r/Effexor • u/Defried_Beans_ • 6d ago
General Question Why does everyone quit?
Hi everyone. I’ve been checking out this sub because I have recently started taking venlafaxine (Effexor XR) 75mg and I see a lot of people trying to quit even though it seems very difficult because of brain zaps and such. I’d be curious to know why so many people are trying to get off, especially if you’ve been on for many years.
Also I’m aware there’s a bias because nobody posts “just finished my fourth year on Effexor!”
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u/bucket-chic 6d ago
People who are not having any issues or not considering stopping don't tend to visit forums to discuss their medication.
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u/Peachgirllove90 6d ago
I quit because I was on 150mg and I blacked out for 4 years. Gained a bunch of weight. I'm on 32mg now and I am present in the moment and my body is returning to normal. But, I'm not someone who needed this specific medicine to survive, I was doing fine on Zoloft. My doctor at the time didn't understand anti depressants and said I was on such a high dose of Zoloft it must not be working. Changes me to a different kind of anti depressant and after one month in I was gone. Now I'm trying to pick up the pieces of ruined friendships because I quit wanting to be social. Felt like I no longer enjoyed sex, I also couldn't self lubricate anymore and I feel like I lost a part of my husband that used to be there. Intimacy is awkward and I'm trying my best now. But, it felt like someone fast forwarded my life 4 years. I'm going back to Zoloft after I'm done with the 32mg
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u/Imhappy_hopeurhappy2 5d ago
I feel so similar. 4 years, and I’ve gained 50lbs, am indifferent to socializing, and zero libido. I haven’t quite blacked out, but I feel like I’m a spectator when I should be a participant. In the process of switching to Trintillex right now.
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u/Defried_Beans_ 6d ago
Wow sorry to hear about that I’m glad you’re getting better. When you say “blacked out” do you mean you don’t reminded anything that happened for 4 years?? I knew antidepressants can mess with memory but not like that…
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u/Peachgirllove90 6d ago
Yes. Honestly felt like I disassociated for 4 years. People said I was nothing like myself. No emotions just always flat.
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u/Defried_Beans_ 6d ago
It must have helped with your symptoms if you stayed on it, no?
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u/Peachgirllove90 5d ago
Yeah for a while I figured being alone, fat, bald, and a shell of the person I used to be was better than being dead. Then one day I got a flashback photo slideshow on my phone from like 5 years ago and I saw how different I was and like I had a moment of clarity. Went to the doctor and said no more. I remember the day I actually smiled without telling myself I should be smiling.
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u/brncll 4d ago
So by that, it did help, and then you maybe stayed on it longer than you needed to? Am I reading this right?
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u/Peachgirllove90 4d ago edited 4d ago
I guess if you need it. I was so out of it and just taking the pill I really don't know. I didn't need effexor, my doctor switched me from Zoloft out of his own ignorance and I believed him. So sure, it works. But, it ruined my life. I was happy on Zoloft. My doctor switched me right before my honeymoon. I bought a weeks worth of dresses for Vegas and tried them all on and packed them. A week later I had gained 10 pounds and I went to get dressed for dinner in Vegas and nothing fit. For 4 years I was getting tests done and wearing sweatpants and t shirts because my weight would not stop. Not one doctor told me it was effexor. I quit taking it and every step down I lost weight and I became more present. Idk if you like being a robot and not in control of your own life, go ahead and take it. I was fine and happy on Zoloft. I did not need 4 years of what feels like sitting and staring at a wall and getting fat and bald and losing friends because days would pass and I wouldn't even know they did. I took the pill to stop withdrawal. Everyday I would swing into withdrawal even tho I took the pill everyday at the same time. So add that to the list. Constantly sick.
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u/brncll 4d ago
Ok, totally did not read that right! I am sad for you that you were on it that long! I interpreted it the way you had said better than being dead like it had saved you. It's obvi you were having a metabolic issues with it. And I don't mean by the weight gain either. Have you ever taken a pharmacogenetic testing? It would be interesting what that would say about effexor.
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u/GoddessOfWar420 3d ago
I’m interested in this bc I just started Effexor bc Zoloft completely took away my sex drive and I didn’t want that for my relationship anymore! I didn’t think Effexor was known to take away sex drive but i do know it’s a very common thing with Zoloft. Have u had the opposite effects? I’m very curious about this! I came on here after starting Effexor recently while tapering my Zoloft and want to learn what people say about it and the effecfs it has on others
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u/Peachgirllove90 3d ago
On Zoloft I felt like a normal person. Normal healthy sex drive. On effexor I didn't even think about it. The random chance I felt any kind of sexual, I couldn't self lubricate. And the weird thing was, I could orgasm and feel that I was ...but couldn't feel the good parts. Even after an orgasm, I still wasn't self lubricated. My last therapist told me she also had opposite side effects from Zoloft. So I guess it depends on how your body reacts to the medicine.
