Effexor and anxiety

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

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.

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 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 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!!!!!

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?

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!

I've only been on effexor for four months 75mg. I had taken prozac for 13 yrs due to some anxiety issues. I didn't feel that the prozac was helping me anymore so my Dr. switched me to effexor. I wish I had done more research on this drug- but I just went along trusting my Dr. my first symptom was an increase in anxiety! I started picking at my skin horribly and my blood pressure rose. After my next visit with my Dr. we decided that I should go off of it slowly. I can't believe how awful I feel- dizzy , tired, and sick. I'm so upset with myself for not looking into this. I'll be turning 50 in a few days and I feel like I've hit a low point in my life. I just want to feel better.

I recently started taking meds for my depression and anxiety. I started on zoloft for two weeks, but I didn't like it and my teeth started to chatter (A problem I've never had). I then switched to Effexor, and I really like it, it makes me feel normal. However, my teeth still constantly chatter. I was wondering If anyone has had the same teeth chattering side effect. Does it eventually go away. Please help!

Since going on Effexor 3 years ago, I have had similar side effects, as well as withdrawal symptoms when trying to go off the drug. My symptoms while on it are: night sweats, being hot all the time (sweaty hands and feet), rashes all over, excema on my scalp and neck, "lightning flash" type feelings in my brain/head, extreme depression, an inability to feel intimacy (although no sex drive problems), extreme weight gain (despite frequent exercise and good diet). During my pre-menstrual period, I am pretty much psychotic, to the point of wanting to hurt myself and others. With the weight gain and depression, I really AM better off not taking the drug. But I find it impossible to take two weeks off work to simply stop taking a drug. It is not possible to stop taking effexor and work or function in ANY CAPACITY. I really feel for the moms out there who have had to do it. One other thing I have been experiencing is severe joint pain. I would like to know if others have experienced this.

I have not yet started to take Effexor yet, just trying to see if I can find some reason to take it first.
I have read a lot of these side effects and I have had all of these side effect like symptoms and have never even take this drug.
I have taken Wellbrutrin, Lexapro, Zoloft, and Paxil and all of them cause bad panic attacks. I am not sure what to do about anything. I have also tried a natural pill called Seredyn and it works pretty good at night to sleep but causes me to feel uneasy during the day and obviously it would be needed during the day.
The ONLY thing that helps is Ativan and according to doctors and pharmacists it is very habit forming. So I cannot get anymore of those.
Has anyone taken anything for Anxiety that helps?
I am not a depressed person and do not need anything for depression.

I felt that the Effexor did what it was supposed to while I took it. It helped my anxiety and slight depression, and I felt very happy the three years I took it. I did not have weight gain or any other side effects, other than crazy, vivid dreams that actually were funny to me. However, withdrawing from this drug was the worst I have ever experienced. I spread it out over 6 months, and it was still horrible. I was nauseated, disoriented, weak, had constant vertigo, felt electrical shocks in my head. I missed a week of work thinking that I was seriously ill, and then realized it was the Effexor, but it took another month until I felt like it was completely out of my system. I am back to feeling like my anxious and slightly depressed self again, but no way am I going back on Effexor knowing what the withdrawal symptoms are. I will find a way to feel better through diet modifications and lifestyle changes instead.

HI everyone well I was on Effexor XR for about a year and a half for GAD and depression and it might have helped out a little with the anxiety but I was late for school all the time because it put me in such deep sleeps that I could not wake up to my alarm and I frequently felt tired all day. Also there was sexual side effects. I rarely was able to have an orgasm. And if I accidentally missed a day or two I was a complete wreck. I would get dizzy and moody to the point where no one could talk to me without me either flipping out on them or just break down crying. I felt crazy! The worst was coming off of the pills though. My mother begged me to go back on them but eventually my head straightened out and I'm fine now, but still a little emotional and angry. I would recommend maybe to try something else besides this drug.

I have now been on 150 mg Effexor XR for 8 months for anxiety. The anxiety has gone but my weight has gone way up. I also wake every 2 or 3 hours and then fall back asleep and I feel tired mid afternoon.
The negative effects I would rather put up with because my anxiety was so bad and now it is gone.

