Effexor and depression

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 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?

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.

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

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 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 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.

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.

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!

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.

I have been using this drug for about 8 months and have found some of the side effects can be horrible. However i am in the process of separation and im terrified to face this without them. I know i am rather numb and at times just unconnected because of the drug but without them i would be crying constantly and i hated that. I believe i have been depressed for some time and i know for me the benefits of this drug far out way the difficulties of depression! The crying, sleeplessness, inability to get anything accomplished depression sucks. For me i have not gained or lost i am about the same. My therapist tells me to go off them slowly once things settle down i am on 300 mg of them now of which i started on 75mg to start. So i will keep you updated to my progress with getting off them!

I know there are times when people need medication to help them with depression, anxiety, etc. but I really think there are better anti depressants out there. I found effexor HORRIBLE! it was a b**** to get used to, and i was so dizzy, tired, anxious and just felt horrible for a while.
After my body got used to it, it was alright, but trying to get OFF effexor was even worse! i have never experienced anythign like that. I felt SO depressed and anxious and DIZZY and this carried on for about two weeks. I felt trapped. I even took some work off while getting off it because I couldnt' function properly at all. Also, my sex drive went down to zero. I'd defintely reccommend trying out a different anti-depressant than this one.

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!

I have to say, I stepped up from 37.5mg to 75mg of Effexor XR after a week and was on the higher dose for almost a year and had amazing results. I have always suffered from depression and after losing a pregnancy in the second trimester my doctor put me on effexor xr immediately. It was like seeing above the clouds for the first time. I felt like myself only clear, focused and able. I had no side effects and after about a year felt it was time to start getting off as I kept missing does and not noticing any difference when I was off. I cut out cold turky without stepping down and I have to say I THANK GOD there is this drug that works for me out there. If I ever went way down again or anything ever happened, I know that I have a safety net. I know that some people have severe reactions to this drug and others, but not all do. Some people get real help from Effexor XR. Just wanted to pass my experience along.

I have been taking Effexor for a year now. Not for depression but for chronic pelvic pain due th adhesions from a surgery. Not real sure if it is working. The side effects seem to be worse. No sex drive, not interested in things that I used to be interested in, Leg shaking while sitting, weight gain. Considering talking with the doctor to stop taking it.

I only took Effexor for 6 weeks - it worked so well as I lost a daughter and was in such a depression that I was suicidal - but once I was feeling better (and reading up on the withdrawl symptoms) I decided to switch to Wellbutrin and amd now off Effexor. For me short term it was great and did the trick - and I feel more myself with the Wellbutrin. I feel that Effexor depersonalized who I was, I let my 3.5 year old do whatever she wanted with a smile on my face, and i was unable to cry for the 22 year old daughter i lost. I wanted to feel again.

I have been taking Effexor for around 2 to 3 years for depression. I am currenty taking two 150 mg at night, though I was told to take one in the morning and one at night... I found it easier to take them both at night. The only side effect I am sure comes from the Effexor is the reduction in my libido (and I am female). Effexor is the only anti-depressant I have been on, and I think I got extremely lucky in that I found the one that works for me on the first try. I also see a psycho-therapist, and between the two, I feel I have managed to get a better hold on my life. I am a thirty-five year old mom (married, and with a seven-year-old daughter) and I have "almost" nothing but praise for Effexor.

HOWEVER, I do know that the withdrawal side effects are terrible... I have missed it for up to three days when I went out of town and forgot my medication. I can usually miss one day and the side effects will most likely just be a bad headache, and maybe a little nautious. But when I missed three doses:

Missing one dose at night: I had a headache the following day.
After missing two doses: The headache became worse, I would occasionally get dizzy spellls, and I started getting very emotional - swaying between sad and cranky.
After missing third dose: The headache became worse still, and was aggravated by light - I wanted to just keep my eyes closed. I felt dizzy and nautious - nautious to the point I couldn't tell if I was going to throw-up (never did).
Oh... and I should add that the dreams while I was off the medication were incredible... like watching movies... so detailed and complex. I usually don't remember my dreams... but these I could recall... not in perfect detail... but they were amazing.