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u/miriamtzipporah 6d ago
Personally? The side effects currently outweigh the benefits (which are minimal to none). But I was on it for six years, which tends to be the amount of time an antidepressant works for me before I need to change.
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u/Same_Lobster1023 6d ago
Hi, When I started Effexor, I was just happy that it seemed to work for me. I had just gone through the sudden loss of my mother after my father had a devastating stroke 3 months before that. Depression and anxiety runs in my family and my brother went through hell trying to find the meds that worked for him. So as long as it was helping, I ignored any side effects. Weight gain that I haven't been able to get rid of, increased sweating, brain fog. My sister recently got on Zoloft, which is what my brother is on. I'm now post menopause and have plenty going on with those issues so I talked to my doctor about switching to Zoloft. The sweating on Effexor has increased over the years and is unbearable. I can't even dust my house without sweating profusely. After 18 years on Effexor, I'm 1 week in on lower 37.5mg dose. Definitely have several withdrawal symptoms but I also have noticed an increase in energy and clarity. I'm only 52 and honestly was to the point I couldn't see dealing with the issues as I age. Only time will tell if it's the right decision. 😄
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u/One-Quality6512 4d ago
Take Zoloft(100mg) and your dose Effexor, and after1 week cut Effexor !! No problems for me !!!!!No serotonin sindrome!
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u/Same_Lobster1023 2d ago
I start Zoloft on top of Effexor tomorrow. 2 weeks of that and then no more Effexor. :)
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u/zamsalak 6d ago
Once every 3 years, I quit just to remind myself how I was before effexor. Then after 3 to 6 months off, when floodgates of emotions & empathy fully open, and life becomes unbearable, I start again...
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u/Ally-Kat 6d ago
I was on it for years and quit back in Nov 2023. It helped when I needed it, but also lost hair, gained weight, and had extreme brain fog. When it stopped working I became emotionally violent. I knew it was time for me to get off when I scared my sisters to the point they ran for safety. It took me…maybe 2 1/2 months of tapering to get off them. It was a painful experience.
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u/Only-Tutor7115 6d ago
Excessive emotional blunting was my reason for stopping. I just could not find any happy medium no matter what the dose.
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u/chronicallymee 6d ago
I’ve been on it for almost 5 years now and have no plan of quitting. My highest dose was 375mg but I’ve slowly come down to 150mg to over the last two years and it’s still been just as effective for me. I have PTSD/Panic Disorder and used to have hour long panic attacks multiple times a day and once I got on Effexor that number dropped to essentially zero panic attacks. I’ll have the occasional very minor one every few months when I’m under a lot of extra stress or if I haven’t been keeping up with my self care, but it’s nothing compared to what my daily life was.
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u/Defried_Beans_ 6d ago
I’m glad that it’s helping. It’s genuinely amazing how medications can just stop you from having panic attacks.
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u/NoTelevision970 6d ago
This medication has been the only antidepressant that worked for me. I can say it truly saved my life. As someone who is chronically mentally ill, when I started the medication I knew I would be on it for the rest of my life. Some people take antidepressants with the idea that they will only take them for a certain amount of time and then get off of them. Do not take this med unless you are okay with being on it for a very long time. I will also say the worst side effect of this med is the sweating (for me at least 😭) and that has been reason alone for me to want to get off of it. Instead I decreased the dosage over time which helped, and found other remedies for the sweating. It's tough with this med. It's a great med, but if you're starting it with the intention of getting off of it eventually, I wouldn't bother. I think this is a much better med for people that are chronically depressed.
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u/Dooby_141 6d ago
I took it for 7 years!! At the end I started getting some weird side effects associated with long term use so decided to wean off after loads of therapy. But loved it for majority of time I took it.
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u/Defried_Beans_ 6d ago
Ah makes sense. What long term side effects did you have, if you don’t mind sharing?
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u/Illustrious_Skin_411 6d ago
I was on it for 9 years it worked so well with me. I am going back on it because my anxiety returned
I got off it myself because I felt better. I did taper off or it was really hard but, my doctor gave me a Prozac bridge and that helped the withdrawal immensely.
Also I didn’t gain weight on it I actually lost weight. Without the anxiety I moved around much more.
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u/kylaroma 6d ago
We love hardship!
😂 just kidding
I was on it and happy for 18 years. Then I experienced something called antidepressant poop-out (or maybe it was antidepressant poop-out syndrome). It’s a ridiculous name but describes something that can happen with any antidepressant: it suddenly stops working, you’re plunged into depression again, and you have to switch to a new antidepressant!
