Anyone take Effexor??

[BLONDE PANIC]

Could anyone tell me if they have been prescribed EFFEXOR also known as VENAFLAXINE??????
if so what is or was your experiance with them?? Do they help??

[EmilyJane]

Hi, I take them and yes, Venalfaxine is Efexor.
I used to take 300 mg a day but am down to 75 now. The are an anti depression mdication with anti aniety properties. I found the only noticeable side effect was excessive sweating, not nice.
I didn't really notice that they helped but I knoiw many people they do help.
They are difficult to withdraw from, a lot of people get what is called 'the zaps' like electrical impulses surging through the body. I have felt them in my head and though unpleasant, not as bad as a panic attack.
I hope you get on well with them. They take about 3 weeks to start working and you may be prone to side effects to start with, these should disappear within 4 weeks.
Good Luck.
Emi

[EmilyJane]

sorry about all the typing mistakes, my keyboard is bent and some keys are a bit stiff, I have to press really hard on x's so no kisses from me too often LOL

[jo61]

I've just come off them with great difficulty - withdrawal was a nightmare. They didn't do much for me but I know people who swear by them. As with all antidepressants they work for some people, not so well for others.

Good luck and keep us posted

[dogue]

i was put on them and did nothing for me iam now on duloxitne 20mg no p/a,s but get bouts off feeling sorry for myself

[vladimir3d]

I was on 300Mg, it lost its effect on me in 2 years. And yes, Zaps are disturbing, I had them, I did not like those spasms that they caused at all.

[karen34]

hi i have been on effexor for 7 yrs now, my dose varies from 75 to 150 mg, usually on 150 mg in the winter months when i get very depressed and lethargic, tried to come of them once but got to 37.5 mg for 4 weeks and felt really sick all the time and started crying loads again so up went the dose again, seems to to the job for me and no side effects.

[stronger]

Thanks for your posts. The information is excellent.

I struggled with crying and powerful anxiety attacks and depression .
I was Rx'ed 75 mg for 30 days (after 5 days of 37.5mg) ... the crying stopped.
The anxiety attacks and depression improved.
The side effects were many : 3/4 drop in libido, dry mouth, sense of smell increased significantly, going for a pee twice as often, noticeable brain zaps every 2nd day, picking at cuticles started for no good reason.

Now at 150 Mg since 3 weeks and although the anxiety and depression are improved, I expected better results.
Side effects are a mess : I fainted twice (once I passed out while standing and landed on the outside of the bathtub and fractured ribs) and nearly fainted 5-6 times which I recuped, brain zaps are hourly (I don't even react to them anymore since they don't bother me that much) , tinnitus, libido is down to an occasional erection and no feeling. But the worst is I pick at my cuticles non-stop until they bleed and it's disgustingly ugly.

I have a doctors appointment after 5 weeks of 150 mg. Hopefully things will have improved significantly and I won't have to start all over with effexor withdrawl and ramp up on another drug.

[kristay1988]

I was on it for a couple of years, no side effect (except sexually), it worked great, no "zaps" never even heard of them. I think it was 150mg, every day. Happy, great sleep schedule, no worries!! I felt back to my old self! I had been struggling with panic attacks, anxiety and a little depression.But, if i missed it more than once, i would get that feeling back. I've been trying to get off it now, for about a month i was perfect, now for about 3 weeks i've been struggling with depersonalization. I would have stayed on it if not for the sex thing and for the future if i want to have a kid. I would def recommend it! I was also on lexapro before this, for about a year and a half, then it just stopped working, otherwise that was good too.

[MyNameIsntRich]

I am shocked there arent so many more horror stories with effexor on here. I have been trying to get off this poison for 2 years now and wish there were a way i could get off. I am at a stable 1/4 of a 75mg pill a day. thats as low as i can go before the horrible withdraw starts.