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3.5 Overall Rating

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Most voted positive review

108 People found this comment helpful

Effexor has worked for me every time. Recently I had another episode of depression after a stressful work situation and not pursuing my own goals and hobbies. As it always happens I had forgotten how horrible depression is and I also had some doubts: would Effexor work again? I was very worried for the first two weeks. I read some negative reviews and thought maybe this time the medication would n...

Most voted negative review

7 People found this comment helpful

Unfortunately, my 25 year-old son's depression worsened and he thought he could correct it by taking a second pill. This unfortunately led him to commit suicide December 5, 2007. Please, please be careful and read the information provided.

Shared reviews and ratings

Leena | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
11/24/2023
Condition: Repeated Episodes of Anxiety
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I love my effexor! For a while, I was only taking 37.5 and, while I knew it was helpful when I took it, I was noncompliant, drinking a lot, and overall not getting the full benefits. My doctor increased me to 75 about a month ago and I feel great! Although I feel like my anxiety is a baseline personality trait of mine, I feel as though Effexor calms my nerves - my body isn’t as tense and I feel physically more relaxed. I still think a lot, but I no longer worry. The only side effect I truly have is that it really killed my sex drive. I also have to be careful how much I drink alcohol because it definitely makes me drunk fast. However, the benefit of being happy is totally worth it, I truly enjoy my life on this medication.Read More Read Less

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Beth | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
8/29/2023
Condition: Major Depressive Disorder
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

My new doctor wanted to take me off Lexapro to see if Effexor would more effectively treat my anxiety and depression. I have not had a good experience. The first week I had two panic attacks , body tremors, and extreme headaches. I also started to get really irritable at work which is never a good thing. Now I am on my third week and the headaches are continuing and I noticed that I feel hot all the time. But the most disturbing thing is the extreme rage I have been feeling. This is not acceptable at work or in any situation where I interact with people. Everyone has different experiences but this medication is not working for me. Best wishes to all.Read More Read Less

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Anonymous | Female | On medication for 10 years or more | Patient
7/19/2023
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I've been on this med for years. Seems to help my depression and anxiety well enough that I can function every day for work. But, does make me drowsy and is difficult to stop taking.

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Mozart | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
7/7/2023
Condition: Repeated Episodes of Anxiety
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have been on Effexor twice. Mostly due to issues around a high stress work environment and a change in jobs and location after 20 years. I have had mild anxiety for most of my life but was able to deal with it for the most part. Eventually I broke down and the anxiety just got to the point it had a severe impact on my ability to work, sleep, eat, exercise and enjoy life. My doctor tried several different meds, and finally landed on Effexor. It took about a month before it started to work. The only real side effects were loss of libido, and more frequent bowel movements. I was on 75mg XR dose. I did notice after about 4 months, that I was going mentally numb. I didn't have a lot of motivation, and felt that I was getting to a point of being totally devoid of feeling any type of emotion. No sadness, no anger, no happiness. Just there. When COIVID hit and I started working from home, I decided to slowly ween myself off. It was over a 6 week time frame. I had been on the Effexor for about 9 months. I basically just cut the dose by about 20% each week. I did have periods of confusion, headaches, brain fog and dizziness. Then when I was off it, it took about 3 months for me to fill normal again. I have since gone back on it after having been off of it for about 15 months as the anxiety attacks came back. The 2nd time around it's not working as well. I found myself disoriented and lost on several walks with my dog and trails I have been on many times. Have had my wife ask me where I was going when we were driving somewhere, and then realizing I had no idea where I was going. It doesn't have the same effect of numbing, and my anxieties are still there but maybe not quite as strong. I have since the past few weeks started feeling a bit nervous for no reason, and have had some mild chest/heart pains. I have started to slowly reduce the amount in hopes of eventually weening off it again. But this time going much slower with 10% reduction in dosage. I have just started the process, so we will see if taking the next 10 weeks to will reduce symptoms. I have a visit with my doctor in a few weeks and will talk to him about my symptoms and tapering off or at least reducing to 37.5 mg dose and see how things go. Read More Read Less

