Effexor and withdrawal symptoms

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.

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 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.

I am on my third week of Effexor, 1 week 37.5, then 75s for 10 days. At first, I wanted to sleep all the time, but started taking it at night, and that was better.
But I missed taking a pill last night, and I am totally "out of it" this morning. My ears are ringing and I feel like a hangover...had many crazy dreams the last two nights.
I am mourning the loss of a very dear friend, but I am unable to cry and release any of the emotions. I've had the shakes a few times, and mostly I don't like the kind of out-of-myself feeling, or lack of feeling, I am experiencing. I want to stop taking this drug, but from what I'm reading, I will have withdrawal symptoms, even after such a short time....????

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.