Effexor side effects

I have been taking effexor for about 7 years now. I take 300 mg daily. I have had a very positive experience but would like to say that it is really important to take at the same time daily. On the weekends when I tend to sleep in I have missed taking it for several hours and you will be able to tell. I will feel light headed and just not good, and if for some reason you miss a dose entirely you will definitely notice as you will feel terrible and have like a brain buzz....sounds weird but not sure how to explain. My point is that I have had a great experience but also know that it is super important to take at the same time daily, and not to miss a dose.

Hey there! I have been on Venlafaxine/Effexor for 5 months now and have steadily had my dosage increased (I now take 150mg in the morning and 75mg at night) and I can say that out of all the other antidepressants that I've taken (Prozac, citalopram, sertraline) this is the one for me. Yes I did have some side effects such as slight nausea in the beginning but the one that gets me is sweating, and I mean I sweat a lot! But for me it is worth it so I am not an irritable, bed ridden depressive and I actually want to go out and enjoy life with my son. Effexor is the best medication I have come across for relieving the crushing anxiety that I felt in my chest and has really helped with OCD symptoms.

It has taken me 3 years to come across this medication after numerous fails with the other meds, which in turn (on each occasion) made me doubt pharmaceuticals and my doctor, but if you are suffering on this drug then change it, there are so many slight variations to anti-depressants the one for you is out there, don't suffer in silence, just be brave and keep trying because when you find the one your quality of life will be unbelievably better.

Much love and strength to you all

I was scripted this med today, along with Lamotrigine and Seroquel, in an attempt to overcome intense panic attacks, insomnia and anger issues associated with post traumatic stress disorder.
I took all three, as prescribed, around 1pm today, and immediately took a 6 hour nap. I NEVER nap. I woke up around 7pm with the worse nausea and vomited up everything I had for lunch that day. I was dizzy and hot. I fell back asleep around 10pm, and awoke again at 3am to vomit up anything that could have been left in there. I feel like I've taken a strong psychedelic drug. I started this in an attempt to help me function in normal social situations but I don't see how that is possible when the walls are covered in intensely colored visual pattering and my computer screen is waving around as I write this. This drug sucks, I'm going to punch that shrink in the face.

Ugh, this has to be the worst medicine I have EVER been on. I was having anxiety attacks that occurred every evening and lasted for hours. Hot flash, nauseousness, inability to concentrate, thought I was going crazy.........
they started after my mom went in for open heart surgery in Nov of 2008. They put me on Xanax for attacks, and Clonazepam (double ugh), and I didn't take Effexor for a while, but my aunt convinced me to do it as I wasn't doing much better.

The thing is I'd been having issues with fatigue, heart palpitations, facial hair, etc. for several months to years and the doctors ran blood work and said everything was fine........

With the clonazepam and effexor I didn't have mood swings so much, but it was because I spent 16-20 hours a day in bed. When I first started the effexor I was told that the side effects go away after your body adjusts, and as it was the fourth or fifth anti-depressant I tried I figured I would suffer through. I lost 40 pounds (as I was/am overweight it was a good side effect in some ways) in a matter of 6 weeks, lost my appetite to the point that when I realized that I needed to do something about it I had to force myself to eat 1/2 piece of toast a day, slowing eating more...........I went several weeks only able to eat an average of 500 calories a day. I was so nauseous all the time. I was pretty much having a break down. I would only be "functioning" for 2-6 hours a day.

After going to the ER because my muscles began shaking while standing or trying to climb stairs (I'm only 28), having racing heart beats which they just prescribed more medication for, absolutely no energy, my hair falling out by the handfuls, I would wake up with it on my pillow............could not concentrate for the life of me, falling behind in school work (back to school mom), unable to do papers because I couldn't think.............

They finally tested my thyroid (runs in the family, have been telling them it sounded like my thyroid from the beginning........) my levels were finally off the charts, my TSH wasn't even registering. I was diagnosed with Graves disease........which can cause the panic attacks that they put me on the medication for in the first place.

As I figured it was probably the Graves, I tried weaning off my meds, only to feel as though I was going nuts and going to die............... I cut my clonazepam and effexor dosages in half, and within 2 days I could concentrate, and within a couple weeks I could go up and down the stairs again.............