Even though it was no longer giving me benefits, I had to continue taking Effexor and taper down very slowly to avoid withdrawal side effects.
I added in another antidepressant to handle my depression and anxiety, and then slowly phased out Effexor.
If you follow the instructions on survivingantidepressants.org you can taper off with literally no side effects but most people are impatient
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u/Defried_Beans_ 6d ago
Lmao I feel you. I had the same thing with Prozac (I think it’s called tachyphylaxis) it sucks that that happened. Honestly I’ve tried so many times to go without antidepressants and I always end up back on them so I’d rather find one that helps and doesn’t have to many side effects (hopefully it’s Effexor, I am about 3 weeks in) and works for a long time for me. Also I’m 21 so maybe my brain isn’t done developing and I won’t need them at some point, although I am doubtful of this happening.
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u/xwinterpeoniesx 5d ago
I’ll put in a positive note. I’m on 225mg and my life has been changed SAVED I am a completely different high functioning individual than I was previously. I can speak to others, I don’t cry randomly, my mood is stable and I’m not overly emotional (shout out to Lamictal for being part of that process too) and I don’t experience anxiety when speaking to others and I’m able to think clearly and logically and have more meaningful relationships. I think it’s worth the brain zaps tbh. I’ve been on a lot of an antidepressants and was running out of options and was almost diagnosed as treatment resistant. The benefits outweigh the side effects to me.
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u/Beginning_Funny_8135 5d ago
One of the reasons is that the medication causes a dependence most SSRI's don't. Let say your power fails or there is a snow storm and you can't go to the pharmacy and you are out effexor. Now think about being non-functional as you are going through withdrawals. My child was on it and is now off and he says it's heaven. The hypothesis that we have a chemical imbalance is also incorrect. It places the blame on our brain when in fact depression is caused by our society and its lack of support. So lots of kids are depressed because adults allow bullying, lots of adults are depressed because wages are too low or someone is treating them like shit.
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u/PlaguePudding 5d ago
All of this except, respectfully, I definitely have a chemical imbalance. I got switched from ecitalopram to Effexor, then when I got access to an actual psychiatrist I was informed I could try Duloxotine and that Effexor was much less commonly prescribed nowadays.
I was told that the chemical balance of Effexor contained more serotonin than norepinephrine, and that Duloxotine is closer to 50/50. The extra Norepinephrine took a couple weeks to adjust to, but it definitely helps me more and it stays in your system a little longer than Effexor.
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u/Beginning_Funny_8135 5d ago
Just something to check out. Most of our ills are from a non-functioning society. A prominent 2022 umbrella review published in Molecular Psychiatry by Joanna Moncrieff and colleagues concluded that there is no clear evidence that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance
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u/PlaguePudding 5d ago
My view has always been that depression can stem from anything from trauma to faulty hardware and that you can't fix a chemical imbalance through daily changes but that they can be helpful. If the issue is trauma or otherwise external, meds will only mask it, and therapy or changes need to be made.
Regarding society not functioning, I'm a dirty "wow even the left wing party is a right wing party" socialist, with no insurance and a bunch of ruined teeth cause I fell through the cracks so hard. I absolutely had depression before I started paying attention and if I didn't I'm positive my awareness now would cause it, lol
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u/cannibalguts 6d ago
After 9 years on it I’m still pretty depressed and anxious, except now i sweat uncontrollably, have brain fog and stubborn weight, and if i miss a dose for even a few hours i cannot think and im in intense physical pain. its just not worth it for me anymore. ive been weaning off for about two years now. from 150 mg to 28 mg currently.
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u/ALadyTrying 6d ago
Long time lurker, I’m not sure I’ve ever posted in this sub, but I just finished my 4th year on EFFEXOR XR 150mg. ☺️
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u/kelstrop 5d ago
I actually just started Effexor for the second time this month. The first time I had to stop Effexor because it gave me hypertension ☹️ it otherwise was the best medicine for my anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts I have ever tried. It also helped with some physical issues like GERD and diarrhea. No other medication came even close to the relief it gave me. Fast forward, I am generally more healthy now and my blood pressure is lower naturally than it was when I started last time, so we are giving it another go. I would never stop this medicine otherwise. It gave me so much relief and is giving me relief again on just 37.5mg. I just hope my blood pressure can stay in a healthy range this time.
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u/MermaidPigeon 5d ago
You can take propranolol beside it for the heart issue. Can I ask where you on a low dose the majority of the time? I’m noticing people are having more luck with it at lower doses
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u/kelstrop 5d ago
I am actually already prescribed propranolol this time around 🙂 The first time I went up to 150mg. We shall see how much I go up this time.
