Wyeth Effexor

In 1994, I was prescribed Paxil 10 mg to alleviate the anxiety attacks I was having. At the time, I was functioning at a very high level, very creative and with the ability to articulate in any given moment a thought, idea or otherwise. I attempted to ween off twice - both failed attempts as physiologically my body would not accept withdrawal (I had become free of anxiety attacks). At the time, I have perfect cognitive functioning.

In 2004 moved to Effexor XR, 37.5 mg. The intention was to switch drugs - get over the "hump" at that time and then get off antidepressants all together. With the doctor had a ween plan - attempted 3 times with failure. The withdrawal symptoms were far worse than any reason I ever went on the medication. It includes lethargy, brain fog, cognitive dysfunction, apathy, muscle pain and more.

Finally 5 years later, in 2009, I decided to finally "ride the wave" and ween off of the Effexor XR and be off prescription medication for good. A nightmare occurred as the weening began, I started to notice my cognitive functioning was decreasing; word recall, disorganized thoughts, comprehension and synthesizing of ideas and thoughts became compromised. It worsened as time went on.

After 2 years and 3 months (no exaggeration), I finally took my last pill, May 2011. I have been off the med for almost 10 months and only in the last 3 weeks I begun to feel like myself. However, the cognitive issues have continued and have created a swing of emotions - frustration being the big one. I feel like I have "lost my marbles". I cannot always finish my sentences as words/thoughts just are not there. The High level intellect and creative thoughts seem to be dormant. The internal "processor" of information in the brain has a deficit, has a "missing link" now that was not there prior to or during the time I was on the med.

Physically, coming off created a slew of emotions and weight gain that I have never experienced before. I believe that these meds are not designed for people to really come off - not meant for people to be on for years. I pray and can only hope that my brain (having placidity) has the ability to mend itself and "rewire". I cannot imagine having to live this way the rest of my life.

I was taking Effexor for almost 5 years for general anxiety. It actually did help with the panic, but boy was it tough to come off . I did the tapering method and in the end, I was breaking open the capsules and counting beads, that's how bad it had become. The brain shivers and zaps are the scariest feeling I've ever had. It was a nightmare for a year . And to this day, over a year later, I still don't feel back to myself. I feel like I'm still in withdrawal and these brain shivers and zaps still come at me often . Am I the only one to still feel the effects, even over a year after this evil medication?

In the summer of '08, after having problems sleeping through the night for probably a year, I went to my physician to get some help. And after trying different sleeping meds, such as Ambien, for about 6 months he suggested that my problems were depression and prescribed me Effexor in fall 2008. Initially the dosage was 37.5 mg; then after the first week it was increased to 75 mg and I couldn't function at all and was moved back to 37.5, and while I felt like an emotionless zombie I did sleep very well. Time went on and I continued taking the low dosage for about 18 months while in the process realizing that my focus was progressively getting worse and at that point figuring out that I could hardly function in life due to my words becoming slurred and not being able to concentrate. I finally decided to go off the Effexor in May 2010 and quit cold turkey and I figured there would be withdrawal symptoms which there certainly was but stopped taking it in an effort to get my life back.

However, it has been 21 months that I have been off of it and things have not got a bit better and fear that my life will never be normal again. Everything that happens in life I am completely emotionless I cannot concentrate one bit. Every time I walk in the other room I forget what I went in there for. My vision is foggy and blurred just like my thoughts. I used to consider myself quite smart with the ability to quickly adapt to any situation, but now I feel completely inept and can't process anything I read or say or comprehend it whatsoever.

I have asked my doctor and he tells me that it's all in my head, so it's good to know that I am not the only person out there who has had the misfortune to be permanently affected by this horrible medication. I feel like a space cadet every waking minute of every day. I just cannot focus my mind or my speech for that matter because I can't think hardly think fast enough to even keep my words coming out like they should. I used to be able to absorb like a sponge any written or verbal communication or song having only seen or heard it once. Now I could read or hear something 1000 times and cannot remember the words. It has ruined my life and I don't see how they can continue to prescribe drugs like this and it still be legal.

I was prescribed Effexor XR back in 2007. I had been diagnosed with anxiety disorder and was placed on a very high dosage in order to combat it. It worked for quite a while but over time a wave of hostility began to break out of me - towards everyone I love and care about. It got worst when I went through withdrawal, where I became manic and self-destructive.

Effexor is a very dangerous drug. Unless you or your loved one has experienced its side effects, you cannot image how frightening and destructive it is. It is addictive and debilitating. No one in the medical field knows how to wean an individual off of this drug. Withdrawal symptoms are severe, lasting for days, weeks, and sometimes months. One needs to be hospitalized or put into rehab to go through this withdrawal.

No drug should cause such illness. The loss of libido is great. A person becomes robot-like without experiencing pleasure. Increasing one's serotonin and decreasing their dopamine creates a society of robots. No one chooses to live this way but if the pharmaceutical companies are making money, then there is something wrong with this country. How is this allowed? Illegal criminal act, perhaps?

Weaning off Effexor makes you bed ridden for days and weeks. Flu like symptoms. Brain zaps. Severe head pain. Blurred vision. On and on and on. Worse than street drugs! The company does not explain how to go off the drug. So how is it done? The answer is obvious: stay on so they can make money. You cannot go off this drug or you may end up dead.

I'm seeing an NP and I have been on Effexor 75 mg for a couple of years. On 11-15-11, I took my first set of 150 mg. By the next week, I was having confusion, not able to complete a thought. Then after 4 weeks, I woke up unable to speak correctly. My boss sent me home from work worried that I had had a stroke. I went to the doctor and she sent me immediately to the ER. MRI was negative, but I still had slurred speech and was unable to answer questions. They asked me if I was on any other medications or street drugs or alcohol, and even tested me for them anyways. I told them I was extremely tired, and that at one point, the week before, I felt as if something had hit me in the back of the head.

