Venlafaxine and Withdrawal: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• March 26, 2012

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "I've suffered from anxiety my whole life. I've been on and off so many different medicines I can't even count. At first, Effexor seemed like a heaven send. Recently, though, I've realized that if I merely skip a day or more, the withdrawals are indescribable. I shake constantly. I throw up. I sweat. I get headaches."

• 911...
• December 21, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I was given Effexor after Lexapro stopped helping me. I was on it approximately 1 year. But what I know now, that I wish I would have known then... the withdrawals are horrible! I am dizzy all the time, feel like the room is spinning. The pharmacist said this could last up to 3 months. I went off of it very slowly! I have been without it for about a month now. I have never been an addict of any kind, but I feel like one with this. I know that taking more will make these side effects go away, and I think about this pill all day, every day. Please research before you start this medication. I would not wish this on my worst enemy!"

• Tbh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 12, 2019

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "I took it for a few weeks and couldn’t come off, possibly the first time in my life I’d experienced real panic. You need to be aware that you may well be on this drug for the rest of your life, it is so incredibly addictive. Withdrawal is the worst."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2022

For Depression "I only took this drug for 14 days (37.5 mg). I started feeling like I was losing my mind. It was like my mind was racing, I couldn’t think straight. I was having panic attacks, and my anxiety was off the charts! I called my doctor on the 14th day, and she told me to stop taking it. The withdrawals have been unbelievable! I have not felt suicidal, but I would not wish this on anyone! I still can’t sit and watch TV, look on my iPad, or my phone, can’t sit still for any period of time, crying spells, no appetite, no desire to go anywhere or do anything because of the way I feel after being on this drug. My panic attacks and anxiety are still horrible, I’m just praying this medication will be out of my body soon. Doctors should do their homework on this drug, and they should tell their patients about the side effects and the beyond awful side effects of withdrawal from this drug! I’m so glad I only took this drug for 14 days!"

• Ali...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 3, 2021

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been on Effexor XR for 6 years. I started it after a severe episode of rumination and anxiety. Began to help in some ways almost immediately. Slowly, I've tapered my dose down from 150 mg to just 37.5 mg (gone up and down some in between through the years). This small amount still makes a significant difference in my anxiety and has caused a big improvement in my overall outlook on life. It is an extremely difficult drug to taper off of. As someone who works in medicine, I wish they would educate healthcare professionals about how crazy the withdrawal can be from drugs like this."

• Pol...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 25, 2016

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I've been taking venlafaxine 150 mg XR for nearly 3 years, along with an antipsychotic to treat bipolar 2. Having tried all kinds of antidepressants, this is the one that's worked for me. The downside is the withdrawal symptoms should you miss a dose, but these go away as soon as you take it again. Dizzy spells/feeling drunk is the only way I can describe them. It has a short half-life of 7 hrs, which indicates that they have these symptoms. I've had no side effects and would recommend venlafaxine over other antidepressants, including citalopram and mirtazapine."

• Nel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2016

Venlafaxine for Panic Disorder "GP recommended Effexor 7 months ago when I was going through some extremely stressful life events. The Seroxat I was on for GAD for the previous 17 years was no longer effective, and now I had become depressed. Effexor 37.5 mg worked well at first, was upped to 70 mg. Benefits: Immediately made me feel less depressed (hooray - no more tears), no panic attacks at all, able to sleep all night. Costs: Felt like a zombie, lost my spark, didn't feel present when talking to people (the lights were on but no one was in), not bothered about anything including if I upset someone; more aggressive verbally (usually a very placid person), withdrawn (usually a very social person). Withdrawal if missed dose was torture. Currently tapering off it."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 21, 2018

Venlafaxine for Depression "Yeah, Effexor is all great and all until you want to come off of it. Then the withdrawals literally feel like you’re dying. I have been slowly coming off of it for a couple of months, and every day is a struggle because the withdrawals are so severe. This shocked me because I was only on this stuff for like 8 months. If you go on it, just expect to stay on it for life because getting off of it is pure torture!!!"

• Jen...
• May 31, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "Started Effexor after other antidepressants gave me too many side effects. I'm four months in now, and so far it has been great. I do have times where I'm very sleepy, have vivid dreams, and some weight gain, but those are minor to me compared to how miserable I was before. Sexually, it's been helpful as I'm not on edge all the time and can relax easier. It's up to the individual to decide what side effects are deal breakers. I have accidentally missed a dose here and there but haven't experienced any of the withdrawals that others have."

