EFFEXOR Reviews (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 3.0 (925 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare EFFEXOR with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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More on EFFEXOR: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR EFFEXOR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | Menopausal Hot/Cold Flashes | No sex drive and a lack of sensation in the genital area, the worst GERD, higher blood pressure, higher cholesterol (in a person who previously had a average bp 90/70), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and poor bowel movement because the anal sphincter becomes impaired on Effexor. Emotions: Inability to cry, just numb and slightly pissed. | I was initially prescribed 37.5mg. The hot/cold flashes were reduced by 75% in the 1st 2 weeks. After 6 mos, not so much. Needed 75mg to maintain. After 18 months I was feeling really good, too good to be true. Then I couldn't stay sleeping at night, my hands started to shake often, suddenly my health stats started to decline (ie:blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar) sweating profusely all of the time but not feeling hot. The hot/cold flashes that I experienced were far worse then any of these symptoms. If they return I will take Effexor again. Until these side effects appear again. Effexor gave me energy to get out of bed and take better care of myself without those awful hot/cold flashes. However, detoxing/tapering/titrating from Effexor is challenging. I am currently detoxing alone taking 1 every other day for 1 week, than every 50 hours, 55 hours, etc. until I am done. Will do it over a course of 2-3 months to minimize side effects. So far, brain zaps, dizziness, slight nausea; which are distracting but not more than awful hot/cold flashes. | F | 56 | 2 years 75mg | 6/8/2021 | 5 | Panic Disorder/Depression/OCD | Sleepiness, Memory problems, word finding problems, and waking up the next day is very hard, grogginess for at least first 2-3 hours...Does a number to slow your mind up... | Side Effects aside this is my go to drug. Has been for 15 years from 50 mg to 100 mg. The drug always helps anxiety/depression for me. | M | 36 | 15 years 50-100 Mg 1X day | 11/9/2018 Patient History | 5 | Depression/anxiety | Slight weight gain but no where near as much as other meds. No other side effects at 75 mg or less. At higher doses it makes me tired. At really high doses I sweat and feel exhausted. | I have been on this medication at various doses for 15 years. It’s the best medication I have found by far for depression and anxiety. The side effects are very manageable at 75 mg or less and the benefit is great. Before I found this medication all I did was worry and cry and I was miserable most of the time. Since beginning it 15 years ago, my life has changed for the better in a thousand ways. For those just starting this medication, the initial side effects do go away after a week. In the first few days you might feel sleepy but it goes away. Also people complain that it’s a hard medication to get off from but I have been off it several times for pregnancy. If you take Benadryl when getting off it it’s really not that bad. | F | 43 | 15 years Varies | 2/25/2018 | 5 | Major depression | Drowsiness Excessive yawning | Some of these reviews would have frightened me out of taking Effexor, but I have truly done very well on it. The only problem is if I take it on an empty stomach, I can feel somewhat sedated and drowsy. I began taking this medication at night after dinner, but I found this routine to keep me wide awake at night and knocked out cold during the daytime, so I reversed to taking it in the morning after breakfast and it totally fixed that problem. Effexor has honestly given me my life back and brought me up from the depths of dark, chronic depression. I am much more productive in my daily life and feel like myself again. | F | 19 | 1 years 150 MG | 3/15/2017 | 5 | Depression | Nausea for 2 weeks only couple of hours though | After trying 6 different antidepressants over the course of one year. And living the worst year of my life, I was very reluctant to try it due to the withdrawal symptoms. I was ready to get treatment with ECT. I even had spoken to the doctors and was almost all set to start ECT. I could not handle the depression anymore. However,I started taking effexor and after two weeks I felt like myself again. I never had depression before in my life. I was very scared to try. I had a very bad experiences with the other anti depressants and after reading so many horror stories about antidepressants I was scared. But like I said, I am happy to be myself again and my family is glad to have me back. I hope that everyone who gets treatment will have the same experience that I did with Effexor | F | 50 | 3 months 37.5 | 4/28/2016 | 5 | gad sad | Disturbing dreams, rapid 20lb weight loss | It's lifechanging. Far better than xanax. I can't imagine living without it | F | 43 | 5 months 225 mg | 7/12/2015 | 5 | Depression | F | 14 | 2 days 150mg | 7/9/2015 | 5 | Severe anxiety | Nausea, loss of appetite ,dizzy blurred vision ,light halos | Completely killed my appetite, I've lost almost 20 pounds since starting. The nausea is almost every morning and while I'm forcing food down. I used to exercise everyday, lift weights, run for 5 miles but I've lost all my energy during the day. At night I have this burst of energy that keeps me up most of the night. I avoid driving at night since I see light halos that blind me. But other than that Id recommend this to anyone. I had a