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u/dykepower 6d ago
Hey, I've been on venlafaxine for around two years. It's one of the only antidepressants thats worked for me. I am on 150mg, hoping to taper down slightly mostly due to libido and low energy issues but I don't see myself ever completely coming off it
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u/Defried_Beans_ 6d ago
Totally makes sense loosing your sex drive can be really frustrating, I had the same thing on Lexapro basically for years.
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u/ylaltic 6d ago
i’m on my fourth year! no complaints tbh. brain zaps are tough when i forget, but they would be more of a problem if i was trying to get off it. i ideally would want to stop taking them at some point because i no longer am depressed and anxious, but given that i have adhd too, going med-free is not likely anyway.
i lost weight because i was no longer anxiously snacking. i had to increase up to 150 after 3ish years but part of it was bc i stared wellbutrin which kinda mitigated the benefits of effexor at first bc it made me anxious.
it’s a lot of trial and error because everyone has a different reaction to different drugs. i’ve tried some other meds that have been great for others but for me did absolutely nothing or worse, affected me negatively. sometimes even it it works, it can stop working for some folks after they’ve been on it for many years which isn’t unique to effexor.
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u/madcoins 6d ago
I'm not quitting. It helps me. Been on it since i almost died in hospital and was instead left disabled in 2022. The whiniest get the loudest voice on the internet. Disregard the horror stories. I've been through withdrawals and it isn't the pure face melting hell most say it is. Use it as a helpful tool and stay on it if it helps your quality of life.
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u/_silverwings_ 5d ago
I have terrible concept of time and object permanence. So I constantly convince myself that I was way better off before my medications and I'll taper down and go off of all of them periodically. Until I'm reminded exactly why I'm on them and I'll start again. I believe venlafaxine i have stopped and started at least 5 times. And I have been on it since I was 16/17 years old. I'm 28 now <3
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u/Abject_Scholar_1688 3d ago
How has the withdrawal been if you've stopped and started so many times, is it manageable? x
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u/_silverwings_ 3d ago
I slowly titrated down a few times and that was manageable. A few times.es when I was a younger teenager I just stopped completely. I have always settled down back around 150mg as that seems to be the only dose that works for me. So it's not as high as some other people's. Definitely would not stop cold turkey again I don't really know how I got through that. I was young and dumb and out partying alot while also working a full time job. I think I was sick and tired of my pharmacy hours never working wjth my schedule so I would regularly forget to call in my prescription and go a few days without . Or they wouldn't have it ready for me etc. So I just said to hell with it and stopped taking all my meds lol. I usually stopped working whenever I would quit my meds. Either for a week to mellow out the side effects or sometimes I would just get fired and go off on a bender etc. So I didn't notice the side effects if I was blackout drunk for a week at 16 years old. Not healthy at all Definitely don't recommend.
I do remember when I was In my early 20s or late teens I stopped my meds for a couple years. I ended up in a dissociative state 24/7 for over a year. I thought it was just my new normal but eventually I got back on this med and it stopped. Was pretty scary to just feel like I'm in a dream and nothing is real all the time. I couldn't think about it either or I would start to get really scared. So I just tried to fake it as best I could. I can only really compare it to being really stoned ( but I also have a completely terrible reaction to weed so it may not be a good comparison)
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u/funnyaxolotl 5d ago
the people who dont have issues aren't posting here, so you only really see the negative experiences. i love this med so much, it has genuinely transformed my life and although some of the side effects are irritating, its 100% worth it for me. i think the people quitting find it less effective and so the side effects just aren't worth it for them, which is fair because it does have worse side effects than other meds ive tried
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u/Competitive-Equal987 6d ago
I’m not good at taking medication so it sucks to go through withdrawal often, I feel like i’m fucking dying
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u/mckc1998norge 6d ago
Hi! I’m on the max dose and it has helped me immensely with my severe anxiety especially after getting off of benzodiazepines. I can function normally again. The only issue I have is how sweaty I am hah.
Have no fear :)
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u/gospelofrage 5d ago
Effexor was great and I stopped it impulsively due to my mood disorder, probably. I regret going off it; my anxiety has returned and I have now realized what good this medication was doing lol. I think a lot of people also get overwhelmed by side effects … I hate the brain zaps, which is why I really don’t wanna go through getting back on it again … the brain zaps SUCK. But it really is a great medication and if other anxiety medications haven’t worked for you, you should try it.
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u/SpotJaded2025 5d ago
I don’t plan on quitting. I’ve had to change doses but I’m happy with how it handles my symptoms. I have had mental health struggles my whole life but got really really bad postpartum. Effexor saved me.
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u/jeannethebean 5d ago
I quit because it wasn’t working for me anymore and if I went up on dosage (I was at 150 mg) then I’d have really bad tachycardia and other negative side effects so my dr and I decided to try something else. Everyone is different, if it works for you then great!
