Venlafaxine and Sweating: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Gaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2015

For Anxiety "29-year-old male - Quite a bubbly person, really, but suffers from bad periods of anxiety and depression with a lot of self-confidence issues. I have tried all types of SSRIs: fluoxetine, citalopram, escitalopram, propranolol (beta-blocker), and none of them seemed to work or do anything about the anxiety. Suffered from dizziness, lack of motivation, breathing problems, twitches, and emotional problems. Within a week of taking venlafaxine, I felt brilliant with hardly any side effects. A little bit sweaty during the day and a slight headache at first, but they really do make an impact. I have heard a lot about coming off them, but I will take each day as it comes and stay on these for as long as advised. Definitely rate these tablets."

• Two...
• April 19, 2019

Venlafaxine for Panic Disorder "Suffer panic disorder, had a depressive episode for over 6 weeks after relationship breakdown. GP put me on Effexor 37.5 mg, felt better mood instantly; followed by a sedated, sleepy feeling. Couldn't cry at all, which was a bizarre experience for me, as I previously cried all day long. On the third day, had a migraine by the evening and went to bed at 10 pm. At 1 am, woke up agitated, racing thoughts, eyes wide awake; pupils dilated. Panic was not the word; I was manic with fear, fluttering in my chest and sweating. Started pacing in my lounge, and after ten minutes, was on the floor grabbing my head and screaming, rocking back and forth, and called 999, begging for an ambulance as I felt unsafe, paranoid, and was worried for the safety of my pets. I have never suffered from mania, only panic attacks and depression. I will never touch this med again. Awful."

• EMH...
• September 3, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "29/f with anxiety and depression, I have only taken this medicine once. I took it at night as prescribed by the doctor, woke up at 3 a.m. crawling out of my skin! I threw up twice, my pupils were dilated, I was sweating, shaking uncontrollably, and couldn't sleep. I imagine this is what meth feels like?! I started to have incredibly bad anxiety, bad thoughts and images, my brain felt like it was screaming. This medicine is awful. It's now 10 a.m., I'm still jittery, I feel super sick, can't eat, I feel awful."

• Too...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2017

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I was prescribed this for the onset of anxiety and possible hormonal mood swings. I was not told by my doctor how it would make me feel or how hard coming off of it would be. I took one 37.5 mg capsule and was horrified that I was given this. I woke up at 2 am with an anxiety attack for about the first hour. It then went into being wired, nauseous, shaky, weak, chills, and sweating. Eleven years ago, I quit using meth, and this was awful that I felt like I was on it again. I laid in bed the entire day, wide awake and ill. I never took another dose! And even one pill took at least another full day to leave my system. My nervous system is obviously sensitive, and I could not handle this medication at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 26, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "I wouldn't recommend this medication to my worst enemy. Although it seemed to work in a mild sense for my anxiety, when I missed even one dose, I paid dire consequences. I would wake up the next day dizzy, unable to see straight, started experiencing migraines, and would sweat day and night. I wish that my healthcare provider would have warned me of the detoxes before I accepted this treatment."

• 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."

• Scr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 19, 2017

Venlafaxine for Depression "I am a woman nearing 40 who has dealt with a handful of health issues: degenerative joint disease in both TMJ joints (20+ years), chronic migraines (20+ years), depression (20 years), and high blood pressure (6 years). I have been taking 250mg of Effexor for many years. Due to chronic pain, my doc increased my dose to 300mg in spring. Since then, my life has fallen to pieces. I have such terrible nightmares both at night and when I nap that I wake my entire 2-storey house. I have cold sweats and need to be woken up. I am usually in tears because as soon as I close my eyes, I am right back in the nightmare. This goes on night after night. I am in a vicious and scary cycle."

• Anonymous
• March 1, 2012

Venlafaxine for Depression "While effective in decreasing my depression, I developed almost every side effect listed (including anxiety, muscle soreness, unbearable joint pain, excessive sweating, severe memory loss, GERD, dysuria, brain shivers, hypothyroidism, loss of menstruation) and found myself on medications to treat each of them, ultimately using 19 prescription medications to deal with the side effects. If I could have anticipated the side effects and the expected difficulty of weaning off this, I would have continued to search for a better alternative."

• Cri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 14, 2021

Venlafaxine for Depression "I love Effexor!!!! I have had bipolar depression, extreme depression, CPTSD, and a lot of anxiety for as long as I can remember. Within a few weeks (I had to start a low dose and gradually increase due to bad reactions to most bipolar drugs). So when I got to about 175 mg, I started to have no suicidal thoughts AT ALL!! I am so happy to have those thoughts out of my head. I still have some issues, but this drug gave me my life back - with no side effects except extreme fatigue until I got used to it. Now I have no tiredness at all. HOWEVER, HUGE DISCLAIMER. DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS DRUG EVEN FOR A DAY!!!!! You must wean off this. I actually thought it was the end of me when I couldn't get my meds for 2 days. I vomited the entire time, like I couldn't stop. Extreme sweating, hallucinations, not severe, but still scary. Nightmares and the most painful headache that would not stop. The vomiting was the worst. I wasn't able to hold anything down, and I mean extreme cramping of the stomach area. Please be careful."