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Charlotte | 75 or over | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
4/13/2023
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 2.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

This medication was promised to have no side effects like an SSRI that gave me rectal bleeding which was listed as a side effect. I was recovering from an acute diverticulitis event. Then with this medication it gave me major constipation which I was battling to prevent a colon perferation or worse. I found constipation in the long list of side effects. After 2 days only I was a wreck. Crying and feeling like I was going crazy. No BM for 5 days or more. I had to quit per my doctor. I even had withdrawal symptoms after just 2 days.Read More Read Less

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Von | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
3/27/2023
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I feel that this medication helped me overall to avoid spirals of depression, as well as limiting the effects of menopause. If you miss or are late with your pills you will feel it the next day, I sometimes had angry and depressed mood. Also, do not take alcohol or canabis whilst on this, as your depression will return promptly. I have come off it 3 times, once was easy peasy, once was horrific, and right now, hopefully for the last time, I have flu-like symptoms which have kept me from going to work. If you have depression, first try B complex and other vitamins, diet, exercise and meditation. They may work better. Read More Read Less

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Jeff | 35-44 | Male | Patient
3/15/2023
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

After years of fluoxetine not really working for me or doing much at all (dysthymia, anxiety), I finally decided to make he effort to find something better. While venlafaxine didn’t worsen my depression, it began to make me extremely irritable (150mg/day dose) to the point where I almost snapped at people, something I would never do. The dry mouth symptom wasn’t too bad and I did feel a warm / numb sensation in my man part which was odd! Hopefully this will work better for others.

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Link | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
2/19/2023
Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

This medicine has given me my life back. I was severely depressed after Prozac stopped working. I was on high doses of all my depression medications. Now I’m on 150mg Effexor and I don’t need such high doses of everything else. It also gives me energy which is nice. It’s not as good for my anxiety, but it helps me a lot with my depression.

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Anonymous | Female | On medication for 10 years or more |
12/16/2022
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I can say with confidence that this medication truly saved my life. Depression runs in both sides of my family and it made life nearly impossible for me when I reached 19. There was nothing happening in my external life that made me sad, my brain chemistry was simply off. I started taking Effexor and within 4 days I felt NORMAL again, I am so grateful for everything Effexor has allowed me to accomplish and enjoy. I was able to travel again, work and feel like myself. I know everyone’s physiology and brain chemistry is unique and unfortunately it might not work for everyone but don’t give up hope!! If you are reading this it’s not your fault, depression is a real disease and it’s OK to take medication. work with your doctor to find the right one and When you do, the light will shine again! Read More Read Less

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Anonymous | 45-54 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
12/10/2022
Condition: Other
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

My doctor prescribed the medication @37.5 mg to treat severe hot flashes. After about 2 weeks of use I felt 99% better. The only problems I have with medication is it makes me sick to my stomach and dizzy so I take medication at night. It also causes me to dream lot. And it also seems to have increased my appetite. As well as my breast are very tender.

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Anonymous | 45-54 | Male | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
11/30/2022
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Brian fog and increased anger and depressive episodes. Couldn't function. Was isolating myself. Within 2 days of not taking it we started to see drastic improvement. Dr advised to discontinue immediately. The sense of relief of how I feel off of it is amazing. 10/10 Do NOT recommend.