Even now it is hard to say how much of my issues were caused by the Graves and how much was due to the Effexor combined with the Clonazepam. I was able to wean of the Clonazepam within 6 weeks by cutting my dosage in quarters every two weeks, but NOT the Effexor. I tried cut it and started having panic attacks, couldn't think, major migraines, and bed ridden........so I had to reduce it even slower.

Once I got down to half a dose, all of my symptoms went away except the fatigue. That is why I associate a lot of it with Effexor and NOT the Graves, because the symptoms did not go away until I reduced the drugs. I am now finally free of Effexor for about a month, and it was a hard road. It took me six months. I still have some issues with concentration and the occasional panic attack, but they are very minimal. I have read that this could be due to either both or one of the drugs I was on as it can take a year or more for your body to adjust.

Anyhoo, I wonder if the medication didn't trigger the Graves, or what.............but I would NEVER EVER suggest this medication to anyone.

I have gained most of the weight I lost back........but that is to be expected since my metabolism probably hit rock bottom not eating anything but toast for weeks.......

Anyhoo, I really wish that Doctors would tell you what could happen before giving you a drug. At least then when you start having these symptoms you know where and why...........rather then going in, and them having no idea?!?!?!? Funny, as if you search online you see lists that match exactly what you are going through.

I am now VERY leery about taking any meds at all, including Tylenol.

The only side effects I am having, and I have only been on Effexor XR for about 2 weeks are: bad headache, anxious feeling (but getting better), and I loved my vivid dreams (good or bad) I have had all my life. For the past 2 weeks, IF I DO dream, I don't remember a thing about them. My family is probably happy about that because they get tired of hearing about my silly dreams everyday, but I enjoy retelling them since they have always been so real and deep! But now, nothing! Before Effexor XR, I was on Zoloft for 14 years! It was great, and no side effects, but all at once, after all these years, it was like it just QUIT WORKING. NOTHING. It was like the drug store had begun giving me placebos or something. I so hated to change, but had no choice. Depression, crying spells, and "going off" had come back after 14 years with a vengeance! Wish me good luck because I am going to try and tough this out and give the Effexor more time. Otherwise, doctor is going to put me back on Zoloft and just up the dosage from 1 100 mg tablet to 1 100 mg in the morning and 1/2 tablet in the afternoon. Too bad they don't just make a plain, "ole" happy pill!!!

I have been on Effexor for two years. It is a miracle drug for me with NO side effects. I was having panic attacks and severe anxiety that never ended. Once I started these pills I was saved from the despair and the hell of depression and anxiety. I have also learned through mind control, positive self talk, and breathing techniques to avert oncoming attacks. Life is great and I totally recommend this medicine.
I feel terrible for thos people who have had so many difficulties from it. I wish it could help everyone like it helped me.
I do however feel dizzy if i miss a pill. So I can imagine coming off this wont be fun.

I have put on weight I am 104kgs.I am picking up bacterial infections.I have a persistent cough and feel somewhat deflated.I also suffer from mild schizophrenia as well as my O.C.D.I take 375 mgs of Effexor and 10mgs of
Olanzapine or Zyprexa.I have had bouts of depression since the age of 25.I am now 39.I would dearly like my medication to be reduced as I'm finding it hard to be happy and content.Any advice?

I was asked to take Effexor for fibromyalgia. I felt like a zombie and always in a drugged stupor w/ night sweats. The DR kept lowering the dose. One good thing about the Effexor is that my pulsatile tinnitus has mostly abated.

DON'T TAKE EFFEXOR unless you want be on a med forever. I did not have any problems getting on it but after two years I am wanting to get off of it because I think I am in a much better place. I have been tapering off and I am down to 37.5 and I just cant get off of it. I was all the way up to 150 so you would think all the down to where I am that I could get off this. NOPE!!!! I hate it i hate it I hate it. I don't mind being on it but I just don't think I need it...... but I am thinking my body is telling me differently. This just sucks getting off of it!!!!