At discharge from the ER, I was told that I probably had stroke like symptoms from a migraine I had 3 days before. At the time, the only pain I was in was continued achiness like the flu. My sister was not happy with the response and took me to another ER. They told her they thought it was made up and I needed to see a psychologist. Well, I read this and was so happy because I had all these symptoms and I know that I'm not this crazy. I have anxiety normally. I am going to make an appointment to see a psychiatrist this time instead of a nurse practitioner.

I have been taking Effexor XR for over a year. I have recently been put up to 150 mg. This was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I hate Effexor, This medication is going to have me ** up for life. If I miss even one day of taking it, the next day I can barely function. Everything kind of just becomes a blur. I'm irritable, tired, weak, dizzy, unable to focus or concentrate;I stutter and can't finish my sentences. If you ask me, I think I'd be better off just dealing with my depression.

Because of this drug, I spend most of my time indoors just trying to stay awake. I can't sleep at night. I don't have the energy to do much of anything. This medication ruined my relationship with many people because of the sudden and severe mood swings. I cannot handle the effects any longer, but I also cannot handle the withdrawals and side effects from not taking this drug. As it stands right now, I'm fighting a losing battle.

I've been on Effexor (standard, not XR) from 1993-2009 and am now going back on a generic version as it's the only SNRI that comes in a non-extended-release form. For anyone trying to get off Effexor, which I tried 4 times, the only time I was successful was while weaning off the Effexor the same time I tapered up the dose of another SNRI. Then later, you can try to wean off that 2nd medication

My complaint with Wyeff is that in 2009, when I went to refill my Rx, I suddenly learned from the pharmacies that it was no longer being made. Their suppliers Cardinal & McKesson couldn't get it. This is like telling a diabetic there's no more insulin, and I was panicked. I filed a formal complaint with Wyeth on August. 2009, and they responded on September, 2009 by just saying that it was still available at all strengths. I actually spoke to Wyeth/Pfizer today, and a pharmacist told me the production of Effexor was halted in June, 2009, so Wyeth's legal department lied or, at a minimum, grossly distorted the facts. I think they were profit motivated as this tied with Pfizer's buy-out of Wyeth.

The last 2 years have been a nightmare as I've tried different anti-depressants that worked for a while and then, I'm back to marginally functioning. My GI system didn't absorb the XR form properly and the generic made my blood pressure fluctuate grossly during the day. I've tried Celexa, Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, and Citalopram. Now, I'm starting a different generic version of Effexor. Effexor saved my life, and if people read the side effects in the drug insert fine print, they're listed.

My complaint is that Wyeth provided no warning to patients or supplier/vendors that they were ceasing production of the standard release product, even when it was their top-selling product. They denied their actions and it cost me hundreds of dollars to get the few lose dose tablets that the pharmacy could find me, so I could wean off Effexor onto something else; not to mention the mental anguish of losing the 1 drug that had worked for me for 16 years and not to mention all of my sick leave and vacation time to keep my job (as a nurse/medical auditor). I have the letters and records to back up my claim.

I took Effexor for about two years before I decided to go off of it. I was having headaches, head and hand tremors, difficulty with vision, and pain in all of my joints. There are too many things to list. When I went off, it was awful! You would think I was on heroin with chills, vomiting, uncontrollable crying, etc.

I was also given Effexor by the wolves of psych pharm. No warning,accept for the long, fine print, cover your ** form they staple to script. I have taken it for ten plus years. It's hard to remember since my brain is now fried. I had a pancreas attack on November of 09 and quit taking them. It has been pure hell and still thinking of getting back on them just to get some relief. At this point, I feel it's either take the drug or suck a pistol. Nobody will ever do anything legally about it though. Big Pharm is running the show right now. Just watch TV and see the commercials. Good luck everyone.

In 2004, I was going through a divorce and my family physician prescribed me Effexor. Over a period of several months, the doctor increased the dosage up to 300 mgs. At this dosage, I became very manic and began to act very strange. I could tell that something was wrong and discontinued using the drug (I flushed it down the porcelain princess). Insanity began as soon as the time came for the very next dose. I had all the worst symptoms described in the pages of this forum. My cognitive abilities became impaired to a terrible degree. The brain zaps were debilitating. I could not think. Thoughts would disappear before they were finished. My short and long term memory stopped functioning. I could not speak much. When I could talk, my statements were unclear and incomplete. Anxiety flooded every part of my body and I lived terrified. I had always been very extroverted until I got off the Effexor. I became very shy and experienced a paralyzing type of anxiousness in the presence of others.

I went back to the doctor and got back on 37.5 mgs for two months. It did not change my condition. Everything in my life changed. I was a salesman that loved meeting people and got excited when socializing. My life turned into an unbridled nightmare. It has been six years since I got off the Effexor and the condition has not completely subsided. The brain zaps were terrible for the first year and I still had them on occasion after two years. My memory has improved some but it is not like it was before. The general anxiety is still bad and the social anxiety is still very bad. But I had to force myself into situations to move on with life. My speech has improved a lot, but my thoughts are still short lived. It's like I have had a stroke and my life has been divided into two stages; before and after. It saddens me that it's been this long and I continue to suffer from this drug.

I read and research hoping someone has found a way out of this. I keep telling myself that next year it will all stop but I know now that it will not. It will continue to slowly improve. But much of the improvement is from getting used to living with it. I hope that none of you have suffered as long as I have. And I hope that someone out there has found a solution. I have contemplated getting back on when the anxiety gets unbearable. But I can't bear the idea of subjecting myself to that substance ever again. It scares me too much and I worry that it would return me to day one.