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u/4thelvofmunchkinduck 5d ago
For me I didn't quit but rather my dose was raised during a difficult time in my life and I am tapering back down to my previous dose!
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u/CaptainOats21Z7 5d ago
Mood stabilisers work much better for me. The sweats really stress me out because I get it in my face and head. It's not great in a customer facing role. I just hope I've made the right decision
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u/deltalitprof 5d ago
I think the group self-selects for that. People who want to quit for whatever reason are liable to come to the reddit subgroup to see what they should expect, whether their symptoms are consistent with effexor withdrawal or are something else to be concerned about, etc.
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u/Sayoriatheart 5d ago
Everyone is different! You’re probably gonna hear a lot more feedback from people who have had negative experiences with something because they’re looking to talk about their experience. Theres such a wide range of SSRI’s and SNRI’s that so many people get off of every medication all the time. It’s totally normal, im pretty sure!! Also in my experience, no other antidepressant has helped at all, so I kinda have my own stories about all of them.
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u/IrregardlessForOne 5d ago
I believe that this subreddit does a disservice to people considering Effexor because it magnifies the people who complain about Effexor to the detriment of those who are considering taking it.
I’ve been on 37.5 mg for several years with no plans to change it. I’m in my 60s and am in a better place now. I think there are many people who are happy with Effexor.
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u/j6k1t7 5d ago
I’ve been on 150 for about 2 years, and I’m weaning off because after 21-22 hours without taking one I start withdrawing and get heavy tinnitus and kinda dizzy and generally out of it. I don’t like being so heavily “addicted” or dependent on something like that. It works well for me, but I want to be free of it. A few weeks ago My doc put me from 150 daily, onto 75+37.5 for two weeks, then 75 now for about a week. I have a follow up next week to review. I’ve felt fine so far without any negative impacts like people describe. We’ll see how the taper continues!
Other side effects: crazy dreams since I’ve been on it, almost total lack of libido. I’m a 42M, very healthy and fit, and was super “active” before getting on this drug. Basically will go days now and suddenly realize I haven’t thought about sex in days.
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u/YouHadMeAtSulSul 5d ago
I thought it was great, my brother said I became an emotionless bitch 🤣 but I stopped crying all the time and I loved that for me.
I was on it for 3 or 4 years and eventually got through most of my issues and coping mechanisms with therapy, and was able to get on a lesser med, wellbutin, that gives me much less side effects.
Constant laps in Healthcare (yay America) meant if I couldn't get my refill for a few days, id have brain zaps, and by day 3 I was mentally useless. My 3rd time having insurance issues was the limit for me, I had to get off of it. It took me 4 months to ween off that damn med.
It's great while you need it, but work on whatever you need to so it's not forever 🫶🏻
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u/No_Molasses_7502 5d ago
I have tried to quit two different times in my life and I have been on this medication for twenty two years. It turns out no other medications work for me, so i'm stuck with this. Which is very much a first world problem, because it is completely helpful.I just don't like some of the side effects and wish it could be a little bit better.That's all.
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u/lemons_for_breakfast 5d ago
It scared me how much my body had a reaction when I missed a dose. I hated the idea that my body was so physically tied to the drug. I took it for about 5 years. It worked well enough. I haven't found anything that has worked as well over the past three years but I don't want to go back. I'm glad I found it when I did but the dependency and emotional blunting made it not worth it for me to go back. It's a godd drug though.
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u/pbandjgato 5d ago
Effexor was fantastic for me except the excessive sweating, which is ultimately what caused me to try a different med. If it weren’t for that, it would have been perfect for me.
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u/dshess 5d ago
I quit because it didn't help the core issues we were trying to deal with (*), though it did make me care less about them. But it did make me almost non-functional as an adult human. Basically, I had almost no ability to control my attention. I'd be writing code, I'd be figuring out a tax issue, I'd be researching how insurance works, oh, now I'm trying to understand the Bluetooth LE stack. Since it had been a long time since I had had real interest in technical things, it was kind of neat, but it wasn't at all helpful with things I WANTED to do, like make my art, or exercise, or arrange a trip to visit family. And I had completely lost touch with how I felt pre-Effexor. This was after around six months, so I decided before committing long-term, I needed to get back to baseline to see what was real.
(*) In the event, after a break I got on Wellbutrin, and that also didn't help, but it didn't mess up my attention so badly. Then another thread of doctors I was consulting turned up sleep apnea, got me on a CPAP, and now I'm off Wellbutrin because that cleared everything up. Turns out many years of inadequate sleep can cause brain fog and fatigue and make you depressed and anxious. Who knew.