Mick

I've been on Effexor XR for a few weeks now for GAD and depression after being on Prozac for two years on and off. I dont know if its helping me or making me worse, its reduced my anxiety quite a bit, but I think its making my depression worse. I dont really know what it is, but a week after i started taking it I've started crying quite a bit. Previously I rarely cried because i felt so distant from my emotions, but now I seem to be feeling worse. The thing is I dont know if this is an improvement because I can actually feel something or if its worse because all i seem to be feeling is miserable. I cant seem to enjoy anything at all and I've lost most of my motivation since i started Effexor. I've noticed that I've become rather snappy and rude to people - this is not like me at all. I've lost all my enthusiasm for life (not that there was much to begin with) and it seems like theres nothing to look forward to. I seem to be thinking about suicide more than when i wasnt on it. I've never slept properly but now I keep on semi waking up during the night all the time. I know that its possible that my depression may have been getting worse regardless of the Effexor but i seriously think the two are related. But what worries me the most and is making me feel terrible is that Ive seen effexor advertised as an antidepressant 'for treatment resistant depression' - kinda makes me wonder that if its doing nothing good to me then what hope do i have? no wonder people are killing themselves on antidepressants - theyre advertised as some miracle cure and when they dont work then what are people supposed to do? im beginning to think more and more that im not depressed but i just have a pathetic personality that makes me sluggish and bored. feels like Effexor not working seems to confirm that.

I felt immediate relief of depression and anxiety. I have lost weight 10 lbs in 2 weeks with a loss of appetite and sleep is fine. I am on zanax, lithium, abilify, provigal and effxor 225 mg's daily. I am a recovering alcoholic, bipolar/manic depressant. I am for the medication. Good luck to all in our same boat!

I took Effexor a little over a year ago due to my psychiatrists strong urge for me to do so. I don't remember the dosage, but I only stayed on the stuff for 4 weeks before discontinuing the drug. I remember feeling the side effects right away. I remember an intense feeling of nausia (like you feel when you're drunk and you can't tell if you're going to vomit all the sudden or you'll be all right). This was only really bad within the first week of taking it. I remember being really irratable, when before I was really indifferent about anything, then all the sudden I had a terrible temper with just about anything. I had increase anxiety. I remembered not feeling depressed anymore, but I also remember not ever feeling happy; it was as if the Effexor had made me emotionally numb. After about 4 weeks of not being able to sleep, of constant anxiety, of feeling ichy, weak, tired, suffering from insomnia, not being able to concentrate; I just straight out stopped taking it. BIG MISTAKE. I did so because I really really had to get a research paper done that I handn't been able to work on due to the side effects of Effexor. Well, I basically went into a panic phase for about 2 days where I paced around the house, tossed and turned in bed (not being able to sleep), my roommates couldn't understand a word I was saying, I felt I needed to smoke a cigarette every 10 minutes. This is where my experience gets really wierd. I went to the local IHOP and started drinking coffee, pitcher after pitcher, and it started mellowing me out. I needed desperately to get my paper done, so I went to the gas station and bought a bottle of those yellow-jacket (those ephedra energy pills). Yeah, I took those for a couple days and it really mellowed me out, when before I thought I was just going to snuf it, then everything from that point on was smooth sailing. Does that make sense to anybody? I'm still trying to figure out why after the mammoth dose of caffeine and moderate doses of ephedra, everything was all right; again, does this make sense to anybody?

I have been on Effexor for about 2 months now,, before that I was on Paxil for about a year and bit..... When I was on the Paxil............ it was not very nice,,,,,,,, especially when I tried to come off of it... I was moody,,, and just did not feel right.. When my doctor switch me to Effexor I had no side effects cause I went from Paxil to Effexor.

I now want to come off of the Effexor cause I am having troubling getting back to a normal working environment... I have apply for two jobs and both of them I got some Anxiety over them and had to refuse them both.

To me this is not normal... cause before all the medication I had great working skills.... and now I have not been at a job for about 17 months now.

The medication has helped me with my O.C.D. and my general anxiety,,, but the fact that I have not had a normal working pattern bothers me.

If this has happen to anyone else, please tell me.....

Sincerely,

Out of work (and not liking it )

I have been on the effexor for about 2 months now. I was really having bad anxiety and constant things on my mind. I was always feeling sad and depressed. I would want to cry for just no reason. I am 27 years old and basically felt this way for about 8-9 years. I knew it was time for a change. I have had no side effects except for vivid dreams. I used to never remember my dreams until now. It seems like they last forever, but they are not bad dreams or anything. I finally feel normal, and I would suggest effexor to anyone. I am nervous about getting off it, due to reading previous side effects from other people, but right now I am happy!!

I have been on effexor XR for the past going on 6 years. It has made a dramatic change in my life. It has helped my depression and anxiety enourmously. At first I had constipation but that changed when I changed my diet. I too tried to go off effexor cold turkey and ended up in a clinic on my way to work. The first week I felt like I was on a HIGH - felt fabulous - then I started driving erractically - very bizarre throbbing in my head, headaches. Then the crying started uncontrollably - became paranoid - felt like something was going to swallow me up from the feet up and I was afraid to drive as I kept thinking I was going to crash my car. By the time I got to the clinic - I was bouncing off the walls.. Had to go back on it. If I miss one dose I could sleep forever! Angela West - Windsor.