User Reviews for venlafaxine oral

Withdrawal is horrible but I also think while taking it it’s making me gain weight and have compulsive eating anyone else ?

I started on lowest dose 37.5 felt nothing. Later increased 75mg and am extremely tired all the time, dry mouth, sweats, dizzy, disoriented, confused, lack of focus and concentration and so many others. I do not feel like myself, sleep most of 1st 12 hours after the morning dose than am wired up all night long. Took away my ptsd and panic but only to the point my body wouldn't react to them and I lay there emotionless with these thoughts and a terrible upset stomach from anxiety.

This medication almost destroyed my life. I went on it originally because I was having anxiety. It basically made me numb. I was delusional and extremely manic on this medication. I almost lost my job and my relationship as well. When I finally got off of it, the side effects were awful. It took me about a good 8 to 12 mths for me to get back fully after this medication. I now only take Buspar for meds. My doctor tried to put me on another med and I said HELL NO!!

I'm taking 75mg capsule 1x daily for depression. I have IBS, after a few days starting this it really made my intestines grumble worse and I felt nauseated all the time. It was recommended that I carefully split the capsule open and take half which would bring me to 39.5 mg dosage. I continued this for a month and then brought it back to the normal 75 mg dosage which is worked out fine. I recently tried to wean down off of it (not by choice, it was impossible to get a hold of my doctor) I had awful side effects...mostly the wave of anxiety...talking, moving around would make it come on worse. And not sleeping and racing thoughts all over the place. Then my depression came back with a vengeance. I got irritable and just was going down a bad path.. I am now with a better doctor and I almost feel like myself again. Still working on my anxiety, but my depression has greatly improved! I'll stay on this dosage... I know it affects people differently, but for me at this time in my life it seems to be okay. Nothing's perfect ?? Read More Read Less

Have been on this for a year and am now being worked off it. Side effects are very bad and its not helping with the depression enough. I have had very bad vivid dreams most nights while on this, have had anxiety and panic attacks, and many cases of brain fog and confusion. However I know someone else on this medication and they don't have any problems whatsoever so as with my antidepressants you may find this to help you more than hurt you.

I started this initially for depression and to treat GAD. At the 2 month mark I couldn't believe how effective it had become. My main issue was intrusive thoughts - I could deal with them with mindfulness but the thoughts just kept coming, unprovoked. Sometimes I'd feel panic in my chest before a thought would even appear My life has changed. My coworkers marveled at the change in my work style and confidence, I recently got a promotion, I'm more social and relaxed before and during uncomfortable situations. I have the motivation to tackle work around the house - and I am happy. I couldn't believe it was possible to quiet a lifetime of intrusive and stress inducing thoughts Spent a few months on 112.5mg XR before dropping to 75mg XR - at this dosage I don't experience any side effects. This drug really agrees with me, I can see from other reviews that some have had a hard time - don't let that stop you from trying something that could make a huge difference, like it did for meRead More Read Less

This medicine has made me very tired all the time. Like I can't ever get enough sleep. I have no energy to do the things I enjoy.

Venlafaxine XL slow release 75mg dose. I have fibromyalgia, front line drugs to assist with pain are antidepressants or sedatives, over the years I have gradually learnt the triggers or factors surrounding my personal condition, they include Anxiety and Depression, The drugs, It is about a 1-10 chance which drug is going to work for you but not the next person its that fickle, one persons bad review may be your chance of improvement. In my experience their is no complete fix, personal side effects with all the drugs you take because of your own bodies tolerance to the substance. This drug venlafaxine XL is a slow release, it help with overall wellbeing, lowers my anxiety, depression, still have some IBS at times, this is a low dose but it gives me some release from GAD, for me if I can keep the Anxiety and depression at bay it enables me to live life a bit better, Pain still persists, fatigue is a little lower although I have learnt to pace myself. Hope this helps others??Read More Read Less

A month into this effexor crap and i landed in jail for 90 days w Ith a felony domestic violence charge. STAY AWAY FROM VENLAFAXINE(EFFEXOR).. TERRIBLE TERRIBLE STUFF. IT LITERALLY RUINED MY LIFE. Then when doing the 90 days i was forced to cold turkey quit..the most traumatizing experience of my life. Horrible horrible nighmares, massive sweating, racing thoughts of suicide, major depression set in, body shocks like high voltage electricity through my legs and chest, sometimes in my eyes.Amplified anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts. Killed my appetite. Dr. Might as well of prescribed me meth. I will never ever put anything like that in my body, ever, ever again. Read More Read Less

This medicine comes with unbearable side effects which is cannot be described in words, it starts a never-ending series of discomforts, after taking the first dose the blood pressure shot too high, even I was not a patient of high blood pressure medicines for lower down blood pressure are not working against this horrible medicine, even I was finally thining for taking emergency pills for preventing heart failure, felling extreme chill and shivering, I spent the whole night warming my hands in front of the stove. Think thousand times before taking this medicine.Read More Read Less

I am begging whoever is reading this, DO NOT TAKE THIS. I've been on any and every antidepressant you can think of, and I've never had the withdrawals I am still currently dealing with - and I was on this for less than 6 months at 75 mg. There was no forewarning before starting the medication, and when informing my doctor that the benefits didn't outweigh the side effects, she finally explained that I may go through withdrawals. I'm quite sensitive to side effects, so I expected to feel like garbage for a couple of days. I'm now on day 9 of being unable to work due to the withdrawals, which tapering did nothing to help. Do you know how embarrassing it is to sob at 29 years old because your body is shaking so much, the smell of RICE making you sick, your body can't tell if it's hot or cold, you can't physically speak or process what people are saying to you, and nothing you've done in the past can help even 20%? Everything I'm somehow able to eat two bites of comes right back out. I'm a chronic migraine sufferer, but this heightened it to a point I wanted to scream. I know it can help, I know they have found positive results for people, but the moment you are late to take a dose or try to get off of this, any positive will go out the window.Read More Read Less

I had been on Lexapro previously which helped somewhat. Venlafaxine got me over the depression and anxiety. Was a game changer for me. May need to go to a lower dose, am having trouble falling asleep. Otherwise, very satisfied.

