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10/1/08 |
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This is the WORST of the worst for me, as far as antidepressants go. I oriigianlly tried Zoloft, and while I did not feel the extreme lows of depression, I also never had the extreme "high" of living life--I never had a "great" day. I was just kida even-steven all the time, never laughing or crying......it sucked. Then my doctor got me to try Effexor. NEVER, EVER, NEVER AGAIN. This is the first drug that I could literally forget to take, and within 1-2 hours of it being time to dose again (within a 24 hour period) my body would scream "GIVE ME MY DRUG!!!:" I too had the zapping feeling, the dizziness, the mild hallucinations, and all that jazz. I would try to describe it to someone, and if they hadn't ever actually taken Effexor then they would never understand what I was trying to explain. It was like I would turn my head, and then 1/5th of a second later it actually FELT like I had turned my head, if that makes any since. I absolutely hated coming off of this bad boy. It's not worth |
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5/23/08 |
5 |
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4 |
5 |
Before taking anti-depressants I used to think it was a bunch of bunk - that they were simply placebos. Well, after being on SNRI's for about 7 months now, I have changed my mind. I started on Cymbala, but changed to Effexor XR after a month due to the VA not carrying Cymbalta anymore. I was bumbed up from 37.5 to 75 to 125 and then finally 225. I suppose that is more than others normally take, but it seems to be working for me. I felt a little absent-minded the first few weeks. That eventually went away. Now, I'm much more positive about life and I actually desire to do things. Why the low side effects rating? Well, it's not really for the adjustment I made while I was getting used to the drug, but rather the effect of the withdrawal. Even though I have not officially stopped taking the drug, I have had problems with withdrawal. Let me explain. DO NOT SKIP OR MISS DOSES WITH THIS DRUG. I did not receive my new prescription and I was off Effexor for 3 days. |
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5/14/08 |
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i felt like i was being poisoned. I was dizzy i had halucinations...and most of all i have an anxiety disorder. The fact the i was seeing random colors in the air made my anxiety worse. my doctor said the ends would justify the means but the means never happend and i just got sicker. nausea started and by then i couldn't take it anymore. |
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4/30/08 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
I was on this drug for one year. The very first month, I had the severe headaches, memory loss, the shocking sensations, my entire body was shakey, and I had slight hallucinations. I told my doctor and he said he thought the benefits would outweight the side effects, and the side effects should be gone in a few weeks. Well, they soon did stop, and my anxiety and depression were completely gone within 5 or 6 months. After 11 months, the doc decided to taper me off the drug, and all the side effects returned. I took the lowest dose for almost a month, every other day. Finally they side effects decreased, with the shocking sensation and diziness lasting the longest. They completely stopped when I had been completely off the drug for about a week. For me, the side effects were worth it. I am feeling much better and happier. But I hope I never have to take it again! |
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4/28/08 |
2 |
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2 |
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I threw up and got restless legs within 2 37.5 doses of Effexor XR. I lost 10 lbs in one week and couldn't even FORCE myself to eat. I felt disconnected from the world, agoraphobic, my pupils were huge, I shook, was angry and disoriented. ALL OF THE LOWEST DOSE. I stopped it cold turkey after only one week-on the advice of my doctor-and 2 weeks later am still feeling the side effects. I have pains in my hands and feet. And my eyes are still slightly blurry. I believe it is ONLY a mtter of time before this drug is yanked from the Doctor's hands. THANK GOD. Do yourself a favour.....if you are prescribed this, SERIOUSLY research it and know that these HORROR stories are more likely to happen than not. I have since met people with Identical reactions to Effexor that I have had. DON"T TAKE THIS DRUG....eventually it will FAIL YOU MISERABLY!! |
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3/8/08 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Worst drug on the market. Brought out auditory hallucinations, and mania. Now have been diagnosed with bipolar 1. Cognitive reactions have never been the same. Have also experienced ADHD, short term memory loss and consistent rapid cycling. It is also more addictive than so-called DEA level 3 drugs. Any doctor can prescribe it; most have no idea about its side effects. It is not considered an addictive drug because one somes not mentally crave it; ridiculous and hypocritical, typical of how our government perceives drugs. Please be aware of the dangers of taking any antidepressant or anticonvulsive drug. Demand that you receive responsible medical care. |
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7/31/07 |
4 |
2 |
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4 |
