I need to perform, I can. I just don't have the desire to want sex. It's changed my life in such good ways."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• January 4, 2011

Venlafaxine for Depression "I started Effexor after the birth of my first child due to postpartum depression. I have never been severely depressed prior to this. My doctor first prescribed Zoloft, which did not help at all. After two weeks, I was put on Effexor and started feeling better within a few days. The only side effect that I ever noticed was having no sex drive at all. I stopped taking it after a year (I tapered so I did not notice any withdrawal symptoms everyone talks about) and was recently put back on it due to some family issues pushing me back into a depression. The first few days are rough, but I've been on it for a week now, and I do feel a difference. My anxiety and mood have improved, and I can actually function. This medicine works great for me."

• AAa...
• June 1, 2019

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Have tried other meds in the past. My anxiety went away, but I also felt like I just didn’t care about anything. Tried 37.5 mg dose of Effexor in the mornings, and after a few weeks, I was feeling pretty great. I felt much more stable, and the constant worry and mood swings faded away. But I could still feel happy, occasionally sad, and I felt more motivated than I had in a long time. After a year, I weaned myself off and still felt pretty good for about 6-8 months. Recently, I went back on as my anxiety was coming back, and this time it’s just 25 mg a day. My only noticeable side effect is my sex drive is pretty low. As I am feeling better, I’m also not self-medicating with (lots of) alcohol. I actually feel sick if I drink more than 3 drinks on these meds. This has worked for me and has definitely changed my life. It may not work for everyone, but after years of avoiding meds, the only thing I regret is not doing it sooner."

• Anonymous
• March 2, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been taking Effexor XR since mid-2005 to help me through a major depressive episode in my life. Took it in conjunction with Remeron, which helped me immensely with improving my sleep and improving my mood. Watch for withdrawal symptoms (reduce the drug by taking a few grains out of the capsule each time). Do not go off cold turkey. Would be a 10/10 except that I have the sexual side effect. However, I'd rather be happy/non-suicidal than easily aroused."

• LGG...
• March 28, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I had been on Zoloft (50 mg/day) for depression for 8 years. Following a major chronic health condition, a medical specialist was concerned the Zoloft was no longer effective. Increasing to 100 mg/day was disastrous - head spins, dry, dry mouth, vertigo - so a psychiatrist recommended Effexor. Initial 75 mg/day, then 150 mg/day after a fortnight. Initially, I was unable to orgasm, but this lasted only about a month (same when I started Zoloft). Main concern is weird dreams most nights. The only thing I can tie this to is the Effexor. I have been researching online and it seems I'm not the only one. What a relief to discover - I was becoming quite concerned (and irritated). But hey, I feel so much better that I can live with it. I'm smiling again."

• pri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 24, 2013

Venlafaxine for Depression "Works well for depression and anxiety. I experienced diminished libido (male). Do not abruptly stop taking or miss a dose, you'll get worse than opiate withdrawal!"

• Sul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started taking this medication about eight weeks ago for increased anxiety (likely aggravated by menopause). It was affecting my life greatly. Side effects of blurred vision, low sex drive, and sweats were extreme. I kept questioning whether or not I would get past the side effects, especially the sweating, as I was starting to feel better. Thankfully, they all passed except for the low sex drive. That bothers me a bit, but not enough to change meds, and I feel amazing. Heading back to work next week and actually looking forward to it. I also realized I probably should have been on this medication a long time ago. Hang in there for at least eight weeks before giving up due to side effects."

• Dan...
• June 9, 2017

Venlafaxine for Depression "This drug is heaven. I feel no side effects whatsoever. Just 37.5 mg a day keeps my depression symptoms at bay. The only minor complaint is a lower sex drive, but that is a given side effect with antidepressants in general."

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2010

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was first prescribed Effexor 13 years ago and was taking 225 mg. I was on it for a few years and stopped taking it when I was pregnant with my first child. I was put on Paxil (gained so much weight) and then Zoloft. I took the Zoloft off and on for years until it just wasn't working for me anymore. I was then put on Wellbutrin while still taking 25 mg of Zoloft. I quit smoking (had no desire to smoke) but then became suicidal. My doctor then put me back on Effexor, and I currently only take 75 mg. I feel amazing. Yeah, the side effects are bad, I've gained weight (lost weight the first time I was on it), have sexual side effects, and get quite shaky/jittery if I'm late on a dose. But I'm finally the mom I've always wanted to be."

• tay...
• May 4, 2009

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Was in college when I treated. At high doses (approximately 225 mg), I was lethargic, cloudy-headed, and angry. The drug caused SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction. It aggravated stress levels. But for my mom, this medication has given her life back to her, 'curing' depression, lowering anxiety, and inspiring creativity."

• 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."