I just visited my doctor today, after about a year on celexa he changed me to effexor and within a week I will be up to 75mg 2 times a day, I really hope this works for me, I have been really depressed and am in therapy and have just not been the mother and wife and friend that I used to be. I will be monitored very closely, I also take Valium and amitriptyiline.

I have been on Effexor for about 5 years. I had to stop using it suddenly when I became pregnant and the withdrawal was HORRIBLE (the inside of my eyelids felt like sandpaper and I actually heard my eyeballs scratching against it). Immediately after I stopped breastfeeding my son, I started it again. Within a few weeks, I felt so much better, my house was cleaned regularly, I stopped biting my nails, I lost and kept the pregnancy weight off and my libido did not suffer one iota. Unfortunately, my medical coverage lapsed and I cannot afford to refill the prescription. The sandpaper eyelids came back, my nails are bitten down to the quick, and I have no desire to take care of anything. The pharmacies are giving out free antibiotics ... but people who cant afford much needed medication have to suffer. I would rather have the flu than deal with not having Effexor.

Gee man cant believe it was last April I last posted!!
Well still on 225mg of effexor xr a day,have my ups and downs and must be 4 stone over weight!Xmas and new year not really a good time anyway but also separating from my wife.So we plod on,sex drive is naff.Hopefully next time I report back things will be better.

It worked for me but as soon as I went off of it I hit a state of complete withdraw and detoxed for 4 days and attempted to commit suicide, it was so bad I don't even remember everything that had happened...so word of advice if you decide to stop taking this get off gradually and take it very slow!

The more posts I read, the more I'm beginning to wonder if Effexor is causing some of my physical problems. I have DEFINITELY had the weight gain (40+lbs), low libido, horrible night sweats, very dry scalp. The vertigo went away as well as the extreme fatigue but I still sleep a lot. I remember when I first started it, however, that I almost got into a car accident because I dozed off while I was driving; when I woke up I was going 80 and was in the other lane (thank God no one else was on the road near me). I do feel somewhat better but this is a drug to use with caution in my opinion. I will be discussing weaning off of it with my dr. sooner than later.

For me, nothing but good. I felt significantly better within days of starting it, and have had no unpleasant side effects at all, not one. No weight gain, no diminished libido, nothing bad. It's been absolutely fantastic for me. It's been 3 years for me.

Ive had really good results with this drug. Ive been happy alert cheerful etc.. like a "normal" person. I was taking it for about a year when Lithium was added to my cocktail and some very bad sexual side effects occurred. Thankfully a touch of real (im not going that here) Wellbutrin eliminated that but right now im off and in the wonderful land of generic budeprion. Im switching back to Effexor ASAP!!!

Everyone has had really good point above me. Effexor is not a good drug. It causes ridiculous itching, nausea, stomach pain, etc. I already have enough stomach pain with my endometriosis, and now I effexor to make it worse. I haven't attempted to get off of it yet, but I hope it is not near as bad as some people have said. I don't want to put my wonderful fiance through that. It's not fair to him nor me. I would suggest to all, make sure you really need medication, and if you REALLY think you do, possibly try a different kind before trying this one (effexor).

I have been on Effexor 75mg and at first experienced extreme drowsiness and extremely dilated pupils. However, after the third week these side effects subsided, and I switched from AM dosing to PM dosing which helps with the drowsiness. The one thing I did notice though is that, though my anxiety and depression are gone, I have seemed to develop a new habit, or not new, but whenever I go shopping, I end up spending a lot of money and I don't really worry about it or care. The first month I burned through my credit and still, although I know it's a problem, don't feel any anxiety over it. Before the anxiety would stop me from doing ridiculous spur of the moment spending or other silly decisions, but since I have been on effexor I seem to not care anymore. I do love this medication however, and have learned over the past few months that I need to monitor my decision making more closely, and not based solely on my emotions, since I am always happy and carefree. Has anyone else experienced this?

Well Effexor is a great drug but it forced me to give upl my favorite drug.
Caffeine. Turns out that the two together cause my heart to pound.
Bummer! But I have adjusted and life without caffeine is good.

I have had a wonderful experience with this medication. I have been on it for over 3 years at 75mg a day taken in the am. I have a few minor issues with going to the bathroom but by 9am I am feeling fine. I have been on many other depression meds and they all had terrible side effects, but with effexor I have had no issues. I am thankful to be on this medication and not so depressed all of the time. It also has helped with my GAD.