This drug changed my life. I had major daily anxiety and tried a couple of anxiety/depression medications prior to Venlafaxine, but they made me sleepy. Venlafaxine does not make me sleepy and I have 0 anxiety anymore. One time I did miss 3-4 days of dosage and the withdrawal symptoms were horrible. I know now when it's time to end my medication, I will definitely taper off. I still 10/10 recommend Venlafaxine to anyone suffering from anxiety/depression.

Please don’t touch this medication it’s horrible I couldn’t sleep, dizziness all day,weakness,inflammation all day long and night.

extremely difficult withdrawal effects, even with tapering doses for 3 weeks as per my doctors instructions. I’ve been on anti depressants for 9years now, Effexor for over 3 after switching from pristiq due to the difference in cost. The switch was fine, but I finally decided recently that I wanted to go off my antidepressants, as I was tired of the side effects that come with it (little to no energy, shakiness, low libido, and the brain zaps when late to take a dose even by an hour). I can’t remember the last time I have been in such pain mentally, I haven’t been able to go in to work for half the week, I can’t eat, sleep, or even function like a regular human being. Everything feels terrifying. I feel nothing like myself. For reference, I was on a 150mg dose everyday, and started to taper down to x3 37mg pills the first week, then x2 the second, x1 the third, and now nothing on my fourth. If you are thinking of discontinuing these, please please talk to your doctor and have them explain the potential withdrawal effects, and the importance of having a support system. If I didn’t have someone that could stay with me during the day, I don’t know if I would still be here. I’m just hoping this eventually ends bc I don’t even remember what it’s like to feel like myself anymore. Read More Read Less

I am pretty sure my doctor hates me cuz there is no other explanation why she would put me on this nightmare of a drug. My first noticable side effect is vertigo and leg shakes I can be standing still and it feels like the floor drops . then I started to have uti's never had problems with them in my life . I used to be a fun person now I am just here I don't get the happiness highs but this medication is great at making me have super lows . I have gained 20 lbs lost my job and I am starting to wean off I went from 150 mg to 75 mg no side affects so far still scared to death of the chance there might be and i will be stuck in this nightmareRead More Read Less

Around when I was making the transition from high school to college, my anxiety got significantly worse. The main "symptoms" were fairly frequent intrusive thoughts and panic attacks. My doctor first had me try Venlafaxine. It sucked in my personal experience. It completely sapped me of all my energy to the point that I just wanted to stay in bed all day and it made me feel depressed every now and then. That was still within the first week or two of starting the medication, so take that with a grain of salt. I brought those side effects up to my doctor, and he promptly had me switch to Zoloft, which has worked wonderfully so far.Read More Read Less

I took this medicine for four years and then decided I didn’t need it anymore. It took me a few months to get off of it but once I started lowering my dose every week I had minimal withdrawal effects. Just be patient when tapering off! I just started taking it again for GI issues, I’m two days in and I’m already feeling better. I’m not getting the start up side effects like I did the first time I started the medicine (I think because I’m on a low dose and because it’s extended release.) Be patient. Take it with food. Don’t miss a dose. Get your refill a few days before you need it. Take some Dramamine to help you sleep in the beginning. That’s my advice! Read More Read Less

An absolute life saver for me, literally. I was suicidal. I have taken this drug,often maximum dosage if very stressed, for twenty-one years. Can say nothing against, never had side effects. I will never stop taking this drug! I am a male, aged 81.

This medication has been a life saver for me. I have been on several medications before this, and none have been as helpful as Effexor. (I also take Wellbutrin.) I've been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, Manic/ Depressive, General Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Seasonal Anxiety, Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD and I show signs of Schizophrenia. Effexor does have many negative side effects. The side effects that I suffer from are nausea, loss of balance, sweating, dry mouth, no sex drive, constipation, tremors and excessively yawning (in the beginning but no longer). If I accidentally miss a dose, the withdrawals are intense. Mania, tremors, headaches, extreme sweating. But it clearly states in the medication description that this will happen if you miss a dose, and it directs you to NOT quit this medication suddenly. If you complain about the side effects of quitting cold turkey, that's your own fault. You were clearly instructed not to do so. While the negative side effects can be harsh, the positives are worth it. I can keep my intrusive thoughts to a minimum, my mind doesn't race a mile a minute, my impulsive behaviors are very minimal and controllable. I have control over my outbursts of anger and I no longer lay in bed all day. I now have the motivation to cook a meal, actually partake in activities with my children, to clean my house and visit with friends and family. I don't have sudden suicidal urges, I can think rationally. I go to work everyday instead of hiding in my home and going ghost on everyone for weeks at a time. I am generally happy. Do I have my moments? Yes, absolutely. But they are far and few between and can be easily identified and diffused. My marriage and my family life have been positively impacted. My overall quality of life has greatly improved. I can go through some uncomfortable side effects if it means I have a higher quality of life. Best of luck to anyone suffering. Read More Read Less