For the last 8-10 years I have been using the anti-depressant drug, Effexor XR or Venaflaxin (for generic). Over the years, I have found myself in a different world; away from salvation and mentally and emotionally drained from society. I was incapable to live within myself; with my bones wanting to jump out of my skin, and the world being cruel to my everyday living. I am not the person that I used to be, and probably will never get back to that person. I feel like this drug has taken my life away.

The side-effects were never explained to me, and I am so appalled that I have to live in this bubble for the rest of my life. I have tried to get off of this drug just like everyone else, but couldn't. My experiences have included but are not limited to: severe memory loss, joint and muscle pain, a constant rapid heart rate, heartburn, loss of appetite, uncontrollable crying, severe mood swings, unable to talk (stuttering or repeating my thoughts), hearing music or talking (like ringing in my ears), headaches every day, unable to complete tasks, paranoia, nervousness, restless legs, constant nausea, unable to sleep, sleep too much and the shocks at the back of my head.

I have tried talking to my doctor, but have gotten nowhere. I cannot work or focus on anything. I feel completely hopeless and lost. My capabilities as a 39-year old are very limited. I have no strength or will power, and all I hear from people who are not familiar with this drug for depression is "Oh, just snap out of it, or, it's just all in your head." I believe that this drug is a death trap, and should be taken off of the market. Why should the doctors and drug companies play God with people's lives when they are not really aware of the side-effects.? My life, along with many others, has become a game of Russian roulette. Doctors get paid trips for promoting drugs; so, yes this is why they want to keep me and the thousands of others on this medicine.

If there is anyone out there that can help, please do. This is an unseen epidemic that is affecting thousands, and there needs to be harder and stricter regulations to ensure the safety of individuals suffering from depression.

I was placed on Effexor and was not told about the severe withdrawals. While on it, my behavior was bizarre at times and my depression was worse. When I told my doctor about how I was feeling, she increased my dose until I was taking 225mg. My doctor stopped seeing patients and I eventually ran out and quit cold turkey approximately 3 weeks ago. I was suffering terrible withdrawals and anxiety. I left my home during this time to stay in a hotel because my husband was angry with me and I did not want my 7 year old daughter to see me like that. I am home now but still struggling with this. My marriage is basically over and I have been acting impulsively. I spent thousands of dollars in a matter of weeks, have had terrible anxiety and can barely function. This drug has ruined my life. I have read that withdrawal can last an entire year. I am afraid that it has only been 3 weeks and I may never feel like myself again.

I was on Effexor for 18 months and slowly weaned myself off with the last dose being 6 weeks ago. My life has become a living hell. Physical: MS-like symptoms flare-up, having to walk with a cane, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, slurring words, double vision. Emotional: raging at my children, crying jags, unmitigated negativity, and endless thoughts of suicide. It sounds like these may never go away and I am wondering where the class action law suit is. I lost weeks of work. I wonder if I will ever be able to work full time again.

I had been on Effexor for almost 10 years and it worked for me. I decided to slow it down with the intention of discontinuing its use as I felt it was no longer necessary. I began to wean down slowly. The withdrawal became something I cannot even describe in words. I felt completely insane, physically ill and extremely emotionally unstable (which I was never before taking this drug, depressed, yes, but not unstable). I ended up going back to it believing that it was my depression coming back and that I needed the medication.

I was raised to 300mg a few months ago, and recently I missed a dose. That evening, I woke up petrified having had one of the worst nightmares. I was in pure terror and even after being awake for some time, I could not distinguish reality from the dream. I have never had a nightmare so real, vivid, terrifying. I was afraid to go back to sleep. It was the scariest thing I have ever experienced in my life. The feeling was so unbearable that I contemplated suicide. This happened after only 15 hours of missing my dose. About 4 hours after taking the Effexor, I felt normal again. I was never warned about the severe and debilitating withdrawal symptoms of Effexor or the dangerous side effects of missing a dose. I am truly frightened that I have been on this "medication" for ten years and it seems my body/brain is physically addicted. I did not sign up for this!

In 2000, I had a goiter growing on my thyroid that was not cancerous, however, it continued to grow and caused me to have hypothyroidism. I had surgery and was placed on synthroid (levothyroxine) to regulate my TSH. One major side effect of an unregulated thyroid is anxiety if your TSH goes below 1.0. Well, because of the anxiety, I was placed on Effexor XR 75. After six weeks, I could tell that my memory has improved and I could multitask so much better. The drug worked for me.

After reading all of the horrible stories on the internet I went cold turkey using Effexor and did very well. My doctor was surprised and I thought everything was great! Then in less than one year, I began to lose my mind and I could no longer think. I began to have migraine and headaches so I began to read about thyroid problem again. When we get older, our body stops to function as well as when we were younger. That is why we send young men off to war instead of old ones.

My body required Effexor or some type of mood softener to connect my brain cells back together. I've read several complaints here on this site and noticed that when someone stops taking their medication, they begin to cry, have headaches, and cannot think. They need to be on an SSI or whatever the medical term is for the drug. Effexor, or its generic term Venlafaxine, is required if you want to continue sane. If not, you will eventually hurt someone because of the massive mood swings one get after age 40. This could result to better life, ability to drive again and calmness.

I was placed on these meds after an emotional collapse with another medication Remeron after an emotional collapse and, was told I would and could be on them forever. I was told they were safe and hardly any side effects. I was also told if I refused to take them I could go home and be ill and not get better. So I felt I had no choice and I also had just had a breakdown and could barely function. I ended up off Remeron because it was making me too ill.

