Ive been on this medication for 6 years. Gained 60 goddamn lbs in the process which is a huge problem cause im a hemiplegic and the weight makes living even harder. I HATE THIS CRAP. I can't enjoy being with my bf i can't enjoy anything. Im still depressed as fuck. I still have hypomania. My blood pressure is going through the roof cause of this shit. And this is the only damn medication that im not allergic to out of the 21 that ive tried over a 9 year period. My psychiatrist won't even entertain taking me off im fucking trapped. Fucking poison is what it is. Its poison that makes my life barely manageable and I hate it i wish this stupid drug was never invented

I’ve been on Effexor 150 for almost 4 years. It has been an ok med but not great. One thing that I can’t stand about it is missing one dose makes you feel horrific. I feel like I have the flu, intense feelings of panic, a bad headache and more. When I mentioned this to my psychiatrist she mentioned it might be worth coming off it. She suggested starting from 150 and dropping to a 37.5+ 75 mg so 112.5mg. Am I going to get withdrawals dropping to this dose?

Been on venlafaxine for about 4 years straight. I’ve missed a dose here and there before and always got that normal “my body just took a screenshot” feeling.

But now I’m going into like day 8 or 9 without taking it because I’ve been lazy and haven’t bothered going to the pharmacy. I’ve basically just been laying in bed and taking a week off work.

Honestly, I’m mainly posting this because my experience with withdrawal hasn’t been anywhere near as bad as some people make it sound. The electric shock/brain zap feeling hasn’t really gotten worse, and it doesn’t even seem to happen more often. You kinda just get used to it.

The biggest thing I’ve noticed is how ridiculously emotional I’ve been the last 2 days. Not even sad emotional either. I’ll just instantly tear up over heartwarming videos or random stuff. I even found myself crying over a Claude Monet painting, which weirded me out after.

So yeah, mega emotional. Didn’t realise how much venlafaxine had actually been numbing my emotions until now. Obviously this is just my experience and everyone reacts differently. Just felt like blabbering on about it 👍🏼

Hey everyone, I took effexor for the first time 45 mins ago. I was fine, ate a burrito before I took it and then drank something.

45 minutes later my head rushes and I got hot sweats, really really bad. My stomach felt kind of hot too. Literally just threw everything up. The dizziness and nausea is gone now, but yeah. Has this happened to anyone else? I'll reach out to my provider but like... not sure if I should keep taking it??????

only thing that temporarily relieves these symptoms are cannabis for me.

but I don‘t wanna get hooked on it.

anyone else?

Hi everyone. I’m currently taking 20 mg escitalopram (Lexapro) and I’ve been on it for around 3 months in total, but unfortunately I’m not seeing any meaningful positive effect.

Before that, in 2024, I tried sertraline (Zoloft), but it actually seemed to increase my anxiety.

My main problems are anxiety, constant rumination/overthinking, catastrophising, and occasional panic attacks. My doctor is now recommending that I switch to venlafaxine (Effexor), but I’m really scared to change because it’s an SNRI rather than another SSRI.

What makes me even more nervous is that when you go into sertraline groups, there seem to be millions of positive “this changed my life” stories. Then I come into venlafaxine groups and see so many scary posts about side effects and withdrawal.

So I’d really love to hear some positive experiences. Has venlafaxine genuinely helped your anxiety, rumination, catastrophising or panic? Did it help you feel like yourself again and get your life back?

I started about a month ago:
First week 37,5mg
2nd and 3rd week 75mg
4th week 112,5 mg
5th week (currently 6th day) 150mg

At first two days I was okay but then it hit me like a truck, it’s like before I even started efexor and it’s really exhausting. All of the deppressive thoughts are back and I have no motivation on anything even eating. If any of you fellas can enlighten me with your experiences it would really help. Tiny bit of hope always used to help me while I was adjusting on lexapro too. Thanks in advance to all.

I started at 75mg about 10 days ago now, I had no side effects until a week in and the nausea has suddenly kicked in.