I had no trouble coming of Effexor 6 years ago. No side effects, nothing. In past attempts, I'd merely suffered recurrence of depression, but this time, not even that. I was on Effexor-XR, 75mg and Wellbutrin-SR 100mg and went off both.

At the time, I was receiving neurofeedback to try and overcome ADHD (which is what the wellbutrin treated for me). It seems that this method of re-programming brain wave patterns might have reduced or eliminated any withdrawal effects from these drugs. Can't guarantee it, though, since I'm my own guinea pig here.

Just started back on after being off for 6 years. Hopefully short term. This depression is reactive due to several losses. So far the only side effects are appetite loss and vivid dreams, and I had vivid dreams in the first go around too, so I'm not too concerned. They went away in time.

My mother has been taking Effexor for about four months, now and is having a side-effect the doctor claims is not related to the drug. SHE IS LOSING HER HAIR IN HUGE CLUMPS. SHE HAS LARGE BALD SPOTS!!! The doctor ran some blood tests, reported to her the fact they were all okay and says that it is probably just stress. He also says he thinks it will grow back but if not she can always consider hair transplants....gee, thanks!!!! I mean, stress? Come on, the woman is 55 years old and has had plenty of stress before this.........I just want to help her so any info would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

I keep feeling like I have to yawn and can't catch my breath I take 150 Mg of it I take it at about 10:00 am every morning would I be better taking it at a later time?

Dreams so vivid and realistic that at times I have had trouble distinguishing reality from dream state and have had episodes in which I would rapidly transition from the dream state to a paralyzed state of being awake

One 37.5 mg Effexor XR and I thought I was a dead woman. I was BURNING HOT for 12 hours. I had a massive headache and I felt like I swallowed a brick my stomach hurt so bad. I was vomiting and trembling bad. Doc said he would consider that an allergic reaction and prescribed Celexa, which took 3 days to make me hypermania and I almost called 911 when my G.I. tract started burning. So this week he gives me Cymbalta, what is he NUTS? He let me try a small amount of xanax which doesn't give me side effects, it just releases that feeling of impending doom that I have 24/7. He says I can't have any more though, it might get me addicted. I can't imagine it being worse than what I have found online about SSRI's.

I'm 31 and started taking Effexor a week ago 75mg to begin with. Today I'm doubling the dose. I am mourning for the loss of my husband whom I have been together with for three years and married for 4 months! In a week I had a serious nervous breakdown due to an obsession in my mind; related to getting his personal belongings from his family. But today when I think about my feelings, it seems as if they're all lost. Or they are buried even deeper inside of me. I can't cry and this is uncomfortable. One day I'm seriously aggressive, another day I'm the easiest person on earth, then another day I'm fighting with my emotions like missing him bad. I had suicidal thoughts as well. When I look back, it seems overwhelming what I felt due to this medicine on top of my deep sorrow.
I don't really know how this dose doubling will affect me, but I'm anxious!!!!!

i feel no emotions while taking effexor. no anxiety, mind you, (which is what i was using it for---GAD.) so no anxiety is good, but is it good to not feel any sorrow, empathy, joy or happiness??? I feel like i am just going through the motions of life, not really living it. but if i don't take even 1 dose, the anxirty comes back. (but the other emotions come back too) i cry more if i miss a dose, and that used to worry me into thinking i am depressed....BUT it is normal to cry when you feel sorrow or empathy. and maybe the tears have to come flowing out as a form of release, because they were withheld for so long by the effexor. other possible side effects could be: insomnia; headaches, clenching teeth, biting cheek and tongue a lot, constipation and weight gain. (hard to know if these are side effects of effexor, or symptoms of fibromyalgia).

