Venlafaxine and Sweating: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• February 1, 2011

Venlafaxine for Depression "I feel so much better reading all the feedback. I am in the pits of despair from my 2-month break from Effexor. For 7 years, I have been on 75-150 mg. My life was saved thanks to this medicine. Tried everything. But after seeing some friends get pregnant and lose it due to stopping medicines, I thought I'd wean myself off to see if I was 'cured.' No luck, I feel like things were really good for a month or so, but now I can hardly work and feel antisocial. I need to get back on ASAP, although I never was really happy with the sexual numbness and sweating. It was good to give it a shot, but I will need to be on Effexor for life."

• Eri...
• November 22, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "If you are thinking about taking this, do not do it. Ask your doctor for something else, anything else. Effexor is horrible. I was put on it due to depression and generalized anxiety. Within the first few weeks, I was emotionally numb, I wasn't sad anymore, but I couldn't feel happiness. Six months later, while still on this, I became suicidal and self-harming, my heart rate started increasing due to my anxiety to the point where I was hospitalized. After that, it was decided I was to come off it, now coming off it is even worse than being on it: shaking, dizziness, headaches, puking, sweating. I've only been off it a week, and already I can feel my mental health calming down. Avoid this drug. Please. For your own safety."

• Oat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "The 1st month on venlafaxine was a bizarre experience. I would wake up sweating, a fast heart rate, dry mouth, etc. I felt like I had taken a combination of ecstasy and weed, my pupils were massive, and I was completely out of it! It made socializing and work very difficult. I would also get bursts of intense energy followed by utter exhaustion. HOWEVER, after 2 months the side effects settled, and I've got to say I've never felt better. I've been on 150 mg for 5 months now, my anxiety seems to have calmed, and I haven't had a serious low mood. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I can process stress and my emotions rationally. For the 1st time, I feel optimistic about my future. The side effects now are very mild, and I get a headache if I miss a dose, but I cannot stress enough how worth it it's been to push through. It's easy to be put off at first, things are already hard enough, but I feel so relieved that I gave it a proper shot. Love and hugs to everyone struggling x."

• Anonymous
• October 24, 2011

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "I've been on this medication for almost a month. My doctor told me it could easily take a month to get used to it. I started out with headaches, extreme tiredness, and excessive sweating. The tiredness was gone after about 10 days. The sweating is the worst side effect, and I still suffer with it daily, though I am no longer dripping with sweat like I was when I began the medication. I get occasional headaches, but nothing more than a slight headache to remind me that I have one. I do feel better and am less stressed."

• thn...
• July 21, 2010

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was taking Effexor for depression. I found that my hot flashes went away. I love this medicine. It helped all of my menopause symptoms. The downside is I can't miss one! The hot flashes come back with worse sweats than I had before. I now sleep very well at night."

• No ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2020

For Depression "I was prescribed this for depression and overall anxiety. I’ve dealt with a lot over the past few months, so I finally went in to get some help. The doc prescribed 37.5 mg since I asked for the lowest dose. I used to take sertraline (Zoloft), so I know how sensitive my system can be. This was literally the scariest health experience I’ve ever had. I took it at 3:30 pm, started out well, went to bed at 10, and woke up at 3 am with the worst headache, vertigo, nausea, shakes, and weird tingling all over my body. I couldn’t eat all day (gagging at the thought of food), sweating and not being able to do ANYTHING but lay down next to my baby. This was a terrible experience for me. I almost called the ambulance since I thought I might be dying. I felt like I had poisoned myself. I called my doc, and she prescribed a different med, but after last night, I think I’ll pass. No medicine is worth taking with those kinds of side effects. Please be careful with this medicine."

• Que...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 4, 2020

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "The most awful drug I have ever been on, currently weaning myself off slowly as the withdrawals are the worst! This medication gave me horrendous night terrors, sweating, depression got worse, and weight gain to mention but a few! If I knew then what I know now, I would have NEVER taken them! Stay away!!"

• Tou...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 6, 2017

For Anxiety "I have tried quite a few antidepressants (fluoxetine, citalopram, trazodone, quetiapine, amitriptyline), but they all seemed to have side effects that I couldn't handle. I was prescribed venlafaxine XL 75 mg twice a day. The start was pretty intense. I suffered clenched jaw, constant yawning, and excessive sweating, however, I kept taking them for a month, and the side effects slowed right down. I think the worst side effect long term is insomnia. Forget having a cat nap in the afternoon because you'll pay the price at night. The good points are that my life is actually feeling normal. My anxiety has gotten fewer and fewer to not having any. I can face the world, and I can smile again. This drug has probably saved my life. I'm me again ☺️"

• fra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 17, 2020

For Depression "I used venlafaxine for more than a year to treat severe depression. Mostly I used 150 mg. Tried 375 mg for 3 months, but was so tired with low mood, decreasing the dosage helped me. It reduced my depression symptoms. I started to feel stable, okay, without thinking of suicide every day after 6 months of taking venlafaxine. But it made my emotions flat and got rid of motivation, so it was hard to push myself to do daily activities. Also, I had excessive sweating, my clothes were completely wet after even a short walk."