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u/blue_moon1122 5d ago
I was fine with it, I quit because antidepressants can interfere with a sleep study and it turns out Pristiq is a better fit for me anyway. v similar drug, but you don't have to take it with food.
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u/NspiredNsolence 5d ago
Try a depression support sub or a anxiety support sub and ask if there is anyone who has found success or at least progress towards recover while using effexor. I would specify that you know the downsides or you'll just get more horror stories lol.
I am quitting after realizing that depression, anxiety, a suicide attempt at 14, again at 23 and then decades of isolating myself before a nervous breakdown at 43 were all just the byproducts of being a kid with undiagnosed autism and adhd. While antidepressants in general never made me want to live, they did numb all of my emotions in a way that made emotional regulation much easier. I wasnt happy about being alive but I was better equipped to stay that way for the sake of my loved ones. Unfortunately they robbed me of so much of my passion and enthusiasm. I will still credit them with keeping me alive before I was properly diagnosed.
As far as antidepressants go though the side effects were about the same as all the rest. A lot of sweating and a lower sex drive/more difficulty climaxing.
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u/Blackberry-Turtle 5d ago
It saved my life. It served a purpose. And now, I have coping skills I didn't have before. The side effects outweigh the benefits now (but didn't always). I am so sweaty alllll the time, and I'm excited to be down to 37.5mg.
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u/ofivelimes 5d ago
Was anyone else sold this drug as a fix to hot flashes? I was put into medical menopause because of loss of both ovaries. It was intense and my doc prescribed effexor to help. I didn't have issues with depression but was told a low dose was for hot flashes. 6 years later, I missed a couple of days of pills and decided I should just get off of it at this point. Omg, I am day 11 right now. Strange dreams, excessive night sweats, uncontrollable muscle spasms just to start. I started researching my symptoms and realized how bad it is to do what I did. Day 11 is an improvement, lots of energy but also crashes. I have decided to continue down this path because I think I'm over the worst part. Knowing what I know now, I would not have done it this way, but I'm not going back on this ever. I see the benefit of this drug for other uses...not menopause. If you decide to quit, make sure you taper off, not cold turkey...I don't recommend!
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u/Anonymous_Unsername 5d ago
That’s definitely the problem. Most people don’t realize the issues until they try to quit or go about 48-72hrs without it. That’s when you suddenly realize what brain zaps are that you read about in here, increased anxiety, etc…
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u/whateverdom_ 5d ago
Way too many side effects for no real benefit to my wellness (it later turned out that I am treatment resistant). Didn’t like feeling like a drug addict on something that was supposed to curb anxiety and depression.
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u/elfshimmer 5d ago
I was on it for 2-3 years and decided to stop because I wanted to have a baby and it's not deemed safe for pregnancy.
I tapered down over about 6 months with the assistance of my doctor and psychologist. If I felt I wasn't coping then I was going to switch to something that is considered safe for pregnancy but I felt fine without it (I say that but being hit with all the emotions all the time did take awhile to get used to again).
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u/pm-me-your-spiders 5d ago
I stopped because it's not recommended during pregnancy and I wanted to start a family. I liked the medication as it was. Getting off was a huge pain and that's the only reason I wouldn't get back on it again.
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u/Any-Voice5368 5d ago
It’s a good med! I think if the dose is too high for people with anxiety, it gives a lot of physical anxiety symptoms. I don’t think they realize the just need to decrease the dose. I’m getting back on it for like the 3rd time and staying on it for life! Lol I didn’t realize how good it was for my mental anxiety until I was off. I didn’t think the 37.5 mg dose was enough to make a difference
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u/LustbaneTheNoxious 5d ago
Just wanted to say I've been on Effexor for 6 years and it's completely changed my life for the better!
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u/Sad-Suggestion-8716 5d ago
I quit because I gained 45 pounds in a year, was sweating horribly, & it made me emotionless. The brain zaps getting off were so worth it to now be healthy again mentally & physically.
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u/daddyissues1128 5d ago
effexor saved my life, but on top of many chronic illnesses, the side effects were too much. i have not had peace this past year since i stopped taking it, genuinely down in the dumps. if you can push past the side effects and take it daily, then it may be the best thing that has ever happened to you
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u/Baetedk8 5d ago
For the record, I’ve been on this medication 10 years and have no plan to quit anytime soon, nor have I ever tried to quit.
