Anyone know anything about Effexor

I have a very serious anxiety disorder combined with depression.  I take effexor and live a normal life; not so at all without medication.

Before I took effexor, I took imipramine, which was developed much earlier and which has more serious side effects, including fatigue.  Sometimes imipramine can cause a change in skin color; I was starting to turn dark grey.  No joke!  It ended up a good thing, since effexor is in my experience much better.

It is associated with weight loss; not for me, unfortunately. 

I would bet there is a lot of variation in reaction, but I'd have no hesitation to try it.  It's got to be well tested by now.  I think I've been on it for 10 years at least.

Hope this helps a bit. 

Effexor is a great drug--but be careful when you take it that you don't miss a dose.  You will begin to feel really awful. Also it can be difficult to get off of it.  You need to work with your doctor to re taper off slowly otherwise you will feel really, really awful.  It also has the potential to cause weight gain so just keep an eye on the scale.  I took it for years and liked it, till I realized I had gained 50 lbs, and when I wanted to get off of it, it took months.  Good luck and hope you feel better.