I have been on Effexor for at least 4 years and am now taking 225mg per day. I was not aware that it is addictive until checking on line. My doctor never told me and I wonder if he was aware. What should I expect when I begin to go off Effexor.
It seems that now when I don't have to go to work all I want to do is sleep. Yesterday I got up at 5 PM and had gone to bed at 10 PM. Although usually not for so long, I have been wanting to sleep my weekends away since he uped my dosage but didn't realize what was causing it.

i have been on effexor for about a month first started 25 then 37 now 75 since being on 75 feel very dizzy exhausted tingling in my brain and no motivation to do anything never had depression really only anxiety and panic but feel as if it is putting me in a depression.feel some of the symptoms people say when they come off it but im on it is this normal?

I first started Effexor 6 years ago I tried coming off it twice,the 1st was a nightmare but took the 2nd time real slow.Trouble is I had to go back on it as its the only one that has worked for me and my doc says i might be on them for life!Its either have a crap life of take something that helps the quality of my life and effexor is the only thing,and I take 225mg's a day.Its made me put on 3-4 stone and took my sex drive away also had to give up booze as it sent me loopy with the effexor.Going to have a review soon with a new psychiatrist so will see.

I have been on 150 mg Effexor for over five years.
Although sometimes interested in sex, it is usually out of the question for two main reasons;
1. inability to achieve and maintain erection
2. Hardly any or no orgasm, so really no reward whatsoever to look forward to
If I were younger I would probably stop today, but at age 52 and the fact that my wife hardly complains
pretty much explains my " I don't care" attitude towards sex

severe headaches,dry iychy skin, nausia, vomiting, sand paper rubbing together sound in my head, very weak, slow speech, achey muscles, in a fog, disconnected, unable to make decisions, terrifying dreams I am afraid to go to sleep as my nightmares never stop, stomach pain and cramps especially after eating, major gas, blurred vision, unorganised thought patterns, very difficult to think, cry uncontrolably,pain all over. This is what I feel like after one day of missing my regular 225mgs dose of Effexor. My dr. is now doing a brain MRI to find out what has been causing severe headaches for the past 8 weeks. She also said I have Cronic Fatigue Syndrom.She is eliminating other possible causes before blaming Effexor, which I have been taking for 8 years. I am at panic state and find it difficult to function.I have been hospitalize with these symptoms only to be told I had some type of virus. One week ago I was arrested and put behind bars for shop lifting. This is freaking me out as I don't recall the actual crime, I do recall wandering aimlessly in the store for two hours looking at everything I could look at. I bought some items but lost the dog collar. It was in my purse!! Off to jail for 5 days without Effexor. I wanterd them to take me to a nut house because I could not focus and I got sooo sick. Now I have to go to court and explain my Not Guilty Plee. I am distraught, frightened, and facing more possible jail time!! I am contimplating ending my life.I have never been in trouble with the law and am 52 years old.

All I have to say is all of the above. I took Effexor before and it works great and I have no side effects AFTER getting established on it, as long as I don't forget to take it. But I only have seasonal depression so I started going off it and two days ago was my last day and I can't even work because my vertigo is so bad. I'm miserable! Hope this stops soon cause I need to make money, not sit at home and sleep. That doesn't help depression much now does it? lol! Actually it's not so funny.

I have been on effexor for about 6 months now and I love the way it makes me feel. After my second child I we diagnosed with PPD
I have been on paxil, lexapro, zoloft,and now finally effexor I have gained 40 pounds on it. I am not a lazy person by any means I am an animal trainer, have 3 kids, and 110 acre farm, so I live a very busy life, I have considered going off it, but my withdrawal periods with my other medications, I went through hell my doctor tells me to just increase my cardio activities, his nurses believe otherwise. Anyone have any ideas?

I've been on Effexor XR (75mg at night and 37.5 in the morning) for a few years now and have had excellent results. I also been on other antidepressants and had similar luck, but after a few years of taking the others, they seemed to "wear out".

As I read your problems you've experienced with Effexor, I think that maybe you need to try some other meds--that Effexor isn't the right choice for you, not all anti-depressants work the same way. Also, anti-depressants take time to kick in--from one month to six months and then level out. One SUPER side effect of Effexor is if you're suffering hot flashes from peri or full blown menopause, at the right dosage, Effexor (and some other anti depressants) will stop the flashes--a God send in my eyes.

The one thing I did want to share is you should NEVER go off any anti-depressant cold turkey. You should wean off slowly or the results can be VERY uncomfortable. Also realize that it will take a few months for your brain chemicals to come down to were they were before the anti depressant kicked in.