After I got back home and took my dose that night: I missed three days of work while being back on the medication. I was nautious, had a terrible headache, wanted to just stay in bed, I was no longer ultra sensitive emotional-wise - but I was ultra-pissed-off. I became very angry that I was on a medication that was addictive after having been told it was "not addictive". I was angry that I have never had an addiction before, but now suddenly I was addicted to a prescribed drug. I don't smoke, I only drink a couple of alcholic drinks in a month (socially), no canabis (pot... is that an out-dated term? ... everyone here says canabis), or any other illegal or legal addictive drugs... the only other drugs I take are allergy (Clarinex) and birth control (Nuva Ring), neither of which are addictive.

That whole experience was months ago, and now that I have had time to calm down and get a clear perspective on the situation... I wouldn't stop taking Effexor for just being addictive... and YES... it is addictive... I don't give a rat's ass what any "expert" says about it. If you can't stop taking something without your body freaking out... then IT IS ADDICTIVE.

I don't know that I will ever be able to stop the medication. I go back and forth as to how I feel about this. At times it bothers me being so dependant on a medication... but on the other-hand, I'm dependant on the allergy medication, and that doesn't bother me, so why should I let being dependant on an anti-depressant bother me? Who cares what everybody else thinks, right? - - Boy, that's loaded...

Effexor has helped me tremendously. My thoughts about death are very infrequent. I don't feel like crawling into a hole and disappearing all the time. I have found "my voice" with the help of this drug and my therapist to voice my opinions more often to help me from not feeling so trapped and helpless in situations. It does cut down on emotional sensations... I don't feel overwhelming sad at all the terrible things I hear on the news. And I don't cry at sappy commercials and movies any more (Thank you!). For the first time, I feel much more in control of my feelings and my life.

So, I can understand the anger in a lot of these postings, but I would like to add, that I don't think the people who have benefited from Effexor are posting here. They have no reason to be looking for this site. I found this site when I had been angry over finding out it was habit-forming. I believe Effexor has probably helped a lot of people - and it isn't an "evil" drug... it's just a drug. For some, it just isn't the right drug.

I should add, that I'm on here today because I've recently started experiencing night sweats, but I wasn't sure if it was a side effect of Effexor or not. I hope that it is a side effect of Effexor and not a symptom of menopause... cripes... I'm only 35! The first site that popped up after searching under "Nightsweats" was about nightweats being a symptom of perimenopause or menopause... ugh!

But if I have to weigh the benefits I have experienced using Effexor, with the downfalls: addictive, sexual side-effects, and maybe night sweats... I still am of the mind that it is a good drug for me.

I wish all of you luck in finding what helps you most to be happy with your life.

Hello! I went off of Effexor 75mg @5 days ago. The withdrawl symptoms came back with a vengeance. I have tried 3 other times to get off of this drug with no success. Not because of depression, but the physical withdrawl sypmtoms were terrible. I immediately experienced dizziness, "zapping" in my head, nausea, extreme fatigue; all the very next day. I had tried in the past to taper off, same effects as quitting cold turkey. This is day 6 and still have the same syptoms. It's very hard to function at my job and driving is a chore also. I am determined to "not" go back on this or any other drug like this ever again (Lexapro, Celexa, etc) I will say I felt fine while on it, but I'm sick of not being able to lose the 30 lbs I gained while taking it. I want to be able to handle lifes curve balls as they come without any drugs. I will keep you all posted as to how long this goes on. Take care all, and we have to hang in there!!!!!