But I have been on these other two since 1996/97. I do not remember. For a long long time I have told Drs that I cannot remember much things I had just done. I get confused and make mistakes. I forget what I am doing or saying right when I am in the middle of it and I just stand there and a lot of time I just walk off because I have no idea. They have told me, Oh don't worry it is a short term memory loss. It doesn't hurt anything. So I trusted them. I also told my one Dr. that there was a period of around 18 mos to 2 yrs after my breakdown, I have no memory whatsoever. He just made note of it and then told me I probably never would. I was very concerned that this would happen. He wasn't.

Now here I am, all these years later. I have bad bouts of depression. I think about suicide often. I can't even remember a movie me and my husband just watched the day before. It is like I am seeing it for the first time if we watch it again. I have been telling my husband for a couple years now that I worry I have Alzheimer but my Dr says no. I also have vision problems that clear up after I take my meds. My husband is at a loss. But it is ruining my life. I really am very frightened as I cannot remember a lot and people are starting to notice it. It seems to be getting worse.

I am afraid this is a permanent damage. Also My new Dr just raised my amount which he says isn't much but now my memory is even worse. I cannot sleep. I have nausea so badly and it isn't going away. Headaches. I am miserable and scared. My Dr did say to me after I was talking to him about this that he was surprised I have any memory at all. He doesn't like these meds. But I believe he is afraid to change them. I have been looking for answers and did run across a site that has over 25,000 signatures on it that all these people have the same or some form of the same complaint as me. That really made me realize I was not alone in these symptoms. I believe I may have permanent brain damage and memory damage from these meds. I am only 56 this year and I would like to lead a somewhat normal life. But I fear that isn't going to happen. I always feel hopeless and lost. This is ruining my life.

I was prescribed Effexor XR for severe PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) approximately 2 years ago. It did what it was supposed to do, but made me extremely tired. I decided (together with my psychiatrist) to go off. She advised me to drop down the dosage in two week increments. My dose was 150 mg/day. This should have taken 6 weeks. When I got to the lowest dosage, I stayed on for 2 weeks and was done, or so I thought. I had three miserable days, the entire time I had to lie flat on my back. Vomiting, brain zaps, achiness in all of my bones, blurred vision. I have had these symptoms throughout the withdrawal, but now the symptoms are so debilitating that I cannot function. I can't even take the dogs out. I have felt some paranoia. I cry at commercials (the only thing I can do is watch TV). I cry at the drop of a hat and I am feeling depressed.

No, I am certain the depression is not a re-emergence of my symptoms that put me on Effexor in the first place. This is part of the withdrawal. My concentration is shot and has been these past six months. I broke down and opened the capsule and counted out the "beads." Ninety. Last night I took 30 of them. I feel significantly better. I can feed the dogs, get off the couch for short periods of time; I can even eat. There is no way I could work, though, because I can barely think. This is an awful drug. I hope to God I can get off this drug in the next few weeks. I cannot live like this. This isn't living.

I have been taking Effexor XR for 3 years now and have not only become dependent on the drug but also have developed severe OCD from taking it. I am now working to get off of it and get therapy instead of taking it.

I, too, experienced dependent-like behaviors toward the prescribed medication. I had additional side effects which made me think I should stop taking it. But before I was able to put the meds down I got into trouble with the law. I feel the criminal incident is in direct relation to the drug Effexor. I have not been in any trouble before in my life, and as a blue-blooded female American woman I did in fact own a hand gun. I also imbibed a few beers once or twice a week. But I am no alcoholic.

The drug Effexor took over my whole body and mind. I stopped going to the bathroom for 2 months! I couldn't get myself through the day without taking a dose of Effexor. I told my nurse what was happening and she recommended a laxative. Laxatives did not help at all. When I had a couple drinks, however, I was able to go a little bit. A little bit of fecal matter would pass but I was so bloated and backed up and dependent on Effexor that I continued to drink more than I ever would have otherwise. I was so full of toxins and stress from the addiction to these pills that I blacked out and drank an entire bottle of alcohol, took my kid and my gun in my car, and, well, I woke up in the hospital after that. I have had to endure the Department of Children and Family Services in my life, being forced to go to drug and alcohol treatment, and will now have 3 felony convictions on my record for the rest of my life because of what happened, albeit slowly but most definitely surely.

The lawyer I hired was of no help to me and I have been treated like a criminal because I can barely think straight anymore. I used to be a cognizant and thin single mother. Now I'm a fat slob criminal. All thanks to Effexor. If any lawyers will read this, I'd love if you would give me a call and see if we have something here. I'm still extremely upset about how my life has been affected by Effexor. I would love for a real attorney to contact me about this. I really feel I have a legitimate claim, not to mention all the other things that happened afterwards where I was treated unfairly and just stuck in a system that really worked against me. I have been completely devastated by the effects that Effexor has had on my life. I'm really sensitive and I will never take another prescription medication ever again. God bless.

What happened? Some genius marketing guru realized that the best way to profit from illness was to make a drug that supposedly "relieves symptoms of depression" (nice cover) when the real deal is that they are systematically and purposefully addicting hordes of desperate, depressed people who feel trapped by their illness.

This drug is worse than heroin, or meth - both of which I have had experience with. The withdrawal from heroin only lasts a week and that isn't even as bad as coming off of Effexor. At least from heroin you are only bedridden, shivering, sweating, vomiting, unable to move or talk. Take all those symptoms, multiply them by 4, add these super fun and "oh so desirable" body shocks (zaps, shivers, whatever people call them) and stretch the duration out over six weeks and then you approach a god description of Effexor withdrawals.

