Discussions

What are your experiences taking Effexor xr? Looking at some of the stories people have makes me scared. I'm currently on celexa, but Doc thinks I need a switch as I don't think the Celexa is working as it should. I've been on anti dep for a long time.  
 
Edited by Funnygirl26, 2019-12-27 12:20:17

I've been taking Effexor for 10 years... in my personal experience it is extremely hard to stop taking it once started. I've tried numerous times and the side effects become too overwhelming. I too suffered a bout of depression once upon a time. I currently take 37.5mg every other day...this is the lowest dosage I can get myself down to without suffering side effects. The worse side effect for me was/is brain zapps...  
 
Everybody is different however if I had to do it all over I would have never started taking Effexor. It did do what it was intended to do though.  
 
Edited by Brian D, 2019-12-27 12:23:12

I am on it. I have had no side effects, it has been working great.  
 
I will note that my Dr has already talked about having a plan in place to come off it as the longer you are on it the less likely/harder it is for you to come off. My depression is more situational than chronic (not sure if those are the correct terms) so that might make a difference too

I was on it 10+ years. Was fine at the start. But near the end even if I was 3 hours late taking a dose I’d have crazy withdrawal symptoms. Shakes, terrible headaches, nausea, ect. It was hard to get off but I gradually switched to bupropion and it seems to be much better.

I was on Effexor and stopping it was like going through a terrible withdrawal. I am so glad I found a support group on the Mayo Clinic website or I might still be on it. I was prescribed this drug for hot flashes and in hindsight I am really ticked off at the doc that prescribed it.  
 
While on it I felt zoned out - no ups or downs - just level all the time and that was why I wanted off. I understand if you are depressed or anxious, taking a drug to help you through is a good thing, but I wasn't and didn't really need to be on this stuff. I have been on celexa in the past and if needed I would go back to it, but NEVER will I ever take Effexor again.

Terrible side effects if you do take it & terrible side effects if you decide to wean off of it. Changed my other half permanently, very scary.  
I recommend reading some info and stories here:  
 
https://www.facebook.com/Effexor-Venlafaxine-The-Truth-372539906274011/  
 
& you can also join this fb group:  
https://www.facebook.com/groups/effexorsupportgroup/

Was on it for only 2 months and knew I had to get off it...slept like 12 hours a day and didn’t feel awake the other 12. Doc said I could go off it cold turkey (and go back to bupropion) because I had been on effexor such a short time. BAD idea! I’ve been 4 months off now and still have nasty brain zaps much of the day. My advice is if you have other options, don’t use this stuff.

Celexa has worked well for me for years. I can not have the generic brand though.  
A few years ago though, I didn't feel that it was working, so the Doctor had switched to another medication, but things were worse, and I went back on Celexa . The Doctor figured the problem was because they substituted to the generic form of Celexa , that is why it was not as effective .Ever since I've been on the name brand it's been good!

Thanks everybody for your comments. I am going to explore my options and opt out of this drug.

I have found it to be super helpful and gave none of the symptoms people have described above. It has turned my life around and really helping with my anxiety. I feel like my normal self again and I’m glad I’m taking it. I know everyone is different, but it may be worth trying to see if it could help you.

And from my experience, as well as I’ve heard from others as well, it affects males “differently” than normal. I don’t want to post what that really means but I think you’ll get the hint. I’m on bupropion now and it has done and made a world of difference. Hope you find one that works well for you.

Beware the debilitating effects of Effexor withdrawal. There are even meme’s made about it it’s so bad.  
Oh also i’m female, and could no longer reach my peak at happy time with a partner.. if you get what i’m saying.  
Brutal drug that I don’t recommend.

I've never taken Effexor, but I did take Celexa. Why do you feel it's not working? They do seem to lose their effectiveness after awhile, although sometimes just adjusting the dose is an option (either up or down).  
 
There seems to be lots of issue with getting off Effexor. One suggestion I can make for people who might be trying to and are having trouble is to do a much longer taper than recommended. When I came off Celexa, it had to do a long taper - months and months and months, not the few short weeks that was initially recommended to me.  
 
Our daughter recently came off of -pam medication after trying unsuccessfully trying to wean her off for years. They are highly addictive and hard to get off of. We finally succeeded by doing a very very VERY long and slow taper - to the tune of 0.1 mg per week initially, eventually to 0.2 mg per week once we saw she was tolerating it. It took the better part of a year, she was getting 2.5 mg twice a day when we started, and had been on it for over 10 years at that point.  
 
If you need to get off a medication and you need to do a slow taper, see if there's a liquid form available. It's easier to get the very small, incremental doses that way. If a liquid isn't available, virtually any pill can be compounded into a liquid locally at Super Thrifty on Richmond (or any compounding pharmacy in other cities). It costs more, but worth it. Our daughter has been on a lot of medications for her epilepsy over the years, and they've always been able to compound it for us (she won't take pills).  
 
Edited by Abbysmum, 2019-12-31 11:17:42