Does effexor help?

Hi there!

I am tapering of Effexor/ Venlafaxine after being on it for 6 years. If you'd like to know why, please ask and I'll add that later 🙂

But for now I will focus on the reason I agreed to start with Effexor at the time.
I have dysthymia and have had major depressions on top of that. I also have OCD (which, right now, I've pretty much under control 🙂 ).
I was on Citalopram 30 mg for 2 years I think, but it did not do much for me. That's when my psychiatrist suggested we try Venlafaxine.
He explained to me that in lower dosage, Venlafaxine works as an SSRI and mainly as an antidepressant. When taken in a higher dosage, it also works as an SNRI and tackles anxiety as well. He said it'd kinda feel like gaining the "ballsy-ness" (pardon my French) you'd get from being a bit tipsy. But without actually being out feeling tipsy.

That's when we build up to 300 mg, combined with therapy. I think it did do something. (For reference, I'm a female from the Netherlands, about 5 ft 3, and was 22 at that time.)
It was definitely no magic happy pill, but I think, at the time, it gave me just a big enough push to get myself out of bed, tackle my issues in therapy and try to do the best that I could in order to get better.

So for that, I am okay with starting the drug at that time. I think therapy is the reason I am better now, but I don't think I would've been able to give it therapy a fair try if I was without medication at 22.

I think of it like my brain was locked up in a room of my lowest low then, but Venlafaxine kind of opened the door again. Even though it was just slightly ajar. And in that tiny new space I was able to learn and apply the things in therapy. And every positive change opened the door a bit more throughout these years. So now there is more space to think about and do the things that keep me healthy.

Okay so to summarise my ramblings ;):
I saw the drug as an almost necessary evil, as it gave me the tiny supportive push I then needed to go in the direction I needed to go.

I hope this makes sense a bit! All the best!

I had tried at least ten different antidepressants before my doctor prescribed Effexor, and I can't begin to tell you what a huge difference it has made in my life. Picture the movie, The Wizard of Oz, when the color goes from black and white to color. I will be on this medication for the rest of my life, but have successfully weaned down from a high dose to a much lower one. Don't be afraid to try this med. It could be as life-changing for you as it has been for me.

Hello,

I took Effexor maybe 6 years ago. I developed anxiety from it. I think it works well for some. Coming off it is very difficult though. There are electrical type of zaps that people can experience body and brain. I always thought it was sort of hard to see my patients come off of because of that. It did work wonders for some with depression though.

I have taken Effexor for over 8 years. Have had no problems, taking it for depression. I can’t speak for anyone who is trying to stop taking it. But my experience has been good.

Thank you so very much for this! I have a true phobia of taking new medications. My anxiety level soars just thinking about it. I think it is because I've had several bad experiences, particularly with medications that need to be dose adjusted for weight because I only weigh 94 lbs. I so appreciate your input.

Sounds as though you have had first hand knowledge of the effects of tapering can have as a therapist yourself. My anxieties are causing life restrictive consequences with dizziness/auras etc resulting in migraines. So I suppose that I have nothing to lose in trying it and don't think about the taper only what the medication can do. I would rather treat the migraines with a CGRP then perhaps I wouldn't have anxiety.