Ive been on this drug for 6 months now and it has worked wonders on my anxiety; more so than my depression, but it does still help. The only things i would complain about is you need to take it at the same time every day or you will have pretty bad naseua. ive had no weight gain, but i have lost almost all of my sex drive. so of course there are pros and cons. Ive tried prozac as well as zoloft and this one has worked the best for me, so if you dont mind putting your sex life on the back burner, than it works pretty well. |
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7/29/07 |
1 |
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i have been on this drug for almost 2 years and i have been trying to get off this drug for month but everytime i try i get the electric shoch feeling after about 10-12 hours i have to take the pill to make them stop. the first tiem i tryed to come off this pill i stoped to quickly and now if i stop taking it i will black out if i dont have it in my system after about 4 days.i never had a problem with standing up adn blacking out until i took this drug. the second time i was put back on it i now have a skin problem and that started after i was put back on it.(i cant stop itching) i wish they would take this drug off the market because the with drawls a horrible. |
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7/18/07 |
1 |
1 |
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my father committed sui cide after taking this drug 5 days. Please dont take this. RESEARCH IT!!!! |
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6/19/07 |
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3 |
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I only took this drug twice, because after taking it I was laid up in my bed for 2 days with severe migraine (couldn't lift my head off the pillow without pain shooting through it) and nausea (so bad I couldn't eat without wanting to vomit). Refuse to continue taking it. After reading other peoples experiance with it as well, I don't want to take it either http://theeffexoractivist.org/index.html |
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6/14/07 |
4 |
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3 |
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I am tapering off of this drug, which i've also been on several times in the past. It does help my mood (not as much as i'd like), but it increases my anxiety slightly, and gives me anorgasmia, which was never a problem until I got into a relationship. I know from past experience that the withdrawal symptoms are pretty harsh (not as bad as paxil or luvox, though!). The patent hasn't expired, so it's not available in generic form yet, so you might have trouble convincing your insurance company to authorize it. It was like pulling teeth every time my dosage was increased. In order to be properly absorbed, effexor has to be taken with food, which is not always convenient. |
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6/6/07 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
I'VE BEEN ON EFFEXOR FOR MANY YEARS NOW & IT HAS DEFINITELY HELPED EASE MY DEPRESSION. *I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH LUCK W/ MANY OTHER SSRI'S, SO THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST USEFUL OF THE BUNCH. **DOWNSIDE: 1.TOO EXPENSIVE!! 2.INCREASED SWEATING 3.*WHENEVER I MISSED A DOSE I EXPERIENCED VERY STRANGE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDING HIGH ANXIETY, DIZZINESS, BIZARRE DREAMS/VISUAL DISTURBANCES, AND GENERALLY NOT FEELING WELL. |
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5/2/07 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
I took Effexor for a couple of months because I was having severe panic attacks. It made me really sick for the first week, I was throwing up, I lost 10 pounds, and I had some hardcore dizziness, and insomnia, then I felt like a zombie for about 2 wks. After that it was great it let me get back to my life and now I am really happy. I stopped taking Effexor by weening myself of I went from 75mg ever other day the down to 35mg every other day. Then every 2 days every 3 days and so on it took me about a month to ween off of it and I had little side effects, just a bit of dizziness and nausea. I would use this drug again if I ever needed too. |
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4/19/07 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
This drug should be BANNED! It is a violation to give this to ANYONE, bordering on CRIMINAL. It is as bad as many illegal drugs, the withdrawals are just as bad or worse that with most. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG! |
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3/25/07 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
Have been on Effexor ER for 4 months. I was prescribed this after having the biggest panic attack ever (had moderate panic disorder, GAD, agoraphobia, for 30 years, currently unmedicated). The doctor saw me only for 10 minutes before prescribing it, and told me nothing about it. I have to admit now after hearing all the stories about discontinuation effects, etc, i would never have tried it, but I trusted him and it was an emergency. Anyway, initially had some side effects:for 1st 2 weeks: no hunger, bit nauseous, daytime sleepy, nighttime awoke up 10 x. Anxious and fearful, but had that anyway so i would not attribute it to the Effexor. Finally feel fairly good after one month, coasting on 187.5 mg and now working on the agoraphobia. Still have nauseous moments during the day, at night some wierd dreams, wake to pee urgently 1-2x per nt, some sweatiness, but overall, I am much more calm, have less anger or fear, no dread, am more accepting of change, things are getting better! |