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Haawk | 45-54 | Male | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Caregiver
11/20/2022
Condition: Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

My husband has been on these pills for more than a year. He's had bad symptoms all along, like dry mouth, inability to do anything, sleep problems, cognitive decline. Sometimes he forgot to take his pill which increased withdrawal symptoms and sudden irrational explotions of anger. We have had more problems than we ever did before since he started on the pills, we don't have sex. Vicious quarrels. He's been reducing the dosages himself and the last five days he didn't take any if it at all. We are going through hell right now. He's crying, then exploding in anger. This drug should be illegal.Read More Read Less

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Anonymous | 19-24 | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
9/12/2022
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I got angry, violent, and tried to kill myself on effexor. It made me have dry mouth, anxiety, tremors, and I was tired all the time. I've taken at least 70 medicines throughout my life with nothing working. No benefits but I'm medicine resistant so nothing else has worked either

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Anonymous | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
7/5/2022
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I started taking this medication after a relapse of depression. The first few days I had horrible sleep and a dry mouth. Week 2 I noticed I was having less anxious/compulsive thoughts. After a month I was no longer having fits of panic due to anxiety. I felt in control of my thoughts and feelings. I became much happier and cried significantly less. No longer having any side effects. I have my life and personality back.

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Auditmom | 25-34 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
6/22/2022
Condition: Other
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I was put on this medication to treat Bipolar and anxious distress. I took a gene sight test that said i would metabolize this medication normally/safely. While I have not had any bad side effects, I have experienced a decrease in motivation to do anything, significantly more than I did before I was put on this medication. For the first three or four days I woke up every two hours. Week two of taking the medication I found myself taking two hour naps every day. I have small children who need my attention and this has not been helpful to my daily schedule. Read More Read Less

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baddrug | 25-34 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
4/9/2022
Condition: Neuropathic Pain
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have anxiety, migraines, possible fibromyalgia, and some hormonal issues. I'd taken Prozac, Buspar, and Cymbalta at different times in my life before and had some mild side effects like upset stomach, feeling tired, more anxiety, etc but nothing major at all. My neurologist and psychiatrist both suggested Effexor since it can help with migraines and chronic pain. I was scared of the withdrawal and possible side effects and all these reviews but the headaches were so frequent I needed to do something. Big mistake! Day one I felt nauseous, my visions floaters/migraine aura disappeared, but I felt the worst brain fog and disorientation of my life. I got lost in an elevator. By the evening I felt a lot better and more upbeat. Day two I got so nauseous I puked, and I could not turn my eyes to the side without feeling violently ill. I got this weird feeling the medicine was something really heavy and altering my brain so quick. Day three I dumped out half the beads from the 37.5 capsule to see if that would be any better. More puking, and a panic attack followed by the WORST ocular migraine of my life. I could not see virtually anything for three hours and had a splitting headache all night. Days after I had a mild headache and was too tired to function. Also it made my back pain worse, not better. 10/10 guaranteed to make your headache worse not better. Read More Read Less

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Frank | 19-24 | Male | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Caregiver
3/25/2022
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

My son after coming back from Afganistan had major depression problems. The VA doctor prescribed Effexor and kept increasing the dosage. My son could not function due to the side effects which kept him from holding down a job. Which made him feel even more inadequate and severly depressed. In September 2019 when I stopped by to see him, I found he had taken his life. Maybe this will help somone else who is dealing with a person with mental illness, don't let doctors ever tell you that there is a majic pill that will help cure mental illness, it only made my son worse in the long run.Read More Read Less

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Maggie | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
3/12/2022
Condition: Major Depressive Disorder
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have been on every depression med in the book it feels like and I was very skeptical of Effexor because of the side effects. But in such a bad time in my life, I decided to try it and i’m so glad I did. My depression has been so much more manageable than before and I don’t even have episodes any more. It does not work for everyone but it has been my actual LIFESAVER!!

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Hammer | 35-44 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
2/23/2022
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

This is the fourth anti-anxiety/depression medication I've tried and it's been the best -- by far. Not only is it helping with my constant anxiety and regular depression, it seems to have the least side effects. I also finally have my sex drive back.

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Sara | 25-34 | Transgender | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
8/2/2021
Condition: Major Depressive Disorder
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I was prescribed this medication and it induced hypo mania. Bipolar doesn't run in my family, and I've not had any episodes prior to starting treatment with Effexor.

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