• Dep...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 6, 2017

Venlafaxine for Depression "This medication was by far the worst antidepressant I have taken. The first month I seemed to do very well on it, after a year on it, I hit rock bottom mentally. It caused more terrible symptoms than what was beneficial to me. I had weird brain zaps that left me in bed for days, sleep disturbances, attention-seeking behavior, as well as OCD that I had never experienced previously. It took forever to get off this terrible drug, and I call it a terrible drug because your brain and body get physically addicted the way a street drug would. You miss one day, and you start having severe withdrawals, sweats, extreme brain zaps, feeling out of touch with reality, and strange thoughts. After a month of being off Effexor, all of the bad stuff stopped."

• Adr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "My psychiatrist prescribed this medication (venlafaxine) because my other medication was not working. The first couple of days I had major hot flashes. I kept sweating for no apparent reason. I felt more anxious and depressed than usual. It lasted about 2-3 weeks with those kinds of side effects, also, I couldn't sleep, so I started taking melatonin. This is my third month on venlafaxine, and I'm good and stable. I sleep 7-8 hours, I feel more energized, but yet in order to sleep, I must take my melatonin still, which kind of upsets me. But I feel much better now. I recommend this to people who have major depression or major anxiety. My anxiety used to reach the level of me throwing up every time before going into work or school, which now I don't."

• Joy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 26, 2021

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I was prescribed Effexor after taking Prozac for anxiety and depression. Prozac made me more suicidal and depressed, hence why I switched. Effexor 30 mg is by far the worst medicine I have ever taken. I had terrible night terrors, I sweated a lot for no reason, I sleepwalked a lot, I was angry all the time for no reason, no sex drive, and when I did have sex, I could never enjoy it to completion. This medicine made me feel crazy. I'd give it a negative 10 if I could. I ended up back in the mental hospital, and the doctor suggested I take more!! I completely stopped taking it one day cold turkey, and I am finally back to feeling myself. Avoid at all costs!!"

• Pur...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 20, 2017

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I have fibromyalgia, and the doctors also diagnosed major depressive disorder. After a few attempts, I was prescribed Effexor, but I was never warned of the side effects or the horrible withdrawal symptoms if you ever want to stop. Research it first, I wish I had. I could not get my prescription for 4 days once, and I felt like a drug addict, throwing up, sweating, headache, chest pains. It was severe. I think dying would have been a welcome option at one point. All because I had not realized I was out of refills. Anything that severe is not safe for your body. Now, I am stuck on a medication that has made me feel worse until I can slowly wean off that, it may take a year plus because it impacts your entire body when you cut back slightly."

• liv...
• May 3, 2010

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have depression, anxiety, and major back and neck pain, as well as many other problems. I was looking for an antidepressant that works, as well as something to help with my frequent sleep paralysis. Fortunately, I found one that works. Effexor XR helps tremendously with the nighttime attacks. Unfortunately, when starting (lowest dose), I had major headaches and nausea for the first two days. I also sweat a lot in general and made symptoms of sweating much worse, as well as feeling hot all the time. The benefits of stopping the sleep paralysis outweigh any other side effects. So for me, I'm sticking to it since I finally can sleep better. I hear getting off of it is awful, so do so carefully! When I stopped for two days, it was just like I started: nausea and major headaches, weird."

• mcp...
• November 24, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I had been on Cipralex (Lexapro) for about a year when I noticed I was feeling too tired all the time for my liking. I asked about SNRIs because they tend to give more 'energy.' I got switched to Effexor and didn't have a good experience at all. I couldn't stop thinking about terrible things, I had bad anxiety, excessive sweating at night, and my heart would race too much too often. I had to get off after 9 weeks because it was not working for me at all. It made me really appreciate the escitalopram I was taking before. Clearly, different antidepressants work differently for others. I'm just sharing my own experience. Some may do really well on Effexor, unfortunately, I didn't."

• bls...
• June 9, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "I feel the need to write a review of this medication as I am currently experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms from missing one dose. There was a mix-up with a new insurance company, and I unfortunately had to miss yesterday's dose. I have never felt this way after missing one dose of a medication, and I have taken several different antidepressants over the last 10 years. I have the sweats, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and I have been crying uncontrollably all day. I did have benefits from taking this medication for the past three years, but I worry about continuing to take it any longer."

• KC8...
• May 14, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I am a 140 lb, 29-year-old woman. I was prescribed 150 mg of Venlafaxine XR. I only took it for 5 days due to the horrendous side effects. I experienced dry mouth, excessive sweating, blurred vision, constipation, and increased heart rate. I wasn't on it long enough to determine its effectiveness; I wasn't willing to deal with the side effects. My doctor switched me to Wellbutrin, and I have not experienced any withdrawal symptoms."

