Generic Name: Effexor XR for Depression (venlafaxine)
Effexor XR for Depression Reviews
"In a few paragraphs, I can gladly proclaim this medication saved my life in so many ways! I had never felt content until I took Effexor. The grass was greener, the music was even more beautiful, I am now kind and patient again; I am simply happy! I don't need to constantly seek out pleasurable things to make life more exciting anymore. I’m not so emotionally vulnerable. For the first time in my life, I can READ! My ADHD has diminished 70% - 90%! Whether it be from ADHD, anhedonia or both, I can FINALLY enjoy the simple things in life. Lastly and miraculously, my IQ went up 15 - 20 points! My thought process is much more clear, and I LOVE reading and learning! My newfound curiosity fuels my joy for living and learning. I want to thank the people who created this drug. I am not only myself again, but I’m someone I never even knew I was capable of being!"
"I am a 43-year-old man. I take Effexor XR 150mg since 2000 (yes, I know it is long, but it is better than death). Okay, every 2-3 years I try to be 'med-free', 'normal', and 'out of the stigma', and each time it is the same. I crash. Hard. Each time, I play with my life. From the outside, I look successful, brilliant, intelligent, normal, etc. But I am sick as hell. Sick, but in treatment. I take care of me as I could, and I really don't care about what people think about Venlafaxine now. I don't want to die. Believe me, noradrenaline and serotonin recapture is no garbage. You may need a little help for your brain. Refuse it if you like, but do something about depression before it will do something about you."
"Please remember to give Effexor XR a couple of months to work. The first month or even two are going to suck. Why? Remember that the chemicals in your brain are adjusting. We have a chemical imbalance. Be patient and kind to yourself. I was on Lexapro and it worked, but I gained so much weight, so I got off. Not a good idea. Never just go cold turkey! So, after speaking to my doctor, he put me on Effexor, and it has been such a blessing. I’m on 225mg for over 3 years, and while I do have good and bad days because it’s not a miracle pill, you still have to fight the depression and anxiety, but it helps you fight it. Stay strong! It works. Be patient. Don’t be scared."
"I had severe anxiety in 2016. It was truly crippling. Along with panic attacks and thinking I was dying all the time, I experienced depersonalization/derealization every day. Effexor XR truly saved my life. I take my pills at night, and if I miss one dose, I know immediately the next day by how I feel. It’s a horrible feeling. I also described it as my head was skipping, but I see others describe it as brain zaps. That’s truly what it feels like. Besides that though, this medication changed everything for me."
"I take 150mg time-released Effexor. I am dealing with a head injury for 6 months now. I have been on Effexor since. I have no side effects, and it has really helped me with my anxiety, nervousness, and depression. This medicine is such a lifesaver. I can go to work and be around people. I don’t know where I would be without this medication."
"I have been on many antidepressants over the years. I have had depression and anxiety since I was 21 years old, and am in my late 40s now. Other antidepressants caused horrible cravings for sweets and carbs. Plus, the medications didn't work that well for me. I have been on Effexor for 8 months, 150 mg. It works wonders for me. I actually like to be around people now. I go places, etc. I have a life again and noticed that I get excited about life. Also, I have lost weight on it. My cravings are gone, I feel full after a meal, and full a lot longer after the meal. I am gaining back my energy. I am a woman who was so severely depressed, I couldn't even get out of my recliner and didn't get dressed most days. What a difference!"
"This medicine saved my life. I was at my wits' end with antidepressants and was ready to give up. My doctor finally prescribed me this after many failed medications. I am so glad she did. I honestly do not know where I would be without Effexor XR. Side effects were very mild compared to other antidepressants I tried. I was drowsy for the first couple of days, but it was tolerable. I highly recommend this for severe depression. I would also like to mention for people to realize there is light at the end of the tunnel and YOU WILL GET BETTER, and to never give up."
"This drug is by far the best antidepressant I've taken, and I've been on it since age 17 (now 34). If you miss a day, you will be very emotional, but other than that, I haven't noticed many bad side effects. My depression is great now and has been for years. The only negative is my lack of sex drive and sleeping a lot. Not sure if that's all due to the medication or just my lazy arse. Heard a lot of bad reviews, but honestly, I've been on it for 7 years and I think it's great."
