I was on effexor, and it did not agree with me. At all. 2.5 weeks and I was in hospital hallucinating that there was a sleeping baby racoon in my belly...lol.

I had a professor who got along great with it.

I think with effexor, age plays a major role...I hear it's not recommended for people under 25...I was 20 when I took it.

It's one of those 'big guns' that doctors are supposed to pull out after the options are pretty well exhausted (even the company markets it as this).

I think you're right, it is not the best anti-depressant for young people. I was in my 40's when I took it.

I know this thread is a bit old but I just wanted to add my input. I was put on Effexor at age 24 and experienced a Manic episode with hallucinations. This led to a false diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder because I went to a different doctor than the one who prescribed the Effexor so they were unaware my mania was drug-induced. I have since been relieved of the Bipolar Diagnosis but have had it replaced with PSTD which I do agree with.

Different for everyone though but perhaps younger people should be cautious with this one.