• Joh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 9, 2022

Venlafaxine for Depression "I have been on Effexor XR 150 mg for comorbid major depressive and panic disorder. It seemed to work well for a good while - was still depressed (I don't think full remission is possible in chronic depressives, it's just something you learn to live with. Had MDD melancholic type with suicidal thoughts and attempts for 20 years now. It sucks. Suicide is still always in the back of my mind and always will be from my experience. It waxes and wanes, whether on ADs or not. Without them, though, it's intolerable. I had previously been on Prozac 40 mg, but it stopped working, had a bad episode, and ended up in the psych ward where they switched me to Effexor. It helps in severe depression but has its side effects like blunted affect, lack of emotion both positive and negative, heavy sweating, weight gain, loss of libido (moderate to extreme - only in the mood about once or twice a month at best). The withdrawal is the main negative. The symptoms are terrible, am in the midst of it now. Using Prozac bridge."

• Nah...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2023

For Depression "37.5 mg to start for the first 2 weeks, then 75 mg going forward. First 3 days side effects: sweating, feeling slightly nauseous, no appetite, sleepy eyes, but harder to fall asleep at night, feeling of being high almost. After the 3 days, all side effects dissipated. Sense of calm. All negative thoughts and feelings were just passing thoughts."

• asp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2021

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "This medication did not work out well for me. I understand that these types of medications can affect people differently, but I wanted to share my experience. I took this medication for anxiety at 37.5 mg for 2 days, and that was enough for me. The first day was fine, the second day, I felt depersonalization and like what was happening around me was not real. That night, I went to bed at 10 p.m. and woke up 2 hours later having racing thoughts, and hallucinations, and hot flashes, and nausea. My heart was racing, I had a burning in my chest that radiated up to my underarms, and my body was shaking and sweating profusely. This was followed by chills and then a repeat of the same scenario with the hot flashes and racing thoughts/hallucinations. I thought I had been given LSD by mistake! I decided to stop taking the medication. Luckily, I did not have any withdrawal or negative side effects - only a minor headache."

• Sop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2016

For Depression "When the medicine I was on seemed to 'poop out,' I was put on Effexor XR. I researched this drug at length, and even though I was reluctant, I decided to give it a try. I took this med for 2 days and felt so spaced out and tired that I was not willing to keep going with this one. The discontinuation of it in itself is ridiculous. After only 2 days of taking this, within 24 hours I developed a migraine, sweating, and complete lethargy. 2 days of pills equaled a week of hell. I am no stranger to meds and have never written a review on one in my life, but I felt compelled to say that, in my opinion, this stuff is garbage. Really, really, do your research and talk at length with your primary care doc about this one. Trust your gut."

• Tee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 23, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was on venlafaxine for like 4 years to treat GAD. My anxiety was gone, and my confidence was up, however, I felt emotionally numb and experienced excessive sweating. I decided to discontinue the medication under the guidance of my doctor about 3 weeks ago to try something new, and the withdrawals were wild. My anxiety had come back with a vengeance, I cried 4 times in one day, felt completely helpless and hopeless. This continued for 3 days before it subsided. I started bupropion the following week, which gave me heart palpitations, and that made me nervous. My doctor told me to discontinue those after only 6 days because heart palpitations can be pretty serious if they don’t go away. I decided I wanted to go back on venlafaxine because the side effects were mild compared to how I feel right now. I’m 2 days into restarting venlafaxine, and I still have a ton of anxiety in the morning, but it always seems to go away after I take my venlafaxine in the afternoon. I hope I feel better soon."

• ano...
• February 17, 2014

For Panic Disorder "My first dose of 37.5 mg, I experienced a surge of adrenaline, dizziness, nausea, sweating, jitteriness, and shakiness. Symptoms started 2 hours after the dose, lasting about 2-4 hours. Each day, the symptoms lessened and disappeared quicker. I have only been on this for 2 weeks, but I do feel more optimistic and upbeat so far, despite the side effects."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 6, 2022

For Hot Flashes "I have been taking Effexor-XR 37.5 mg for the last 2 years and have made no difference to my hot flashes, which I have every hour of the day and night. I’m 63 and have been doing this for 12 years. I exercise daily, eat well, and weigh 74 kg, and I sweat constantly, to the stage I carry a towel with me to wipe myself down. Doctors don’t have an answer, thyroid is normal."

• clr...
• September 8, 2009

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was prescribed venlafaxine a year ago after a suicide attempt. After about four weeks on 150 mg once a day, I started to feel less miserable all the time and a bit more sociable. However, the side effects have affected my life quite a lot. I am now constantly getting sweaty, often feel restless (especially at night), and I have little to no sex drive. The side effects of skipping a pill (just one day) are also extremely drastic. Nausea, vomiting, crying, headaches, and my anxiety problems are exacerbated to the max. It is not helpful at all to my anxiety, I have been prescribed buspirone for that on top, as I am still having frequent panic attacks, etc."