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3/14/07 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
started at 75 mg, saw a bit of improvement. Moved up to 150 mg, and saw a huge improvement! Really like this drug, helps with moods, and depression |
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3/13/07 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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i was on this med for anxiety and mild OCD. If I missed my dose by 30minutes, I was so dizzy I could barely stand up; let alone drive or do anything a mom of two was supposed to do. I was told there was no other alternative to helping me with my problem. I started seeing a chiropractor who advised me to TRY to get off the meds. I slowly weaned my self PROPERLY and guess what?...I was wrongfully diagnosed and I am just fine today...NO MEDS!! Makes you wonder how many doctors are prescribing to make a buck! I STRONGLY do not reccommmend this or any anti-depressant. My uncle killed himself in October and we found out after that the drug he was on for the same thing made people have suicidal tendencies. ALL of these drugs scare me to death!! |
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1/25/07 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
It made me develop a type iv hypersensitivity and I broke out in dangerous hives and angioedema 8 months after I started. My dose at the time was 150mg. In addition, the withdrawal is terrible and should always be done under the supervision of a doctor. |
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1/16/07 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
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I would not recommend Effexor to anybody. Since taking it I have developed an extreme high blood pressure (204/112) and gained 40 lbs. My sex drive is almost non-existant, and I feel like a paper-thin 2D version of myself. Feelings of genuinity and reality are gone, & you feel as if you're living in a dream world most of the time. Forget missing a day on this pill. I tried to foolishly ween myself off of this horrendous pill, and within a week I was having brain spasms, trouble walking, and incoherently talking to myself and having bouts of schitzophrenia. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PILL. It should be taken off the market immediately. The first couple weeks I took it, it did wonders. Like most SSRIs, I experienced an increase in suicidal thoughts - but I felt a cushion that would keep me from going overboard. Pretty soon those effects wore off and after 6 months of taking them they're causing all sorts of major health problems for me. I feel I'm due for a stroke any minute at 19. DON'T TAKE!! |
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1/13/07 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
This drug has helped me a lot since I began taking it, last October[it's January now]. I'm on 75mg of Effexor XR Venlafavine HCL, one pill a day. Before I took it, I was a mess. I cried constantly, I could not be alone at all. Just seeing someone sign in on msn would make my stomach coil and my heart skip beats. I had the worst anxiety. I could not leave my house. At school I had to be with a friend. I was obsessive compulsive about my friends, even though they treated me like****. When I took the drug, I could leave my house freely and even shop by myself. I managed to tell my****ty friends to **** off, and even make new friends. I wasn't shy anymore. I have not cried since. I could care less weither someone is with me at all times or not. I didn't get angry anymore, and absolutely all thoughts of self-harm and suicide were gone. My marks in class skyrocketed because I could now pay attention. This drug helped me turn my life around for the better; no side effects, too! |
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12/6/06 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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7 months ago I went to the doctor because my stress was getting to me in the form of gad. I was placed on effexor fx 75. It was great for the first few months. I loved it. That is all gone now. Somewhere along the line the nightmare began. I am now getting off of it. As I am writingthis I am locked in my room. Rage, brain zaps,and all the other side effects have taken over my life and I am not able to even function. I went from a 4.0 student to being forced to take incompletes. I hate the makers of this med because there was nothing wrong with me before I started it. I was a little stressed. All the people who write good on here are new to it. I feel for them when they hit the drop off. |
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12/5/06 |
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This has got to the worse drug on the market. I was on for 3 years and am now off and still experiencing terrible side effects, dizziness, light headed, inability to sleep and inability to think clearly. My ability to feel any emotions on this drug was nill and now everything seems to be crashing in. Any doctor who prescribes this medicine should clearly advise patient of the terrible side effects. It should be taken off the market. Lyn |
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12/4/06 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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For anyone who has side effects to ths drug, look out. I see that some of you find this drug helpful, watch out for changes as you continue to take it. I see many of the horrible side effects that I had, repeated over and over by others in this listing. I believe I have had long term horrible side effects from this drug. |