I stoped taking effexor 13 days ago due to financial difficultys and couldnt afford to re-up. before that however i was on effexor for a year, 150 mg. I logged online yesterday to read other forums on withdrawls if any that others may be experiencing, I was amazed to see that the physical conditions I was experiencing trouble with were widley experienced by others as well, I was just relived, i didnt know what to make of all the horrable withdrawls i was going through, not knowing they were just that. so day 13 and I am feeling much better, I am exited to get back to my self 100%. I started taking effexor to begin with to help with depression and ADD. It didnt help that i was also abusing meth, so i probably needed it more then as far as depression goes and getting off the dope. Im clean now, and im such good spirits, Effexor worked for me in so many ways and i am greatfull for that. But one thing I wont miss is the lazyness that i felt most of the time, I hard a hard time sleeping, and never slept through the night, then id want to sleep the next day, I couldnt drive for fear of falling asleep on the road, which did happen plenty of times to cause the fear. I was in a good mood but motovation was low. Well thanks for letting me share with all of you, reading the poasts here really helped me to understand what it was i was going through. Best wishes!

i was advised to go onto this drug for depression 3years ago. i gained weight and lost my emotions had no remorse,guilt nor feelings for anything that was dear to me. i had no life. i feel that this drug has robbed me of the three years that i was on this devil drug. i lost my partner and close friends. i lost touch with reality. i was basically dead. i was in a catotonic state for three years. i was forced of this drug as it was causing problems to my heart. whilst comming off the drug i had memory loss and very nearly killed my partner and myself. i tried to hang myself and beat my partner up who had done nothing to me apart from love me. i told him on many occasions that i loved him but was not in love with him. which was far from the truth. it is the most horrible thing to be on this drug and then to come off it only to find that all your emotions come flooding back. even harder when you realise that your partner had had enough and left for his own safty! we are just retrying to repair the damage that this drug has done to our relationship and our lives. we due to this drug may not be alive today. please do not even attempt to try one day of this evil devilish drug. it is not worth it at all. god knows how many people have died and are suffering due to venlafaxine! i took it as i was told that it would help me. i trusted the doctors and took it. never again, NEVER

I TOO HAVE BEEN TAKING EFFEXOR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS FOR DEPRESSION.TWICE I HAVE TRIED TO COME OFF THEM,AND TWICE IT ALMOST KILLED ME.THE WITHDRAWAL EFFECTS ARE AS BAD,IF NOT WORSE THAN THE ILLNESS ITSELF.I SO WANT TO BE EFFEXOR FREE,BUT I AM SO SCARED TO STOP TAKING THEM AGAIN,I REALLY DONT THINK I HAVE THE STRENGHT OR WILLPOWER TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN.
AT THE MOMENT,IM ON A REAL DOWNER,SO TO ME IT MEANS THE PILLS ARE NO LONGER WORKING FOR ME,CAN ANYONE PLEASE OFFER ME SOME ADVICE,ON HOW TO GET OFF THESE AWFULL PILLS,WITH MIMIMAL SIDE AFFECTS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE DONE IT,I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO YOU.FOR THOSE OF YOU LIKE ME,CANT GET OFF THEM,GOD GIVE US INNER STRENGHT TO FEEL LIKE OURSELVES AGAIN.

I have been reading about this now for three hours, and it has made me feel both better and worse. I have been on antidepressants for over 10 years; I think I have been on Effexor for around 4 or 5. It has all but banished my panic attacks; I haven't had one in months now, and those that I have had over the past few years have been endurable to say the least. What worries me is the changes in my personality that have taken place over the past decade. I have been thinking that what I have been experiencing is my depression getting worse and that I have been spiraling down into severe mental illness. It's frightening to say out loud that you think you are going crazy, and so I have managed to keep a tenuous hold on reality and ever onward I go. I mentioned my symptoms to my doctor almost 2 years ago, and her response was to increase my dosage to 112.5 a day. This only served to confirm my belief that my mental health was indeed declining. After reading these posts I want to weep with joy that I am not crazy, it is this magic pill that I take every day. I too have avoided going off Effexor because of the side effects; it seems that it would be easier to withdraw from a serious heroin jones with less suffering. My side effects while being on the medication have been: loss of interest in everything in life that ever interested me, weight gain with loss of appetite (go figure), loss of sex drive and almost an aversion to sex or intimacy, fatigue, confusion, and an emotional withdrawal from those around me. The few times I have tried to go off Effexor (or missed a few days due to forgetfulness or lack of interest in going to the pharmacy to pick them up), my symptoms have been: that weird feeling of your brain having to catch up to your eyes, that feeling of being shocked or zapped, a descent into depression equaling the speed of an Olympic bobsled run, a feeling of hopelessness, headache, cotton mouth, diarrhea, mood swings so severe and radical that I frighten myself, irritability to the point of wanting to chew off my own fingers, tears over everything and anything, and restlessness. Reading over this, I'm thinking that being depressed was not so bad after all. It's kind of sick to wish for simple depression; it reinforces my belief that this medication is bad. I see that in another post someone is asking if there is any rumble of a class-action lawsuit; I would also be interested in this information. Thank you for sharing what this medication has done to all of you, and I hope that my post helps someone else with similar experiences.