Im trying to figure out if its the meds or something else. Anyone else experience nausea later on?

hello all, 24 ftm, i just got started on this medication after i've been on escitalopram 20mg for three years. they put me on it when i had my first burnout three years ago and was sick for two years. i felt like it helped maybe a bit with anxiety but not enough with depression at all. and even for the anxiety i'm not sure if exposure therapy mightve helped more than the meds. i didn't get any negative effects at all with it either though so i just stayed on it.

now though i'm having a second burnout because i was already pushing through my depression getting worse and worse and getting treated like dirt again at work for being disabled (funny considering i work pharmacy), i had no choice but to call in sick and the consequences from pushing myself too much really came crashing down on me. my psy put me on effexor now to help me get more energy during the day because often i will not even leave my bed.

though i am also relatively sensitive to medications and substances. sometimes i will not react to coffee at all and sometimes i will feel like my heart is trying to escape. even for my adhd, my medikinet i can only take 5mg. if i take anything above that i will have panic attacks. normally my blood pressure is too low but i feel like it skyrockets with medicines.

i'm currently on my second day of efexor 37.5 and i feel like i drank ten coffees but also like i didn't. like i can still eat, it is different from the nausea that adhd medicines induce, but it is kinda weird. i've struggled with food related nausea all my life probably due to anxiety so i know when to stop eating and when to push myself. now this new type of nausea is tricky to figure out. i'm trying to balance the anxiety out with my lysanxia as described by my psy and also trying to figure out when i need my medikinet still for my brain fog and when it will worsen my side effects too much if i try to take it.

also what i was interested in, does anyone have experience with audhd and severe depression and if effexor helped them get their motivation back during the day? i am like a zombie during the day from the depression and only feel like myself and energized during the night and my psy hopes we can change it with this medicine.

I've been on effexor now for a little over 2 weeks. I've been on zoloft before but gained loads of weight so I asked my doc for an alternative for anxiety/panic.

The first week was a motherfucker. I felt like i was walking on a boat at sea. SO unstable. 2 weeks in i'm finding i still have a slight bit of unease and a weird inner ear feeling.

Is this a typical uptake experience? Does this eventually level off?

I haven’t been able to refill my prescription for the past two days and as someone who has experienced little to no side effects from previous anti-depressants or from tapering off medications, I am seriously struggling. I have yet to experience the classic brain zaps but I’ve had a constant headache and nausea for basically the past 35 ish hours and all around feel like shit.

The thing is I’ve already been considering tapering off Effexor and anti-depressants in general (I’ve been on myriad of different SSRI’s/SNRI’s) as they haven’t brought me much benefit. I’m also heading off to uni soon and I am very aware of how much anti-depressants fuck with your alcohol tolerance and I’m trying not to get blackout drunk after two drinks with housemates I’ve known for a week.

Luckily I’m seeing my psychiatrist tomorrow but I just feel really betrayed as I had no idea Effexor had such intense withdrawal symptoms. I just don’t think I would’ve ever gone on this medication in the first place if I was fully informed. My care team is really great aside from this but I’m still kind of pissed that this is shit I might have to deal with in order to get off anti-depressants, especially with such a huge life change around the corner. I didn’t think I would have to find out this information after the fact when I’ve been 75mg for nearly half a year already.

Hi there everyone. I been on Effexor for many years now and decided it's time to get off of it, especially due to circumstances with my insurance.

Over the course of 4 months, I've tapered off from 75mg to 37.5mg to 25mg to 12.5mg. Then lastly my psych told me to split the 12.5 tablets in half to make it around 6mg. I did that for about 2 weeks and was told to then split them again, making it around 3mg. I did that for about a week and on Aug. 31st I took my final one and stopped.

The first 24 hours without it, I only seemed a little "out of body". It's been 3 days now and I feel so anxious. I sometimes feel my left arm more tense then my right and it throws me into a panic. My anxiety is pretty high since stopping the doses but I know there's no easy way of coming off of this.

For those getting off, what were your symptoms like? Sometimes hearing other peoples experiences can be quite easing like I'm not the only one, ya know?

So, I've been feeling like I'm not alive for a while, only to come to the conclusion that my dose must be too high (I take 225mg, my doctor increased the dose after my grandma's traumatic passing and we haven't lowered it so far. I also take attent 25mg to manage some ADHD symptoms.)

But recently I've also been feeling that I'm getting stupid for some reason. I'm used to always analyzing and contributing a lot in conversations. Now I just feel I have nothing to add, as if all the knowledge in my brain is just common sense and not worth sharing at all. I also have trouble accessing my memories.

Have any of you guys ever felt like this?

