Anyone had experience of Effexor?

[GooseyLoosey]

Psychiatrist has just prescribed this to replace sertraline.

Bit worried as have had some results with the sertraline (but a bit up and down) and have read awful things about withdrawal from Effexor (even when just taken late).

Psych says that I have "a major depressive disorder" but I am not sure, mostly what I have is chronic anxiety which then makes me unhappy.

Anyone taken it for anxiety and anyone experienced withdrawal?

Anyone, or am I alone in my nuttiness?

You are not alone in your nuttiness-but sorry it isnt one that i have taken as yet.
It does seem to be a very common prescription where i dispense though.
Sorry not much help

Hi. Been on Efexor for 5 years following PND so bad I was hospitalised for 6 weeks and will never be fully what I was before. What do you want to know?
And you are not nutty!!

I am on it to

225mg, but reduced to 175 two weeks ago

I take 75mg at night, have had spells on 150 mg. I take it at night and have had virtually no side effects. It makes me too sluggish if I take it in the morning, even though it is slow release. I also take sleeping tabs as I don't sleep at all otherwise.

DH is on it - he gets kind of fluey symptoms and headaches if he misses more than one. OTOH I had a friend who was on it, and gave up all in one go, rather than cutting down gradually, and she said she didn't get any withdrawal symptoms.

Just re-read OP - no withdrawals ever experienced and have missed the odd dose now and again. And major anxiety is part of collection of 'issues'!

Thanks all, its helpful to hear positives as all I could find on Google were negatives.

What I wanted to know in particular was whether it has any side effects (particularly if reducing dose) and what they are. Also interested in how effective you found it.

Sertraline has really had no side effects for me so am reluctant to move to something which might have.

Any experiences welcome.

Thanks all, its helpful to hear positives as all I could find on Google were negatives.

What I wanted to know in particular was whether it has any side effects (particularly if reducing dose) and what they are. Also interested in how effective you found it.

Sertraline has really had no side effects for me so am reluctant to move to something which might have.

Any experiences welcome.

I've been on effexor for 5 years, 225mg a day, no side effects but if i forget to take it in the morning by the evening i start to feel ill, sickness, dizzy, head feels foggy , just awful. I dread when its time to come off it. Although a great ad if i knew then what i know now i wouldn't have gone on it, but then everyone is different.

i was on it for anxiety+depression,for a total of 5 months.i didnt really have any side effects on the standard release ones,but when i was put upto 150mg on the slow-release type i experienced constsnt carb cravings,weight gain,constipation.

they never really did it for me so i came off them and went back on prozac,and despite cross-tapering i had terrible withdrawal sypmtoms.

excuse typos i cut my finger on the cheese grater