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11/21/06 |
3 |
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My girl friend took this for about 10 months. Midway through use, her appetite for sex dropped to negative. Sex is repulsive and sickening, painful. She has had constant brain shivers for probably about month since quitting. She wish she never took this drug and is taking wellbutrin now for depression, libido and help for getting off of Effexor. |
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11/20/06 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
I have been taking all kinds of medications over the years and this one was horrible. My personal experience with it was..........well like I was taking legal meth. I couldn't eat OR concentrate and when I FINALLY fell asleep I woke up with 10,000,000,000, etc. thoughts running through my head. NO THANKS!! |
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11/17/06 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
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Dear GOD... if your Dr. suggests this, RUN! Run as fast and as far as you can. IT IS HELL! The side effects are HORRIBLE. I quit taking 2 yrs ago it and I still have memory, mood, and the weird shocks, and on and on from this drug. From what I've read in other forums there are some people that continue to have these effects for many many years after discontinuing. This med has far too many side effects and should ONLY be used in extreme cases (if ever) as a last resort, and doctors should be sued for not making the long term side effects perfectly clear! This med has made my life hell. Effexor XR is WORSE. The non-extended release made me so sick to my stomach that I lost quite a bit of weight (which is great) but I felt so lousy I just wanted to curl up and die (I tried to make that happen while on it, and coming off it). These side effects are permanent, my life is SO screwed up because of the memory problems it caused. |
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11/15/06 |
3 |
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I would say my mood improved when I started taking this but it was just the initial buzz from all the extra serotonin flowing around in my brain. I am now terribly anti social and prefer being alone all the time. I feel no need to connect socially to anyone at all. I also have terrible night sweats and sweating in general. I'm like a wet blanket now. |
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11/14/06 |
3 |
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4 |
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I started effexor for panic attacts, I had been on prozac but didnt like the sexual side effects. When I first started the med I was a zombie, all I could do was sleep, and hardly walk. It passed though, but since I've been taking it I have had sever depression. I've asked my doc about changing and she insists that its not the med, its the madness going on in my life. So just keep close tabs and always research your medications that your doctor prescribes. They make mistakes too. I'm a nurse so I've seen it. Look meds up on the web or invest in a medication guide. |
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11/7/06 |
5 |
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4 |
4 |
Effexor xr has helped me greatly compared to many other drugs that slow me down and didn't work on my depression. |
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10/4/06 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
This drug helped to save my life. I had absolutely no side effects. I eventually took myself cold turkey off of it ( I know you are not supposed to but I was young and stupid) and I still experienced no side effects. It really helped with my deppression and anxiety. But now the doctors say I am bipolar because the last time I took it I went manic. |
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10/2/06 |
2 |
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1 |
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UGGGH! STAY AWAY FROM THIS DRUG AT ALL COSTS!!! It should be called "Side-Effexor". Emotional range of a toothpick, dizzyness, no libido, and persistent ringing in your ears is what you have to look forward too with this drug - oh, and it will take you a while to get off it, if you ever can (some people apparently can't). I was on it for a month, and it took me that long to stop having side-effects, they actually got WORSE after I stopped taking this evil little pill. PLEASE try something else and/or do a LOT of research for yourself before you mess up your brain chemistry for life! |
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9/22/06 |
5 |
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5 |
5 |
I have tried several different drugs to combat depression and ocd... effexor is the only drug that has helped me... i take 150xr and i finally feel normal and capable of living a full life... the only side effect i have had is a decrease in appetite... this helps since i have struggled with bulemia for years... i no longer have the desire to practice my eating disorder... i can honestly say this drug saved my life... and with insurance... it afforable and worth the price... |
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9/5/06 |
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1 |
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Made me crazy, suicial and caused me to enter a psychiatric hospital, became angry, started cutting my own skin, seeing and hearing things that weren't there. Doctors said it caused medication induced psychosis. |
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8/30/06 |
