User Reviews for Effexor XR oral

Have had long-term (since teens, now 50) depression. Both situational and chemical. Effexor has been best for overall effectiveness, but I still have some difficulty with depression. Some help is better than none and my alternative is a disabling depression during which I am unable to even get out of bed through the day. My Effexor treatment is supplemented with low dose Dexadrine. This is closely monitored by my MD. The help of Dexadrine is an often overlooked or underprescribed medication because of the unnecessarily fearful connection of the "speed" phenomenon - this is from a complete lack of education on the part of the MD as regards the usefulness of this medication, at proper times, to supplement the fatigue that can accompany depression.Read More Read Less

I have been on this for a long time and it has completely changed my moods and "bad" thoughts. I am happy again. The only side effect I notice is the lack of sexual desire but it did not decrease the intensity of my orgasm.

Sexual side effects, (reduced libido, delayed orgasm) make it less than ideal, but its an effective antidepressant.

Had no effect at all on my depression.

Taking Effexor helps me alot and makes me feel good.I have had alot of grieving in the past eight years,loss of children years ago.mental and physical abuse too.

i have ocd , and i have constipation.i am suffring with depresion too.

I have been taking this for 6 years with the last 3 years at 300mg. It works great, the key is to take it every day at the same time so you avoid horrible side effects. It causes me to sweat a lot, have night sweats, and slight excessive thirst, but i have pretty much learned to live with these. The drug did start to wear off as did zoloft, which I originally took, so I now take 20mg of lexapro too.

Best Thing I ever Did was ask for help!

I have taken 300mg daily of Effexor XR for over a year. I feel this has not helped my mood as expected and when I stopped I began having horrible side-effects. The most bothersome where what is described as "brain shocks" or "brain surges". They're not painful, however they happen repeatedly throughout the day and make me dizzy often. If I would have known about this side-effect that is rarely mentioned, I definitely would have thought again from taking this medication.

I take Effexxor XR 75mg, once a day, as I have for about 5 years. 75mg is the lowest dosage. It seems to be relatively effective. I have full medical insurance, yet the cost to fill my Effexxor has never been less than $97.00. Personally, I find that overly expensive. Most importantly, I'd caution any and everyone considering taking Effexxor to research its side effects beforehand. Personally, I found the side effects to be nothing short of nightmarish. I 'm very regimented about taking my Effexxor every day at roughly the same time everyday. On the rare occassion that I missed a dose, let's say on a Tuesday morning; by Wednesday morning & CERTAINLY by Wednesday evening, I am completely nauseous, my equilibrium is totally off kilter, my pupils begin to dilate, then decrease down to the size of a "pin dot", and alternate back & forth until I am able to take my next dose. I become extremely dizzy, and was literally afraid to drive my car. The side effects are so fierce, that I have only missed a dose perhaps 3 times in 5 years. Even then, it was a result of me unexpectedly having to stay overnight out of town on business - or some other extinuating circumstance. I don't mean to be disparaging, I'm simply an advocate of self education re: psychotherapeutic meds because every person reacts differently to any drug & often times, physicians can't quite fathom the toll certain aspects of certain drugs have on our personal health and lifestyle.Read More Read Less

It elevates my mood slightly, in general. Side effects are mild, however I went in to severe depression 2 out of the 3 times I attempted to come off the drug, once severely enough to be hospitalized.

Same as someone below said. Zero sex drive and big weight gain. Was on 150 mg and it took the edge off. Weaned off them and went through the normal withdrawal symptoms, brain shivers, random crying fits, and irritation. Lasted about two weeks but I am fine and drug free now. Withdrawal isn't the nightmare everyone advertises it as. Just do it slowly and under a doctor's supervision.

No sex drive, gained 30 pounds. How can I wean off this and on to something else. Someone mentioned going gradually on to Prozac while tapering off Effexor. My Family doc says "don't rock the apple cart" or some such nonsense.Help

do not really notice any differance in my fibrimyalgia.

While taking effexor xr for panic attacks, I would wake up in the mornings scared to death to be alone or felt like something was going to happen to me. I would have nightmares every night. I have much better results with paxil cr

I agree, Effexor was a nightmare. I gained 25 pounds, completely lost all desire to have sex, and became depressed. I started sleeping for 12-15 hours a night, and all I wanted to eat were sweets. It did not even help my anxiety all that much. In short, it caused more problems than it solved. I went on a diet, and I didn't even start to lose weight until I went off of the medication.

It worked great, but I've developed a tolerance to it, so I'm having to take 2x 75mg "as needed"....which seems to be more and more frequent. AND I am completely ADDICTED to it! I've tried to slowly reduce it, but the withdrawl symptoms are horrible! Heart palpitations, slight diziness....suceptability to anxiety. Going to try to switch to another med, heard lexapro is good from a friend who had the same problems.