This is hell. I cant work, sleep, eat, think, drive or do anything that requires longer than 3 minutes of concentration. I think I am going to lose my job.

I have been on Effexor XR since 2005, and have tried to get off of it twice now. I relapse worse and worse every time. I am stricken with anxiety and stop eating. I lost 15 lbs in two weeks and if I had not gotten back on my medication, I would probably not be writing this right now. There is something wrong with having to take a pill to get through the day! I need to know what is really going on with me, and I can't find anyone out there who can help me! If I don't take this medication at the same time everyday or even miss it by a couple of hours, I get dizzy, irritable, and angry. My heart races and I become very agitated. I am able to get off the drug for about 3 months and in that time, I feel fantastic! It is about the fourth month where I lose it. I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't. I don't know what to do.

I have become addicted to the anti-depressant named Effexor XR which was prescribed to me over six years ago. At no time was I informed or was my doctor aware of the intolerable side effects of Effexor withdrawal. It is now listed in the product monograph that some people will have to remain on the drug for life due to side effects of withdrawal that may be permanent for some people.

My dose of Effexor was 225 mg daily taken in one dose. I very slowly reduced to the lowest dose capsule which is 37.5 mg. I took that low dose for one month and tried coming off but I couldn't. I have taken to literally counting out grains and I still can't get off the drug because of the side effects of withdrawal.

The emotional and physical effects of trying to withdraw from this drug have been horrendous for myself and for my family. I feel that my neurologic system has been damaged by this drug. The side effects have included extreme mood swings which vary between irritability, crying jags and anger. I experience intolerable electric shock like feelings which are worse when turning my head, walking, loud noises, chewing etc. My muscles ache and my joints hurt.

If I take a very small dose of the drug these symptoms are alleviated. I am devastated emotionally by being made a prisoner of this drug. I am worried constantly about what this has done to my brain. This drug should be off the market.

I have been taking Effexor XR for a year and a half. I did not know how bad the side effects would be trying to get off of it. Why do doctors not know about the medications they are prescribing? I cannot beleive the number of people whose lives are being ruined by these drugs. And we want to get cocaine off the streets? These drugs are just as bad. I have been weaning off my daily dose for a few months now and the side effects are terrible. Dizziness, Vertigo, Headaches, Weight gain, sick to my stomach all the time. I have been completely off for one week now and still I am having side effects. I hope they go away soon. I will be petitioning to take this drug off the market.

I was never informed that this would effect me the way it does. And now my insurance at work is changing and I will have to pay the full $140 per month for a drug that I cant get off of because I would miss work due to the fact that I feel like a heroin addict that needs another hit. I would not reccommed this to anyone!

I was prescribed to take Effexor for the past 8-10 years approximately. (I had been on a few different anti-depressants prior) Although Effexor seemed to help the depression & anxiety, I immediately began to experience dizziness, namely when I was either near the time to take the next dose, or if I missed it. I experienced extremely vivid dreams, and a dizziness that is hard to describe. It felt like a mild electrical pulsing sensation, I once heard it described accurately as "ginger ale on the brain". I immideately reported this to my prescribing physician, I was told this is not a side effect and with the pill's half-life, there is no explanation for this. For years I lived with this, thinking it was me. I went for extensive testing, including x-rays, MRI's, ear nose and throat, gastro-intestinal, etc. I have always had a high metabolism, now I am overweight after taking this garbage. All tests turned up normal.

After reading some postings on the problems with Effexor, I decided it was time to get off of it. In the time I was on it, I did not feel that I needed it as much as I could not deal with the withdrawal. It also led to heartburn and my need to take two doses of Prilosec OTC daily. With physician's care, I recently went off Effexor. I WANT EVERYONE WHO IS TRYING TO GET OFF TO KNOW: You can do it, you need to cut the dose in half, half, and half again. Even though my doctor said the 7mg dose was insignificant, it fenned off the dizziness. The first week without the pill was purely out of hell. I reached a "crisis" day where I could not leave my house the dizziness was so bad. The dizziness (after years of suffering with it and thinking I was crazy) is linked to eye movement. If you are experiencing it, you will notice you get the pulse when you move your eyes left and right.

I called my doctor this day, he told me to tough it out. He was right, the 5th day was just outside the eye of the storm. All in all, it took about 2-weeks for the dizziness to end after quitting completely. The whole process took about 1 1/2 months to wean off. YOU CAN DO IT, STAY STRONG AND GET OFF THIS HORRIBLE DRUG.

i used effexor for four months in 08, stopping because of vibrating vision. since stopping in june 08, i am left emotionless, can't drive, confusion, memory problems, can't seem to get the words out to talk, or i stutter. this drug was to make me feel again. but this drug has ruined my life.

I need to know where to go and get some help. I was on Effexor in 2002- 2004 and expereinced the same side effects and same problems that the others have shared. I been to doctors and all kinds of herbalists and well as been hospiotalized for side effects from medications but havce no luck in getting over the dizziness as a result of the Effexor. I tried therapy and all kinds of things and still symptoms are there.. Can you suggest somethings for me.

My wife's obgyn, after her C-section, gave her a sample drug, when she had told him she was having trouble sleeping (no sleep...and I told him that she was running around cleaning things and rearranging furniture, and had racing thoughts). The drug was called Effexor XR. We still have the box, and the warning included with the drug says that the drug SHOULD NOT be given to those with symptoms of mania...which I just told you we gave the doctor.

Anyway, my wife, then, has a manic break and needs to be put into the ER and, after, a mental clinic for a week. The ER person I talked to say that this drug likely worsened the condition.