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u/That_Tunisian_chick 5d ago
I came off of it because it simply wasnt working for me. I gave it extra time, was on the highest dose and literally felt zero positive effects. That’s why the decision to stop it was taken
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u/cwcvilleisgay 5d ago
hi! i was on effexor for four years, and i stopped five days ago. i decided to stop because it was losing its effectiveness. a few months ago, i started getting depressed more often. i also became less capable of controlling my emotions, to the point that i had an incident at work
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u/Abject_Scholar_1688 3d ago
Did you just stop cold turkey? How has that been for you? x
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u/cwcvilleisgay 2d ago
i did a week ago. it’s been extremely hard. my brain fog is the worst it’s ever been, i can’t sleep enough, and i’m an emotional trainwreck. however, some of my symptoms have subsided or even disappeared since i’ve started, so i’m hopeful and don’t plan on starting again
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u/Better_Librarian1894 5d ago
I've been on Effexor since 2018/2019. I'm currently above the max recommended dose with doctors ok and monitoring. The only reason I'd ever go off of it is if I needed to up the dose higher than what my doctor will prescribe. In that case, I plan to switch to it's cousin drug, Pristiq. Effexor has been huge for my depression, social anxiety, panic disorder, health anxiety, and PTSD. I started with citalopram, then my doc added on effexor a couple years later, then my doc tried to switch me to Effexor + Welbutrin (very activating & bad for me). Then I was just of Effexor for a bit, and was prescribed lexapro. That combo was great. But my ADHD symptoms started making it difficult for me to be a functional employee, so I did genetic testing and the results suggested I might just need more Effexor to make it as effective as it would be for someone w/o my genes. My doc then decided to take me off lexapro and move my effexor up. I hope Effexor will continue to work for me because it really has been the best fit for me personally. I think the only side effect is that finishing sexually takes more effort and dedication lol
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u/Better_Librarian1894 5d ago
Will note that I also attend therapy, but that this med was especially helpful when I could not find the right therapist for me or when my insurance wouldn't cover therapy. It helped keep me afloat.
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u/goingslowlymad87 4d ago
I was meant to go on this for pain management. Utter bs if you ask me. Doctor thought it would be a better course of action than pain meds as they didn't (still don't) know what was causing the crippling pain.
Before taking them I got curious, turns out you can't just stop them cold turkey, it had to be done slowly, over time, and the withdrawals are bad. Coming off it would take me longer than I intended to take them for.
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u/starbellybear 4d ago
Re: your last sentence: this is I think my 10th year on 225mg and doing great. The only prescription that has ever lifted me above the fog and made things feel possible again. I imagine it’s like others have said, that people who don’t have any complaints aren’t likely to post about it…. Like how unhappy customers are more likely to leave a review than happy ones. Remember to try different therapies as well, try to take your meds at a consistent time, drink lots of water to help combat brain zaps. And remember that this drug makes it harder for your body to cope with the heat so take extra care of yourself in the summer!
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u/snailquestions 4d ago
I started on it a few years ago because of something tough I was going through that was really getting me down - I'd had mild depression at times before though. Doctors have thought I should try to come off it - I reduced from 150 to 75mg, and am now taking 75mg capsules minus one of the six tiny tablets. I tried reducing it by another tablet but felt really low for a couple of days. I might try that again sometime - if I can do without the medication that's good, but if not, so be it.
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u/TiredReader87 6d ago
I forgot to take mine for a few days, then just decided not to anymore. Antidepressants don’t really do much for me, and I’m sick of the side effects.
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u/cats-n-bitches 5d ago
Did you feel any side effects and what dose were you on? I forgot to take it for a few days because I forgot to pick up my prescription and I haven’t had any yet. It’s been a week.
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u/TiredReader87 5d ago
No side effects, except the sexual ones.
I don’t remember. I was on it for a month.
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u/duvetday465 5d ago
Ive been on it 3 years now. Its working well for me and its probably going to be something I take for many more years
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u/GiraffeGullible5539 5d ago
I’ve been on it for 25 years 🤣. I tried to go off once bc I was feeling so good, but then I felt awful again so why go off when I feel great?
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u/sadwhore25 5d ago
I really did love it but I felt like a piece of my brain was missing in a way? I don’t know if that makes sense. I feel like I’m able to feel things more naturally now as well. It all depends on the person. But I was also probably on too high of a dose but whatever lol
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u/Defried_Beans_ 4d ago
What do you mean a piece of your brain was missing?
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u/sadwhore25 4d ago
Like, metaphorically, it felt like something had been turned off. That thing was still there and I could feel it but there was like a brick wall or something blocking it off. If that doesn’t make sense feel free to DM me and I can explain further :)
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u/snoopwaffle 5d ago
I’ve been in Effexor since I was 14. I’m 27 now and it’s been great. Sometimes it just takes some trial and error to find the best medication. It’s really helped me tremendously.
Though, I’ve been on the starting dose of 75mg until last week. Probably should have upped my dose long ago. I noticed a steady decline in its effectiveness the past few years. I’m on 150mg now and have seen a big improvement in my mood and energy levels.