horrible experience with Zoloft and sticking to this one for as long as I feel I need it. | F | 19 | 3 weeks 37.5 MG | 6/7/2015 | 5 | Post natal depression | Weight gain . Low sex drive . Teeth grinding . Restless legs | F | 27 | 6 days 150mg | 5/13/2015 | 5 | Major depression, anxiety, suicidal | Dry mouth | I took Prozac for 17 years and then it stopped working. Dr. put me on Zoloft and it did not work for me. Started taking Effexor at 35 mg. once a day which did nothing, gradually over a period of 6 months, my dosage was increased to 225mg. daily, which works for me. Now I feel normal most of the time. Friends have commented that I am back to being myself again. I also want to say that when you are so depressed that you cannot function, achieving an orgasm is not a major priority in your life. | F | 62 | 1 years 225mg | 3/12/2015 | 5 | Depression/Anxiety | Zero. This is the only antidepressant, besides Pristiq, that doesn't give me side effects. | Awesome drug. I am SO thankful for it! I think Pristiq is slightly better, but Effexor is more affordable. I'm very fond of it. | F | 38 | 1 years 75 | 12/16/2014 | 5 | Depression, anxiety | At the very beginning, I did experience an inability to have an orgasm. That lasted a few weeks. My brain feels very hot and full at times and sometimes I get a sensation in my brain like a distant thunder rumble, curious but not painful or alarming. I don't think they're related to brain zaps. I have a decreased craving for sugar. | Effexor saved my life! I've been chronically depressed since early childhood, so I had no personal frame of reference about how other people experience life. I had been on Zoloft and Prozac a long time ago with no effect, I learned how things I had accepted as immutable are actually optional. I would recommend Effexor if you haven't had luck with other antidepressants. | F | 39 | 5 months 150 1X day | 11/6/2014 | 5 | bipolar2 depression | Slight nausea. | F | 64 | 8 days 225mg 1X day | 5/11/2014 | 5 | Slight Headache, Dizziness, Loss of Appetite, Insomnia | I was afraid of taking Effexor at first but am now glad I took it. I feel normal. Not drugged out. You have to give this med a month and a half to really work. I love it and hope it doesn't quit on me like all the rest did. | F | 57 | 6 months 37.5 mg 2X day | 2/11/2014 | 5 | Depression and GAD (Anxiety) | Long-term side effects; virtually none with the exception of over-sleeping in the morning and not getting tired in the evening. Short-term; nausea, fast-heart-rate, nightmares, erectile dysfunction and anorgasmia (first few weeks). Diarrhoea and difficulty achieving orgasm (first month or so). | Brilliant for depression. Started out on 37.5mg for the first week or so, then went to the full 75mg and have stayed there since. Switched to the extended release a few weeks in to relieve nausea. Touch-wood, never had anything so effective for my depression. I think a lot of people are started out too high on this drug and end up with nasty side effects followed by an unpleasant time tapering down. | M | 22 | 6 months 75mg XR 1X day | 1/16/2014 | 5 | depression & anxiety | not as hungry | works great for me | F | 3 years 1X day | 3/24/2013 | 5 | anxiety and depression | no side effects | within a day or two, i felt grounded, my anxiety let up and I could think clearly, it also helped with the physical symptoms of anxiety such as racing thoughts, upset stomach. I am much more calm. Have to say that I also take ativan to compliment the Effexor. So far no complaints | F | 51 | 10 days 75mg 1X day | 1/16/2013 | 5 | anxiety and depression | concerns surround missing or being late with a dose. Causes severe light headedness, nausea and headaches | F | 51 | 6 years 225 1X day | 10/12/2012 | 5 | Depression | Burping, weight gain, loss of interest in sex | I started out on Effexor XR which was wonderful but when my employer changed their drug plan the name brand became too expensive and I switched to the generic. Effexor XR seemed more effective than the generic but still much better with the drug than without it. I used to cry at the drop of a hat, almost very day on the way to or on the way home from work. I rarely feel that way now. I am really shocked that so many people here took it upon themselves to discontinue the meds cold turkey. I was late taking my pill by several hours only once and the side effects were so bad that I made sure I didn't forget again. The brain zapping is hellish. However, if I take my pills on time I'm fine. I'm able to find reasons to get up in the morning and to try and appreciate life. | F | 47 | 8 years 75 2X day | 10/2/2012 | 5 | generalized anxiety | Yes, effexor has horrible withdrawals, been there and i abruptly stopped by myself. I was miserable, now a month and a half later...i want back on it. I would rather suffer the withdrawals than to live my life as i do know with this disease. Who cares about what you go through to get off of the drug, if it is needed and i hate myself without it...any measure is worth my life back. | F | 21 | 1 months 150 | 9/3/2012 |
EFFEXOR (VENLAFAXINE HYDROCHLORIDE): Venlafaxine is used to treat depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and social anxiety disorder (social phobia). It may improve your mood and energy level and may help restore your interest in daily living. It may also decrease fear, anxiety, unwanted thoughts, and the number of panic attacks. Venlafaxine is known as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural substances (serotonin and norepinephrine) in the brain. FDA Approval Date: 1993-12-28 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)