Venlafaxine and Withdrawal: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Blu...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 1, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Having suffered from chronic low mood for years, I was prescribed Venlafaxine (Effexor) by a psychiatrist in the UK. Initially 225 mg, but didn't find that much of a change. Then on 300 mg, I suddenly felt better. That was over 10 years ago. I am now 45 years old and have had no further periods of depression since and have continued taking it. That is despite being almost permanently depressed before taking it. Yes, I have low moods now occasionally, but they are due to situational stress and a normal reaction to rubbish things happening. And I have not suffered from any major side effects, certainly nothing that would stop me from taking it. Night sweats are probably the worst. And I do suffer from withdrawals if I forget to take the medication for 24 hrs. Overall, a very positive and life-changing drug. Btw, I also have done CBT and self-help alongside taking medication, which has helped, but the drug definitely made the main difference."

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2020

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I’ve had a real go with anxiety since I was 12. I thought everyone felt like me. I wish I would have known there was help back then, but at that age, you cannot explain it to someone. So, since 5 months ago, I started 37.5 mg Effexor XR and now I’m up to 75 mg. I find I don’t worry as much, and when I’m in a social situation, I’m not as stressed. I read horror stories about withdrawal that make me a bit nervous, but I’ve also been told by my doctor that Prozac helps with the withdrawal if you want to come off it. Apparently, it has a very long half-life. I will report back on how 75 mg is helping. Take care."

• ind...
• October 24, 2011

For Hot Flashes "I was having extreme hot flashes and started taking Effexor 75 mg, and it almost immediately stopped 95% of them. I am up to 150 mg per day now, and the only issue I have with the medication is the horrible withdrawal symptoms. I was without insurance for a month, and within 2 days of not taking it, I was at the hospital with what I thought was the flu. My Doctor had warned me not to stop cold turkey, but I had no idea it would be that severe. But if you take as directed and discontinue with your Doctor's help, there should be no problem. The pros definitely outweigh the cons."

• Anonymous
• September 22, 2008

For Depression "I was on Effexor XR for 8 years and I recently went off. I gave the drug 8 out of 10 because overall my anxiety and depression were greatly improved. I didn't have any sexual side effects and only felt dizzy when I did not take the medication at exactly the same time every night. I did lose a lot of my energy and was prescribed Wellbutrin to help out with that. However, the withdrawal, as others have mentioned, is terrible. My doctor prescribed a low dose of Prozac (20mg) to ease the withdrawal, and it really helped. If you are going off Effexor, do it with Prozac. I tried without it twice before, and it was such a horrible experience that I went right back on."

• Wan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 2, 2019

For Depression "Effexor ruined my life. After 3 years, I am in complete agony. Pain all over, and it stopped working. I tried to switch to another drug, and the withdrawals are much worse than heroin. My body is crunching all over. Haven't slept in months. Can't use my brain. Stay away from this!!! I can't work, I am on my own and will be homeless soon! The withdrawals are unbearable! Doctors' tapering is wrong!"

• her...
• September 8, 2007

For Depression "My girlfriend has been on Effexor XR for almost seven years now. We just found out two weeks ago she is pregnant. The doctor told her to lower doses from the 300mg she has been on to 150mg, then three days later drop to 75mg, then three days to 37.5mg, then you're done. The doctor said that there might not even be any withdrawals if it is done this way. I wouldn't wish these bad withdrawals on anyone."

• Bug...
• March 15, 2016

For Anxiety "I have very bad anxiety, moderate panic attacks, and horrible night terrors. I just couldn't take it anymore. This was the first medication I tried. It has helped me so much, I can't even explain it to you. Yes, I still have anxiety, but it is mild now. I almost never have nightmares anymore. As soon as I miss a dose, I get lightheaded, dizzy, and feel like crap. It has very bad withdrawals. I have almost no side effects. This medicine has been great for me. I've been on it for almost a year. I am at 150 mg."

• Ano...
• September 20, 2019

For Depression "I was on apparently the lowest dose of 37.5 mg for anxiety, and I had the worst experience of my life. I had severe gut pains every day and felt hypoglycemic all the time. I thought my liver was going to give out, it hurt so much. I was not myself. I was more anxious and depressed on the meds than I was off them. I couldn’t take it anymore and took myself off. Quitting cold turkey probably wasn't the best idea, but make sure you go to your doctor to get tapered off properly first to avoid major withdrawal symptoms. I do not recommend this medication, it’s not worth the risk."