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3 |
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caused me strange anxiety feelings,elevated blood pressure,somedizziness <hypertension related i suspect>insomnia,nausea,loss of appetite,dry mouth mostly at night.urinary urgency,t.i.as. panic attacks more freqent due to other symptoms |
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8/20/06 |
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stay away from this drug!!!!! |
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7/30/06 |
1 |
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5 |
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I found that this drug gave me every side effect in the book that anti depressants can cause. I couldn't think, couldn't sleep, couldn't funtion, couldn't climax sexually, I just could not tollerate this drug. I took it for anxiety, but this just made it ten times worse. I had to stop with in days of starting treatment. My experience with this and lexapro have made me gun shy of trying ANY anti depressants (exceptions- nortryptaline and trazadone). The fact is Xanax works the best for me for anxiety, but everyone is so afraid of getting duped by drug-seekers, that they won't prescibe stuff that really works. |
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7/26/06 |
4 |
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I have been on effexor xr for 5 weeks due to panick attacks. I was troubled by my blood work coming back high for cholesterol. Thats all I could think about night and day it was taking my life over. I felt as though I was handed a death sentence. I lost my mother in law to massive heart attack and my father in law had a heart transplant. I began to panick over my own health so much that I was only eating fruit for lunch, dinner and exericising 6 times a day. I told the doctor about my panick attacks and he prescribed effexor xr. I have been on 75mg once a day for five weeks, the first two were tough w/not being able to sleep and waking up soaking wet. I spoke to the doctor and recommend I give it time. I'm thankful I no longer have panick attacks. This medicine really show me how wonderful life is. I a little nervous about coming off the medicine but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. |
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6/14/06 |
5 |
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This drug changed me from a C student to a straight A student. Made me relaxed enough to be able to study and remember everything. I'm nicer to people, I don't get 1% mad as I was getting before, made me a good and successful person! drawback is quite big: makes me get tired quite quick, and just make being tired really bad, every time i'm suppose to be a little tired i'm actually feeling like I didn't sleep for 3 days. Also stomach issues, my stomach is suffering so much from it I feel like i'm tired only because of my stomach, but hey! NO DEPRESSION, NO ANXIETY, NO OCD, LESS A.D.D and BETTER LIFE, so.. |
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4/4/06 |
5 |
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5 |
5 |
I had heard some of the horror stories about this drug and when my doc suggested I try it, I was a bit hesitant. I am so glad I took my doctor's advise and gave it a try. I have been on 150mg for 5 weeks now and everything is going great. It took about 2 weeks to see any change but it was all positive except for the delayed orgasm situation. I have a very patient husband who is more than happy to help me with this "problem". I try and take the medication everyday at the same time but I have found if I do forget and I am 4-5 hours late I have not had any side effects. This drug is expensive but the reason I rated the value as good is I have good prescription coverage and for the $62.50 it costs me for a 3 month prescription I feel great. I don't feel I need this drug specifically for depression; but for controlling my generalized anxiety disorder, which has been controlling my life for the past 30 years. I just hope its effectiveness does not wear off over time. |
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3/3/06 |
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Avoid this HORRIBLE drug - read about the HELLISH experiences people have trying to get off of it - it took me MONTHS (at least six) for the SEVERE withdrawals to stop. At one point, I even landed in the emergency room due to the HORRIBLE problems with Effexor. |
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2/11/06 |
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Very exspensive, was ok at first helped make things better but then I started feeling like I had to go home and commite suicide. Not good. Hard to come off but do it it is worth it life is sweeter without it. |
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1/27/06 |
5 |
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Made me feel much better almost immediately. |
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12/25/05 |
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This is the drug from Hell! I ended up in the emergency room the first time I tried to get off of it (and I was under the doctor's "supervision" - do a search on the 'net to find out about the HORRIBLE problems people have trying to get off of this nightmare. Avoid! |
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12/16/05 |
4 |
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No dramatic improvement, but this drug generally brought me up. I took it for 3 years. My dose ranged from 150 to 225mg/day. No side effects. Just a general increase in energy and joy in life. Small lift, not a "night-and-day" effect, but it helped me. One problem, you need to be weened off it or it will give you headaches. Takes about a month to eliminate it from your system. |
