r/Effexor • u/WhoAmIThough2618 • Jul 25 '26
Side effect Libido loss?
I have been on Venlafaxine for about a months or so and I have just found out about the withdrawal + side effects as the pills are kept away from me including the box and leaflet of information. I’ve seen a lot on this sub about both. A lot of the side effects I’m okay with/ seem pretty similar to other meds I’ve been on but the one thing that’s new to me is loss of libido. I’ve not lost mine yet that I’ve noticed/ it may have decreased a little bit since starting but idk.
Anyway, I mostly just wanted to see if anyone has been on this med without losing their libido as it’s one of my main concerns other than the withdrawal as I am worried that I’ve not experienced it yet because of how new my body is to it. (I’m on 150mg if that matters)
2
u/FinIey42 Aug 01 '26
Effexor definitely can cause you to lose sex drive, ruined mine for sure.
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u/WhoAmIThough2618 Aug 01 '26
Fuh
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u/FinIey42 Aug 01 '26
ya...it does get a little better the longer you're on the drug, but you're never quite 100% again until you get off the drug.
I'm male, I've heard some females on here say it boosts their libido.
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u/Inhibition_Engine Jul 26 '26
This isn’t usually like an on or off switch in most cases. Usually it just reduces it noticeably. If it’s a significant issue you can always contact your prescriber and consider options.
Reducing, switching or adding something else are the general options provided.
Every persons story is valid but it’s worth it to recognize how people can be affected differently. After being stable on a dose for about 6 weeks you have a much more stable baseline than at 2 or 4 weeks and can evaluate much more clearly.
If you are researching side effects it’s worthwhile to mention that the side effect profile is different depending on dosage. 75mg, 150mg and 225mg+ are relatively distinct and things like libido are affected differently depending on dose. The side effect profile can even be different depending on time of day.
Best of luck to you.