• bro...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 5, 2017

Venlafaxine for Depression "I am a female senior and started taking this drug about 8 months ago. So far, it works well for the depression at 150 mg. I missed taking the drug for 2 days, and as a result, I had terrible symptoms when I went to bed. My muscles felt like they were tensed and shaking, could not go to sleep but must have at some point, and had terrible dreams. Now I feel quite ill: stomach upset, gut upset, sweating, horrible. Had to take some Pepto-Bismol tabs to try to settle my stomach. Took my pill at lunch today, waiting to see if I start to feel better. Surely there must be a drug that can do the same job without the necessity to take it with food and won't send your body into a tizzy if you miss a dose or two."

• Kin...
• December 10, 2015

For Social Anxiety Disorder "The first week was horrendous. Hot and cold sweats, fever, delusional. Was willing to quit this medicine after 3 days. All I can say is stick with it, after that, taking this drug works wonders: slightly euphoric, calm, relaxed. If anyone is having doubts with this medicine (stick with it), and if it doesn't work for you, you will sure find out. Antidepressants don't work for me, but this is a Godsend, would recommend!"

• mmf...
• June 23, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have been on Effexor for 4 years. My doctor at the time told me I was depressed, but since then I was tested for severe sleep apnea. I have tried unsuccessfully 3 times to get off of it. I was taking 150 mg. One doctor told me to start taking the 150 every other day, then eventually stop. Horrible side effects: dizzy, irritable, bad dreams, sleepy, and general flu-like symptoms. I wish I had been told about the possible withdrawal symptoms at the time my doctor had given it to me. Effexor gave me sweats, and I've gained a ton of weight. My new doctor has me on Wellbutrin and is slowly lowering the dosage. I'm on 37.5 right now, and so far, so good."

• Ink...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Well, I started taking this about two months ago. While I know I haven't been on it long, I know I've been on it long enough. Not only are the symptoms bad, but they all are pretty much happening. I go days without eating because not only do I no longer want to eat, I can't keep my food down when I do. Sleep? Forget about it, I never can get any anymore. Dizzy, sweating, blurred vision, dry mouth, pretty much, you name it and it's happening to me. I will admit though, besides the side effects, the med did help. I have noticed that my anxiety has gotten better, and I can go out and be around people more than I once could. While it's been nice to actually be able to be around people again without me breaking down, I can't deal with the side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 15, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was angry all the time and miserable. The doctor prescribed Effexor 75s. The first few days I felt wonderful, better than I'd felt for years. After that, it was the same old, same old, but I wasn't angry anymore. I started getting really bad sweats, I would be just sitting there, and sweat would start rolling down my face. I also started grinding my teeth and picking at sores on my arms and back. I went back to the doctor, she upped the medication to 150. The sweating has stopped. I am working on the teeth grinding and the picking. I was hoping to feel as good as I did when I first started taking the pills, but I don't. Insurance only covers the price of generic, the pharmacist has me on a program that has Effexor makers pay part too."

• Gay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 12, 2019

For Hot Flashes "My hot flashes and night sweats were gone within 24 hrs. I had been having 3-4 an hour, day and night. I still get a little warm off and on and sweat, but totally doable. If you miss one, the brain “flashes” start in about 24 hrs. Don’t miss one. I do 75 mg a day. No libido, but no reason to think it’s the meds, but I should research that."

• Aft...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 22, 2017

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I've been on 75 mg of venlafaxine for 6 or 7 years. It is good for me. Before Effexor, my emotions felt like being hit by a truck. After Effexor, it gives me a moment to THINK about things, rather than just disintegrating into a puddle on the floor. I still have feelings, but they're not as overwhelming, and I don't feel like I HAVE to react to them. Side effects: sweating and tiredness. I take a lot of naps! Missing a dose: about an hour or two after my time to take my pill, if I forget to, I'd get tingly and dizzy. Withdrawal: I recently tried to stop taking Effexor cold turkey. I lasted 6 days. Intense anger, bursting into tears, a static feeling in my head, like a TV set on no channel, and a tingly feeling in my lips."

• Lyl...
• June 1, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "Took first dose of 75 mg before bed. Fell asleep at 10:30 and slept well, actually. Woke up at 5:30 with eyes wide open as if I just had 10 espressos. It's now 6:30 and I don't have to be out of bed until 7. Can't sleep anymore. Feeling jittery with jaw clenching and teeth chattering when I open my mouth a little. Hands are sweating. I feel a little emotionally numb. Slight ringing in ears and slight headache with slight nausea. I feel peaceful but dull. Not sure if I will take again."