She is, now, on Social Security disability for an anxiety disorder following all of this, having lost her 54 thousand per year job a little over 2 years ago.

Loss of my wife's work, and we have had to live off of Social Security Disability for the last year and a half (took about a year to get approved and get first payment). I (the husband) am currently schooling to take over as the primary income provider.

I am a marrierd 36 year old mother of 2 teenagers. I began taking Effexor XR in 2002 after being diagnosed with depression. Effexor really helped me through the rough times, however I was never made aware of all the adverse and serious reactions that I am now being faced with. At the present time I am on disability; now completely away from work for the past 2 months. My credit history being destroyed for not being able to pay my owing credit cards in full, as well as loosing any sort of salary increment or advancement in my company.

On July 2008 I found myself experiencing awful incapacetating neurological dissorders that made Doctors believe I had MS and or any other Neurological or Antinmune illnes. After countless MRI's, CT scans, blood work, EMG's, Neurologists, Reumatologysts, etc.; Doctors have agreed that I have a toxic reaction to Venlafaxine. I did take dosis for up to 300 mg that I am weaning out now, and have gone through all the roller coster of loosing weigh, suicide and now gaining weigh without reason. I started in 2002 with a healthy 120 lbs., going down to 100 lbs, and now finally at 170 lbs. For no aparent reason or change in the amount of food I ingest.

I will name the countless symptoms and probably unreversable brain damage I am living with. There are good days in wich some of the symptoms won't arise for exception of the pain. Those are the days I can be a mother and wife but still the shadow of the energetic person I was. Back in July all the symptoms hit me all at once. Blury vision, dizzy, letargic, high pitch ringing in my ears, exhaustion, pain all over my body, joints and muscles. Muscle twitching, slurred speech, urinary incontinence at times, hair lose in patches. It is imposible for me to normally work at any type of job now. I have states where I would forget what I am doing. I have times in wich I have a hard time controlling voluntary motor functions in my legs and arms (such as not being able to write, open a botlle or carry anything). Every now and then muscles will begin to twitch, then just stop, out of the blue. I became lethargic and have no energy to do anything. Not to mention times or days when I can not drive due to the chance that I would have an accident beacuse of the sudden blury vision or dizzines that make it dificult to see. Not to mention when I suddenly forget where I am going or doing.

As of today, I am starting the last part of the weaning process, just 37.5 mg. I am still in constant pain. Constant nause, stomach aches, constipation, sleepy and dizziness. Lately l have periods where I wonder where I am, or what is what I was going to do or doing. For example when having a conversations I have a hard time completing a thought due to either my brain is just shutting down or drifting off into nowhere land. I still am very lethargic and have little energy most of the time. Sadly, my mind doesn't have the edge that it used to have; I feel mentally overloaded if two people talk to me at the same time. The constant beeping in both my ears (high pitched sound)makes everything around me sound noisy that sometimes gives me a headache. My life has changed completely. I need help to go grocery shoping, i need help when cooking, help when needing to make desicions. This drug has taken my life away.

At the present time I am on disability; now completely away from work for the past 2 months. My credit history being destroyed for not being able to pay my owing credit cards in full, as well as loosing any sort of salary increment or advancement in my company.

I did take dosis for up to 300 mg that I am weaning out now, and have gone through all the roller coster of loosing weigh, suicide and now gaining weigh without reason.

Back in July all the symptoms hit me all at once. Blury vision, dizzy, letargic, high pitch ringing in my ears, exhaustion, pain all over my body, joints and muscles. Muscle twitching, slurred speech, urinary incontinence at times, hair lose in patches.
It is imposible for me to normally work at any type of job now. I have states where I would forget what I am doing. I have times in wich I have a hard time controlling voluntary motor functions in my legs and arms (such as not being able to write, open a botlle or carry anything).

Every now and then muscles will begin to twitch, then just stop, out of the blue. I became lethargic and have no energy to do anything. Not to mention times or days when I can not drive due to the chance that I would have an accident beacuse of the sudden blury vision or dizzines that make it dificult to see. Not to mention when I suddenly forget where I am going or doing.

Lately l have periods where I wonder where I am, or what is what I was going to do or doing. For example when having a conversations I have a hard time completing a thought due to either my brain is just shutting down or drifting off into nowhere land. I still am very lethargic and have little energy most of the time.

My life has changed completely. I need help to go grocery shoping, i need help when cooking, help when needing to make desicions. This drug has taken my life away.

I was prescribed effexor and proceeded to begin it's use with my Doctor's assurance that there are no withdrawal symptoms acknowledged to be associated with it. I effectively lost two years of my life to this horrible product and now after it's discontinuation I have quite severe gaps in my memory during the time I was using it. I suffered really awful withdrawal symptoms when I ceased using it ending up during withdrawal in an emergency room as my husband believed I had suffered a stroke! This product should be banned!

I spent two years in a drug enduced 'dreamlike' state, I put on a huge amount of weight which I still carry the physical effects from losing, my business suffered to the point that I had to close it.

I have been taking Effexor 37.5 mg for many years. I have tried, unsuccessfully, to taper off. When I do, even slowly, I get crying jags, I feel out of control, incredibly anxious, dizzy and nauseous. In the past year I have been getting sick from actually TAKING the drug, so much that I was prescribed the anti-nausea medicine Compazine. I now have to break the pill in tiny pieces and take it over the course of the day. If I even take half, I vomit. I feel that I am trapped in this vicious cycle, can't take the medicine, can't get off of the medicine.

I am spending approx. $600 or more per year (I do not have prescription coverage) to take a medication that does nothing for me, and makes me sick. I was diagnosed a couple of months ago with an ulcer, and I cannot imagin that this medication is helping. I am wastig money and I am literally sick from this.