I think more of you should talk to your doctor about what is going on while you're taking Effexor and make some changes. Maybe a higher or lower dose might help--if that doesn't work, then try a new med. If your doctor isn't listening or trying to help you make changes or if she tells you to stop taking an antidepressant cold turkey--get a new doctor.

I've recently been on Effexor for over 8 years. The reason I started taking Effexor is cuze 8 years ago my Dr. told me I had a severe panic attack. These 'Panic attacks' would lead me to have seizure like symptoms where I actually passed out, twitched & convulsed. When I came to again, I wouldn't remember anything or who some people were. long story short, they put me on this drug, also with Clonazepam. It worked for a while. After a few years, weird symptoms would come back & they'd 'up' my dose. After just over 8 years my 'attacks' came back. By this time, they 'upped' my dose to 300mg. I thought they were crazy, but agreed to try. Nothing was working, I was having these seizure like attacks every 2 weeks & I have two small children to take care of! I demanded an answer this time! I needed them to run tests, try new meds, ANYTHING! I was desperate..I knew they weren't 'Panic attacks' They found something from results that were taken from my Cat Scan. It's called Septum Pellucidum & it's absent in my brain. I have no idea what it does, but if it's absent in someone's brain, it causes seizures! Yeah! They finally found the real problem..I have Partial Complex Seizures. I've had these all along. I have been on the wrong med's for 8 years now!! I'm on a new drug for seizures called Divelproex & it's awesome so far. I'm weaning my way off the Hellish Effexor. From dose 300mg to 187.5mg, it was good, than to 187.5mg to 150mg was good also. I went down from 150mg to 122.5mg & that also surprisingly was not too bad. A couple head waves here & there. I'm now going from 122.5mg to 75mg & that's been the hardest! It's been day 5 & I'm struggling. I know it will only get better once i'm completely off! It's just sooo hard right now!! I also wanted to add that Effexor can cause Seizures!! Please reply if you have any idea's that will make this better or just to say what you've been through.

I have been on Effexor since December 13th. I am finding that this drug is not very helpul at all. I am experiencing headaches, nausea, my depression does not seem to be any better over the past 3 months. My dizziness is what is really bothering me I feel like my head is in the clouds all the time with a constant tightening feelin my head and neck. I wake up every night with a feeling on hotness and shaky eyes. I am trying to get off of this drug but find the side effects are so hard to deal with. I feel some days like I am going crazy and it takes every ounce of energy I have to not loose control. After trying 3 other antidepressants Effexor has been the most difficult to come off of and the the drug with the most side effects.
Anyone with any helpful tips to help deal with this horrible time in my life would be very much appreciated.

I have fibromyalgia and started taking Effexor xr last fall to help combat fibro symptoms as recommended by my doctor. I am also prone to SAD. I have found that my fibro symptoms are worse if anything. I crave junk food and sweets. My doctor told me the drug could not be causing the cravings or the resultant weight gain. I finally five days ago told the doc I really didn't feel I was benefiting from the drug and she agreed that I should stop 'cold turkey'. Wellll! since then I am having nausea, chills, very vivid dreams, bordering on hallucination. I feel I have been sleeping for hours during the night and find it's only been two or three hours. I'm still not refreshed, but I can't get back to sleep. I find myself crying for no reason at all, feeling anxious, feeling angry at the least provocation. Chills, runny nose. While I was on Effexor my libido was non-existent. Now it's increased greatly. What is up with this drug. how long can I expect the after-effects to last? I had to stay home from work today for the nausea and tiredness and just general over emotionality.

Calgon take me away

I was prescribed Effexor while attending Uni. My depression was negatively effecting my academic performance and on the edge of getting my scholarship withdrawn, I continued (as a requirement from the board) with Effexor despite its side effects. I advised my counselor but he insisted I continue as it would "get better." On the contrary my self-esteem took a dive, I became way more suicidal, I felt like there were an army of ants crawling under my skin, I was "emotionally numb"....more like I could feel so many emotions at once and in such great magnitude, I felt like I was going to explode....and I did....through slashing my forearm and wrists. I felt like I could breathe when I did that....then I would just return to my bed and lay there....lost.