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 was on Effexor for several months ago for depression after not responding to other meds very well. When I went on Effexor I was all energy; bouncing-off-the-walls energy! I had to get prescription sleep aids to calm down at night. I also had insane dreams! They were incredibly vivid and bizzare. They were almost every night too which is very strange for me. The dreams are what I remember most about the drug. Although it definately got rid of my depression the withdrawl was just as horrible as everyone said it is. Hope this helps someone.

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.

At first I was convinced that venlafaxine was a godsend after so many other anti-depressants failed to help me. However, i soon came to realise that i was becoming increasingly dependant on the drug as the side effects after missing a tablet were completely unbearable. not only does my depression come back with avengence, the dizziness and blurred eyesight has an immense effect on my day to day life. An hour after taking the drug again, however, I'm fine. being this dependant on such a drug will never help me overcome my depression, it just masks it. i want and need off this drug, it's pure evil.

I STARTEDD TAKING EFFEXOR FOR DEPRESSION BY TAKING 75MG. THEN I WAS UPPED TO150MG. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO INCREASE MY ENERGY LEVELS. I QUIT TAKING EFFEXOR 150 LAST THURSDAY(7/14/05)BY FRIDAY I WAS FEELING DIZZY BY SATURDAY I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH BALANCE AND JOLT'S TO MY HEAD. I HAD A BAD HEADACHE AND TROUBLE WALKING STRAIGHT. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE WHAT THE SIDE EFFECT'S WERE FOR THIS DRUG AND WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING THRU THE SAME THING. MY DOCTOR NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS OR HOW ADDICTIVE THE DRUG WAS FOR IF SHE (THE DOCTOR)HAD,I WOULD NEVER HAD STARTED THEM FOR DEPRESSION. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I HAVE DEVELOPED WAS A PERSISTANT COUGH THAT AT TIMES WOULD END IN A COUGHING JAG AND I WOULD THROW UP. I DIDN'T DO THIS BEFORE THE PILL.
I HAVE NOW BEEN OFF THEM FOR 4 DAYS AND IT'S BEEN HELL BUT I AM FEELING BETTER. FOR ME COLD TURKEY IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET OFF. IF THERE IS A CLASSACTION LAW SUIT GOING I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THAT.
CONTACT ME PLEASE.
******

I,ve been on effexor xr 4 months now for depression and anxiety. Overall i have nothing really bad to say about this drug. I had trouble sleeping at first and some sexual side effects occur when my dossage is upped. Other than that I,m pleased with the results that I,m getting from this drug. I have more energy and it seemed to eliminate the minor body aches and fatigue that I I was expiencing. My depression has subsided a great deal and I can drive now without having a panic attack. I seem more comffortable around people I dont know and I have also gained a lot more confidense in myself. To be completly honest I dont know if I ever want to quit taking effexor. This drug is not for everone though. I would say to take the recommended dosage prescribed by your Dr. for the recommended time to allow the effexor to take full effect. After the 6 to 8 weeks if you're still eperiencing the same side effects, this drug is not for you. Try somthing else. If everyone in the world shared the same brain chemistry I doubt that their would be so many different anti deppressants. I wish you all the best of luck in finding true happiness, but remember the drug doesn't do the work all by itself. Their has to be a line drawn somwhere between fantasy and reallity, meaning that even perfectly normal people have bad days to.

