This drug has saved my sanity. I have been on and off Effexor 3 or 4 times. If you do not go off of this drug slowly it can cause terrible side effects. If taken as the doctor prescribes, it is great.
Most voted negative review
27 People found this comment helpful
(No side effects, absolutely zero. )Well I thought this was working until it got worse and worse, which I think was from quitting Lexapro.I quit taking effexor a couple days ago after taking for three months (No withdrawal whatsoever, which obviously means it wasn't working) Quitting my Lexapro was harder than any medication I've ever quit and I have realized how good it actually does work for me....
Anonymous | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months |
9/27/2007
Condition: Panic Disorder
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
it worked for a while then i had to keep increasing dosage.
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Anonymous | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
9/27/2007
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Helped a lot with depression.
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Anonymous | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
9/26/2007
Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
You cannot drink alcohol while taking this medication. If you do drink, only limit to one alcoholic beverage per hour. For mania and BPD symptoms, this drug works well in combination with Lamictal (an anti-convulsant). This combo treatment helps immensely. Talk to your doctor about it.
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Anonymous | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
9/25/2007
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
It has been helpful with depressive symptoms and soothed some of my generalized anxiety symptoms, though not as much of the latter as I'd like.
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Anonymous | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
9/25/2007
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I have less outbursts, but I still feel somewhat depressed. I somtimes have feelings of intense rage.
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Anonymous |
9/25/2007
Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I still have violentness against family and friends. I have black outs and do not remember doing things.
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Anonymous | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
9/25/2007
Condition: Panic Disorder
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I could tell a difference in 24 hours
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GINGER | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
9/25/2007
Condition: Repeated Episodes of Anxiety
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I TAKE THE XR AND IT IS JUST ONE PILL A DAY IT DOES CAUSE AN ISSUE WITH GAS. IT IN COMBINATION OF POSITIVE LITITURE AND COUNCELING MY EPISODES ARE ALMOST NON EXISTANT NOW BEFORE I WAS HAVING ANXIETY ABOUT ALL THE WHAT IF'S AND CONSTANTLY WORRY ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILY WHERE I HAD THESE ALMOST UNCONTROLABLE "MOVIES" OF BAD THING HAPPENIG TO ME AND MY LOVEONES I WAS LIVING IN FEAR OF DEATH OR SOME TYPE OF ACCEDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN I HAD LIVE WITH THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS TILL FINALLY I MADE THAT HUGE STEP TO SEE MY DR. A FEW TIME I HAVE FORGOTTEN TO TAKE IT AND I DO EXPERIENCE SETBACKS OF WORRY OR I REALIZE THAT I FEEL ODD LIKE ITS HARD TO FOCUS MY VISION AND I THEN FEEL A BIT SICK BUT I REMEMBER THAT I FORGOT MY PILL SO I TAKE IT AND IN ABOUT 20MIN TO 45MIN LATER I FEEL FINE AGAIN (NORMAL) I GET MORE SLEEP TOO. I'VE ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING AT NIGHT. IT DOSENT PUT ME TO SLEEP I JUST DON'T WORRY ABOUT EVERY LITTLE THING AND MY BRAIN QUIETS DOWN AND I CAN JUST GET IN THE BED AND GO TO SLEEP WITH MY HUSBAND. IT HAS NOT AFFECTED MY SEX DRIVE EITHER AS SOME ANTIDEPRESSANTS CAN. I STILL FEAL STRESS FROM LIFE HAVING A 2 YEAR OLD... BUT IT HAS REALLY HELPED WITH MY ANXIETY/DEPRESSIONRead More Read Less
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rwilliams | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
9/24/2007
Condition: Repeated Episodes of Anxiety
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
3
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Beachcomber2009 | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
9/24/2007
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Working fairly well. No noticeable side effects.
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Anonymous | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
9/24/2007
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Still had episodes of severe depression. Sexual side effects. Withdrawal symptoms are very unpleasant. Also expensive if you don't have insurance. I would NOT take this drug again.
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Anonymous | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
9/23/2007
Condition: Panic Disorder
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I Feel much better on this drug. The only thing that I hate is having to make sure that I eat when I take it.
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Me312 | 19-24 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
9/23/2007
Condition: Bipolar Depression
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Be careful to EAT when on this drug. If I did not have a FULL stomach, I would be very disoriented, and experience elevated body temperature & vomiting.
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Edana | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
9/23/2007
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
I was on Prozac for years, and the doctor wanted to try Effexor XR. Within four months, I was suicidal and totally withdrawn. Saw a medicine specialist who put me on Wellbutrin, but I am still on the Effexor XR. It has proven nearly impossible to get off of it, unless I am willing to spend three weeks in a locked psychiatric ward. It doesn't seem to do anything until we try to titer me off the drug (300mg daily). Then I am in awful pain, sick, nauseated, and have to get back on it again. I am 61 years old and have a terminal illness. Considering that I should have been dead a year ago, I am just not willing to be shut away from husband and family for three weeks. My personal opinion is that the entire inventory of Effexor XR should be burned!Read More Read Less
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[email protected] | 25-34 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
9/23/2007
Condition: Other
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
ALTHOUGH IT GIVES ME THE JITTERRS IT SEEMS TO BE OVERALL EFFECTIVE
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sara | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year |
9/22/2007
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Ilost a sister 6mth later had open heart surgery and 4 mth later lost a friend and 4mth later lost my son witha blood clot 31 yr old I would say this was grief and depression and this drug put meaay from reality,I am off the drug ,and searching for a good grief counsellor take ativan occasionally
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Anonymous |
9/21/2007
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 2.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
GRADUALLY MOVING UP TO THE DOSE MY DOCTOR WANTED ME TO TAKE WAS CRAZY...I FELT VERY FUNNY AND SAW TRACERS ALL DAY. WHEN MY BODY ADJUSTED I WAS...OK...BUT GOD FORBID I NOT TAKE IT AT THE EXACT TIME OF DAY EACH DAY, OR I FELT AWFUL...FUZZY BRAIN FEELINGS, HEADACHES, IRRITABILITY, EYE PAIN...IT WAS TERRIBLE... AND WHEN I DECIDED TO GET OFF THE STUFF....IT TOOK ME ALMOST A MONTH TO GET THROUGH THE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS....WHICH WERE THE SAME EXPLAINED BUT 100 TIMES WORSE...I COULD NOT SEE STRAIGHT NOR COULD I FUNCTION!!!! THIS DRUG WAS MADE SO YOU CAN NEVER GET OFF OF IT....IT IS AN AWFUL MEDICATION! I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE, AND IF YOU HAVE STARED, DEMAND SOMETHING ELSE TO YOUR DOCTOR.Read More Read Less
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Anonymous | 35-44 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
9/21/2007
Condition: Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Has changed my mood, and restored some of my energy level
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Anonymous | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
9/20/2007
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
Worked well for me, but has caused sexual side effects and constipation.
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Anonymous | 35-44 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
9/20/2007
Condition: Depression
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
This drug resolved my depression after several others could not. I felt great. When my insurance changed it was no longer covered and cost hundreds of dollars every month. Can't afford it!
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