I finally decided to stop medicating, I gave up my scholarship and returned home. The moment I set foot on home ground I didn't know where to start or even if I was going to get a job; but I did, a great job for someone without any degree/diploma....for starters anyway. One day I sat down looking out to the sunset and recalled my days of depression. I beat myself up inside with the realization that I had ALLOWED myself to go be depressed. I realized that it is beatable, it really is in our control; mind over matter! I'm not going to lie, it does creep up at one time or another and I do still feel an imbalance in my emotions, but I find the critical step is to just STOP whatever I'm doing, go out for some fresh air, and remind myself that I have come so far without Effexor and other anti-depressants I've been prescribed with, and I remind myself that I CONTROL what goes on in my mind, and thus my body.

Again, it is still challenging at times, but I have decided not to let depression rob me of a happy and fruitful life, and its been great so far.

I was put on Effexor only two weeks ago. I don't really feel that different but i did notice when i had sex that i was numb down there. Does that ever go away? Please help.

I was put on Effexor because of anxiety and panic attacks, and all I have to say is that this medication increased more so than it alleviated any of those symptoms. I was not even feeling very anxious at the time of my taking the first (37.5 mg) dose.

I took the capsule around 2 in the afternoon and by 4pm I had a severe headache. This was followed by nausea and strange thoughts. When I returned home that evening (last night) around 7pm I called my roommate a profane word (way out of character) and made her cry. We resolved the conflict, and I went to bed without any discomfort.

But I awoke around 3 am feeling strange sensations coursing through my body, anxiety, strange thoughts (again), and a sense of "overheating." I wanted to get up but I felt like I could not will myself to act, I felt as though I was in an "out of body" state. My paranoia and anxiety reached an apex at which I decided that I must not be "okay," and called my mother.

My mother assured me that I am okay and just that I must be on "too much stimulant, call the doctor tomorrow." I truly felt like I was having an awful hallucinogenic nightmare. I wanted someone to tell me that I would be okay because at certain points I had a fear that maybe I was having an allergic reaction to the stuff and might die.

Had I not researched online boards beforehand I would have called "911" no questions asked at the first onset of my symptoms last night. One of the scariest things I have been through in awhile. Still don't feel quite right, but the feeling is not as intense.

I take Effexor XR 225mg daily and Wellbutrin 150mg twice daily and they have worked wonders. I started the Wellbutrin, initially, to help me quit smoking. Not only did it help, but also counteracted the sexual side effects of the Effexor, which were never all that bad to begin with. I think everyone needs to realize that different anti-depressants work differently for every individual. Some of these postings would scare many people from taking ANY antidepressants and that is a very, very dangerous thing.

I was put on Effexor because of depression. My husband was going to be going to the middle east and I was so worried and depressed as well as experiencing separation anxiety. I started it a month before he left and IT WAS HORRIBLE.! Getting on it was just as bad as not having it! The side effects were like everyone else. No sex drive (mind you...my husband was leaving to the middle east!), cotton mouth and nausea. He left and that is when little by little it got worst. I GAINED WEIGHT and felt even more depressed because my husband was coming home to a PIG! Hubby got out of the military and I had went home to wait for him. (VA is where I was getting the meds and home is CA) When he got home I decided to get off the meds. I had gained over 30lbs! I was always petite and athletic. 5'2 120lbs and size 3 or 5. I was at 152 and size 9,11 and EVEN 13!!!! I have 2 kids and even pregnat never gained that much weight! I called my Dr. and they said I would have to come in to get off the meds! I live in CA now and cannot go to VA just to get the ween off pills so I did it COLD TURKEY!!! BIG MISTAKE!!!!! One disagreement with my husband made me FLIP OUT!!!! I was out of my character! I attacked him and became physically violent and angry! This is not like me! He could not control me and called the police thinking they were just going to calm me down. Because he told them the truth, but did not want to press charges, they still arrested me and I went to jail that night! I have NEVER went to jail and I never thought I would NEVER be somewhere like this. It was so embarrassing! As a result, my charges were dropped, but because my son was there CPS got involved, my husband and I were separated (although we didn't want to be apart, but if we did not do as they wished they would've taken our children!) for 6 months 1 month after he got back from the middle east! I was made to attend 52 week domestic violence classes! THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE!!!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE TAKE THIS MEDICATION!!!!!

