Positive stories on Venlafaxine / Effexor XR

Hello Jake04, I began taking 75 mg of Effexor about 4.5 years ago to deal with anxiety when my husband was diagnosed with cancer. I had tried Lexapro, which seemed to exacerbate my anxiety. I am still on the same dosage of Effexor, and thankfully do not suffer any side effects. I, too, have read, with trepidation, about the difficulty of going off of it. But for now, I can say that it has definitely helped with my anxiety and gotten me through some very traumatic times in my life the past few years.

Hi Jake, I began taking 75 mg of Venlafixine five years ago. It has helped my anxiety, and it helps tremendously with hot flashes, which is why I went on it. My anxiety remains, but this drug does curb my hot flashes so that I can get a decent night's sleep.

Hi Jake. I have taken Venlafaxine, 150mg, off and on for about 25 years. Have tried many other antidepressants because missed having good sex, but the others have the same side effects of numbing sexual pleasure, but Venlafaxine (Effexor) is best for my anxiety issues and is an acceptable trade off. Presently I am a week into lowering my dose to 75mg while adding Mirtazapine, because I read it works differently with no sexual side-effects. I have also been taking CBD/CBN oil, which helps reduce the side-effects of the transition. I am near 80 yrs old and hope Mirtazapine can replace the Effexor eventually. Wish me luck!

Hi Jake. What has been your experience since you started taking it? My Doctor prescribed the same dosage as I don't do well with most antidepressants. My nerve pain is from cervical compression and I am scheduling my third nerve ablation which is no fun.

I have been taking Effexor XL 150 mg for depression for at least 30 years and I am very happy with it, I haven't noticed any side affects. There was a few times my doctor added additional medication to boost it when I was experiencing some difficult times but I am back to just the Effexor. One of my doctors asked if I wanted to try reducing it and I said lets leave it as it is since it is doing such a good job,

I have been taking this drug for many years (75 mg daily) and have found that it helps me immensely, allowing me to function positively without being unduly bothered by anxiety or depression. It has been a godsend. No significant side effects while taking the medication. I have tried to reduce dosage slowly over time and even discontinue for a time. That is very difficult with the so-called “brain zaps” that occur. In this regard, it may be a drug for life. I realize there may be a placebo effect at work but the zaps seem to show that something changes with its discontinuation which you wouldn’t expect if it was just a placebo.

About a year and a half ago I had a conversation with my Gynecologist about the raging hot flashes that I would get on a daily basis, up to 10 a day and it’s been going on for many years. I’ve tried many holistic approaches to calm the hot flashes, but nothing really ever worked and she told me she was going to put me on a medication called venlafaxine to help with the hot flashes. My prescription was 75 mg in the morning and 75 mg late evening. To my delight, The hot flashes decreased within a few days from 10 to 5 to 3 to 1. I may get one hot flash during the night, but it’s not every night.

What a huge change in my life.

I feel kind of dumb saying this, but I honestly never knew that Venlaflaxen was a generic for Effexor. I also have on and off anxiety due to the fact that I care for my elderly mother with dementia and I’m the main Earner of my family. My husband was laid off 15 years ago and has never gone back to work. He decided to take care of his health and live off his pension. The pension has been gone for eight months now and there’s a lot of pressure on me paying all the bills. To complicate matters, about two years ago, he developed mild cognitive impairment. This situation is not easy, but that’s for another time.

Once when my Venlaflaxen came home with a how to use pamphlet and side effects, it was then that I learned that this was indeed effexor and also helps with depression.

I have had on and off feelings of sadness for the past two years as well.

Now for the good news

My hot flashes are almost gone, I hardly feel anxious and I don’t get depressed anymore so I guess this medication is taken care of all three issues.

I speak to a therapist twice a month and this helps for me to take the edge off and also to have somebody that I could speak honestly with and freely with and not have to worry that it’s a family member listening and I certainly don’t wanna bother a family member with my problems.

I spoke to a nurse practitioner who told me if I decide to get off effect or I would have to do it with the help of my doctor because the withdrawal symptoms can be taxing.

I’m still on effect or and when I see my gynecologist this coming February, I may ask her to wean me off this drug only because I generally don’t like taking medication’s. However, if the hot flashes come back, I may very well be a candidate again. Hope this helps.!

if it's helping so much, why stop? Everything will come roaring back. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

@david707 Hi I didn't think you could use CBD oil while on venlafaxine?

@debk03 what was added to Effexor to boost it?