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11/10/05 |
5 |
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I have been taking it for 2yrs. now. I agree that if you miss a dose or don't take it at the same time everyday, you will get sick. I was taking 75mg but I was getting headaches & nausea. My doctor then put me on 150mg & it works great. The only side effects I have is no appetite sometimes & night sweats. This drug is expensive but it helps my depression & suicidal thoughts, so whatever it takes. |
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10/10/05 |
5 |
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I was on this medication for years because I was extremely depressed. I had tried zoloft but it didn't seem to have any effect on me so I switched to this one. While I was on it I felt great, unless I forgot to take it. When I forgot my head felt funny in a really bad way(i can't really describe that feeling) and my stomach felt sick. It defintely did what it was supposed to do in making me feel better mentally, but with a lot of side effects afterwards. As soon as I stopped taking it I got sick. I was actually physically sick for a month with diarrhea. Every day when I woke up my first thought was "where the hell am i?". I had auditory hallucinations and heard detailed music coming from nowhere or from household objects, like big band music coming from a fan. I had horrible nightmares I don't even want to think about now. I was very disoriented and felt dizzy at times and nauseous. Anyway, it's a few years later&I've never taken any meds after that and I feel better than I ever have. |
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10/10/05 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
made me speedy and my hands shaky at only 75mg. it was a pure waste |
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9/20/05 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
While on this medication, I felt better, emotionally, but I started having vision problems (I have never had real problems with my eyes). I would be sensitive to lights and was constantly worried about sharp objects (even when the thing I was close to wasn't sharp, it looked sharp to me). I got off of this and started on Wellbutrin XL (buproprion) but then had to get off this and go on Zoloft, which I do much better on. |
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9/8/05 |
4 |
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3 |
3 |
worked well, better at high doses. side effects noticed include B.O. and increased persperation. withdrawl was a ride. too expensive |
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9/5/05 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
If you are awesome about taking it at exactly the same time every day, it is pretty great, but be careful, being late to take it will cost you your whole day. It is kinda like being hungover if you don't take it. |
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9/1/05 |
3 |
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3 |
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This was the only drug that made any improvement on my mood and anxiety level. Though, I was on a relatively high dose (337.5 MGs). It gave me that "numb," flat-lining feeling. The withdrawal symptoms were miserable. |
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8/28/05 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
This medicine was the only thing that worked with my anixety and depression. It is amazing, it is like im back to my old self. |
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8/26/05 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
Wow! Bad constipation and it doesn't work that effectively. I've heard nothing but horror stories with this one. |
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8/16/05 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
I take 75mg of Effexor XR. It's ok. I don't have alot of options since I do need to function during the day to fit in w/the sane people. |
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8/4/05 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
I could not get past the nausea and dizziness this drug gave me. I was only on it for a few weeks before my doctor took me off. It did not do well with my system at all. |
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8/4/05 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Effexor is to the brain as madness to the Dane. Or: Effexor is to the brain as the West Wind to the rain. |
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7/31/05 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
This drug is essentially my only option, as I have a negative reaction to all SSRIs, the reaction being the onset of mania, paranoia, etc. Effexor does work, although you'll generally need to be at 150mg to get a good effect. About the only antidepressent those with bipolar disorders can take...also targets two chemicals instead of the SSRIs one.
The main drawback is attempting to get off of this medication. You will experience horrible, splitting headaches should you try to stop 'cold turkey'. You'll need to taper off of this one. |
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7/26/05 |
3 |
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5 |
3 |
It's mildly effective. But I have to take it at extremely high dose to see any effect - 450mg per day! |
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