• Anonymous
• November 9, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "I've been on tons of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications throughout the years. When I started taking Effexor XR, I was thrilled, I felt so much better... minus all of the side effects. The side effects are just awful. I sweat constantly, I have awful headaches, no sex drive, and I gained 15 pounds. And now the medication has stopped working, sort of... I don't feel sad or happy... I just kind of feel here. I've tried to get off of Effexor, but I get those brain zaps/vertigo feelings and vomit, so I stop and keep taking it. I guess it helps some people, but if I can ever get off of it, I will be going back to another medication."

• Aly...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 11, 2023

Venlafaxine for Panic Disorder "Second time trying Effexor (after trying every other SSRI-type med) and taking it for 2 years now. Have increased over time to 225 mg. For depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. It helped with panic attacks the most. Anxiety is also better. Depression is mildly better. I am now wanting to taper down as some side effects have become more noticeable in the last 6 months: no sex drive, can’t reach orgasm, excessive sweating (especially face and hands), tiredness, and lack of motivation to do things, emotional flatness. Will try to taper down by 75 mg to start. Last time I went off Effexor, I tapered down really slowly and that helped with the withdrawal symptoms a lot. Fingers crossed I can get through it again, and things improve after discontinuing. I’m hopeful."

• Lox...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 8, 2019

For Depression "Many people seem to give up on venlafaxine and write it off, please bear with it if you are prescribed it! The first week I started taking it, I was so sick, throwing up, dizzy, etc. But my psych told me to just keep trying. After about six weeks, I felt a noticeable change. Let’s bear in mind that beforehand I had spent 10 years trying every drug and therapy going, and whilst I don’t want to be triggering, let’s just say I was severely, very, very poorly indeed. Now, one year after starting this drug, I am doing really well. I am working 30 hours a week-I couldn’t work before. I am doing a college course to gain further qualifications. I can socialize, and I can spend time alone without the very poorly things happening to me. I have some side effects-I'm a bit sweaty and itchy, and some sex-related issues, but these are much more bearable than my previous life. I urge you to please stick with any medication the doctor or psych gives you or go back and talk to them again-don’t just stop!"

• Amb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "Venlafaxine worked well for anxiety and stress in the beginning at a dose of 75 mg, then bumped up to 125 mg, and that’s when I started getting constipated, gained 15 lbs in three months, and sweated horribly at night and sweat more than normal at work. Getting off of it now. Did NOT work for me."

• Daa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "After a very dark time in my life, I dropped my male pride and sought help from my physician and was diagnosed with MDD and GAD. I was prescribed Effexor XR 75 mg, and being my first experience with antidepressants, I was very leery. For about two weeks, the side effects were more than noticeable: sweating, dizziness, constipation, nausea, brain zaps, etc. About the same time (two weeks), the relief set in, and the side effects began to lift. Everyone is different, but Effexor has been a lifesaver, and to say my life has turned around would be a huge understatement. From despair to feeling 'normal' and enjoying life, maybe for the first time ever. For me, the only lasting side effect seems to be dry mouth after nearly a year. Small price to pay."

• Anonymous
• August 10, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "So far, Effexor XR has been a lifesaver with minimal side effects. As a full-time caregiver to my mom, who has Alzheimer's, depression was slowly destroying me, and I was a fool to think I was man enough to deal with it-with no help. After 3 weeks of use, I had completely overcome my heavy alcohol use, and my motivation, clarity, and concentration levels returned to an above-normal level. In the beginning, I did experience the sweating side effect and felt a bit anxious. My doctor agreed he should have started me at the lowest dose instead of the 75 mg. I now find that a 75 mg dose every other day, supplemented with exercise on the non-dose days, has seriously turned my life around for the better."

• Sim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "Sadly, only lasted 5 days on Effexor XR. The side effects from the 75 mg dose were unlike anything I have experienced before. Within 10 hours of the first dose, I had severe anxiety-something I had never experienced before. Within hours of the second dose, the extreme nausea came on. By day 3, I was practically bed-ridden in cold sweats and feeling completely 'out of it.' I persevered, hoping the effects would begin to subside, but by the 5th day, I had severe nausea, couldn't get out of bed from feeling so sick, horrible tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and felt spaced out to the point that I began to wonder if I would ever feel 'normal' again. Advised by my GP to cease immediately on hearing my side effects."

• ken...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 27, 2017

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "It was efficient to have no anxiety. Except 2 weeks before my final exams, I 'froze' = I had anxiety attacks. The big side effect was that it was extremely difficult to reach an orgasm/ejaculation + I lost more than 50% of sex pleasure. Not good for couple life. Also, I sweat A LOT during the night + big traumatizing nightmares if you forget your pills + I think I did sleep apnea + sleep paralysis. All those things at 75 mg. Another bad effect was that I became overconfident/maniac. Also, better to use Effexor than generics. The real brand seemed better for me."