• Mil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2016

Venlafaxine for Anxiety "So here is my experience with Effexor, I hope it helps you make an informed decision. I started taking it two months ago as a change from the Citalopram I have been on for over 5 years. I suffer from anxiety. The first three weeks, improvement in my mood, better temper control also. Week three, the insomnia kicked in and strange urges to have to get up and move around. Week four, serious shortness of breath on exertion, ringing ears, lip numbness, and malaise. Turns out I was allergic to it! Doc took me off it immediately, then the withdrawal began. Oh my G*#. The worst experience of my life. Paranoia, hallucinations, panic attacks (my first ever), breathing trouble, the list goes on. If you research the withdrawal, it's not worth it!"

• Kat...
• October 13, 2015

Venlafaxine for Depression "I am now in the final phases of weaning off Effexor. When I started this drug, I thought it was amazing, it was a miracle drug. I wasn't having my usual major mood swings, and panic attacks were less, but as the weeks went on, it was less and less effective. I missed a pill once and made sure that I never did again because of the immediate withdrawal. I had felt worse than I ever had before. About 4 months into taking this drug, I started to experience side effects, and oh man, are they awful! I mistook the side effects and thought increasing the dose would fix the issue, but nope, it just increased the severity. So now I am in the final stages of discontinuing Effexor, and I feel awful. I wouldn't advise not taking the drug, as it works great for some."

• Anonymous
• October 18, 2009

Venlafaxine for Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Effexor XR for approximately 7 years now. I was started off at 75 mg and have since been raised to 225 mg over the years. I have had good results on this medication. One downfall is the terrible withdrawals that I experience if I miss a dose. These effects happen within the first couple of hours of not taking it. Terrible headache, foggy feeling, and extreme eye sensitivity. Within a day of a skipped dose, I become agitated, argumentative, and defiant. I do not look forward to switching from this medicine to a different one, which my doctor has suggested, due to the withdrawal symptoms."

• Sol...
• July 10, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Effexor for twelve years, and it's been very effective until just recently. (I think my body has grown too used to it.) When it was still able to affect me, it was super useful. The bad part is that you'll suffer from withdrawal symptoms if you don't take it for over 24 hours. I ran out in college for FIVE DAYS (I lived in one city, and my psychiatrist was in another), and I was miserable - chills, weird dreams, everything. Never let it run out and never forget to take it. Otherwise, it's a good medicine."

• Kan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 22, 2020

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "The best ad for my depression. Only thing was that it made me a little bit numb, and I didn’t have many emotions. But otherwise, my suicidal thoughts were gone. Also helped a lot with my insomnia, although I had strange dreams quite often. Have tried taking other antidepressants, I think I have tried every SSRI and SNRI, but Effexor was the only one that didn't give me intolerable side effects. I CANNOT tolerate any other medication. Didn’t work well with my social anxiety and GAD, but helped a lot with my depression. The withdrawal was so bad, though, I struggled for almost a year to get off of this medication, and now I have to get back on it."

• sug...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 30, 2021

Venlafaxine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "At first, I was on the fence about starting this drug after reading the reviews, but I started it anyway. Biggest mistake ever! Brain zaps, nausea, feeling of floating, tremors, shakiness, agitation, mood changes, and I feel like I’m losing my mind! I’ve been trying to get off this drug for 4 months, and I can’t because of the awful withdrawal symptoms. I remember reading that I will probably have to open the capsule and taper down on the little beads inside to wean off this awfulness. Totally not worth the trouble, and I can’t wait to feel normal again! Please take this post as a sign and don’t start this medicine!"

• Ker...
• September 20, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been on this medication for a while now, it was originally just for my chronic migraines, but it never ended up working for my migraines. However, I've had a history of anxiety, and Effexor seemed to solve my anxiety problems, so my doctors have kept me on it all this time. I've noticed if I go even a little over 24 hours since I've taken my last dosage, my anxiety comes back worse than ever, and I constantly throw up due to withdrawal... and that's only a day of not taking it!!"

• Duh...
• October 16, 2015

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I took 200 mg of amitriptyline for 40 years for clinical depression. I decided to find a safer medication with fewer side effects. I started Effexor and was weaned off amitriptyline at the same time. Within 2 days, my depression lifted, repetitive/unwanted thoughts discontinued. Down to 50 mg of amitriptyline and at 75 mg of Effexor. It's working amazingly well and amitriptyline withdrawal is minimal."

