115 patient evaluations for Venlafaxine

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Nov 15, 2012 (Started Oct 10, 2003)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for borderline personality disorder)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for major depressive disorder)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 150 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I was taking a 300mg dose of this medication and slowly tapered off of it over a course of six weeks. Everything was fine during the taper, it was just getting off that final dose (75mg) that was hard. I felt like I had the flu: shivering, nausea, loss of appetite.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Feb 18, 2011 (Started Oct 10, 2003)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 150 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly

Nov 7, 2009 (Started Oct 10, 2003)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 37.5 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: This has been an excellent medication for me as long as I take it every day as prescribed.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Mar 25, 2009 (Started Oct 10, 2003)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 37.5 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Take this medication at the same time everyday and do not skip more than one day of taking it or else you will begin to feel horrible withdrawal symptoms. But I have Effexor XR to be extremely effective in treating my depression. I would caution anyone that considers taking this drug for a long period of time to be aware that it can be very difficult to get off of. You will need to titrate down your dose in very small increments under your doctor's supervision.

Dec 10, 2008 (Started Oct 10, 2003)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 37.5 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: As best you can, take this medication at the same time every day. For a long time I was taking only 150mg a day and didn't feel any benefits from the medication. However, when my psychiatrist increased my dose to 300mg a day, I could detect a significant improvement in mood. This is a relatively high dose for this medication and it can cause an increase in blood pressure. Fortunately this has not been an issue for me but might be something for others to take into consideration. Also, I take the XR-capsules and I can tell a difference between the XR and non-XR.
Cost: $200+ monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Apr 1, 2012 (Started Aug 15, 2011)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for major depressive disorder)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (increased insomnia)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 37.5 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: This is one of the best meds I've used to treat my depression. Unfortunately, it quit working after several years, as it has also done in the past.
  • 0 helpful marks

Sep 7, 2012 (Started Aug 16, 2012)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for generalized anxiety disorder)
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for depressed mood)
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for major depressive disorder)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 25 mg Daily
  • 0 helpful marks

Jul 9, 2012 (Started Jul 01, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for major depressive disorder)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for generalized anxiety disorder)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia))
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (sleepiness)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 50 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I have a pill box that is divided for AM and PM dosages. Two together made me sleepy, took 1 in AM, waited 6 hrs took other pill.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Jun 15, 2012 (Started Nov 28, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    None (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (excessive dry mouth)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 75 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Jun 15, 2012 (Started Jul 05, 2002)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (sudden complete dry mouth)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 37.5 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: My Doctor and I felt the Effexor was no longer working as perscribed. He switched me too Zolft which I began taking after whinning me off of the Effexor. I have been on Zoloft since June - so far I am not seeing much positive effects.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Jun 22, 2012 (Started Jul 20, 2008)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia))
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for major depressive disorder)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (dry mouth)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 300 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: I can really tell if I take a dose late, my mood tanks quite badly, as well as the "electric Zotty" feeling I get. I take it when I first get up in the AM.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: dry mouth
  • 0 helpful marks

May 23, 2012 (Started May 14, 2012)

  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for major depressive disorder)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall) (agitation with restlessness, increased insomnia, depression with anxiety)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 37.5 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Stopped taking it after it worsened my anxiety issues.
  • 0 helpful marks

May 18, 2012 (Started Jul 19, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 300 mg Daily
  • 0 helpful marks

Dec 31, 2010 (Started May 07, 2010)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for depressed mood)
  • Effectiveness
    None (for phobic disorder)
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for major depressive disorder)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Very hard to take
Dosage: 150 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks
Last updated:
Showing 10 of 115 patient evaluations for Venlafaxine