"Everyone's different, for me this one's a LIFE SAVER! My depression began 15 years ago. In 2014, I hit my lowest point. Previous doctor had me on several meds that didn't mix well together. That whole year is a blur, I don't remember any of it except for the few grand mal seizures they caused. Eventually, I attempted suicide with one of the meds and ended up in a mental hospital twice within a month. My new psychiatrist took me off everything and started me on this, topped out at 150mg (which I am to this day, 6 years later, still taking). I can't thank that psychiatrist and this miracle drug enough. Taking with Bupropion (Wellbutrin) and I'm not sure which one, but I believe one of them has got rid of my sex drive. I prefer no sex drive over that really dark place I was in. Also, if I miss taking them a couple of days in a row (again, not sure which one is causing it), I experience extreme vertigo... not fun. Other than that, I have no other complaints, just absolute gratefulness. LOVE IT!"
"I've tried many different SSRIs for depression (Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Prozac) and nothing worked. I was apprehensive to take Effexor because of online reviews, but I'm so glad I did! The only side effect I've had is tiredness the first few weeks, but that has since subsided. I not only feel more energy, but I actually can feel happiness. On the other medicines, I just felt numbness and a lack of emotion, but Effexor has made me feel like me again! This has been my miracle after years of mild to severe depression."
"Please never allow anyone you love to take this drug! Effexor XR has been the worst experience for my husband the past 4 years! He has gone through so many changes, mentally, he doesn’t know what is real anymore. What I mean is life, love, emotions, etc. Our marriage was the ideal marriage before he started taking it, but now it has crumbled! He has been to a mental facility twice on this drug, gone through so many personal changes, it’s unreal! Please do your research before taking this because coming off of it is a living nightmare! I know 2 people who committed suicide on this drug, and thank God I have not lost my husband on it!"
"After 15 years of struggling with deep depression, PMDD, and postpartum depression, 1 suicide attempt, and 1 hospitalization, I have found the medicine Effexor that has worked for me. It's been a long road, but now I'm at peace and living life to the fullest."
"Been on Effexor 150 mg for 16 years. Can't remember any side effects that weren't tolerable. I haven't had one problem in 16 years of taking it. I have had three clinical depression episodes (about ten years apart) so I have to stay on an antidepressant for the rest of my life. I like to say... I'm a 'quart low' on serotonin. Effexor has kept the level up. Happy patient!"
"I've been taking Effexor for 4 weeks. Finally, I feel good. It's a miracle! I was suffering real bad depression and anxiety, and thoughts of giving up on life. Effexor works. This is the best I've felt since I was 23. Now I'm 30, and yes, I feel very happy to know I didn't give up and finally found a miracle pill. It's only been a month. Thanks Effexor, saved my life. Thank you."
"This drug saved my life. I've been taking it on and off since 2017 at 225mg. Now, I have struggled with depression for 18 years - constantly crying, feeling hopeless, and wishing I was dead. I've been through several psychiatrists and several different meds. Nothing helped. My anxiety was bad. I couldn't keep friends or maintain relationships. I was on the verge of taking my life because I was in so much pain. Then, I was given Effexor when I was in the mental hospital, and it has helped me a lot and saved my life. It's the best medication I have ever taken. I don't feel anxious or depressed anymore. I got my life back, and I'm happy once again. The people who left bad reviews are overdramatic and sound like lunatics. This drug is amazing. No bad side effects besides drowsiness. It may not work for everyone, but it surely helped me, and I am so grateful I finally found a medication that works tried and true!"
"Effexor was by far the worst medication I have taken. If you miss even one dose, within hours you are sick and having withdrawal symptoms. It took a good six months before the brain zaps stopped. Run away. It's terrible."
"I originally started on the regular Effexor when I was 16 after a suicide attempt while on Prozac. This was literally a lifesaver for me! Switched to XR when it became available. I was on it for about 3 years before deciding I no longer wanted to be anchored down by antidepressants. The withdrawals sucked, but didn't last long. I'm considering going back on it and am now 37 years old."