• jdo...
• June 24, 2013

For Depression "Effexor might have saved my life because at the time I was given it, I had damn near given up hope. Paxil and Zoloft did nothing. Depakote attacked my liver. Lexapro made me numb. Then Effexor was given to me. Two weeks after taking it, I felt better. Four weeks later, I was back doing things again. Within a year, I had all my interests and hobbies back. Cons: 1. Withdrawal is terrible. When I miss a dose, I feel it. Neck pain. Headache. 2. I've found that I had to increase the dose after two years of usage. Seventy-five mg three times a day holds me. 3. Not really a con, but when more stress than usual, I relapse for a few days with depression, but it goes back to normal if you increase the dose for a while."

• Dis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 28, 2012

For Anxiety "I have been on this medication for over 15 years. I can tell you that this is the absolute best medication for panic attacks. The problem is that I never had any panic attacks until I quit taking the pill after a year of use. I was prescribed this when I was 18 after being hospitalized as a result of several traumatic events. I started on 32 mg and eventually was bumped up to 150 mg and then 225 mg. I weaned off and survived the withdrawals and felt amazing. Seriously, it felt like the best moment of my life, but about a year after I stopped taking it, the depression came back twice as bad."

• Plu...
• October 22, 2016

For Depression "I am extremely disheartened in reading the negative reviews. I have taken Effexor since 1993. I began taking 37.5 mg and later lived for one year in a private psychiatric hospital for a suicide attempt. My psychiatrist, then the President of the American Psychiatric Association, increased my dose to 600 mg per day. This miracle drug kept and still keeps me alive some 23 years later. I have experimented with not taking this or any medication. I never presented with any withdrawal symptoms. However, like clockwork, on the 3rd day w/o it, I begin to cry tears over nothing. By the 4th day, I find myself in the midst of severe depression. Within an hour of beginning my regimen again, I am back to my normal. Do not be afraid to try this medication."

• Ano...
• March 23, 2013

For Depression "I have been on Effexor for about 6 months now. I was prescribed it for anxiety and social anxiety. My social anxiety is basically gone. I still get a little bit of anxiety but it is way better than it used to be. However, if I forget to take it, I get very bad withdrawal symptoms. But, I consider it worth it."

• mag...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 10, 2023

For Anxiety and Stress "Initially, 20 years ago, Effexor XR pulled me out of despair and intrusive thoughts. Twenty years on, and for some time before I realized, I have had no motivation or energy while on this drug. I have tried to come off it with my doctor monitoring me, but the withdrawals are so debilitating that I had to go back on them each time. They have sucked the life out of me. While I am not depressed, I have no energy, no motivation, and I don't enjoy life fully or love fully. I am a completely different person now. I used to be full of life, energetic, and on top of my daily chores, but now I have trouble getting out of bed. I've dealt with all my issues through counseling, and they don't bother me anymore, but the tablets have taken a lot from me. I am determined to get off them, even if it means going through severe withdrawal to get my life back."

• Ell...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 17, 2024

For Anxiety "It does work extremely well. I take it two times a day (150mg in the morning and 75mg in the afternoon). I also take it with 75mg of Buspar. This medication works so well but if you miss a dose even by 5+ hours, you get physical withdrawals. And it gets worse from there. While it works, withdrawals are horrible and quick to set in. So be very cautious. Best thing, don’t start this medicine unless it’s your last option. I’ll be on it for the rest of my life, mainly because it works but also because the withdrawals are so incredibly bad."

• Gio...
• September 15, 2010

For Anxiety "I took Effexor for 10 years and found it highly effective controlling anxiety/panic attacks. After deciding to stop (with Doctor's approval), I reduced my dosage gradually, and am discontinuing it. Withdrawal has been rough - like the worst hangover - and I'm into the 5th day but getting better. However, my mood is still good compared to 10 years ago, and I would like to be medication-free. Effexor allowed me to control my anxiety/moods through some tough times and through it, I learned new ways to deal with such. I highly recommend it."

• Lel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 19, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "Effexor has got to be the worst of the worst to try to come off of. I am still trying to come off this completely after taking 225 mg daily for 3 years. I still cannot get through the withdrawal symptoms, they are horrific. If anyone has any suggestions on how to help, please let me know."