ZoomZoom,

Good news for you!!! The side effects such as headaches should go away in the very near future. Drs. say 2-3 weeks and the majority of side effects should go away.

What you need to keep in mind is that Effexor XR is different than Anti-D's such as Paxil. Effexor calibrates 2 neurotransmitters in the brain (Seratonin & Norepinephrine). It would make sense that you are having headaches in the early goings because the drug is just readjusting what has been caused by the depression. Hang in there!!!

Don't be surprised if your Dr. increases the dose. He/she is simply trying to maximize the efficacy of the drug. I have no doubt that you will be back to normal in the near future.

Best of Luck,

MattM

I have been taking effexor for about 4 years now. My depression was maybe brought on??, due to a traumatic operation I had when I was 17. I was left undiagnosed for a couple of years, just leaving my with frequent visit's to my GP, annd me leaving just feeling like a hypercontriact!!!!! I started on 37.5mg once daily for about two years and things seemed fine and I was just building up my confidence/ablility to come of them, when i had a relaspe. My GP increased me to 75mg daily but last week with a chk up visit to the GP, I was still having sleeping prob's, and crying issues! I've now gone up to 150mg daily. I'm unimpressed by this as i wanted to come down again.

Does any one else feel like their life is being run by a bloody pill???

I just want to be like a normal young 22yr old, hold down a full time job/college course, not have to be a part-timer! Have a social life and mostly have a sex life with my ever patient boyfriend. Do any of you drink achohol or smoke cannabis (casually), whilst taking this med's. It tells you not to, but how true is that?
Let me know your views :)

I started my 'adventure' with anti-depressants 9 months ago.
The first was Zoloft. I began to feel totally weird and out of it, I couldnt function or barely talk. I was told this was depression and I was hospitalised and then it was changed to Effexor.
It was increased up to 300 mg a day.
I NEVER felt anything good from this stuff! all i had were the side effects
-Couldnt sleep
-awful sweating but just in the hairline.
-NO feelings
-NO taste of food (guess thats why the weight loss)
-NO energy
-felt like I had morning sickness all day.
-SCARIEST thing... it was like my IQ was chopped in half!
-I still have no retention of things I read or things that happen
-Constant thoughts of suicide. (more than when i was just depressed and not on medication)

Im trying to get off it now... slowly... and its tough. At least the sweating has finally stopped and I can taste food a bit.

I have absolutely NOTHING GOOD to say about Effexor. Its supposed to be industrial strenth for the severely depressed but I dont feel it did a thing.
I would not take it again, knowing how it was.

of course now, im supposed to be trying Wellbutrin. I dont see anything coming from that either.

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.

been taking efexor for 3 months. first few weeks were great, I was off my face on happiness. that slowly died and the depression came back. For the first time ever I've had serious suicidal thoughts and can easily imagine killing people that make my life difficult. I've been wnating to leave my husband but don't know if I really think that or if it's the drugs making me think that. I have no sexual desire waht so ever, I'm only 22. This is the reason I want to leave my husband, what use am I when I don't only not want sex but I also hate myself for doing it when we do. All in all I think efexor has done more to increase my depression than fix it. I'm getting off it now against my doctors advice, but hey it's my life.

I have been taking Effexor Xr 75 mg three times in the morning for about a year and a half. At first I experienced some weird side effects like you were experiencing, such as being tired especially in the morning. I started graduate school recently and I am doing great. The only side effects that I still experience are sometimes weird dreams and on rare occasions nightmares. However, decreasing sugar intake especially just before going to bed have helped with that. You shouldn't lie to your boyfriend. Depression is a weird disease that is for sure. Get so info and have him read it. Good luck and just remember you have your whole life ahead of you.

