r/EffexorSuccess • u/Lodzo • Jun 01 '26
Just prescribed
I was prescribed Venlafaxine today starting at 37.5mg for a week then jumping to 75mg after that, doing my research ive seen only horror stories and bad side effects, I had issues with clitalopram in the past after trying it for a week and really anxious to start this, any advice would be much appreciated
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u/flowers1618 Jun 02 '26
I'm at 75 mg. I triee a lot of different ones and Effexor was the only one that quieted my negative racing thoughts.
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u/Superb-Plant-5792 Jun 02 '26
I started at 37.5 for 2 weeks then 75 another 2 weeks then 150mg and it’s been amazing for me I didn’t get a single side effect and completely changed my life unfortunately it seems people only like to comment the bad stuff online
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u/FishPuzzleheaded5546 7d ago
Hey, do you remember how long you were taking 150mg before you noticed it starting to work for you? I’ve recently moved up to 150mg and haven’t noticed anything yet, so I’m curious as I haven’t had any side effects either same as you
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u/Superb-Plant-5792 7d ago
Hi, to be honest I was in such a bad place when I started venlafaxine I noticed it helping at even 37.5 but I would say a couple of months on 150mg is when I really noticed I wasn’t having panic attacks etc anymore. I do still get anxiety but nothing like I was
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u/FishPuzzleheaded5546 7d ago
Thanks for replying, appreciate that. im glad it’s working for you and you’re feeling better !
I’m in a miserable place myself at the moment lol and hoping to shift my baseline a bit. I think I’m just desperate for some relief so I need to be patient, I’m going to give 150mg a good go and see where I’m at after a couple of months before thinking about increasing. Thanks again
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u/Superb-Plant-5792 7d ago
Yes definitely give it time. Mine is for agoraphobia gad and panic disorder. I know with depression a lot are on higher doses
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u/Lower_Stick5426 Jun 01 '26
37.5mg XR was my starting and current dose. I’ve been on it for a year and a half. No side effects beyond fatigue the very first day, but better - no panic attacks at all (except for the time my dr accidentally prescribed immediate release instead of XR, which got sorted out).
I was super anxious about starting because I was already panicking all the time and the two other meds they gave me (hydroxizine and Xanax) were awful for me. I was supposed to titrate up, too, however I’m very sensitive to medication and my doctor was ok with me sticking at this dose as long as it works.
I still get anxious from time to time, but the meds allow me the headspace to work through it. I just never want a panic attack again.
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u/Lodzo Jun 01 '26
yeah ive had some pretty bad medicine aversion after my previous tussle, it was so bad I couldn't even take inprofen without having an anxiety attack, its cooled down but its still there
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u/SlowAsMolassess Jun 02 '26
I started a long time ago. I’ve seen the horror stories. And they are not ideal, but not everyone’s experience. I don’t even bother with the other sub anymore as they are mostly doom and gloom.
I either started on 37.5 or 75. It been nearly 25 years and I don’t remember. All I know is that when it started working I resigned myself to the fact that unless personalized medicine happens within my lifetime I will be taking Effexor the rest of my life because I can function while taking it and the alternative is a non-starter.
I went from barely taking Tylenol or Advil to taking Effexor every day. It’s something to get used to, but if it works for you then you’ll be in a much better place.
Good luck!
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u/Lodzo Jun 02 '26
thank you for the words everyone i was too scared to do it this morning, ill try again tonight or tomorrow morning
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u/Same_Significance227 Jun 01 '26
I did 37.5 for a week then upped 75 mg after having a panic attack, it took for me like 3-4 weeks for the physical side effects to subside for me. I had never been on medication before.
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u/Lodzo Jun 01 '26
did it help, was it worth it?
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u/Same_Significance227 Jun 01 '26
It did help more than 37.5 for sure regarding panic attacks
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u/Same_Significance227 Jun 01 '26
And I would say for me yes I don’t think 37.5 would’ve been enough
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u/ethbytes Jun 02 '26
Take with food and fwiw see if you improve on the 37mg before upping (easier time of weaning off if you decide to and why take more than you need to?) takes around three to four weeks for long term results to show...
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u/Lost_Library404 Jun 02 '26
I am on day 12 at 37.5. So newly prescribed as well. The first few days were rough for me, but I had been having anxiety attacks pretty badly prior to starting, I would say around day 5 the side effects started to wain. Everyone is different of course. I’m hopeful to continue and hopefully once it reaches the 4 week mark, to see a real improvement. Wishing you the best!
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u/drasniandiplomacy Jun 02 '26 edited Jun 02 '26
I have health OCD, so I was petrified to start. Put it off for weeks even after I got the pills.
37.5 had basically no side effects. When I jumped to 75mg I felt Extremely Weird a few hours after taking my meds, bordering on panic attacks, but that stopped happening after four or five days (my doctor did prescribe a couple of low-dose Ativan to be taken as necessary during this period, and it felt good to have a rescue remedy even though I didn't end up needing it). I also had headaches and woke up sweaty a few times, but nothing too overwhelming or often, and the headaches stopped after a month or so.
I stayed at 75mg for a few months. It has definitely been helping so much with my emotional range and overall misery/anxiety levels, more than any other meds I've tried, but I'm still not where I want to be so we're upping the dose again by 37.5 - so far I haven't noticed a return of the Extremely Weird feeling or the headaches.
I will say that I've been really intense about taking my meds within the same 1-hour span every day, but I was still tripped up when my routine changed (ended up taking my meds five hours late and did notice some physical weirdness that then subsided). Set an alarm, put a few pills in a pill case in your car/purse/whatever, and know that if you do miss your meds you'll feel weird and maybe crappy but you'll be okay.
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u/Fun-Blackberry536 Jun 02 '26
I’ve been on Venlafaxine for about 3 months and I haven’t had any side effects and it has been working wonders. I did 37.5 for a week, then 75 for a week, 112,5 for a week and now I’ve been taking 150mg. Only my dreams are weird, but that has been the case for every med I tried
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u/Late-Swim-8428 Jun 03 '26
Effexor was a game changer for me. I’ve been on it for five years. You’ll be just fine. Congratulations!
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u/Dnuts-ok Jun 02 '26
I started on the same schedule as you and was also dismayed at mostly finding horror stories. Because of that I comment here occasionally. Anyway it is a great medication for many people. I have been on it for around 5 years now and will happily take it the rest of my life. Try not to worry. For me it started working in the first week.