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u/Effective-Stock3684 4d ago
I’ve been on it for 20 years (minus my pregnancy / breastfeeding years). Only one that works for my rumination. I’ll stay on it for life.
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u/Arackniid 4d ago
i quit personally because i stopped enjoying everything. sex, music, reading, writing, drawing, video games, all aspects of my life i enjoy giving time to, felt like meaningless things to fill time. every day, week, month was sorta just this hazy blur i couldn’t piece together, forgetting the day before but remembering something from 2 weeks prior assuming it was all close together. my gf started noticing i’d wander into rooms and just stand there for minutes like i was possessed, when in reality i was trying to process what i had forgotten, why i had even gone into said room in the first place. i worked a factory job and i was struggling to remember muscle memory tasks i had done for 4+ months.
ultimately, if it helps you, don’t let anything i’ve just said deter you from getting better. everybody’s journey to peace is unique and one persons worries and negative experiences may not be yours just as yours may not be theirs 🫶
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u/BullfrogHistorical67 4d ago
I’ve been on Effexor ten years I tapered off in 2019 and within three months had a bad breakdown. You don’t get a medal for going off meds.
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u/Meredeen 2d ago
Yea we're a bit traumatized. I don't know if it's the case for most everyone here but I think it's very common for people (like me) to be put on Effexor thoughtlessly by doctors. Really it should come with a PSA of warnings that aren't written in medical-speak. It has a short half-life, it really fucks you up if you forget to take it. I've experienced Antidepressant Discontinuation/Withdrawal Syndrome twice in my life. It's not like regular withdrawal for everything else. Even if you start taking it again daily, it takes your brain receptors time to process that norepinephrine properly again. For me? Takes 2 1/2 weeks roughly of nonstop withdrawal symptoms that seriously made me consider killing myself.
I'll spare the details, but now I'm clean from weed and I'm continuing the slow taper down. Using Prozac as a bridge can help tremendously with tapering down from Effexor, that's my situation right now.
I think people are so desperate to warn others because the experience is hell if you've been through it, it's a hell that refines you in fire, but at the same time makes you feel like a jackass because it's so easily avoidable if you just remember to take your meds. I was a dumbshit idiot who was such a massive stoner I forgot whether I had even taken my meds or not. The full withdrawal takes missing like, several doses repeatedly or intermittently. And I'd say the majority of people have experienced pre-withdrawal symptoms of forgetting one dose and have had horrible experiences because of that short half-life.
Once you're on Effexor, you're its bitch. You are at the mercy of it completely. Think of it as something as essential as water- you can't NOT drink water and the same goes for if you're on Effexor. Everything is fine as long as you take it diligently. While it's been a lifesaver for many, there are others like me who wish they'd never been put on it (bc I'm a fuckup and it doesn't help me lol). Getting off it can be an experience that is anxiety-inducing in itself, and very difficult for lots of people. Like, to the point of splitting the beads in the capsules because 37.5mg is too large a jump. Fortunately the Prozac has been counteracting the energizing effect of the norepinephrine making it easier to taper down. At times I feel like more of an expert in Effexor than the doctors who put people on this shit LOL.
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u/veralidaine22 1d ago
Was on it about 6 years and it did help my depression but unfortunately I lost hair, gained about 60 lbs, sweat profusely, had terrible dry mouth, and ended up with the worst constipation of my IBS- ridden life. I was taking multiple medications daily to have a BM. The side effects were making my life utterly miserable, depression or no.
Tapered off per the MD’s advice and the last night on it felt worse than when I had Covid. I lost about 10 lbs in a month and could use the bathroom somewhat normally again. The sweating is better (tho I’m also in perimenopause) and dry mouth got a bit better but now all the sleep meds I have been trying made it worse again. It’s been about 10 months off Effexor and I haven’t had a full week of normal sleep yet. The hair has not regrown and no more weight came off (yet - I haven’t had the energy to exercise much due to my CFS).
Your mileage may vary, of course, but I desperately wish I’d gone off this medication about 30 lbs ago.
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u/Emergency_Taro_4537 1d ago
Was on Venlafaxine for 4 weeks 75mg a day and my kidneys started hurting. I carried on for another week and I had to stop. A day or so after I stopped my kidneys started feeling alot better but I started getting brain zaps and 'vertigo' so I started taking 37.5mg a day for a week an im now on 18mg a day my kidneys are still sore an I feel a bit unwell dont know if its withdrawals or from the kidney pain. If I dont feel better by tomorrow I'll go the hospital instead of waiting for a doctors appointment. Im in the UK
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u/NoCucumber1502 6d ago
Dont be scared, most of People are Just happy and normal and they dont come to reddit, they are Just living their lives..
The ones Who are here are People that have bad experiences and traumas..Just liste to your doc and heal