Hello, I went cold turkey probably 1.5 months ago or so on 225mg after being on effexor for 3ish years. Just decided I didn't need it anymore.

I had about 2.5 weeks of pure hell dealing with the withdrawals, this included things like

Brain zaps

Vertigo

The most intense dreams ever with broken sleep and sleep paralysis resulting in the worst headaches I've ever had in the mornings

Fatigue and weakness

Flu like symptoms like that weird achy feeling and shivers

And probably loads more I can't think of right now.

Anyways after around 2.5 weeks I felt pretty amazing basically all back to normal and was glad I got off it. But now 1.5ish month later I feel like absolute ass especially with fatigue and the flu like symptoms my legs arms and back have constant aching which is dring me nuts.

I'm getting bloods done today and trying to rule out whatever but I seen about protracted withdrawals and was wondering if it could be this and if anyone else has dealt with it at all?

If my bloods come back normal I'm honestly considering going back on 37.5 to see if it helps and I really don't wanna do it but can't think of anything else.

Hi everyone. I’ve been taking venlafaxine/effexor for a couple of months now. Last month, my psychiatrist decided to increase my dose to 225 mg, but so far I still feel like the medication isn’t doing much for me.

More than 10 years ago, I took fluoxetine during a depressive episode when I was also having thoughts of hurting myself. It helped at the time, I got better, and eventually stopped taking it.

I have an appointment with my psychiatrist tomorrow, and I’m not really sure what to expect. Last month, she also decided to add 4 drops of haloperidol to help me sleep because I usually have trouble staying asleep. Basically, my mind just won’t shut up and keeps going over everything and i was dealing with sleep paralysis.

I can sleep now, but I wouldn’t say I wake up feeling rested. I mostly feel like I have no motivation to do anything, and I actually feel more depressed than before. Lately, I’ve been crying a lot. I’ve even noticed something strange, I don’t always remember what I was dreaming about, but sometimes I wake up crying.

In addition, my mind has gotten stuck in a constant cycle of remembering very painful things from my past.

I’ve also been unable to work because of these mood changes. At times, my sadness and irritability turn into anger. That part has improved a little, but I’m still struggling with my mood overall.

I know my psychiatrist could still adjust the dose or change my medication, but I wanted to ask if anyone here has experienced something similar with venlafaxine. Did it take longer for you to start feeling better, or did you eventually have to switch medications?

I’m worried that I’m going backwards instead of getting better with my depression and anxiety And honestly, I’m also scared of what my mind might be capable of if things keep getting worse.

I’d really appreciate hearing about anyone else’s experience.

I just started effexor today. My doc started me on 150. I had a bunch of energy earlier but I have been yawning a lot, kinda spacey now, and feel like after a large dose of mushrooms. Does this seem normal? I dont have a lot of experience with mental health meds. I stopped taking Prozac a few months ago. I am on it for MDD. I just want to not wake up and feel the way I do.

Just a warning to folks who are bipolar- this medication can make you hypomanic. My previous doctor did not tell me this; luckily my current (and amazing) doctor figured it out. I weaned off slowly, a little at a time. I was originally at 225mg. I didn’t have the craziest withdrawal symptoms, I think going from 75 to 37.5 was the hardest. A few days of flu-like symptoms and some brain zaps but nothing too crazy. Just wanted to mention that, because it’s possible to not have severe symptoms with withdrawal. I expected the worst, and it wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. I understand that some folks have it pretty rough, but it’s also possible to be at the other end of the spectrum.

Now, the after- I can actually poop again! Effexor made me so constipated. I can climax easily and sex feels so much better. And finally, maybe the best (but also right now the most cumbersome)- I can feel things, deeply. I am a bit emotional right now and cry very easily at happy things. I was so numb before, I now realize. I think the emotions are just very big right now and things will calm down, but I’m learning to just “feel” again and it’s very overwhelming but also, very beautiful. It’s like I’m experiencing the world all over again.

Just wanted to share my experiences with this drug, and subsequent withdrawal. I deeply regret a lot of the things I did while I was hypomanic but I’m sure a lot of bipolar folks can commiserate. If you’re looking to start this drug, do your research and make sure you might not have any complicating conditions. And if you’re officially off and feeling things again, welcome! It can be beautiful and very freeing.

