48 patient evaluations for Effexor XR

557 members have decided to share their profiles only with other members of PatientsLikeMe.

Sort by: Helpfulness

Nov 19, 2010 (Started May 01, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for anxious mood)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 37.5 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: This medication was slightly helpful when added to the Trileptal that I had already been taking for a few months. I am on the lowest possible dose now and could probably stop taking it (it's been 4 years) but I'm reluctant to do so because of the very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms I experience (severe parathesia which feel like electric shocks, eventually causing muscle cramps). I'm also a bit scared that my mood would go back to the way it was 4 years ago. It's almost certainly the Trileptal that's fixed my problems, but since the Effexor is relatively inexpensive I've adopted an 'If it aint broke, don't fix it' attitude towards the situation. If that changes in the future I'll update.
Cost: $25-49 monthly

Feb 2, 2010 (Started May 01, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for anxious mood)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 37.5 mg Daily
  • 1 helpful mark

Jan 5, 2011 (Started Sep 30, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    Severe (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 150 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Effexor elevated my depressed moods, but also caused compulsive eating. I gained 50 pounds due to overeating. I stopped effexor, have lost 15 pounds so far, have NOT required areplacement for Effexor. My symptoms of depression are totally gone.
Cost: < $25 monthly

Sep 7, 2008 (Started Sep 30, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 150 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: works like a wonder drug for me.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 1 helpful mark

Oct 12, 2008 (Started Aug 01, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (weight gain, brain shocks, drowsiness)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 300 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: tHIS IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE i TAKE SO MANY MEDS THAT WHICH CAUSES WHICH SYMPTOM, IS ANYONES GUESS
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: drowsiness, weight gain, brain shocks
  • 0 helpful marks

Oct 26, 2008 (Started Nov 01, 2005)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Treat my mood condition(s))
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 75 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: The only bad thing about Effexor is that if you forget to take it you have withdrawl symptoms that are horrible. Nausea, vomitting, and horrible headaches.
  • 0 helpful marks

Nov 27, 2008 (Started Feb 15, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for Treat my mood condition(s))
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 300 mg Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Aug 22, 2008 (Started Jan 01, 2000)

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

Jan 10, 2005 (Started May 01, 2004)

  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for Treat my mood condition(s))
  • Effectiveness
    Slight (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Not at all hard to take
Dosage: 300 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: Despite gradually increasing dosages I still felt persistently suicidal. I ended up being taken off this medication when it was determined a more agressive treatment was needed.
Cost: < $25 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Dec 31, 2008 (Started May 05, 2003)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for depressed mood)
  • Side effects
    None (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: 150 mg Daily
Advice & Tips: During the first few weeks on this medicine i lost my appetite completely and had a very strange taste in my mouth. I felt very anxious and was unable to sleep, but these effects soon passed and this is honestly the best antidepressant I have found.
Cost: $25-49 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Dec 13, 2008 (Started Jan 06, 2005)

  • 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: will never stop this medicin, tried and went into relapse, it really helps with cooping with life, i have found that if i am in too much pain or really stressed my face gets numb so I need a second dose for that day.
Cost: $25-49 monthly
  • 0 helpful marks

Aug 23, 2008 (Started Jun 01, 2006)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Treat my mood condition(s))
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall)
  • Adherence
    Always
  • Burden
    Somewhat hard to take
Dosage: 37.5 mg Daily
Cost: $200+ monthly
  • 0 helpful marks
Last updated:
Showing 10 of 48 patient evaluations for Effexor XR