• Sue...
• October 1, 2014

For Depression "I have been taking the generic, venlafaxine for about 6 years. My doctor settled on 75 mg once daily, as increasing the dosage makes my hands tremble. It is not nearly as effective as it once was. Withdrawals for this medication are hellish. I ran out of pills on a few occasions and felt like I was losing my mind. I really would like to slowly taper off and eventually be free of this medicine."

• Jim...
• September 7, 2015

For Major Depressive Disorder "Started at 75, then gradually increased to 300 mg over the course of about a year. Has worked so well for me. 300 mg is optimal for me. If I drop below that, my symptoms return within a few days. It has horrible withdrawal effects, though: nausea, headache, dizziness, weakness. It's worth it to me, though. I can think clearly, focus on work, not irritated, not depressed, or having horrible thoughts on repeat all day. Have not had thoughts of harming myself since I've been on it. Also, I have social anxiety. Now I can go places without fear and heart pounding. I've tried Paxil and Wellbutrin, but this is it for me. Hope this helped."

• jay...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 19, 2017

For Depression "I've been on Effexor for about 2 years. It's changed my life completely. Before I went to rehab and before I was on it, I couldn't get out of bed for days at a time. It gives me energy and motivation! However, the withdrawal symptoms are horrific. If I miss a dose, I get severe headaches. I feel like there are fireworks going off in my head. Last year, I had to go to the ER because I couldn't breathe or stop shaking after 3 weeks of cutting it cold turkey (due to an insurance error). This is definitely not the drug for people who regularly miss doses or have problems with addiction pills. It's not for everyone, but works great for me."

• Anonymous
• July 17, 2019

For Depression "I have finally had the courage to go through withdrawal symptoms, agitation. Headaches, nausea, electric shock in my head. I am free of this drug, and for the first time in years, I feel like a human being. I am alert and feel a range of emotions. I was feeling nothing, numb for many years. This drug should be taken with great caution. I feel it is dangerous."

• Sha...
• April 19, 2018

For Depression "I have taken Effexor XR for almost 5 years. I was diagnosed with severe PTSD, depression, and anxiety. I take 150 mg in the morning. I don’t forget to take it because if I don’t take it in the morning, I start having withdrawal symptoms by 4 p.m. My lips get numb, and vertigo starts. The longer I wait, the worse it gets. I really had to discipline myself to take it routinely because forgetting enough times is hell, so generally, I never miss a dose. However, a few times a year it happens, and I remember. Overall, it’s the first drug I’ve stayed on because if I forget, it reminds me with the withdrawal symptoms. Generally, I feel very happy and able to deal with life. I’ve put my life back together after my trauma and feel empowered. I’ve set some great future goals and a timeline. There is nothing I can’t work at."

• kev...
• April 13, 2015

For Anxiety "You have to keep taking this medicine forever. The withdrawal is awful after a day. However, once you find your dose, everything is fine. I don't recommend this medicine because it's like a marriage with a messy, long divorce. It's better to stay on it once you're on it. I am on 150 mg, and it works for me. Don't try and go off."

• Bet...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 3, 2019

For Depression "I have been on 300 mg for the past 5 years. I cannot handle the withdrawal symptoms, as the feeling of being completely disconnected from reality is too intense, let alone the nausea, etc. I'm 25 and worry that this will eventually do irreversible damage. The side effects are not worth it for me, but again, I cannot stop taking it even though I want to."

• And...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 25, 2019

For Anxiety "I started taking Effexor 75 mg for my anxiety at 22 years old when Lexapro and Prozac were no longer working for me. I immediately felt relief after I started taking it. I am very bad at taking it at the same time every day/remembering to take it every single day and have experienced some of the most horrendous withdrawal symptoms. I start to notice it about 6-7 hours after a missed dose. I’ll start to feel off balance, headache, fatigue, flu-like feeling, vomiting, etc. This drug is amazing if you remember to take it, but it is definitely something you need to be on long-term. Highly addictive and horrible withdrawal symptoms."

• Kay...
• September 23, 2014

For Depression "Was so excited to try Effexor XL and did for the past 6 years. Well, I didn't realize that it made me anhedonia, or without feeling towards a lot of things. I just went on my merry way, but would do nothing... sat and watched TV, couldn't get anything done. Everything was just great!... that is what I thought... then I started gaining weight... gradually, but I mean 60-70# over the past 6 years or so... but just kept on eating. Then I thought I have to do something about this. I gradually took myself off, but wow the side effects of the withdrawal was unbelievable. My son told me never to do that again... and I told him see... this medication has so changed me... and I will never take that again...! Trying to lose this weight now."