What are the side effects of Venlafaxine?

Users most often report withdrawal, insomnia, brain zaps, headache, emotional blunting. Side effects came up 24 times across 87 reports.

User reports can't establish safety. PubMed lists 314 meta-analyses and 562 randomized trials. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take other medication.

Venlafaxine side effects

Across 87 first-hand reports, people mentioned a side effect 24 times (about 28 per 100 reports). The most common: withdrawal, insomnia, brain zaps. User reports show what people notice — they can't tell you whether Venlafaxine is safe for you.

Reported side effects

withdrawal10

insomnia3

brain zaps2

headache2

emotional blunting2

libido loss2

brain fog2

mania1

What got worse for some people

Mood33% worse · 62% better · of 21 Libido80% worse · 0% better · of 5 Anxiety19% worse · 75% better · of 16

In their own words

“I tried Venlafaxine and my ADHD improved significantly. However, it also had a certain amount of excitotoxicity, and I couldn't sleep at night.”

MixedRead the discussion ↗

“I found that Venlafaxine was good once it down regulated my norephineprine. Before I was constantly full of somatic anxiety but now it’s definitely improved.”

MixedRead the discussion ↗

“When I quit Effexor many years ago, I had to slowly decrease the dose over a period that was twice as long as I had been on them. Brain zaps from hell.”

HelpedRead the discussion ↗

“never actually found anything that helped. Not one thing... Supplements I've tried include fish oil pills, htp-5, fluoxetine, effexor, adderall, ritalin, vitamin b complexes, and st johns wort.”

Didn't helpRead the discussion ↗

“venlafaxine did something...This at least helps me sleep...it just gives me that flattened serotonin effect where everything is 'fine,' apathy, emotional blunting, low libido.”

MixedRead the discussion ↗

“after the second week I could only sleep 2 hours a night and I felt anxious and foggy all day.”

Didn't helpRead the discussion ↗

Is Venlafaxine safe? What the research covers

AResearch: Strong314 meta-analyses · 562 randomized trials on PubMed

Mol Psychiatry · 2023

Antidepressants for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder in the maintenance phase: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Conclusion: Compared to placebo, venlafaxine was associated with a lower incidence of dizziness, while desvenlafaxine, sertraline, and vortioxetine were associated with a higher incidence of nausea/vomiting. In conclusion, desvenlafaxine, paroxetine, venlafaxine, and vortioxetine had reasonable efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability in the treatment of adults with stable MDD.