Effexor was prescribed to me by my GYN to help with menopause symptoms and I was told it would help with IBS symptoms. I have been on it for about 2 yrs. I am currently trying to stop taking Effexor and, unbeknownst to me, the withdrawal side effects are making me violently ill. Just a few of the side effects: vertigo, stomach upset, nervousness, headaches, aches and pains and more.

Withdrawal side effects making me ill. I refuse to take any more of these pills just to get a quick fix in order to wean myself off. If I knew I would suffer like this, I would never have filled the first prescription.

While I know many medications have side effects when one wishes to stop taking them, there is one antidepressant that exhibits a note worthy mention. I have been on Effexor XR for a little over a year. Due to side effects, (weight gain, bones aching and swelling, moody, short tempered, etc, etc, etc.) I ATTEMPTED to wean myself off the medication. The amount of side effects I have endured can only be described as the following:

1. A headache from hell, literally. 2. Nausea and vomiting like the worst morning sickness ever! 3. Pain in knees worse than before when taking the medication. 4. Emotional highs, lows, inbetweens, and just about every emotion heightened, one can experience.

Something needs to be done about this type of medication, and I do not mean just complaining. We need to formally contact Wyeth Pharmaceutical company and demand they take this drug off the market. And any other pharmaceutical company that produces the same. Notifying the general public what they can expect when taking the medication and what they might experience when attempting to stop taking the medication. And I do not mean in just tiny print, they need to alert the public by way of media, physicians, magazines, patients, handouts, TV interviews, and I might add, give help to the consumer when they wean themselves off this product.

I worked for Wyeth for 31 years, and I thought their drugs were reputable. Not to mention that when I took my Effexor it was free to me as an employee. Since I was let go from Wyeth in 2005 I tried to stay faithful to the drug, but at $120 a month, it was getting very difficult. With past experience with this drug as in missing a one day dosage, I would become violently ill, so I knew I had to be careful. My weaning process started at 150 mg, then 112.5 (75 +37.5) then 75, down to 37.5. I knew I would at least be ill with diarrhea and vomiting, so I planned my cut off on a weekend as to not loose time from work. During the time of being on the 37.5 I felt anxiety, nervousness, and I knew the 37.5 mg was not helping my initial concerns. On Friday, January 12 I took my last 37.5 mg.

With past experience with this drug as in missing a one day dosage, I would become violently ill, so I knew I had to be careful. My weaning process started at 150 mg, then 112.5 (75 +37.5) then 75, down to 37.5. I knew I would at least be ill with diarrhea and vomiting, so I planned my cut off on a weekend as to not loose time from work. During the time of being on the 37.5 I felt anxiety, nervousness, and I knew the 37.5 mg was not helping my initial concerns. By Sunday I was vomiting so bad I almost pasted out. I had diarrhea, dry mouth, memory impairment, spastic legs, vertigo, shakes, anger, crying, not to mention the buzzing in my ears. This is the worst anti-depressant my doctor could have choosen for me. And now that I've been out sick, I've lost a temporary to permanent position that was very rewarding to me and now I'm out of work due to the side effects of this drug.

I took effexor for 11 years. When my insurance refused to pay for it, I decided it was time to come off so I gradually reduced my dosage over a period of 4 months. I was completely unprepared for how sick I would become. I took my last fraction of a 25mg pill a week ago. I've been sick with debilitating nausea, dizziness/vertigo -- the symptoms are too numerous to mention here. I had to stop working 3 weeks ago and I don't have paid med leave or a family to support me. I didn't figure out what was happening to me until just a few days ago.

I had to diagnose myself using info on the net. I've seen 4 doctors in the last month, all knew I was coming off effexor and all dismissed it as irrelevant and inconsequential. I had been bleeding continuously for 4 weeks straight when I went to a gynecologist who scheduled me for surgery to remove my uterus and ovaries--I was worried I had ovarian cancer! I don't blame the doctors--they have so much info to digest, esp about all the new drugs coming out. It's Wyeth's responsibility to come up with a treatment for EDS and until they do, Effexor should be taken off the market. In the meantime, consumers must be informed about the severity of EDS and possibility it may be permanent. If my doctor has told me I would be this sick when I went off effexor and that the sickness would last weeks, months, years, maybe for the rest of my life, I never would have touched it.

I haven't been able to work for 3 weeks now (and counting). I have medical bills from trying to find out what was wrong with me. I don't have paid medical leave or a family to support me through this. I'm worried that I'll never find relief from the horrible symptoms of EDS.

I began Effexor XR around July of 2002 and stayed on it until late November, early December of 2004. My decision to get off the medication was due to severe side effects that made activities of daily living a nightmare. It started with gigantic mood swings that I couldn't control, the worst was the deep, deep depressions that I would fall into. Then came the Alzheimer's like states where I would forget who I was, where I was, and what I was doing. I tried to self injure (I have not had any of those urges since stopping the medication!). I had times where I had a hard time controlling voluntary motor functions in my legs and arms (such as not being able to skate or deliver a curling stone). Every now and then my body would begin twitching, then just stop, out of the blue.

I became lethargic and had no energy to do anything. Not to mention times when I would have to refrain from driving due to the chance that I would drive into walls, poles, or other items in an attempt to end my life (I haven't had a period of that since going off the medication either). I also had intermitent periods of complete dizziness where I had to lay down or fall over. Getting off Effexor was a nightmare. I was sick constantly, even though I followed the strict weaning off schedule set by my doctor. I had headaches, stomach aches, low energy levels, lots of sleeping, and dizziness.

