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joshua_morgan2026-04-18

I've been considering Venlafaxine ER 75mg for my anxiety, but the long list of side effects has me worried. I've read that it can help with both depression and anxiety, but I'm particularly concerned about the more serious side effects like seizures and serotonin syndrome. Has anyone had experience with these side effects? What's the difference in side effects when taken once a day vs. divided daily doses? How long do the side effects typically last, and can you experience them years after first starting the medication? I'd appreciate any insights or advice from those who have been on this medication.

1 min read
last active 4/18/2026
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Comments (8)

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linda_fernandez4/16/2026

I've been on Venlafaxine ER for a year and have had no serious side effects. I've had some minor ones like dizziness and drowsiness, but they went away after a couple of weeks. Even though it's an ER, my doctor recommended splitting my dose in half for better effect.

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edward_gardner4/16/2026

I just started Venlafaxine ER a month ago and I've had some pretty awful side effects. I've been experiencing vivid dreams and a lot of anxiety. I've also had episodes of dizziness and excessive sweating. It's made my anxiety worse in some ways, but I'm trying to stick it out because my doctor said it should get better.

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steven_lewis4/16/2026

Find a good doctor. A good doctor will really try to help you and talk to you about your side effects. If you have a good rapport with them, you can ask them about the side effects you're experiencing and they can adjust your medication accordingly.

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sean_williams4/16/2026

I've been on Venlafaxine ER for about 6 months now. It's made a huge difference in my anxiety levels, but I've definitely had some side effects. The worst was the dizziness and drowsiness which lasted for about 3 weeks. But the longer-term side effect of decreased libido was the worst. I still have that, even after cutting my dose.

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scott_robinson4/16/2026

The first week was awful, but it gets better. Just stick it out, and if it doesn't get better, talk to your doctor about reducing the dose then. The most helpful thing was having a plan in place before I started, like having a list of side effects and a plan to reduce them.

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nancy_herrera4/16/2026

I've been on Venlafaxine ER for a few months. I've had some pretty bad side effects. I've had insomnia and a lot of anxiety. A few nights I would wake up in the middle of the night, sweating and shaking. I'm going back on the SSRIs because I really don't think these are worth it.

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judith_moreno4/16/2026

I've been on Venlafaxine ER for a few months now and I've had some pretty bad side effects. I've had insomnia and a lot of anxiety. I've also had some pretty awful vivid dreams. It's made life a little rough, but I've been trying to stick it out.

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joyce_ford4/16/2026

I was on Venlafaxine ER for a year and found that the side effects were pretty mild for me. I had some dizziness and drowsiness at first, but they went away after a couple of weeks. I never experienced any of the serious side effects, thankfully.