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 was prescribed this drug to help depression/gad/ocd. i chose the drug myself after much research. while i feel much better since taking it, it seems that since my dose was increased to 150 mg that i toss and turn for about 2 hours a night - while i'm asleep. this is what my husband tells me. last night he timed my tossings and it occurred about once every 5 minutes for about 2 hours. i also get somewhat violent and have punched him, but that is rare. i'm going to start experimenting with the time i take my dose, which is at night. rather than take it a couple of hours before bed i'm going to take it right before bedtime and see if it stops.

i also notice that around 2:00 pm i get very drowsy and feel like i could fall asleep at my desk at work. this mostly happens when i eat a heavier than normal lunch.

I have been on Efexor capsules for 5 years, initialy on a very high dose then reduced over a two year period so that I am taking 75mg every two days. I am ready to come off them and have spoken to my doctor, but she say she is worried about the discontinuation side effects. She sugests that I should take them twice a week for a month and then quit. I felt fine about stopping (not worried about my depression returning) but now I feel anxious about the side effects. I have felt the brain shocks and dizzyness, before, when I was on a higher dose and I forgot to take them. I was wondering if anybody could tell me how long these withdrawal side effects last when the drug is stopped?

I was switched to effexor after 80 mg of Lexapro produced no results for my depression. My Dr. slowly increased my dosage from 150 - 225 and then to 300. Supprisingly, I had only one side effect which was a ringing in my ears, only noticeable at night when I went to sleep. Unfortunately, I had no good effects. After 4 months, I decided to get off of it... and weaned myself down 75 mg a week. Only had a few of the zaps in my head, but really no problems otherwise... I feel even more depressed, because my doctor said this was his "big gun" and that it would work. Since it didn't work... what now?

Hi. I was put on Efexor by my Doctor for DIZZINESS AND VERTIGO, not depression. I would be interested to hear from anyone else prescribed this for the same reason. I had non-stop dizziness and could do anything and this is the only drug that seemed to work. However I have all the worst side effects and would love to come off it.

Those discontinuing Effexor should ONLY proceed with doctor supervision. I weaned myself off Effexor after a five year therapy and I spent thirteen weeks with side effects which kept me home unable to do much at all. Some side effects are shocking sensations in the head, dizziness, agitation, moody or violent behavoir, among others.I still have some recurring problems after seven months, none of which are related to depression. In my opinion, this is a very dangerous drug for some patients.

I have been on Effexor Xr for about 2 years now,before that I was taking Zoloft, and Zoloft, while it may be great for some people, wasn't the right choice for me. Now (from 25 mg a day) to currently 300 mg a day I take Effexor Xr. Not only is it supposed to be treating my depression, but also my obsessive compulsive disorder. For the first few months it almost elimanted my OCD and greatly reduced my depression. But now I feel as if the drug isn't doing me much good. I am going back into my depression cycles where I have crying fits in which all I want to do is sit in the dark in the back of my closet and cry. Being at college, that is now harder to do, and harder to keep from my room mates noticing how big of a toll it takes on me. I have also been experiencing difficulty sleeping in which I wake up every couple of hours, even with sleeping pills I am not able to sleep a full night through. Although I am not sure if dizziness is a side effect of the drug, but when I stand, or even barely move sometimes my head just spins. And I didn't associate this before with the drug, but I heard other people say that they get itchy too. I have also been itching- weird itching not just one spot on my arm but like all over, legs, stomach, arms. I know Effexor Xr may be great for some people-but it is not for me. Although I don't want to jump off the drug because I have done that before (without my psychiatrist, therapist, or family doctor knowing) and I had a horrible time coming down off of that. I just wish that I could feel normal again- because I miss the way the feels!

I took Effexor for two weeks and during that time I notices my energy escalating every day. My heart was racing and this got worse each day. I didn't mind though because I had been so badly depressed so when the doctor said that I may have to go off it (the lowest dose is what I was taking) I told her I didn't want to because I finally feel like I don't have to sleep all the time and my mind was so alert. She said if it kept up I couldn't have it. Within two days of seeing her I was like a nut case - telling my husband I wasn't going to leave the house at night anymore because it was dangerous to drive and kept him up all night because I could hear my heart beating really loud and it scared me - he took the pills away and told me I couldn't have them back until I called the doctor and told her what was happening. Wow! I felt like a drug addict that would fight for my pills and realized this was not good. The doctor switched me to Wellbutrin and I feel just fine on this medication. No racing heart, no staying up all night, no abnormal thinking. Everyone has a different reaction to different medications and some that have worked for me have not worked for others and vice versa but the important thing to realize is that there is help out there - keep trying until you find the one that works and always get help if side affects don't seem right. Depression can kill us, just like diabetes if left without care. I wish you all the best!!