Now I still have periods where I wonder where I am, where I'm going, or what I'm doing. During periods of conversations I sometimes have a hard time completing a thought due to either my brain just shutting down or drifting off into nowhere land. I still am very lethargic and have little energy most of the time. My mind just doesn't seem to have that edge that it used to have before being on Effexor XR. I am now more shy around large groups of people and tend to become mentally overloaded easily. I also have what I would consider hyperacute hearing, to the point where high pitched sounds that do not bother regular people, are painful (such as young children's high pitched voices, high pitched music, dog whistles, etc.) I still feel like I am trying to get my coordination back to where it was beforehand also. During the withdrawl period, I did not eat anything more than usual, but gained quite a bit of weight which I am still fighting to lose. I'm sure there are other things that are just not coming to mind right now.

I was placed on the medication effexor at the age of 15, I am now 21 and trying to come off of it. I was told it was the wonder drug and that the side effects were minimal, and that was the biggest understatement.

instead of getting better, I have become more self - destructive. I have many hospital visits due to this. I cannot hold a job, I never want to eat which is the result of my weight of 97 pounds. My vision is rapidly declining. My moods are unpredictable and uncontrolable. Now trying to switch medications, I have what I describe as brain zaps it feels like jolts of electricity run through me every 30 seconds. I have diharea, heart problems, high blood pressure, tremors, no appetite, destructive thoughts, migraines, dizziness, weakness, emotional spells, aching muscles, 2 hospital visits in 3 weeks, seizuring,anxiety, irritability, poor concentration, and the list goes on. What happened to the miracle drug that I was supposedly put on. Why was I not warned of these possible effect. Am I going to be forced to resume back to effexor because I cannot handle this. It's ruining me. I am only 21, I am supposed to be enjoying my life not loathing it.

Was prescribed Effexor XR. Was told only a small percentage of people have side-effects with this anti-depressant. After using for 8 months, decided to quit as side effects(sweating, nausea, headaches, vivid nightmares, dizziness, weight gain, inability to ****** were sufficient to affect my quality of life. Withdrawal has been horrible. All of the above side effects, plus extreme moodiness, gloom, short-temper, brain shivers, muscle aches and hallucinations. I feel more tests are needed on this drug to determine whether its potential for harm outweighs its possible benefits.

I have been on effexor XR for the past 3 years and it does help with my depression but I have severe side effects even if its not taken at the exact time every day, im only on a 75 mg dose (resulting from a recent pregancy they lowered it)i have thrown up resulting in missing one day of this medication. i get so sick that i cannot move out of my bed and i have a 9 month old son and i know that i dont have the time to stay in bed for 2 weeks just to get off this medication i feel i have been on this long enough and dont even remmber the person i was when i wasnt drugged up. and my doctor had told me that this medication was not addictive i would say it is soooo highly addictive they shouldnt even prescribe it especially when i was only 16 years old. to be addicted to a drug is so hard and i hate it. I hate this medication!

I went to Family Health Center East, an outpatient treatment center for anxiety. I was given the drug effexor xr without any blood tests, without any questions. I was told to take it for six months. I started on a low dose and steadily increased to a higher dose. A month after I began to notice that my hair was thinning. I also have terrible nightmares while on the drug, night sweats. The main thing that is scaring me is my loss of hair. It has now been about six months since I first took the pill. I fear for my hair so I have tried to stop but I can not get off of it. I have tried twice by just stopping the medication and going through the withdraw symptoms but they are so powerful.

I am addicted, I become nauseous, dizzy, very emotional, feverish, anxious, irritated, I can't even keep my eyes open and if I do close them I have horrible, vivid nightmares. These dreams are always about being chased or one of them was about me fishing my dead daughter out of a lake. I don't have a daughter but I will always have that dream with me. I frequently wake up screaming, crying, or sweating. Back to my hair, Six months ago, I had long curly, t hick hair. Now I barely have any. Each day it falls. I feel it on my back, my arms, it's on the floor. I have a bald spot on both sides of my head because of my hair rubbing on the pillow at night. I don't feel beautiful with a bald head.

I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and prescribed the anti-depressant, EFFEXOR XR. I was told by my doctor that there was not much information on the drug because it was fairly new to her. The only side effects mentioned were nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and constipation and I was told that all of the above would subside with time.

I asked if the drug was habit forming and she told me that I would only need to take for six months at which time I would be re-evaluated and could be taken off of the drug. She said that it was NOT habit forming. I am unable to live without this pill. I cannot go one day for the consequences of not taking it are horrible. My eyesight has dramatically changed since being on the drug and I chalked that up to age (even though my eyesight has always been perfect- which can be verified by my eye doctor). I have gained approximately thirty pounds and do not eat anymore than I did prior to the drug. I have daily indigestion, which I now have to take another drug for. I have constipation on a daily basis (which I think is the reason why I cannot lose weight) I feel my heart skipping a beat, I have dizziness, and confusion at times while driving and while on the drug. I sometimes have periods of zoning "daydreams" where I cannot think or hear anyone talking to me. My memory seems decreased. I have shocks through my body- mainly my head, and limbs.

I am scared. I noticed that the FDA update the warnings of this drug periodically which tells me no one really knows the effects. Especially the long term effects which is my main concern. The side effects of not taking the drug are too many to list now, however they include all of the above with the addition of not being able to function AT ALL without this pill. If I did not have health insurance, I do not know how I would be able to get the medicine.

The consequences are unknown but I feel that this is a danger to my health. This goes for physical consequence as well. Emotionally, I am scared. I have insomnia from the all too real nightmares that I have, and from constant night sweats. I am 36 years old and have never had night sweats before. I have vision problems which emotionally are upsetting because I have always had great vision and the problem seems to be increasing.