This is the worst drug I've ever been on. This has totally destroyed my life, I took it for 8 years, in which time I felt severely depressed (much worse than the depression it was meant to be treating), irrational and no sex drive whatsoever. I stopped taking it 2 years ago and have extreme withdrawal symptoms for months on end, feeling nauseous, depressed etc and now that I have stopped my body has still not recovered from the side effects. I feel that if I had never been prescribed this horrific drug my life would not be the misery it is today.

Is there nausea in the beginning of Effexor XR....is it just in the beginning and the goes away? or if you have it (nausea) you will always have it

antonio

Effexor did work for my depression, but it did give me a lot of side effects. One for instance that was horrible is when I drank alcohol. My friends indicated to me the next day that I became a different person when I drank. The worst was that I couldn't remember a thing the next day what happened the night before! Also, when I was trying to get off the medication after being on it for a year it also gave me the WORST nightmares. I was yelling and screaming in my sleep. I dreaded going to bed every night because of the horrible dreams I was having.

After reading all the posted side effects I am very scared to continue this medication. The doctor diagnosed me with anxiety. I have to work through this and try and not take anymore of this medicine. My husband and I want to have an active sex life. I mean.....who wants to be on medicine that doesn't let you enjoy sex! I also don't understand gaining weight. I haven't experienced any weight gain yet. My head is very dizzy and I also feel like I can't think straight. I work in a school and have to work with children all day. I don't want to take this medicine. What else can I do?

Effexor XR worked at getting rid of a deep depression when nothing else seemed to help, made me less irritable and more pleasant to be around and rekindled some long-lost interests and made me less reactive and defensive.. AT FIRST.... within a couple months I found myself in a numb kind of depression, there was this irritable sad feeling in my head that I tried to get rid of by eating sweets, something I was never to fond of. I packed 20 pounds on my 5 foot 1 frame which is several dress sizes. I would have gained more if I didn't have periods of dieting and exercising here and there, but mostly I wasn't motivated, I would do things like sleep through doctor's appointments and not even care.. My sex drive was so gone I started thinking I was asexual, no joke.. I kept on craving junk food and couldn't stop, I also couldn't sleep at all.. It felt as if my stomach to my groin area were numb, that's why I kept on eating, to see if I could feel something but I never felt full... To me sleeping, having an orgasm and feeling full are basic human functions and to take them away is well.. depressing... I choose to accept my brain chemistry as is , that was part of the problem, feeling like we have to be happy and smiling all the time... My personality "flaws" are automatically cured when I accept them cause' they are no longer flaws and that makes me more positive and happy!

This drug works really well for my anxiety. However, my sex drive is almost zero and it takes a long time to have an orgasm. Sex shouldn't feel like work!

Hi, I take Effexor, and have experienced many of the negative effects described here, however, my personal depression was such before I began that for me it was life-saving. During those periods when I've taken breaks from Effexor, withdrawal wasn't pleasant, nor was it quite as bad as some have experienced (I didn't get the brain-freezes or violent impulses). However, I did find an excellent post in another forum about tapering off, so I am cutting and pasting it here. (fyi, if you take 150s rather than 75s -- I take 150s -- you can use a similar schedule to open the capsules and shake a bit out rather than completely eliminating a dose):

In Response To: Re: New to Effexor (Sharon)

I'have been taking Effexor since one year and a half ( I take 225 mg per day). Before taking it, I was so worrying and panic that I could'nt do anything. It took me about 6 months before seeing a change in my mind. Now, I am very happy and I don't worry about everything anymore. It is a very good medication for me, though it decreases libido. I am reducing Effexor since two months this way : first week : after 7 days, I escape one pill (75 mg); then after 6 days, I escape one other pill and then after 5 days, one other, and so on. I wait about 2 weeks before beginning again for another 75 mg. It is the best way to get off of the med because if I try to stop suddenly, its horrible. Its the only disadvantage of this drug. I hope these comments will help you.