I was put on Effexor xr 75mg for depression, didnt help much, doctor upped my dose to 150mg per day & all I can say is it has saved my life, I think I must have been depressed my whole life cause I feel so great on this drug, the only side effects I have noticed are that I sweat alot & am generally hotter than everyone around me (but who cares, small price), and I also bruise very easily,but if you gave me a choice between these and the complete state of mental breakdown I was in before this drug, I know I would choose Effexor every time, to all those who swear against this drug I say to you, don't frighten others off it cause everybody is different and I am sure there are plenty of people out there who have been helped dramatically like me, I wake up every day now & love life, love my husband & my baby & I thank my god for this second chance. Sure I will probably go through withdrawal symptoms when I feel ready to come off this drug, but I am just so grateful now for how I feel, & that I live in a country(Australia) where I have access to such wonderful medical care, imagine the depression experienced by those living in third world countries,where they cant just slip down to the pharmacy & pick up their perscription of Effexor , I am sorry for those of you who have not been well matched to this drug, may you all find the peace of mind that I have,but Dont bag Effexor just cause it wasn't right for you.

I have been taking Effexor for about 6 months. I took zoloft for about 5 years and it worked great for my depression, but eventually caused my sex drive to be non-existent. My doctor then put me on Celexa which made me VERY tired and also gain weight. Now I am on Effexor, and it seems to work fine for my depression, but I too have noticed that if my dosage is even a little past 24hrs, I get very agitated about everything. If its more that a few hours past that time, I actually begin to feel physically ill, with stomach aches, dizziness, inability to concentrate. My doctor did not tell me about this effect of the drug, he actually told me that I would experience less dizziness when coming off this drug, as compared to other SSRIs such as zoloft. I now am deathly afraid to run out and I am sure to be at the pharmacy before I run out of pills due to how horrible I feel even after a few hours of a missed dose. I do not like being a slave to any medication, especially since I am a recovering addict. I feel I need something for my depression, but I am getting really tired of all the drugs and their side effects. I am afraid to go off them entirely but feel it can't be any worse than the withdrawls, which they don't tell you about when prescribing these drugs. They are advertised as being"not addicting" but I have found that they actually change the chemistry of your brain to the point where you cannot function normally without them, especially after years of taking these drugs...will try to slowly wean myself off of the 75 mg effexor and start from square one..anyone who has any tips for successful withdrawl from this drug, I am open to any suggestions, Thanks.

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.

Well to be honest, I think some of bad things that have been said are WAY exaggerated. I have been on this drug for 6 yrs and yes I have gained a little weight but it really doesn't bother me because I have never felt better. This is the best drug that I have ever been on for depression. ALOT of what people have experienced with this drug and with trying to get taken off of it is all in their MIND. If you keep telling youself something, you will actually start to believe it. I was also specifically told NOT to quit COLD turkey because it can actually cause death because of the withdrawls, they can be very harmful. So people who do that are STUPID. I feel nothing for those who have done that and complain about what happend for the first few days they were off of it because if they were serious about trying to fix their problem, they would have done it the RIGHT WAY.

I started taking Effexor about 1 month ago for depression instead of Zoloft. I have had headaches for the last 2 weeks, very moody, tired all the time and have no engery. I feel completely useless about myself, my depression seems to have just gotten worse since I have been on it. I have a very hard time dealing with my children, and that was never been a problem for me before. I am now trying to get off of Effexor and hoping that I don't get the bad affects of getting off of it, but I figure that it can't be any worse then the feeling that i have right now.