"After 7 years on Zoloft, I tapered to 25 mg from 100 mg. Then depression hit. I tried titrating up, but dealt with sedation and many adverse side effects. I tapered off and quit for 30 days. Depression lingered, so I began 37.5 Effexor. I felt relief on the first day. I switched to taking it in the evening to offset morning sleepiness. Within 2 weeks, I went to 75 mg, and within 2 weeks, depression remitted. After 15 weeks at 75 mg, I'm on a staggered dose of 112.5/75 every other day. Here's the thing for me—I chose to start low and go slow. The Effexor gave a mild but noticeable lift in mood. Within 2 weeks, I felt hope. I didn't have to wait 4 to 6 to 8 weeks to notice nor suffer adverse effects for weeks at a time. Research supports the efficacy of Effexor, especially its ability to give noticeable, if not subtle, improvements within two weeks. Having gone 40 weeks suffering adverse effects of Zoloft, the impact of Effexor for me was, in fact, life-changing. (Male, 62)"
"I have struggled with eating disorders (Anorexia and Binging) for about 4 years now. It started at 16 and slowly began to follow me into college. I’ve struggled with relationships and often find myself extremely depressed and more anxious than ever. I started Effexor about 2 weeks ago now, and the first few days were much like the experiences listed on here. I have done MDMA before, and it does feel like that for the first two days. However, after I got through that stage, each day has been getting better. Colors seem brighter, and my motivation has started to get better. Before, I had struggled with finding any interest in life, and everything seems a little bit more open each day I wake up. I do have some very vivid dreams and find that during the night, my depression gets a little worse, but it has slowly subsided, and I’m able to push away thoughts that normally frustrate me. I’m excited to see how each day goes moving forward."
"I have been on Effexor XR for over 15 years. I take a daily dosage of 300mg. It has been the most significant thing in my life! I am able to function normally, hold down a sometimes stressful job, be a great parent, and most of all be the best me possible. I have a hormonal imbalance which causes my depression, and no amount of psychological intervention was ever going to change that. Effexor XR did. Whilst there are side effects, my body has become accustomed to them, and believe me, they are nothing in comparison to the dreadful depression. I believe that it has saved my life and ensured that the life I lead is a good one. A couple of tablets a day, some minor side effects, and I can get on with a wonderful life."
"I have only been taking Effexor for a little over 2 months and noticed that if I was even an hour late taking my daily dose, I’d feel nauseous and anxious. I also began to notice that I was feeling nauseous anytime I didn’t have a full stomach, so weight gain was inevitable. I decided this drug was making my physical symptoms seriously distressing enough to outweigh any good it may be doing. I was shocked at how awful the withdrawal symptoms have been, even though I was only on it for two months at a dose of 75mg. I’ve been experiencing nausea and 'brain zaps' for two weeks now. My GP put me on Effexor, but after meeting a psychiatrist at a dinner function and casually asking her thoughts on Effexor, she said she doesn’t prescribe it, its withdrawal is so awful. I’m glad I’m getting off it, but alarmed at how nasty the withdrawal is. Can't imagine how bad withdrawal would be for those at a higher dosage and for much longer than my 2 months."
"This medication needs to be illegal. It did not help my depression, it caused significant weight gain, and if a dose was missed by 1+ hours, the side effects were severe. The withdrawal symptoms are more intense than I ever would have imagined, and prescribing doctors do not warn patients against this. After beginning to taper off this medication, I experienced really dark thoughts and attempted suicide. I was in the ICU for a week and a psychiatric hospital for 4 weeks. Effexor almost cost me my life. Please don't risk yours by taking it."
"This (Effexor XR) is a GREAT drug! For those of you who have had a bad experience, you need to have the swab test done by your Dr (covered by insurance) to find out what drugs work for you. It has been a lifesaver for me! I was switched by a smart NP after taking Paxil for many years with many problems. After I took the mouth swab test & it showed Paxil was a bad fit for me. I have zero side effects aside from a little weight loss, which for me is awesome as I'm 57 & fit but had those nagging extra lbs. Extra lbs gone, mood lifted, don't dwell on stupid things. I'll be on it forever as I'm permanently low in serotonin & NEED the boost. Without it, I just lay in bed & don't want to do anything. Get the swab test done & if this shows up in the left column, try it! Little adjustments with dosage are required - just start at 75mg, which helps a teenie bit & then go up... It's also cheap if you pay cash... GOOD LUCK!!!!!!"
"I have tried several different medications and every supplement, including thyroid, kelp, etc., since my three-year battle with depression. Effexor didn’t do much for me for about 12-16 weeks, but I noticed a difference. The first 8 weeks, I had terrible insomnia, and I nearly stopped it. Having looked up treatment-resistant depression, I decided to try taking folate, and 6 weeks later, it’s the first time I’m feeling 90% like myself again. I’m not sure if it’s the Effexor, the folate, or both, but if you're not feeling like the meds are helping 100%, I would consider adding folate. Don’t give up."
"I started taking Effexor 3 weeks ago after finding no success with Wellbutrin or Zoloft. It causes some initial bad side effects (nausea, dizziness, tiredness), but I can't emphasize enough how wonderful I feel now! I thought I would never find a solution. Most effective medication I've encountered thus far!"
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