• cd8...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2016

Venlafaxine for Depression "Horrific side effects and incredibly difficult to wean off of as well because of the withdrawal symptoms. When I first started taking it, I felt some relief, but it didn't last very long. I'd taken Lexapro and Zoloft in the past and felt that, over time, they were no longer helpful in treating my depression, which is why my doctor put me on Effexor. It took me a while to realize this medication was worsening my depression symptoms, and I didn't realize it until after a botched suicide attempt. I don't recommend this medication to anyone for any reason. Worst of the worst as far as I'm concerned. It'll trick your brain for a little while into thinking you're improving, but the depression and anxiety will come back and hit you ten times worse!"

• Car...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 11, 2022

Venlafaxine for Depression "Despite studies that say Effexor does not contribute to car crashes, it does. Ask those who have had near crashes or actual accidents from not only Effexor but especially withdrawal from Effexor. Effexor withdrawal would definitely cause driving problems. Try to decrease withdrawal effects from Effexor safely through consulting with your physician. Effexor withdrawal can be dangerous."

• Dep...
• February 22, 2016

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I wish somebody had told me how addictive this drug is before I started taking it. Had I known how bad the withdrawal symptoms were, I probably would never have gone on it. (Although that might be a good thing, as I need(ed) to be on it.) It has definitely helped. The worst thing is having to take it...literally. It's a full-out physical addiction. If we go somewhere and it doesn't get packed, I'm in trouble. It's not something to be taken for short-term or seasonally. Other than the withdrawals, the main side effect is sweating. I shower every morning, and by mid-afternoon, I have to put Kleenexes or some sort of absorbing pad in my armpits! In the past 17 years, I've also been on Paxil, Celexa, Prozac, Lexapro, and one other."

• wan...
• September 6, 2016

Venlafaxine for Major Depressive Disorder "I've been taking Effexor XR 37.5 mg for 8 days, and the worse side effects are horrible fatigue and sweats. The first day I was light-headed, but that went away. I skipped today to see if I got withdrawal symptoms, and I did. Tomorrow I will go back on it. If the chronic fatigue continues, I will have to figure out which med to try next. For my depression to subside, I would probably need a higher dosage, but I don't think I could handle the side effects. I know for some people it works well at 150 mg, but I could never tolerate that dose."

• gre...
• September 7, 2011

Venlafaxine for Depression "I don't usually write reviews, but I feel obliged to do so for this one. In many ways, Effexor helped with my clinical depression and gave me a boost of energy that I otherwise didn't get with typical SSRIs. On the other hand, within 2-3 weeks of taking it, I felt a sudden energy boost where I felt like I could do a million things at once. Before, I could never wake up in the morning and felt groggy, and then all of a sudden, I was up at 5:00 a.m. to do yoga 5 days a week. This pattern of hyperactivity continued for on end, until finally, I flipped out and became suicidal. At this time, I was on 200 mg of Effexor and could simply not function without it. After the terrible withdrawal of weaning off, I finally feel relaxed."

• Aht...
• March 25, 2012

Venlafaxine for Depression "My experience with Effexor was so bad. The withdrawal was a nightmare, and being on Effexor made me like a zombie. I was not sad, but I wasn't happy either. Six years later, I'm completely happy and antidepressant-free."

• Sid...
• February 19, 2021

Venlafaxine for Depression "I took this years ago and checked my journal when a friend mentioned she was starting it and that she was feeling dizzy, to see if this was the one that gave me withdrawals. It was. When I decided to stop taking it, it was a nightmare. The brain zaps were unexpected and scary. I felt so sick. After my doctor at the time told me there was no withdrawal and to just take more instead of less. I was done and decided to find a way to get it out of my system. I had to go to two more new doctors before I found one who believed me and was willing to help me get off of it. The way we did it was switching to Prozac and tapering off of that because it has a much longer half-life. It was still bad but not as horrible as coming off Effexor. I feel like it took a couple of years after getting off of antidepressants before I started feeling somewhat normal after being on different ones for over 10 years. Stay away."

• emb...
• November 14, 2009

Venlafaxine for Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Effexor XR for almost a decade. The withdrawal symptoms have prevented me from stopping it. Every attempt in the past to change/stop the medicine has landed me in the hospital. I am now taking the generic due to the cost, I can't see any difference. I consider it my happy pill and have to take it every day, or I experience uncomfortable side effects."