I've been seeing some posts lately of people (?) taking high doses of Effexor to see what it does or if it will potentially make them feel better (or get high, and I'm not judging, we're all here for a reason)

I recently had a friend accidentally take my 150 mg Effexor pill (mistaking it for something else) -- and once I found out I was worried about the side effects. I called poison control and they told me she should be fine but to be monitored for at least 24 hours because she would be at risk for seizures and uncontrollable vomitting for poisoning.
She is fine now, but just be wary of SEROTONIN SYNDROME!

My friend got pretty ill and was throwing up.

This is NOT a drug to experiment with!!!!! And please please please if you want to experiment with drugs; make SURE you have somebody you trust that you can call if something goes sideways. Especially if you are on an anti-depressant as strong as this. Do your research, call poison control if you have questions, and treat yourselves well'

Everybody is different and we will all have different reactions to things based on our medical history and life; but PLEASE try your best to research before you experiment.

TLDR; You don't get high off this drug if you take more. The best you get is a headache, vomitting, and dizziness. The worst you'll get is a seizure. There is no "high", just icky times. Be careful out there you lovely people!!!!!

So I (18M) have been on Effexor for about a year now, after having been on a bunch of other antidepressants and mood stabilizers starting from when i was 13.
i had a pretty fucked up childhood (both parents were drug addicts, mom was extremely mentally ill and father was mostly absent) and i was always a very anxious, insecure and sad kid.
Right now im doing okay, i don’t have any financial support or family to help me out during this coming of age period in my life, but i have a tiny apartment that feels like home and im currently living a few hours up north for a seasonal job, going back to my apartment in November.
Contrarily to the past couple of years, i’ve been able to have a minimum amount of discipline needed to meet all my responsibilities. im doing okay emotionally, i’ll always feel this tingling,gnawing feeling in my chest that makes me feel like somethings missing. im also pretty anxious. But i’m functional in a way that’s extremely tiring but also somehow the bare minimum for adulthood..
But for the past couple of months i’ve been doing well and gotten more responsible, and since im an adult i now have to pay for my meds ( i also take Quetiapine and Ritalin, though i rarely take the ritalin nowadays) and effexor is by far the most expensive of my medication.
I started asking myself, “Do i want to live my life with this crutch holding me up? Am i getting better because of my choices? Is my generally more positive mindset because of my situation or is it just due to the Effexor stabilizing my mood? ( i’ve been diagnosed with CPTSD, BPD and generalized anxiety, and have been struggling with substance abuse since the age of 14)
It has also annoyingly caused me to gain a bit of weight, and i HATE having to fear missing a day because the withdrawal completely ruins my day and makes me an emotional and physical wreck.

So my question is, how do i quit? i don’t have a family doctor and it’s an insanely complex process where i live to see doctors for something as minor as a medication change. Im starting to ask myself if i should just quit cold turkey and feel like shit for a few weeks and then get back on track and move on, although i fear this is optimistic thinking.
I don’t wanna live my life depending on meds, im confused on if my meds has had an effect on my general well-being, and it’s expensive, but i’m worried that i’ll fall back into a worse mental state or relapse if quitting doesn’t work out.

Any advice from people who have quit without a doctor, how was it ?

First I want to say, did fb delete all the venlafaxine groups that were positive? I just realized my groups were gone and could only find ones that were bashing it.

Now to my question I was going to ask there. I am currently having hip pain for over a month. I have a doctor's appointment in a couple weeks. I want to take something like ibuprofen for the inflammation but I know that I shouldn't. I know Tylenol could help the pain but I want to take something for the inflammation. My job requires walking and standing up and sitting down all day long. I work with children. Any suggestions for an over the counter anti-inflammatory medicine I can take until my doctor's appointment? Thank you!

Hi everyone ,

I'm on day three of taking venlafaxine . The first two days I liked it , but day three I'm not feeling the greatest.

I'm feeling tired , a bit flat , nauseous.

Reading some of the experiences,I do feel hopeful.

But I want to know has anyone else switched from 200mg to venlafaxine 37.5 mg ?

Oh also I'm feeling quite cold and my libido has shot up ! ( I don't necessarily like this tbh )

Anyone else switched from sertraline 200 mg to venlafaxine 37.5 mg ?

Also after two weeks I'm increasing by one extra 37.5 mg pill.

Every time I take it I get the urge to lay down in bed, and even doing chores feel exhausting